Local consultant to undertake mapping exercise for basic education sector data (Open to Botswana Locals only)

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,

How can you make a difference?

Background and Justification

The Education and Training Sector Strategic Plan (ETSSP) 2015 - 2020 indicates that a ‘poorly developed Education Management Information System (EMIS) is hampering the sector’ particularly in providing timely and reliable data for evidence-based planning and decision making. The challenges facing the EMIS include incomplete and out-of-date data in the different education sub sectors, lack of capacity and resources to implement and manage the EMIS and poor response from academic institutions in fulfilling data requests from Ministry of Basic Education. These issues have led to production and dissemination of annual education reports that use data that is 4-5 years old and do not offer current data/real time data to that can be used for planning and decision making. Critical information on key education outcomes such as out-of-school children, access to early childhood development and equitable access to education is missing, out of date or of poor quality. Planning and decision making have relied in part on anecdotal evidence. Published education budget briefs have shown that only 2% of the entire education budget reached pre- and primary school. This would indicate a budgetary process that relies on poor quality data when it is clear that pass rates are poor in junior and senior secondary and therefore would require more resources than tertiary.

Among the critical priorities outlined in the ETSSP was the need to improve the present sector performance in data collection, processing, storage, retrieval and analysis. This has not transpired through the strategic plan that is set to expire this year. Government is delayed in its implementation of ETSSP due to unavailability of funds to support the plan. However, the issues identified, and the response plan proposed remain relevant and more critical and the challenge of low education outcomes continue to plague the country.

Through the Data Catalytic Fund, UNICEF Botswana’s proposal for Round 2 was successful and has been awarded financial resources towards supporting EMIS. This initial investment is UNICEF Botswana’s foray into investments in national education data to improve quality, availability and use. Modeled after the efforts of UNICEF Namibia, this venture hope to ensure that “data speaks” and responds to the theme, “this year’s data, this year”. To begin this work, a data mapping exercise is proposed to understand the infrastructure, flow, processes, capacity and landscape for education data in Botswana. The mapping exercise will also illuminate gaps and challenges inherent in the current EMIS and proposed key recommendations for strengthening education data quality, availability and use to support decision making.

UNICEF Botswana therefore requires a consultant to conduct a mapping exercise of basic education data to understand the landscape and identify opportunities to strengthen data quality, availability and use.

Scope of Work

1. *Goal and Objective*****:

Under the supervision of the Monitoring & Evaluation Officer and support of the Technical Working Group, the consultant will map out the current landscape of basic education data in Botswana, assessing the flow of data, processes and management. This information will provide input into key recommendations on strengthening data quality, availability and use. Specifically, the consultant will,

1. Map out key data requirements; for planning, reporting, monitoring of national plans/agendas (at both sub-national and local levels) and external commitments and assess the level to which the current system meets/is aligned to those requirements,
2. Identify key processes that either exist, or should be developed within the current system to support ongoing operations (including routine public reporting, quality control, grievance response etc.), and map out existing data collection mechanisms which support core education functions (learning and teaching, school feeding, hostels administration, school health, safety and protection, community participation, etc.)
3. Identify potential/ key data users and data managers – in order to understand who has the authority and capacity to make decisions affecting the management of data, and access to/use of data at all levels,
4. Assess the quality of data in terms availability, timeliness and completeness, along with potential biases and understand appropriate use. This should include evaluating how data is disaggregated to capture and report on the experiences of vulnerable children such as refugees, those with disabilities etc. in a safe manner,
5. Identify, if any, policies/guidelines/strategies/ and legal instruments guiding the creation, demand and use of education data,
6. Review the current functioning of the data system and how this supports decision making/ programming at the local level (school/ community/ and or district) to support inclusion and educational outcomes for children; and discuss current barriers and opportunities,
7. Assess the current structures and performance of the education system against the principles of responsible data for children (participatory, protective of rights etc. – see www.rd4c.org); Capture and document positive examples, and make recommendations on actions to strengthen the system in respect to these principles,

8. And provide key recommendations for strengthening data quality, availability and use.

9. Provide details/reference to AWP areas covered:

Following the mid-year review, this assignment is part of a new activity to support EMIS. Under Output 3.2 – “Increased evidence generation and data gathering and analysis informs education programming”, this captured under activity number two (2) and the first deliverable in the activity.

