International consultant to support MOES and UNICEF in Albania the transformation of Special Schools (for children with disability) in Resource Centers

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, a Champion!

UNICEF Albania is seeking an international consultant who will assist MOES (Ministry of Education and Sports) and UNICEF in Albania in mapping the Special Schools on the way to be transformed into Resource Centers (in support of children with disabilities) and provide recommendations to the MOES on the best international practices of the Resource Centers

The MOES in Albania has developed a comprehensive Education Strategy for the period 2021-2026. The vision of the Education Strategy is to establish an inclusive education system based on equality and lifelong learning. The aim is to provide quality education to all individuals, contributing to their personal well-being. One of the specific objectives of the strategy is to ensure full inclusion in education, as well as increase access to preschool and upper secondary education. This will be achieved by providing appropriate infrastructural conditions and creating friendly school environments. The importance of inclusion in the education system is emphasized in the amended Law on Pre-University Education 69/2012. The law highlights the need to create conditions for all children, especially those with vulnerabilities such as Roma, Egyptian, and children with disabilities.

Albania ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) on February 11, 2013 and in September 2016, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) adopted and published General Comment No. 4 (2016) on Article 24: "Right to inclusive education." While progress has been noted in policies regarding the inclusion of children with disabilities in the public education system, still in Albania there exist a dual system which allows for inclusive mainstream schools and special schools to coexist. The Law on Pre-University Education states that Special Schools for children with disabilities should be transformed into Resource Centers and all children with disabilities should be included in mainstream schools. So far, no specific legal provisions on how to carry out this transformation are in place and no clear analysis and guidelines for this major transformation exist. According to "Order 31, dated January 28, 2020, on the Regulation of the Functioning of Pre-University Education Institutions in Albania," special schools are intended to serve as Resource Centers for mainstream schools. So far there are 9 special schools in Albania that based on the Education Law should be gradually transformed into resource centers. No detailed analysis on their functioning, way of supporting for children with disabilities in line with Article 24 of CRPD on Inclusive Education and the shifting of responsibilities towards becoming resource centers have taken place yet.

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF in Albania is seeking an international consultant (working in tandem with a national consultant) to assess the actual situation of the special schools (policy, legal, institutional, financial, and capacity building aspects to shift them into resource centers by developing a roadmap for full transformation. The consultant will report to the Education Specialist in UNICEF Albania office.

The main deliverables, timeline and specific tasks for each of the deliverables are included herein below:

Deliverable 1- Timeline: to be completed by end of January 2024

• Inception report drafted including a) a conceptual framework; b) methodology and instruments that will be used by the local consultant to preliminary map/asses the 9 special schools)
• A desk review summary of inclusive education work in Albania and best international practices prepared and shared with UNICEF.

Specific tasks to be carried out for this deliverable are:

• Conduct online meetings with UNICEF and MOES specialists, CSOs to discuss on legal and policy framework regarding children with disability in education and to clarify expectations for the transformation agenda.

• Conduct a review of international and regional policy and good practices in transforming special schools.

• Develop a methodology for assessing the special schools (to be used for data gathering phase by the international and national consultant

• Coach the national consultant on the methodology of instruments (a local consultant will work to support the process on a separate TOR

Deliverable 2 - Timeline: to be completed from February to end of March 2024

• A roadmap delivered to UNICEF and MOES which includes analysis, key findings, draft conclusions, and recommendations for transforming special schools into resource centers while considering policy, legal, institutional, capacity building aspects, Assistive Technology as well as financing and transfer of human and financial resources to mainstream schools. (To be referred to as roadmap hereafter)
• A specific plan developed for the transformation of 2 special schools in resource center.

Specific tasks to be carried out for this deliverable are:

- Organize visits in 2 special schools and 2 regular schools to assess the situation firsthand (assess the financing resources of the schools’ functions, services and modalities of support provision, models of provision and management of Assistive Technology (AT), procedures and protocols of the schools, role and functions of the staff, available trainings, and capacity building resources.

- Analyze the data coming from the local consultant in 9 special schools.

- Conduct 2 focus group discussions in Albania with regular school and special schools’ teachers as well as 2 focus group discussions with parents of children attending the above schools.

- Conduct Interviews with the key Education stakeholders such as MOES specialists, the Agency for the Assurance of Quality in Preuniversity Education (AAQPUE) members, partners, Civil Society Organization and Organization for People with Disabilities (OPDs) active in this agenda.

Deliverable 3- Timeline: to be completed from April to end of June 2024

• A final roadmap report on schools’ transformation developed and validated by key stakeholders along with an Executive Summary and a PPP.

Specific tasks to be carried out for this deliverable are:

- Validation of findings and finalizing the report.

- Present the draft report to key stakeholders, discuss and incorporate all comments. (PPP and summary)

As part of this assignment, the consultant will travel to Albania. The travel plan will be discussed and agreed with the Ministry of Education and Sports at a later stage.

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

• An advanced university degree (master’s or higher) in Education, Psychology, Sociology, Pedagogy, Inclusive education, Social Sciences, or related fields.
• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience on inclusive education policy and practice
• Led/have firsthand experience in transformation of special schools into resource centers.
• Experience in education research will be an asset.
• Knowledge of the UN/UNICEF mandate and UN rules/procedures is an asset.
• Demonstrated flexibility, creativity and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills. Fluency in English is required.
• Ability to meet tight deadlines through excellent time management and organizing skills.

What to submit:

• Letter of interest, summarizing the educational background, the working experience that is relevant to the assignment, and the specific role the candidate will play.
• Proposed methodological approach as per deliverables set forth.
• Updated resume/TMS profile
• Financial proposal - lumpsum inclusive of all taxes.

If you have any question related the Terms of reference for this assignment, please contact Elvana Pernaska, UNICEF HR at epernaska@unicef.

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.