National Consultant for provision of ICT in education to support UNICEF Albania efforts in blended and digital learning

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, inclusive education and digital learning

Education Development partners are increasingly highlighting the need for investing more in digital skills as a response to COVID 19. UNICEF Albania has been supporting MOES in a series of initiatives promoting digital skills for children and in designing a state-of-the-art platform for online learning, Akademi.al, where 24,758 video lessons have been developed supporting all pre-university system with interactive online learning inclusive content, and 499,089 students accessed the platform from 2020-2022.

UNICEF in the efforts to reduce the digital divide has been working with MOES and 22 TECHHUBS were being set- up during 2021 as a technology library where the digital tools can be distributed to children and teacher to be used when needed. UNICEF is also engaged in promoting English acquisition skills for young people through the open-source language platform Akelius which provides self-paced learning. The goal is to continue implementing this initiative during 2022 in 13 schools and in 2 Migrant Centres with the aim to strengthen blended learning and teaching through the usage of the AKELIUS application to address English language needs of refugee children in Albania and of the children from marginalized groups/ ethnic minorities; and to promote independent and self-learning by expanding access to the English language AKELIUS application for children and adolescent.

While the key focus of UNICEF initiative has been on learning for children whose education has been disrupted by emergencies, the medium and long-term goal is to help establish a quality system of online education, collaboration and support to children and parents. To that end, UNICEF Albania is seeking the services of a highly qualified consultant who would help boost further the investments of UNICEF Albania in ICT in education

How can you make a difference?

Under the overall supervision of the UNICEF Education specialist, the National Consultant will be responsible for supporting technical development in the area of blended learning and digital education with UNICEF Albania.

Main Tasks and specific activities and deliverables related to the consultancy are:

- Provide ongoing support and technical assistance for improving the national Platform as per requirements of UNICEF and MOESY.

- Assist in monitoring the 22 TECHHUBS and support school staff in case of technical issues.

- Provide technical inputs as needed for new developments in ICT in education.

- Provide inputs and support the drafting of reports.

- Monitor and assist schools with technical issues while implementing the Akelius programme

Deliverable 1. Support to monitoring, researching, implementation and positioning UNICEF Education programming vis-a vis digital developments

Tasks

• Regular communication maintained with RO and HQ as required from UNICEF Albania on issues of ICT in education
• Provided ongoing support and technical assistance for improving National Platform on learning as per organizational requirements of UNICEF and MOES
• Other relevant support provided as per need.

Timeline: Monthly 2 days each month, from July 2022-June 2023

Deliverable 2. Technical assistance and support TECH HUB initiative in the school project

Tasks:

• Assist in supporting the 22 TECHHUB schools in through organizing online or face to face training, mentoring sessions with school staff
• Support the 22 TECHHUBS school with technical issues
• Report on the challenges and success of the TECHHUB initiative in schools

Timeline: Monthly, 3 days each month, from July 2022-June 2023

Deliverable 3. Support the implementation of Akelius digital language platform initiative in the project schools

Tasks

• Organize online and face to face mentoring sessions with school staff to support schools with technical issues
• Technical support given to teachers using the platform online
• Support the local ICT staff technically for the implementation of the Akelius project
• Liaise with Berlin office to get updates and communicate those to Akelius team in Albania and schools

Timeline - Monthly, 8 days each month from July 2022-June 2023

To advocate for every child you will have…

• • Advanced University degree in Information Systems Management, ICT Management, Digital Education, Instructional Design, Engineering, Computer, and other relevant sciences.
  • More than 5 years specific experience on ICT for learning or digital learning is an advantage.
  • Project management experience will constitute an advantage.
  • Good technical understanding and familiarity with information management systems.
  • Proven experience on capacity building.
  • Previous work experience with Government, UN/UNICEF or other international organization would be considered as an advantage.
  • Excellent oral and written communications in English and Albanian is required

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

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 offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.