National Consultancy - Knowledge Innovation and Exchange (KIX) Better Early Learning and Development at Scale (BELDS)

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UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund

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Application deadline 2 years ago: Wednesday 1 Sep 2021 at 23:55 UTC

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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, learning.

How can you make a difference?

The Scaling up the Better Early Learning and Development at Scale (BELDS), under the Knowledge Innovation and Exchange (KIX) project is focused on increasing access to Quality Early Childhood Education in Sierra Leone. This will be achieved by supporting the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) to integrate Early Childhood Education (ECE) into the Education Sector Plans (ESP) as well as strengthen national capacity to plan, implement and monitor ECE programmes and projects. The consultant will provide technical and administrative support to the MBSSE ECD unit and the MBSSE Policy and Planning Directorate to ensure that planned activities and results in the endorsed KIX-BELD workplan for Sierra Leone are achieved.

Scope of work

With the MBSSE ECD unit newly established and with limited staff capacity to plan, implement and monitor ECD programmes including ECE, which the KIX-BELDs initiative is designed to strengthen, this technical support aims to increase capacity for planning and implementation of ECE activities in a timely and qualitative manner for the KIX-BELDS project. It will also help fill some of the programmatic and administrative capacity gaps identified in the MBSSE ECD unit. As such, the project consultant will support the MBSSE in the implementation of all activities under the KIX-BELDs project in Sierra Leone and ensure key ECE priorities are integrated into Sierra Leone’s Education Sector Plan (2021-2025). Furthermore, the consultant will support the ECD unit of the MBSSE in the implementation of other UNICEF supported ECE activities outside of the KIX-BELDS project as needed.

The KIX-BELDS consultant will provide technical, operational, and administrative assistance to the overall efficient implementation of the KIX project (as per the KIX-BELDS workplan). This will include organizing meetings and workshops with the ECE Technical Working Group (TWG), providing input to the development of the ECE sections of the Education Sector Plan (ESP) and ECE policy and standards, developing and revising KIX-BELDS project workplans based on implementation realities and in line with project goals and activities. The consultant will engage with ECE TWG group, MBSSE ECD unit and MBSSE Policy and Planning Directorate as well as other partners to implement the activities outlined in the project workplan. This will also include participation in peer learning events such as webinar and workshops with other countries who have implemented the BELDS approach.

Tasks/Milestones: Deliverables/Outputs: Timeframe

  • KIX-BELDS capacity building workshops conducted, with reports and reports including recommendations and relevant plans finalized. ECE TWG established and functional with leadership provided by the ECD Unit of the MBSSE. July 2021-June 2022.
  • Costed ECE Priorities included in ESP including a well-articulated monitoring and evaluation through monthly ECE TWG working meetings. ESP with clearly articulated ECE vision, priorities, and strategies for improving access to ECE at scale finalized. July 2021-December 2021.
  • Learning exchanges and events with other countries such as webinars organized including participation in KIX project community of practice. Lessons from other countries incorporated into project implementation. July 2021-June 2022.
  • Organize the conduct of a rapid early Learning Assessment. ECE rapid early learning assessment report finalized and disseminated. September-December 2021.
  • Finalize and publish Sierra Leone KIX-BELDS knowledge documents and resources. Sierra Leones KIX-BELDs project experiences and shared with KIX Regional hub. October 2021-April 2021.
  • Quarterly and monthly briefs and other required documentation under the KIX projected developed. Quarterly and monthly briefs/ reports shared with UNICEF and MBSSE. May 2021-April 2022.
  • Broader ECE programme planning and implementation beyond KIX-BELDs activities supported working closely with the ECD unit of the MBSSE and UNICEF. Implementation of ECE activities beyond the KIX-BELDs project implemented and reported. May 2021-April 2022.

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

  • An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Education, ECD or any relevant field. *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience above the minimum may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
  • Minimum 5 years of practical experience in the field of education, educational policies, and reform; early childhood education and education sector planning.
  • Familiarity with new educational development trends and socio-economic reforms, especially in the West and Central African region.
  • Previous work/experience in supporting education and or ECE projects.
  • Experience in work with international organizations and projects.
  • Knowledge of education issues in line with MBSSE and UNICEF priorities would be an asset.
  • Solid writing and communication skills.
  • Experience and ability to work in a team.
  • Strong analytical skills.
  • Excellent report writing and workshop facilitation and organization skills.
  • Fluency in English is required.

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.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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

UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/.Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

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.

Consultants and Individual contractors are responsible for paying any taxes derived from the earnings received from UNICEF.

  • Application to include financial proposal that will detail your daily/monthly rate (in SLL) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

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.

Added 2 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: unicef.org