International consultant to support MoES to develop 12-year education system roadmap, 60 w/d, Dushanbe, Tajikistan

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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, Education

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

The policy decision of the Government of Tajikistan to transit to a 12-year education system has been explicitly articulated both in the ongoing and new National Education Development Strategy document with pre-defined concept and scope of such transition. A transition to 12-year education was discussed at the Consultative Group (CG) Meeting chaired by the President of the Republic of Tajikistan with participation of high-level representatives of the Development Partners (DPs) in December 2010. The agreement, which was reflected in the CG Meeting Minutes and Action Plan, defined the following interventions to be implemented before the transition:

1. 1. Conduct an analysis of different transition scenarios and their costing.
   2. Develop a detailed time bound and costed transition roadmap.

Under the framework of the national education reform towards a 12-year education system, the Government of Tajikistan and development partners have defined a phase-based plan for introducing a one-year universal pre-primary education during the next five years for all 6-year-old children, leveraging public, donor, and private sector funding. The introduction of a universal year of pre-primary learning represents a unique opportunity for Tajikistan to accelerate results against national and SDG 4 targets (SDG 4 indicator 4.2.2). This process is being supported by UNICEF and Development Partners through the review of existing regulatory framework, the development of multi-media play-based learning curriculum, and the development of teacher training systems using blended learning opportunities. In consultation with the Local Education Group (LEG), UNICEF has developed costing scenarios for covering such transition during the next five years, including the full set of recommendations to guide effective implementation of this reform.

Furthermore, the LEG strongly recommended developing a transition Roadmap and Action Plan before starting implementation of the transition. The roadmap should address milestones, explaining when and how the transition will occur, at what additional cost and resources, and defines preparation activities such as construction, rehabilitation and equipment of new classrooms, curriculum development, preparation of learning materials, teacher training and professional development, the detailed cost of managing an additional year, public awareness campaigns, and other interventions.

In follow up to the above objectives, UNICEF is seeking an individual international consultant to support the MoES of education to develop the national roadmap on transition to the 12-year education system starting in 2025, which will prioritize introduction of one-year compulsory pre-primary education for all 6-year-old children in Tajikistan. The international consultant will guide a team of national technical experts from the MoES and affiliated agencies, who will support the consultant in the delivery of below tasks.

How can you make a difference?

Under direct supervision by the Education Section Chief and technical support from the Education Specialist and the national Working Group at the MoES the consultant is expected to perform and accomplish the following tasks:

1. Conduct technical consultation meetings and interviews (coordinated by UNICEF project team) on the 12-year education reform progression and way forward with the MoES and affiliated agencies, development partners (USAID, World Bank, EU, etc.), and with non-governmental organizations to understand the dynamics of existing preparation and key challenges and bottlenecks in implementation of the reform.
2. Conduct desk reviews on experiences, best practices and lessons learnt of other countries in the development and implementation of national the roadmaps.
3. Conduct a comprehensive policy review and prepare a report with in-depth examination of the policy, regulatory and operational environment factors that influence the country's implementation of the 12-year education system, with the end goal of supporting improved targeting, scoping and partner engagement.
4. Conduct a comprehensive situational analysis and prepare a report including analysis of participation and exclusion trends, financial investment trends and available resources; mapping of projects and stakeholders in the implementation of the 12-year transition reform; current challenges and opportunities etc.
5. Produce a report on the assessment of 12-year education reform implementation status which describes the strengths, challenges, issues and problems, and recommendations for improvement of implementation.
6. In consultation with DCC/LEG partners propose preliminary 12-year education roadmap with specific recommendations and networking pathways with concerned education institutions with which 12-year education reform to be implemented.

Develop and finalize 12-year education roadmap and update costing model for reform implementation under the leadership of the MoES and DCC/LEG.

DUTY STATION/DURATION:

Duration: 60 working days (May 1, 2023 - July 31, 2023)

On-site working days: 40 day

Off-site working days: 20 days

Duty station: Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Supervisor: Section Chief, UNICEF Tajikistan

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

Education: Advanced university degree in the fields of economics and education, with focus on developing education policy planning and costing. PhD level in relevant field is an asset;

Work experience: At least 8 years of relevant professional experience in the area of economics in education, policy planning, management and operational levels;

Competencies: Strong coordination skills, analytical and conceptual thinking. Ability to work with large teams and guide policy discussions. Excellent writing, communication, and presentation skills with stakeholders. Ability to work under pressure and commitment to work to tight timeframe;

Languages: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Russian and Tajik is an asset

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Cover letter/application/CV.
2. A technical proposal with proposed approach to managing the consultancy deliverables, showing understanding of tasks. Special attention should be paid to organizing the process of co-development and capacity building.
3. Financial quote for the consultancy in US Dollars per deliverable, stating also the timeframe for completion of deliverable and/or daily rate in US dollars.
4. Examples of previous, relevant work related to the deliverables.
5. Applications without a financial quote will not be considered.

Applications must be received in the system by 23 April 2023 on UNICEF website.

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.