National Consultancy: Education Cluster Information Management Consultant (Open to Malawian Nationals Only)

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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...

On 13 March 2023, the President of Malawi declared a State of Disaster in 15 districts (Balaka, Blantyre (City and Rural), Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Machinga, Mangochi, Mulanje, Mwanza, Neno, Nsanje, Phalombe, Thyolo, and Zomba (City and Rural) that were severely affected by the Tropical Cyclone (TC) Freddy. The Government, through the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA), reported that as at of 20 March 2023, 114,637 households had been displaced, translating to approximately 508,244 people. Nearly 500 people had died, 427 were missing, and 841 had sustained various injuries. Public infrastructure such as schools, health facilities, and district and main roads had been damaged in all affected districts.

With regards to the impact of TC Freddy on the Education sector in southern Malawi, the data received as of 22 March 2023 indicates that 484 primary schools and 63 secondary schools had been impacted in 15 districts affecting the education of 237,388 learners (142,408 girls). At least 390 schools are currently being used as camps for Internally Displaced Persons making use of 762 classrooms.

The Malawi Government through DODMA is coordinating and leading all humanitarian actors in the assessment of disaster impact and needs as well as the provision relief assistance to the affected people. An Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) has been set up at the World Food Programme (WFP) offices in Limbe, Blantyre for effective and efficient coordination during the emergency response. UNICEF has supported the Ministry of Education (MoE) to station a small team of officials in Blantyre representing the Education Cluster at the EOC and to take part in the rapid needs assessment led by DODMA.

DODMA initially activated all national clusters including the Education Cluster in December 2022 due to the cholera pandemic emergency and because of the impact of TC Freddy, DODMA has also activated district emergency clusters. The Education Cluster is led by the MoE and co-chaired by Save the Children and UNICEF.

Given, the scale of the emergency, the MoE has requested UNICEF for support in the response and this includes strengthening the coordination, operations and information management of the Education Cluster. It is important to note the flood emergency has come amidst an ongoing cholera pandemic emergency which may rapidly spread further, therefore scaling up response efforts are crucial to respond quickly and effectively to both emergencies.

How can you make a difference?

The Education Cluster Information Management consultant, in close collaboration with the Education Cluster lead, co-leads, coordinator, and members, will be responsible for efficient emergency data management to inform Education Cluster response and rehabilitation encompassing the following cluster functions:

Cluster functions

Key activities

Supporting service delivery/outputs

• In consultation with Education Cluster partners, identify key humanitarian information management (IM) products, develop/adapt templates for collecting this information, and support the cluster and the cluster partners in producing consolidated IM products in a periodical manner.
• Support the MoE and Education Cluster co-leads in conducting the mapping of all current and potential actors – government, national and international humanitarian organizations as well as national institutions, and the private sector through the provision of regular inputs/updates on the Education Clusters 5 Ws (Who, What, Where, When and for Whom) matrix, cluster priority response matrix and other tools.
• Facilitate information flow between the Education Cluster and cluster partner programs by clearly outlining how data is collected, collated, and analyzed, and facilitate the identification of information gap geographically and programmatically.
• Assist in developing mechanisms to eliminate duplication of service delivery based on existing data and pro-actively strive for effective methods of acquiring data from the relevant stakeholders to fill the information gap.
• Support the Education Cluster coordinator in organizing and participating in regular cluster meetings aimed at information sharing for appropriate coordination between all education humanitarian partners.

Informing strategic decision-making of the HC/HCT for the humanitarian response

• Manage an inventory of database that contains relevant documents on the education humanitarian situation (multi-sectorial assessments, detailed education surveys, assessment reports of other relevant clusters such as Health, Protection, WASH, etc., and other relevant information).
• Provide IM support for the preparation of the Education Sector detailed assessments, situation analysis, etc.
• Update various database and reporting tools structure as needed, such as the Flash Appeal / Humanitarian Response Plan (Humanitarian Results Management) and any other reporting templates.
• Using geographic information system (GIS) for geographic data management, production, and analysis. Compile the data and create maps in a timely manner and as needed to assist the Education Cluster activities as well as partners and other stakeholders.

