International consultant on Competency-Based Curriculum and Learning Assessment Frameworks with UNICEF in Uzbekistan

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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, education!

Technical support to UNICEF, Republican Scientific-Methodological Center for the Development of Education and the Ministry of Preschool and School Education in the Republic of Uzbekistan in the finalization of the requirment to development of new National Curriculum Framework and Learning Assessment Framework.

UNICEF supported Republican Scientific-Methodological Center for the Development of Education (CDE) in drafting of the legal framework to support finalization of the National Curriculum Framework, which will provide structure and guidelines for successful curriculum reform implementation and monitoring. The technical support included mobilization of international and national expertise, identification of best practices, extensive capacity building of established working group, and consultation workshops with Development Partners. As a result, quality criteria for the National Curriculum are being drafted to ensure a systematic approach to the development of curricula across all grades and subjects. This is especially important in the context of ongoing challenges and ad-hoc approaches adopted in curriculum development and implementation.

UNICEF also supported CDE in drafting the first Comprehensive Learning Assessment Framework for Uzbekistan. The first phase of the development of the Assessment Framework has been completed including selection of internationals experts, identification of best practices for introduction of new types, approaches and mechanisms for learners’ assessment and establishment of working group with expectation to conduct large scale consultation and capacity building in 2024.

In this regard, UNICEF is seeking the services of an individual international consultant to provide technical support in the finalization of the legal framework to development of new National Curriculum Framework and Learning Assessment Framework. Under the the direct supervision of Education specialist (on Curriculum) and Education Officer (, the International Consultant will:

• Technical leadership and coordination in finalization of the requirments to development of new National Curriculum Framework and Learning Assessment Framework.
• Consultations and sensitisation with key stakeholders including LEG and the Compact Thematic Groups on Curriculum/TLM and Assessment. This includes preparing and delivering presentations, drafting matrices setting out historic interventions, and current/future activities, and reports on consultations, detailing inputs from stakeholders.

Duration of assignment: February – September 2024

Work Assignments Overview / Deliverables / Timeline

1. Review of draft requirements to NCF and Learning Assessment Framework, collect information / Written comments to draft documents / 2 days;

2. Country visit to present updates for stockholders on the work conducted in development of requirements to NCF and development Learning Assessment system / Presentations, report on inputs from stakeholders / 3 days;

3. Based on the input provided conduct on-line meetings with counterparts to discuss and agree on the revisions to draft documents on requirements to NCF and Learning assessment framework / Matrics on the changes provided / 3 days;

4. Finalization of draft documents / Final documents ready for approval / 2 days;

5. Country visits to present final documents / Presentations of final requirements to NCF and LAF / 2 days.

Total: 12 days

Travel is applicable.

According to UNICEF policy, the final fees will be set up based on the “best value for money” principle. Total fifteen (15) working days are allocated for accomplishment of all tasks and deliverables within the period of February to September 2024. Payment will be made upon satisfactory completion of the assignment and provision of reports of accomplished tasks and deliverables approved by the supervisor. The candidates are requested to submit their financial offer consisting of fee for the services to be provided and calculation of estimated travel expenses based on the UNICEF rules and regulations. The Consultant will receive direct payment to his/her indicated bank account.

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

• Post-graduate degree in social sciences preferably in one of the specialized fields of education.
• Understanding of, and experience in curriculum development and competency-based education, including at international level, as well as in-depth knowledge and expertise in the field of assessment practices, and of drafting case-studies on exemplars of good practice.
• Experience in organizing and conducting trainings and workshops.
• Good knowledge of international students assessment programmes, such as PISA, PIRLS, TIMSS, as well as international benchmarking approaches, and comparative international approaches to assessment.
• Good analytical and report writing skills.
• Understanding of local context, previous experience in Uzbekistan is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

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.