National Consultant - Education Specialist: M&E and Crisis Sensitive Planning for System Strengthening

Consultant

Overview

Support coordination and capacity development for education M&E and planning

You have:

• Advanced University degree (Master or equivalent) in education, social sciences or related fields.
• Over 10 years of relevant experience in the field of Education, strategic planning, and policy, crisis sensitive planning, and/or monitoring and evaluation.
• Strong planning, coordination, and analytical skills including the ability to provide technical backstopping and mentoring.
• Excellent coordination, organization, and prioritization skills, and the ability to manage multiple competing tasks.
• Proficiency in spoken and written Arabic and English required.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in complex operations within a multi-cultural environment.

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

**OVERVIEW** ------------ Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED) Duty Station: Amman Job Family: Education Type of contract : Non Staff Duration of contract : From 7 to 11 months Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 07-JAN-2022 UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism Duty Station: Amman/Jordan. Duration of contract: 11 months (part time) **Availability from January 2022 to December 2022 at the duty station is required and should be confirmed as part of the submission.** The expert will be under the overall authority from the Head of the UNESCO Jordan Office, and overall supervision of the Head of Education, and the direct supervision of the Project Officer, in close collaboration with UNESCO IIEP. **1 BACKGROUND, OBJECTIVES AND JUSTIFICATION** UNESCO has been supporting the Ministry of Education (MoE) in Jordan, notably through the technical expertise of its International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP), in developing its current 5-year National Education Strategic Plan (ESP) (2018-2022). UNESCO also supported the development of the national complementary Strategy for Mainstreaming Gender Equality in Education (SMGEE) 2018-2022 and its related Action Plan. Since the launch in March 2018 of the ESP, UNESCO has continued to provide specialized technical expertise to the MoE, focusing on system strengthening, including data management, analysis and use for evidence-based decision-making and policy formulation at a strategic level. A Multi Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) was established to coordinate and consolidate technical assistance interventions from several donors in support of the implementation of the Education Strategic Plan through the System Strengthening Partnership (SSP) programme with the Ministry of Education. Through this Fund, UNESCO is providing support to priority areas related mainly to policy and strategic planning; financial planning and budgeting; monitoring, evaluation and reporting; policy research; data management and analysis; and partnership and coordination. Evidence-based planning and monitoring is at the heart of this technical support. The COVID-19 pandemic has stressed the importance of investing in institutions, systems and capacities to be better prepared to respond to crisis. In this context, UNESCO will continue its support with a particular focus on strengthening and mainstreaming crisis-sensitive planning in education policy, strategic planning and information management, focusing on three priority areas as per the MoE request: 1) development of a national strategy for Crisis and Disaster Risk Management for education; 2) technical support to the MoE’s Risk Management section; and 3) technical support to integrating risk analysis and risk mitigation strategies into existing operational planning processes at central and sub-central levels. Furthermore, after a one-year process of a mid-term review of the ESP, the MoE recently successfully concluded a two-day policy dialogue with partners and national stakeholders to assess progress of the National Education Strategic Plan (ESP), including the impact of COVID-19, lessons learned and impact of the plan implementation. Under the Ministry’s leadership and with technical support of UNESCO/IIEP, this mid-term review of the ESP constituted an important element of evidence-based decision-making building on the review of progress made and the effectiveness of educational performance against defined goals and objectives. This policy dialogue brought together MoE decision-makers and key education partners and national stakeholders to reach collective agreements and recommendations for adjustments to the plan for the remaining period of implementation until end 2025. Building on UNESCO/IIEP’s support to the ESP midterm review, and as part of the original SSP workplan, the MoE requested support to further enhance its **monitoring and evaluation capacities**. This includes planned support for the **updating of the existing M&E framework**, accompanied by training of M&E focal points on how to use data for planning purposes. Furthermore, the ESP includes planned activities to improve the quality of decentralized education services and school-based planning, supportive supervision and management through an update to, and further refinements of, the MoE’s School and Directorate Development Programme (SDDP). Within the framework of the SSP programme, the MoE has also requested UNESCO technical support in strengthening the monitoring and evaluation of the SDDP, as well as support in the automation of SDDP in EMIS. Long Description ---------------- **2. PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT** In view of the above context, UNESCO is seeking to engage a National Education Specialist to support with the coordination, implementation, and capacity development of UNESCO’s technical assistance for monitoring & evaluation and crisis sensitive planning under the System Strengthening Partnership Programme. **3. DUTIES/TASKS AND EXPECTED OUTPUT:** The National Education Specialist will be responsible for carrying out the following tasks and responsibilities: • Provide technical support in the finalization of the ESP MTR process and follow-up of key recommendations emerging from the ESP mid-term review and liaising with UNESCO IIEP as needed. • Provide technical support for the preparations of workshops, consultation sessions, and trainings with technical inputs for the update of the M&E framework and the Crisis and Disaster Management Strategy for Education, as well as ensure the coordination of activity implementation, in close cooperation with the Ministry. • Provide technical support to conduct background research on specific topics as needed and prepare technical briefing notes with recommendations, including but not limited to the adaptation of IIEP training materials to the Jordanian context. • Provide technical support to the operationalization of the newly established crisis management section. • Provide technical backstopping and mentoring to the Education Planning and Research Directorate, in particular the M&E section and the Crisis Management section. • Ensure close monitoring and reporting of progress of the M&E and crisis sensitive planning activities under the SSP programme, identify challenges and possible corrective measures as needed. • Provide technical assistance to the MoE in their development of systematic, and high-quality SDDP monitoring reports in line with recently developed MoE guidelines on SDDP monitoring reports. • Provide technical support to the MoE for the update of the SDDP monitoring framework as part of the ongoing SDDP reform. • Provide technical