National Consultancy: Strategic Planning - Education, Islamabad, Pakistan, 11.5 months (For Pakistani Nationals 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, a smile!

Pakistan was the sixth country in the world to sign and ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child, less than one year after it was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989. However, children and adolescents living in Pakistan still face acute challenges.

UNICEF supports the Government of Pakistan to accelerate progress for children, work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and help children realize their rights under the Convention on the Rights of Children. This will be made through, among others things, strong partnerships with provincial authorities, teachers and health professionals, frontline workers and social mobilisers, communities and families, and of course the children and adolescents themselves.

In particular, UNICEF will work so that:

• Every child survives and thrives -- being in good health, immunized, protected from polio and accessing nutritious food.
• Every child learns.
• Every child is protected from violence and exploitation and registered at birth.
• Every child lives in a safe and clean environment, with access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.

To learn more about UNICEF’s work in Pakistan, please visit the country website www.unicef.org/pakistan and videos on YouTube and Vimeo

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF has supported provincial education departments in developing Education Sector Programmes to complement implementation of provincial Education Sector Plans. The programmes will be funded through the Education Sector Programme Implementation Grants (ESPIG) of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). The programmes will be implemented by the provincial education departments and attached units, with the technical support and, in close collaboration with UNICEF, as the Grant Agent. The programmes are planned to start from September 2021 for a period of 5 years, after approval from the GPE.

To ensure timely initiation and launch of the programmes in September 2021, UNICEF Education Section intends to engage services of a consultant to provide technical support in preparatory activities of programme implementation. The consultant will be specifically responsible for the following scope of work and deliverables working closely with UNICEF and provincial education departments:

1. Provide support in the preparation of work breakdown structures (WBS) for the implementation of ESPIG programmes in consultation with UNICEF and provincial education departments.
2. Provide advisory and technical support in the development of Steering Structure and mechanisms for ESPIG programmes within the overall implementation and monitoring framework defined in the programme documents.
3. Provide support in the development of M&E structure and mechanisms for EPSIG Programmes in consideration with GPE M&E and reporting requirements and in consultation with UNICEF.
4. Provide support in the preparation of detailed concept notes and ToRs for operationalization of the following key results areas and work packages to support implementation of the programmes in consultation with UNICEF and provincial education departments:
   1. Development of schemes of studies and textbooks for English, Urdu and Mathematics, Grades 1 to 5.
   2. Development and implementation of curriculum and textbooks feedback mechanism and review process.
   3. Development of school language policy based on evidence on effective use of language to enhance learning.
   4. Development and implementation of an academic supervision and mentoring system for primary schools.
   5. Development, piloting and implementation of student dropout prevention mechanism

To make a difference, you will be accountable for the following tasks and deliverables:

Tasks:

1. Preparation of work breakdown structure (WBS) for the implementation of ESPIG programmes in consultation with UNICEF and provincial education departments. Programme documents (PDs) and, specifically, result chain, indicators and targets defined in PDs will provide the overall framework for WBS. The work breakdown structure will include (but not limited to) the following aspects:

• Tasks.
• Task duration (with tentative start and end date).
• Task dependencies and constraints.
• Dependencies between variable part subcomponents/activities and fixed part subcomponents/activities.
• Resource estimations and allocations.
• Implementing unit/organization - from government.
• Timeline.

2. Provide advisory and technical support in the development of M&E and Steering Structure and mechanisms for ESPIG programmes within the overall implementation and monitoring framework defined in the programme documents.

3. Support in the development of M&E structure and mechanisms for EPSIG Programmes in consideration with GPE M&E and reporting requirements and in consultation with UNICEF.

4. Preparation of detailed concept notes and ToR's for operationalization of the following results areas and work packages to support implementation of the programmes in consultation with UNICEF and provincial education departments:

• Development of schemes of studies and textbooks for English, Urdu and Mathematics, Grades 1 to 5.
• Development and implementation of curriculum and textbooks feedback mechanism and review process.
• Development of school language policy based on evidence on effective use of language to enhance learning.
• Development and implementation of an academic supervision and mentoring system for primary schools (including structure mechanism and tools).
• Development, piloting and implementation of student dropout prevention mechanism.

5. Preparation of detailed concept notes and ToR's for operationalization of the following results areas and work packages to support implementation of the programmes in consultation with UNICEF and provincial education departments:

• Development and implementation of an academic supervision and mentoring system for primary schools (including structure mechanism and tools).
• Development, piloting and implementation of student dropout prevention mechanism.

Deliverables

1. Work Breakdown Structure for GPE ESPIG programme agreed and approved by UNICEF. (15 July 2021 to 30 August 2021, 25%)

2. Draft Steering structure for GPE ESPIG programme agreed and approved by UNICEF. (1 September 2021 to 30 October 2021, 25%)

3. Draft M&E structure for GPE EPSIG programme agreed and approved by UNICEF. (1 September 2021 to 30 October 2021, 25%)

4. Detailed concept notes and ToRs for the following result areas as agreed and approved by UNICEF:

• Review of schemes of studies and textbooks.
• Curriculum and textbooks feedback mechanism and review process.
• School language Policy based on evidence on effective use of language to enhance learning. (1 September 2021 to 28 February 2022, 30%)

5. Detailed concept notes and ToRs for the following result areas as agreed and approved by UNICEF:

• Academic supervision and mentoring system.
• Student dropout prevention mechanism. (1 (March to 15 June 2022, 20%)

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Social Sciences, Public Policy, Development Studies, Education Planning and Management.

  *First university degree (Bachelor's) in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

• A minimum 8 years of working experience in the areas of education policy, planning and programme implementation in Pakistan.

• Professional work experience in developing education sector plans for education departments.
• Knowledge and experience in the technical areas of learning, education quality processes including curriculum, textbooks and assessments.
• Strong knowledge and experience of working with Government and managing planning processes with multiple stakeholders at provincial levels.
• Proven experience and knowledge of capacity development approaches and practices including developing capacity development reports for education departments.
• Excellent analytical, writing and communication skills. Fluency in local working language of the duty station and English required.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

• UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and core competencies in: Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness; Works Collaboratively with others; Builds and Maintains Partnerships; Innovates and Embraces Change; Thinks and Acts Strategically; Drives to achieve impactful results and Manages ambiguity and complexity. View our competency framework at: Here
• 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.

NOTE:

• Estimated Duration: estimate starting date: 15 July 2020
• The consultant will be based in Islamabad.
• The consultancy is at NOD equivalent level.
• Applicants are requested to submit a financial quotation indicating monthly fee as part of the application against each deliverable.
• HEC Attested and verified degrees are a pre-requisite for employment at UNICEF. Candidates will be required to present attested and verified degrees.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.

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.