International Consultant for the provision of consulting services for the preparation of the toolkit for assessing the functional literacy of general secondary education

Contract

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child...

Type of contract: individual international consultancy

Duration: August 2022 – July 2023 (11,5 month)

From 2023, the Republic of Belarus plans to conduct a national study of the quality of education (hereinafter referred to as the Study), the basis of which will be an assessment of the functional literacy of students in the 10th grade of general secondary education institutions, as well as students of vocational and secondary specialized education institutions.

To train and advise Belarusian specialists on the development of the Study methodology, development and evaluation of diagnostic and instructive materials in four areas (reading literacy, financial literacy, natural science literacy, mathematical literacy), the work requires involvement of an international consultant who has relevant experience in management of projects to assess functional literacy, is aware of the socio-cultural and educational realities of the Republic of Belarus and is fluent in one of the state languages: (Russian and/or Belarusian).

How can you make a difference?

PRIMARY GOAL: Provide technical expertise on functional literacy competencies in the development of national study methodology and implementation by the National Institute of Education (NIE).

KEY TASKS:

Task 1: Advise NIE specialists developing the study methodology;

Task 2: Train NIE specialists involved in the development and examination of diagnostic and instructive and methodological materials for assessing functional literacy of students;

Tasks 3-6: Advise NIE specialists on specifics in developing diagnostic and instructive-methodological materials for the four components of the Study, i.e. reading literacy, financial literacy, natural science literacy, and mathematical literacy.

TIMELINE AND THE NUMBER OF DAYS is indicated in the TOR ( 15.07 ToR FL ENG F.pdf)

1. SUPERVISION, MANAGEMENT AND WORKING INTERACTION

• The work within the framework of this Terms of Reference is carried out under the guidance of the UNICEF Youth and Adolescent Development, HIV&AIDS Specialist in cooperation with the National Institute of Education (NIE) (M.B. Gorbunova).
• UNICEF and the NIE will organize a meeting with the contracted consultant to discuss the cooperation and work performance, including planning, implementation and development of final documents.
• The consultant should submit to UNICEF and NIE quarterly reports on the performance of his/her works, as well as an overall report with conclusions and recommendations.

2. TRAVEL

ToR stipulates remote work. In case there is a need for mission travel to Belarus it would be done outside this contract.

3. REMUNERATION

Payment will be made in US dollars by transferring money to the account of the consultant based on submitted invoices to UNICEF providing clear results of the work:

• 20% of the contract amount until September 30, 2022, subject to the completion of all planned work and the submission of a progress report to UNICEF;
• 30% of the contract amount until December 15, 2022, subject to the completion of all planned work and the submission of a progress report to UNICEF;
• 50% of the contract amount until July 15, 2023, subject to the completion of all planned work and the submission of a progress report to UNICEF.

4. UNSATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE

Payment of remuneration under this contract, including each payment or periodic payment (if any), is subject to the fulfillment of obligations in full and a satisfactory assessment of results by UNICEF.

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or part of payments if the work is not performed satisfactorily, if the work/results are incomplete or not delivered on time. These terms of reference are an integral part of the contract concluded with the consultant.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Higher education (pedagogical background);
• At least 15 years of experience in the field of the monitoring and assessment of the quality of education;
• Experience in developing education development strategies and assessing the quality of education;
• Experience in participating in projects (including international ones) related to scientific and methodological support of education, assessment of the quality of education, assessment of the functional literacy;
• Experience in scientific management of country projects in the field of education quality assessment;
• Track record of publications on the issues of assessing the quality of education, the formation and assessment of the functional literacy of students;
• Awareness of socio-cultural and educational realities of the Republic of Belarus;
• Fluency in Russian;
• Working capacity in English (written and oral);
• Business communication and professional correspondence skills.

Applications are accepted from individual consultants

Financial proposal. In the financial proposal, one shall specify the amount of the fee per day, multiplied by the number of working days.

The financial proposal should show the cost of each of the objectives of this TOR.

1. Technical proposal. In the technical proposal, one shall detail the list and time plan of the proposed work.
2. CV.
3. Cover letter (no more than 1 A4 sheet) indicating similar works, if any.

Deadline for applying for the opening: by July 24, 2022, 23:55 (Minsk time).

Additional information on the Terms of Reference is provided by Victoria Lozuyk, YAD and HIV/AIDS Specialist at vlozuyk@unicef.org.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.