National consultant to review and update school infrastructure standards and other related policy documents

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, a Champion!

UNICEF Albania is seeking a national consultant who will assist UNICEF in its efforts to review and update the national school infrastructure standards and other related strategic documents and processes related to school infrastructure.

The National Strategy on Education 2021 – 2026’s objective is to ensure that Albania has a comprehensive education system based on the principles of equality and lifelong learning, which enables the quality education of all individuals, contributing to their personal well-being, as well as to the strengthening of democracy and the country's integration into the European Union. One of the elements of ensuring equitable participation and quality of education is also school infrastructure. UNICEF has assessed the situation and identified some barriers that have slowed the implementation of the Local Government Units (LGU) mandate to provide quality education and inclusion. They have difficulties on obtaining demographic statistical data due to lack of regular updating of population data; limited human and financing resources to conduct efficient cost benefit analysis and effective planning for infrastructure reconstruction & maintenance & they do not have relevant expertise to plan and outsource reconstruction processes (environmental impact assessment; energy efficiency in schools, projecting/designing for electricity, heating, fire protection etc).

UNICEF supported by USAID is engaged in bridging the gap in the process of transparent and informed workflows regarding schools’ rehabilitation planning and decision making about infrastructure barriers leading to equal access to education. The planned interventions will provide technical assistance to Local Government units (LGU-s) to address these barriers and strengthen their capacities to better plan for infrastructure reconstruction or rehabilitations. The main results of this intervention will be solid plans and more capacitated local teams that respond to the needs for infrastructure improvements.

To this end, UNICEF will conduct an exercise which will aim at reviewing the school standards for infrastructure in line with the highest standards (as used by EU etc) by providing the needed recommendations and inputs to the Albanian authorities.

How can you make a difference?

The national consultant will assist UNICEF office in Albania to review and update the school infrastructure standards and work under the supervision of the Education Specialist in the Program Team. He/She will be responsible for the tasks and deliverables as below:

Deliverable 1: Inception report presenting a detailed outlook of the policy and financing framework related to school infrastructure interventions in Albania prepared and delivered.

Specific Tasks

- Conduct desk review and consultation meetings with national stakeholders, including the Ministry of Education and Sports, Ministry of Finance and Economy, Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, Ministry of Interior, and the Minister for Local Governance on understanding the policy, legislative and financing framework related to school infrastructure standards and codes.

- Conduct desk review and consultation meetings with local stakeholders, including municipal directories and education offices on processes related to the role that local government units (municipalities) play in initiating and implementing school infrastructure projects and interventions based on the standards in place.

- Review the template used by Municipalities to apply for infrastructure funds.

- Outline the codes and standards in use as well as the decision-making structure including actors and responsibilities, procedures. Identify barriers and bottlenecks in the process.

Timeline - 10 working days after contract's signature.

Deliverable 2: Draft Report on outlining data and findings from all the reviewed documentation regarding infrastructure intervention standards and codes and compare them with the existing codes in use in Albania prepared and delivered.

Specific Tasks

- Conduct a desk review of standards and codes of school infrastructure in use internationally and within EU and compare it with the Albanian standards. The following documents provide an initial guide for comparison:

• EU Eurocodes: https://eurocodes.jrc.ec.europa.eu/
• EU Eurocode 8: https://eurocodes.jrc.ec.europa.eu/publications/en-1998-design-structures-earthquake-resistance
• UNICEF Child-Friendly Schools Manual: https://www.unicef.org/documents/child-friendly-schools-manual/
• Core questions and indicators for monitoring WASH in Schools in the Sustainable Development Goal (UNICEF)
• UNESCO IEEP toolbox for school equity: https://policytoolbox.iiep.unesco.org/policy-option/school-infrastructure/
• World Bank Global Program for Safer Schools: https://gpss.worldbank.org/en/roadmap-step/school-infrastructure-policy
• EU Eurydice: Financing Schools in Europe: Mechanisms, Methods and Criteria in Public Funding: https://eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu/publications/financing-schools-europe-mechanisms-methods-and-criteria-public-funding
• EU Eurydice: Financing Schools in Europe: Mechanisms, Methods and Criteria in Public Funding: https://eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu/publications/financing-schools-europe-mechanisms-methods-and-criteria-public-funding
• Kosovo updated school standards: https://masht.rks-gov.net/en/category/division-for-school-infrastructure-planning-and-standards/

Timeline - 20 days after contract's signature

Deliverable 3: Finalized report prepared and presented to UNICEF and other stakeholders. The report among other will focus on concrete recommendations for school infrastructure standards and improved templates /application forms for school infrastructure application. Roadmap to identify how the recommendation will need to be addressed and by whom prepared.

Specific tasks

- Prepare a draft final report:

• Detailing problems and issues with the existing standards and application template for school infrastructure
• Presenting alternative codes and standards frameworks based on the comparison with EU standards in the field
• Proposing improved and standards for school infrastructure interventions including a stronger role of the local government units and communities in ensuring equity in school infrastructure interventions.
• Prepare a presentation of the changes and by ready to present in an open event organized by UNICEF.

Timeline: 10 days after contract's signature

As part of the assignment, the consultant will have to travel locally in some municipalities of Albania. The TOR foresees one day travels to six municipalities that are part of the project (Roskovec, Korca, Gjirokastra, Diber, Elbasan, Lezha) - 6 daily trips in total.

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

• An advanced university degree (master’s or higher) in Architecture, Urban Planning, Civil Engineering. Focus on educational facilities is an advantage.
• A minimum of 10 years of work experience in education-related infrastructure and policy work and cooperation with local government;
• Extensive experience in research and consultation especially related to education construction codes and standards
• Proof of experience in developing infrastructure standards and methodical research.
• Excellent presentation and communication abilities while dealing with national and international organizations.
• Written and spoken English and Albanian fluency.
• Previous experience working with UN agencies will be advantageous.

What to submit:

1. Letter of interest, summarizing the educational background, the working experience that is relevant to the assignment, and the specific role the candidate will play.

2. Proposed methodological approach as per deliverables set forth.

3. Updated Resume and complete thoroughly the system profile

4. Financial proposal shall be submitted in local currency (LEK). The fee will be all inclusive indicating daily fee and travel cost.

If any question related to the TOR please contact Elvana Pernaska at epernaska@unicef.org

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 here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

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.