Activities and Tasks

Under the supervision of the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer and support of the Technical Working Group, the consultant will be responsible for carrying out the following;

• Prepare and finalize an inception report detailing how the mapping exercise will be carried out including a detailed workplan
• Conduct data collection activities including, but not limited to, literature review, secondary data collection and key informant interviews.
• Undertake data cleaning and analysis, maintaining a database to be share with TWG.
• Draft report of findings and validate findings with TWG before finalization.
• Incorporate feedback into draft report for review by TWG
• Finalize report for dissemination

Outputs/Deliverables:

Deliverables

Duration

(Estimated # of days or months)

Timeline/Deadline

Schedule of payment

Approved finalized inception report with detailed workplan

5 days

February 19th

10%

Approved field work report on data collection

30 days

April 2nd

40%

Data cleaning and analysis conducted and draft report submitted and approved

15 days

April 23rd

25%

Final report submitted and approved

10 days

May 7th

25%

Administrative issues

The consultant will work locally and conduct meetings and undertake necessary travel following all national regulations of COVID-19 prevention and response. Remote working will be an option given the changing conditions of COVID-19.

Conditions:

• The successful candidate is expected to work with provision of his/her computer and administrative support.
• The Consultant will not be authorized to use UNICEF vehicles for airport transfers and/or local transport needs except for stakeholder meetings. Local transport needs and terminals must be included in the financial proposal. In cases where the Consultant is travelling with UNICEF staff, UNICEF will provide transport as appropriate.

As per UNICEF DFAM policy, payment is made against approved deliverables. No advance payment is allowed unless in exceptional circumstances against bank guarantee, subject to a maximum of 30 per cent of the total contract value in cases where advance purchases, for example for supplies or travel, may be necessary.

The candidate selected will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions for individual contracts.

Policy stipulations to be aware of;

• Consultants are not entitled to payment of overtime. All remuneration must be within the contract agreement.
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant or Contractor.
• For international consultants outside the duty station, signed contracts must be sent by email. Signed contract copy or written agreement must be received by the office before travel is initiated. Consultants will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget.
• Consultant will be required to complete online courses related to Ethics, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Security related trainings prior to taking up the assignment and/or travel.
• Consultant will be required to sign the Health Statement for consultants/individual contractor prior to taking up the assignment, and to document that they have appropriate health insurance, including Medical Evacuation.
• The Form 'Designation, change or revocation of beneficiary' must be completed by the consultant upon arrival, at the HR Section.

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

• Advanced degree in education, information management, statistics, mathematics, data science or related fields,
• At least 8 years of experience and demonstrated ability in designing and establishing EMIS or similar.
• Demonstrated experience of the current status and trends in terms of international education indicators, standards and targets in the context of SDGs, EFA, etc.
• Demonstrated experience with business process mapping and optimization, ideally in the education field.
• Demonstrated experience analyzing EMIS data or similar, with proficiency in statistical tools such as R and / or SPSS
• High analytical skills using diverse and complex quantitative and qualitative data from a wide range of sources,
• Demonstrates, applies and shares technical knowledge to government partners,
• Fluency in English is an asset,
• Communicates effectively, both orally and in writing, to varied audiences,
• Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
• Experience of working with UNICEF or UN is an asset.

How to Apply

Qualified candidates are requested to complete an application including profile to the respective advertisement online. Please indicate your ability, availability and financial proposal/quote to complete the terms of reference above.

Rates must include all expenses related to the assignment (e.g. consultancy fee, field trips, living allowance).

If you have not been contacted within 2 months of the closing date please accept that your application was unsuccessful. Regret emails will be sent only to shortlisted/contacted candidates.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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 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.