National Consultant to analyse and update of financing in pre-university education and on QIE transition costing (Romania)

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, education.

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF supports the strengthening of capacity of counterparts for developing and implementing inclusive policies in education area (focusing on the most vulnerable children such as: Roma children, children with disabilities, children from vulnerable families, children from rural areas etc.) and to speed–up the reform of the education system.

In recent years education system in Romania has seen a number of improvements but important disparities remain. The existing disparities and vulnerabilities in education are generated by the chronic underfunding of education, the design of the per capita funding formula which addresses insufficiently the equity aspects of financing, the lack of evidence-based budgetary allocations among the cycles of education, limited capacity of the system of education for strategic planning, the bottlenecks in reforming the initial and continuous training of teachers, and social and cultural norms that are reproducing patterns of exclusion and discrimination.

To propose evidence-based policy options, UNICEF and its partners have implementing the QIE Model Transition, based on the hypothesis that: delivery at national level of a package of educational services in an integrated way to children and their families will reduce equity gaps in education and a comprehensive intervention focused on a quality and inclusiveness of education will reduce early school leaving and enhance school participation and better learning outcomes for students. The costing of QIE Model Transitions comes also timely for a better national financing planning in education and also in view of making a better use in education of the new structural funds framework 2021-2027, as the scaling up of QIE Model at national level will require adequate investments.

The scope and focus of the costing implications for scaling up the QIE Model consists of in-depth examination and considerations of costs for progressive implementation of the model at national level. This implies considering costs of scaling up in various settings, with special focus on provision of access to the services included in the model in the most deprived rural or peri-urban areas. This is guided by the equity of national policies and strategies.

The update for the analysis of financing in pre-university education is an exercise to be carried out in close cooperation with the Ministry of National Education, Unit for the financing of the Pre-University Education.

The scope of the analysis needs to be linked as well to other planned or existing Government initiatives, especially the ones included in the Partnership Agreement 2021-2027. The analysis of expenditure will look closely at the expenditure operated in 2020 and 2021, considering the following items:

• Coefficient no. 1 for the standard cost/student;
• Differential coefficients for the standard cost/student
• Specific correction coefficients for the standard cost/student;
• Complementary financing.

The update on costing QIE need to include:

• An analysis of the costs for each additional QIE Transition component
• An update on the costing exercise of the human resources needed for the scale up at national level;
• An update costing exercise of any other costs associated to scaling up at national level;
• An update analysis of the implementation and monitoring costs at national and county/local level
• An analysis of the overall costs of the QIE per beneficiary (pupil), per one school unit and an analysis of the overall costs for scaling the model at national level;
• An analysis of the possible scenarios by component or entire package and entry points in the education system for scaling up (with the respective costing forecasts)

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

• At least 5 years of experience in the area of education and/or educational policies;
• At least 5 years of experience in Public Finance Management covering budget preparation and budgetary processes, ensuring linkages between budget and policy;
• Knowledgeable and experienced in costing of strategies, programmes, services, including standard costs, etc. (please add relevant reference);
• Extensive experience in data collection and research/analyses methodology design in relevant areas;
• Strong analytical and conceptual thinking;
• Experience of work in multi-disciplinary team and effective working relationships both within and outside the organization;
• Fluent Romanian, Good speaking and writing skills in English.

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.

Application procedure:

The application will be made in the dedicated UNICEF platform and it must include:

1. an updated CV focused on the skills and experience requested by the current consultancy;
2. a cover letter underlining the motivation for applying for the position and how the candidate’s experience, skills and experience match the requirements of the position;
3. a financial offer, specifying the requested Gross daily fee in RON - as per the template Financial template_mar 2022.docx

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.