National consultancy on provision of technical assistance to revise the financial framework for preschool education subsector (deadline extended)

Consultant Mid Programme & Policy

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

This is a NO-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-3 contracts.

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.

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For every child,

Background The importance of quality early childhood education (ECE) is reflected in the Sustainable Development Goals, as target 4.2 calls for access to quality pre-primary education for all children. To achieve this ambition, it is important to ask a key question: How can countries effectively plan, implement, and assure quality of early childhood education at scale? In providing further support to strengthen ECE subsector, the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and UNICEF have partnered under the Better Early Learning and Development at Scale (BELDS) initiative to pilot an innovative and consultative approach to strengthen national capacities to plan; cost and finance; and monitor ECE programmes and ensure that they are a crucial part of the processes for education sector planning and implementation. An underlying aim of BELDS is to support countries transition from project focused ECE efforts to ongoing, multi-year systems strengthening and capacity building efforts.

PURPOSE: Tajikistan was selected as one of the piloting countries under BELDS for scaling up BELDS approach to Build capacity of national education systems to effectively implement ECE programmes. To this end UNICEF is seeking a qualified national expert to provide technical assistance in overall implementation of BELDS initiative in close collaboration with key target audience, including:

• ECE Subsector and Education Stakeholders Preschool directorate or ECE division/unit staff, planning staff, and statistics/EMIS staff of Ministries of Education
• Other Ministries- Stakeholders and Partners that may not yet engage systematically and/or directly with ECE stakeholders (i.e. from Planning Ministries, Ministries of Finance, etc.)
• Development Partners / CSOs which support ECE planning, management of service provision and monitoring.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSIGNMENT: The Individual Contractor aims to support MOES in producing evidence around the adaptation and scaling of innovative approaches and models of a coherent pre-primary sub-sector that responds to the national needs and demands of GPE member countries. As part of this overall objective, the consultancy will support the MOES with the activities under the Scaling up BELDS Initiative in coordination with UNICEF and MoES technical teams.

The consultancy will involve overall technical support to the MOES with implementation pre-primary education plan 2021-2023, as well as the overall coordination, planning, implementation and monitoring of the activities under BELDS.

K****ey tasks: 1.Technical guidance to MOES on ECE policy implementation, including supporting the activities under BELDS as a part of MTEP 2021-2023:

a. Work with BELDS Steering Committee to support the MoES in the implementation of the ECE plan under Mid-Term Education Action Plan 2021-2023, using scaling tools, guidelines and findings provided by GPE KIX project;

b. In collaboration with the national ECE education and finance experts develop a capacity building plan to strengthen capacity in ECE at national and sub-national levels;

c. Coordinate with and support UNICEF HQ with documenting country process and experience under Scaling up BELDS, with the view of developing a case study;

d. Technical inputs and participation at peer-to-peer events and sharing of experiences (workshop/webinars, etc.);

e. Participation in technical and consultation meetings, advocacy and policy dialogue, including at DCC and LEG meetings, including field work and regional seminars;

f. Support in documentation, monitoring and reporting of implementation of BELDS activities

g. Engaging in learning exchanges with other GPE KIX countries;

2. Linking with KIX Hubs in their knowledge mobilization activities;

3. Support the use of new knowledge and innovations with education stakeholders through facilitated dialogue and capacity building, including operationalization of digital educational platform Learning Passport for ECE.

4. Foster relationships with education stakeholders to identify future collaboration opportunities and support ongoing knowledge and innovation needs.

5. Overall coordination, planning, implementation and monitoring/documentation of the Scaling up BELDS activities.

KEY DELIVERABLES/TIMEFRAME/PAYMENT SCHEDULE:

#

Tasks/Milestone

Deliverables/Outputs

Number of days

Timeline

Payment schedule

1

Ensured an effective management and implementation of the project activities.

Ensure BELDS National Steering Committee is established and KIX ECE project's objectives are disseminated with key education stakeholders.

20 days

March 2021

Apr 2021 - 20% upon completion of deliverables and acceptance by UNICEF.

2

Strengthened understanding among sub-national education and finance authorities on supporting implementation of ESP ECE activities.

Community engagement in 8 districts with participation of parents and caregivers conducted to advance transparency and accountability of public financial resources for ECE and develop collaborative messages of sound and rational prioritisation of spending decisions for ECE both at sub-national budgets and family budget (Khorog, Kulyab, Dushanbe, Khujand, Rasht, Rogun, Nurobod, Shughnon)

50 days

(Off-site working days)

June - Sep 2021

Sep 2021 - 20%upon completion of deliverables and acceptance by UNICEF.

3

Improved partnership and collaboration across key national and international education stakeholders with respect to ECE scale up, planning, and support to Ministries of Education.

Relationships with education and finance stakeholders strengthend through quarterly systematic knowledge sharing and advocacy at DCC ECE and LEG ECE to inform policy decisions and future collaboration opportunities identified to support ongoing needs in ECE sub-sector.

30 days

March - Nov 2021

Nov 2021 - 40%upon completion of deliverables and acceptance by UNICEF .

4

Revised ECE National Financial Framework operationalized to ensure efficient allocation and use of available financial, human and physical resources for ECE sub-sector.

National ECE Financial Framework revised and new mechanisms proposed for transparent and efficient public and private allocations and financial mechanisms, in particular PCF and PPP models for alternative ECE models being developed and piloted by Development Partners.

