National Consultancy to support the development and implementation of coordination and collaboration mechanisms to ensure a comprehensive approach to GPE/ISDB (for Tajik nationals only)

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy 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.

And we never give up.

For every child,

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Background:

Quality and relevance of learning opportunities is a key concern in the Republic of Tajikistan for all students, particularly for girls. Despite, comparable data on learning outcomes is missing due to lack of standardized national assessment, low qualifications of teachers particularly in relation to active teaching methods, lack of ICT and promotion of 21st century skills constitute a major challenge impacting on the learning outcomes of children and adolescents, along with lack of conducive learning environments.

How can you make a difference?

Within the framework of the project, in November 2020 UNICEF initiated stocktaking of all Competency Based Education (CBE) related materials. In June 2021, the findings of the stocktaking exercise were presented to key stakeholders followed by a reflection exercise on the achievements of the reform and further steps to be taken to improve the quality of CBE implementation. A baseline has been initiated to understand how the CBE has been implemented in schools and classrooms and whether the teachers have been sufficiently supported during the roll-out of the reform. However, previous analysis (EGRA, 2019, Baseline Study by University of Central Asia, 2020) and the findings of the stocktaking report and reflection exercise demonstrated the weak link between the theory of CBE and its implementation. Issues such as lack of common understanding of CBE in curriculum documents, insufficient training and mentoring support to teachers, absence of alignment of the teacher preparation, professional development and mentoring, as well as learning assessment systems with CBE approach have been raised as key concerns.

The ISDB/GPE project “Support to implementation of National Education Development Strategy until 2030” aims at addressing these issues and establish necessary connections for a comprehensive implementation of CBE reform. This assignment plays a key role in providing support to all international and national experts engaged in various components of the project through establishing effective coordination and collaboration mechanisms throughout all stages of the project, including during the design, testing of the models and products in selected schools and advocacy for scale up.

Purpose:

The purpose of this assignment is to ensure effective coordination and strong interlinkages across various project components.

Location/Duration:

Duration: 150 working days

Location: Dushanbe, Tajikistan with multiple travels to target districts: The consultant will have in-country travels (maximum of 50 days) to provide capacity building and handholding to mentors and education departments staff. As the project schools have been identified and required permissions obtained, no additional permissions will be needed.

Period: 1st of April 2022– 28th February 2023

On-site: 100 days

Off-site: 50 Days

Reporting to: Education Specialist

Description of the assignment:

The key task of this assignment will include:

• Supporting development and implementing a framework for efficient and effective communication between the teams involved in the implementation of various project components;
• Preparing and running participatory workshops for teams involved in the implementation of various project components;
• Supporting technical teams in preparing and running workshops various project components and project progress for MoES and DCC/LEG;
• Provide technical assistance to teams of key experts in testing their models and products in selected schools;
• Supporting development and implementation of a frameworks for testing newly developed materials in schools and for including best practice from the project pilot schools into new instructional materials;
• Supporting development and implementation of a framework for integrating new curriculum into in-service blended courses and creating linkages between the latter and the in-classroom teacher support system;

• Proposing suggestions for adapting current digital learning platforms to the needs of the in-classroom support system.

• #

  Deliverable

  Number of days

  Timeline

  Payment schedule

  1

  Detailed workplan on establishing joint collaboration, including calendar of joint events

  5

  By 25th April 2022

  30 %

  2

  Finalized framework for coordination and collaboration between various components of the project

  5

  By 15th May 2022

  3

  Coordination meetings with consultants and experts on project components (at least 4)

  25

  By 20th June 2022

  4

  Development of functional frameworks for testing and embedding teacher support and mentoring into teacher professional development system

  10

  By 20th July 2022

  5

  Supporting national and international consultant with creation of library of examples of “best practices”

  10

  By 21st August 2022

  35%

  6

  Organization of workshops/consultation meetings with RTMC and its staff on mentorship.

  20

  By 10th September 2022

  7

  Support in conference on teacher support organized

  10

  By 20th October 2022

  8

  Workshops for MoES and other key stakeholders on the progress of the project (at least 3)

  25

  By 20th November 2022

  9

  Workshops/consultation meetings with RTMC, RITTI, Academy of Education and Textbook Centre and its staff on mentorship, textbook revision and etc.

  20

  By 20th December 2022

  35%

  10

  Coordination meetings with consultants and experts on results of testing process (at least 4)

  15

  By 20th January 2023

  11

  Final report on the coordination and implementation of the project

  5

  By 25th of February 2023

  Total

  150

  100%

Due to COIVD19, the work and deliverables are subject to change. Consultancy need to be flexible to adjust to any unforeseen adjustments that might occur during the implementation.

Upon completion of the deliverables, the following documents shall be developed and submitted to the UNICEF Learning Section in soft copy:

• Detailed workplan
• Workshop agendas and materials
• Frameworks (described in the tasks and deliverables section)
• Tools and detailed description of proposed approaches
• Periodic reports on implementation of deliverables

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.

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

Education: Advanced university degree in the field of education, with focus on teacher preparation, professional development and mentoring systems, curriculum development, including textbooks and blended learning

Work Experience: At least 5 years of work experience in a relevant field, with focus on above mentioned areas and education policy development

Technical Knowledge: Strong knowledge of teacher professional development and mentoring system, curriculum and blended learning.

Competencies: Strong coordination skills, analytical and conceptual thinking. Ability to work with large teams and guide policy discussions. Excellent writing, communication, and presentation skills with stakeholders. Ability to work under pressure and commitment to work to tight timeframe.

Language: Fluency in English, Russian and Tajik

REQUIREMENTS:

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Cover letter/application/CV.
2. A technical proposal with proposed approach to managing the consultancy deliverables, 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 in TJS including the travel costs as well.
4. Examples of previous, relevant work related to the deliverables.

Queries can be sent to dushanbe@unicef.org with the subject line “National Consultancy to support GPE/ISDB “Support to implementation of NSED until 2030”. Applications must be received in the system by 13th March 2022 on our website:

http://jobs.unicef.org/cw/en-us/job/548825?lApplicationSubSourceID=

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.

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.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit 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 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.