Advocacy

• Work with Education Cluster partners to keep and maintain an up-to-date database and information for education response. Make this information available to facilitate planning and impact assessment of the Education Cluster response by the cluster and other stakeholders.
• Together with the Education Cluster coordinator and leads/co-leads, estimate both geographic and programmatic coverage of programmes and produce coverage maps. Update inputs for mapping formats as needed to support the continuous review of the Education Cluster activities
• Support and provide input into the preparation of situation reports with emphasis on Education Cluster achievements by providing relevant and up-to-date information.
• Support the drafting of high quality and regular national and district emergency education situation updates.
• Compile regular inputs on the emergency affected areas for the Education Cluster at the national and district levels identifying the expected outputs.
• Support the Education Cluster in developing regular country/district level data and information based on agreed outputs and share this information with stakeholders.
• Work with Education Cluster partners to identify information gaps at the national and sub-national levels and propose ways to bridge information gaps.

Monitoring and reporting the implementation of the Cluster strategy and results

• Collate, curate, and analyze Education Cluster information and maintain and update the education emergency dashboard to facilitate humanitarian information exchange and promote data and information standards.
• Undertake regular monitoring visits to review the responses, including end-user monitoring, and provide oversight for quality control for partners reporting.
• In collaboration with the Education Cluster coordinator and lead/co/leads, rectify any gaps identified in reporting against the Education Cluster indicators of the service delivery (quantity, quality, coverage, continuity and cost) by regularly communicating and discussing the gaps with cluster partners and providing technical support aimed at enhancing timely and quality reporting.
• Work with Education Cluster partners on reporting sex and age disaggregated data, that should inform an Education Cluster analysis

Build National Capacity Building for Preparedness and Contingency Planning

• Promote and provide training and capacity building activities of the MoE and other Education Cluster partners, especially District Education Cluster members on information management.
• Support the Education Cluster coordination team and cluster partners in preparedness and contingency planning by consolidation the inputs from partners for the Education Response Plan.

Accountability to Affected Population

• Support the Education Cluster coordinator, lead/co-lead and cluster partners in setting up, operationalizing, and maintaining an Education Cluster complaint and feedback mechanism based on the inputs/guidance provided and feedback regularly to the cluster partners.

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

Academic qualification:

• An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in statistics, or information management, education, social science, development studies is required.

• A first-level university degree in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

• Formal training in cluster coordination is an advantage.

  Required work experience:

• At least five years of professional experience in information management and information design.

• Experience in GIS mapping using ArcGIS or QGIS.
• Experience in training and capacity development.
• Experience developing reports, policy briefs, and journal articles for a range of audiences, including practitioners in the field and policymakers.

• Experience and proficiency in using key statistical software to analyze data (i.e., MS Excel, Epi Info, STATA, SPSS, R).

• Experience in Education Management Information systems is required.

• Experience in the UN Common System is desirable.

Knowledge, technical skills and competencies:

• Knowledge and programming experience Emergencies is required.
• Drive for results.
• Ability to work effectively under stress and in emergency settings.
• Ability to work effectively in a diverse and multi-cultural team to achieve goals.
• Ability to develop new and nurture existing internal and external networks, partnerships and relationships which deliver results.
• Ability to communicate confidently and persuasively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to analyze information, solve problems and make decisions in various contexts.
• Strategic thinking.

• The highest levels of personal integrity and commitment to adhering to required standards of conduct.

  Language Proficiency

Excellent written and spoken skills in English is required.

Please refer to the attached full Terms of Reference TOR_Education Information Management Consultant.pdf for more details on the consultancy and requirements.

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.

HOW TO APPLY...

Interested Individual Consultant should provide the following:

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Academic certificates
3. Brief technical proposal (no longer than five pages) demonstrating the Individual Consultant's understanding of the assignment and approach/methodology to the assignment
4. Financial proposal including a breakdown of their all-inclusive fees (including professional fees, stationery, communication, and other miscellaneous costs). Financial Proposal for Consultancy.xlsx Complete the attached form.
5. References details

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.