support to the MoE for the review of existing SDDP indicators, and related automation in EMIS. Long Description ---------------- • Facilitate the organization of consultative meetings with relevant stakeholders and departments either within or outside the MoE and identify synergies with relevant national stakeholders and partners in Jordan and within the SSP programme, providing technical inputs linked to existing components such as on statistics, education & research or EMIS with the overall goal of improving crisis sensitive and evidence-based planning and monitoring. • Undertake field missions in support of activity implementation as needed. • Take part in UNESCO/IIEP team meetings as needed to share the latest developments and challenges linked to the implementation of the agreed overall and monthly workplan. • Oversee the quality assurance of all materials produced in Arabic. **2. TIMETABLE AND DELIVERABLES** Monthly technical reports are to be submitted to UNESCO Jordan Office and UNESCO IIEP, including progress of technical support, results, challenges, and lessons learnt. An updated monthly workplan should also be included (for the following month). The final technical report will also include a final summary of the assignment, as well as recommendations for next steps. The detailed timetable and deliverables based on the scope of work outlined above will be as follows: **D1** Technical report #1 (including progress, results, challenges, lessons learnt and updated monthly workplan) **Feb 15, 2022** **D2** Technical report #2 (including progress, results, challenges, lessons learnt and updated monthly workplan) **Mar 15, 2022** **D3** Technical report #3 (including progress, results, challenges, lessons learnt and updated monthly workplan) **Apr 15, 2022** **D4** Technical report #4 (including progress, results, challenges, lessons learnt and updated monthly workplan) **May 15, 2022** **D5** Technical report #5 (including progress, results, challenges, lessons learnt and updated monthly workplan) **Jun 15, 2022** **D6** Technical report #6 (including progress, results, challenges, lessons learnt and updated monthly workplan) **Jul 15, 2022** **D7** Technical report #7 (including progress, results, challenges, lessons learnt and updated monthly workplan) **Aug 15, 2022** **D8** Technical report #8 (including progress, results, challenges, lessons learnt and updated monthly workplan) **Sep 15, 2022** **D9** Technical report #9 (including progress, results, challenges, lessons learnt and updated monthly workplan) **Oct 15, 2022** **D10** Technical report #10 (including progress, results, challenges, lessons learnt and updated monthly workplan) **Nov 15, 2022** **D11** Technical report #11 and final technical report (including final summary of assignment, status of all activities, results, challenges, lessons learnt and recommendations for next steps) **Dec 15, 2022** The language of submitted reports/materials for the assignment is English. The technical expert is required to successfully complete UNESCO’s security awareness training \[UNDSS online BSAFE course\]. The certificate must be attached to the draft Individual Consultant contract and shared with the UNESCO Jordan Office Human Resources Unit with a copy of the signed contract. **COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)** ------------------------------------ Accountability (C) Communication (C) Innovation (C) Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C) Planning and organizing (C) Results focus (C) Teamwork (C) **-** ----- For detailed information, please consult the [UNESCO Competency Framework](https://en.unesco.org/sites/default/files/competency_framework_e.pdf). **5.REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS** ----------------------------- ***Education***: • Advanced University degree (Master or equivalent) in education, social sciences or related fields. ***Years of relevant work experience*** • Over 10 years of relevant experience in the field of Education, strategic planning, and policy, crisis sensitive planning, and/or monitoring and evaluation. ***Competencies and Skills*** • Strong planning, coordination, and analytical skills including the ability to provide technical backstopping and mentoring to strengthen national education systems. • Strong commitment and proven ability to improve education systems through knowledge transfer, effective collaboration, and a strong capacity development approach. • Ability to work as a team and in close collaboration with national authorities and/or Ministry of Education staff, and other education stakeholders. • Excellent coordination, organization, and prioritization skills, and the ability to manage multiple competing tasks. • Proven good interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to lead consultation, and capacity development sessions, and draft high-quality reports. • Demonstrated ability to work effectively in complex operations within a multi-cultural environment • Proficiency in spoken and written Arabic and English required. **Desired Qualifications** • Previous experience working with Jordan’s education system, in particular in fields related to the MoE’s ESP technical domains is an asset. • Previous experience working within the UN system is an asset. **APPLICATION PROCESS** ----------------------- Interested candidates should click on “**Apply Now**”, then download and complete the Employment History form (Word file). **At the end of the Word file****, insert extra pages** with the following **required** information in English. \* Upon completing the Word file with all the below requested information, **upload** the file at the “My Employment History Form / My Documents” section of the online application form. **Only** applications with the below requested information will be considered. **I.** A statement indicating how your qualifications and experience make you suitable for the assignment. **II.** A Technical Written proposal (*3 Pages Maximum*) consisting of: - A description of your proposed approach and methodology for undertaking the assignment. - A work plan with detailed milestones and key deliverables/activities as per the terms of reference. - Comments on the Terms of Reference, if any (in brief). - CV /Resume. - The amount to be charged for the assignment following the below price schedule: *A lump sum amount to be charged for the assignment (excluding travel), which should be quoted in US Dollar.* Please indicate your proposed **Monthly rate** (without travel cost). **SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS** ------------------------------------- Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the [UNESCO careers website.](https://careers.unesco.org/careersection/2/joblist.ftl) No modifications can be made to the application submitted. The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview. UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates. Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided. **Footer** ---------- UNESCO applies a zero tolerance policy against all forms of harassment. UNESCO is committed to achieve and sustain gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities, as well as nationals from non-and under-represented Member States [(last update here)](https://en.unesco.org/careers/geographicaldistribution) are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. Worldwide mobility is required for staff members appointed to international posts. UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.

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Added 4 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: careers.unesco.org