60 days

Aug - Nov 2021

5

Evidence generated to demonstrate benefits of efficiency and effectiveness of transparent financial mechanism for ECE.

Case study developed based on documentation of a country process and experience under Scaling up BELDS.

30

Dec 2021

Dec 2021 - 20%upon completion of deliverables and acceptance by UNICEF.

Note: Due to COIVD-19, the work and deliverables are subject to change. Consultant need to be flexible to adjust to any unforeseen adjustments that might occur during the implementation.

Performance indicators for the evaluation of results: The evaluation of the results will be based on:

1. Technical and professional competence (quality of the products delivered to UNICEF); 2. Scope of work (e.g. No. of meetings with the stakeholders); 3. Quality of work (quality of methodology, draft, and final report); 4. Quantity of work (completing the tasks indicated in the table above within the set timeframe).

In addition, such indicators as work relations, responsibility, drive for results, and communication will be taken into account during the evaluation of the Consultant's work.

Estimated duration of contract and remuneration: The assignment will be carried out in 190 working days spread over a period ranging from March - December 2021.

Location: Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

Supervision: The national consultant will receives ongoing and day-to-day supervision from the Learning Section Chief, UNICEF in Tajikistan. Reporting to**: Education Officer, UNICEF in Tajikistan

Insurances: UNICEF does not provide or arrange life or health insurance coverage for consultants and individual contractors, and consultants and individual contractors are not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to United Nations staff members. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for assuming all costs related to required inoculations, vaccinations and medical examinations. Consultants and individual contractors are fully responsible for arranging, at their own expense, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the period of their services as they consider appropriate. The responsibility of UNICEF is limited solely to the payment of compensation for service-incurred death, injury or illness as per the provisions detailed below.

Recourse: UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines.

Ethical considerations: Adequate measures should be taken to ensure that the process responds to quality and ethical requirements. The contracted consultant should be sensitive to beliefs, manners, and customs and act with integrity and honesty in their relationships with all stakeholders. It should also protect the anonymity and confidentiality of individual information.

Mandatory trainings: Consultants and individual contractors, regardless of contract duration, must complete the applicable mandatory trainings. The link will be provided during the selection process for the successful candidates.

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

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

1) Education: Postgraduate/graduate degree in education/or social sciences, humanities; - Familiarity with new educational development trends and socio-economic reforms, especially in the CEE/ CIS region; - The individual should be highly proficient in a range of PC/web applications, including but not limited to: MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Outlook, and Lotus Notes.

2) Work experience: Minimum 5 years of practical experience in the field of education, educational policies and reform in the educational sector (preferably in early childhood education), as well as experience with education sector planning processes; - Previous work/experience with similar projects; - Knowledge of UNICEF priorities would be an asset;

3) Competencies: Proficient writing and communication skills; - Proven experience and ability to work in a team; - Strong organizational, planning, and analytical skills. - Good judgment, initiative, high sense of responsibility, tact and discretion. - Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and ability to establish harmonious working relations in a multicultural environment.

4) Language: Excellent written and verbal communication in English and Tajik. Knowledge of Russian is an asset;

REQUIREMENTS: Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Cover letter/application/CV.
2. A technical proposal with the proposed methodology/approach to managing the project, showing understanding of tasks.
3. Financial quote for the consultancy in TJS per deliverable, stating also the timeframe for completion of deliverable and/or daily rate (as well as travel and subsistence costs, as applicable).
4. Examples of previous, relevant work related to the deliverables.
5. At least two references

Queries can be sent to tad-procurement@unicef.org with the subject line "National consultancy on provision of technical assistance to revise the financial framework for preschool education subsector". Applications must be received in the system by 19 March 2021 (extended deadline)on our website: http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index.php .

Travel costs and DSA will be covered in accordance with UN rules and regulations. No other remunerations apply. As a general principle, the fees payable to a consultant or individual contractor follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible cost.

Please note that consultants and individual contractors are responsible for assuming costs for obtaining visas and travel insurance.

EVALUATION PROCESS AND METHODS: Individual consultants/contractors will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis methodology. The award of the Contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and b) having received the highest score out of a weighted set of technical and financial criteria.

During the selection, the ratio between the technical evaluation and commercial offer is 70 to 30.

Criteria

Weight

Max. Point)

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION (max. 70 points)

70%

70

Overall Response (30 points)

Understanding of tasks, objectives and completeness and coherence of response

15

Overall match between the TOR requirements and proposal

15

Proposed Methodology and Approach (20 points)

Quality of proposed approach/methodology

10

Quality of proposed work plan

10

Technical Capacity (20 points)

Postgraduate/graduate degree in education/or social sciences, humanities;

Familiarity with new educational development trends and socio-economic reforms, especially in the CEE/ CIS region;

7

Minimum 5 years of practical experience in the field of education, educational policies and reform in the educational sector (preferably in early childhood education), as well as experience with education sector planning processes;

7

Excellent written and verbal communication in English and Tajik. Knowledge of Russian is an asset;

6

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL (max. 30 points) (daily rate, lump sum, per deliverable, Economy Air Ticket)

30%

30

TOTAL SCORE (max. 100 points)

Only candidates who obtain a minimum of 49 points in the Technical Criteria evaluation will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Financial Proposal: Please provide an all-inclusive price for delivering professional services in accordance with the assignment described under this TOR. The formula for the rating of the Financial Proposals will be as follows: FP Rating = (Lowest Priced Offer / Price of the Offer Being Reviewed) x 100

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.

View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.

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Added 3 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: unicef.org