National consultant to support MOES in Albania for developing a roadmap for transforming special schools into Resource Centers

Consultant Teaching & Training Programme & Policy

Overview

Support transformation of special schools into resource centers.

You have:

• An advanced university degree (master's or higher) in human sciences, preferably education, pedagogy, psychology, sociology or other humanities.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in Inclusive Education.
• Experience in education research will be an asset.
• Knowledge of the UN/UNICEF mandate and UN rules/procedures is an asset.
• Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills.
• Ability to meet tight deadlines through excellent time management and organizing skills.
• Fluency in English is required.

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, A Champion!

UNICEF Albania is seeking a national consultant who will work with MOES and an International consultant in developing a roadmap for transforming special schools into Resource Centers in Albania.

The MOES in Albania has developed a comprehensive Education Strategy for the period 2021-2026. The vision of the Education Strategy is to establish an inclusive education system based on equality and lifelong learning. The aim is to provide quality education to all individuals, contributing to their personal well-being. One of the specific objectives of the strategy is to ensure full inclusion in education, as well as increase access to preschool and upper secondary education. This will be achieved by providing appropriate infrastructural conditions and creating friendly school environments. The importance of inclusion in the education system is emphasized in the amended Law on Pre-University Education 69/2012. The law highlights the need to create conditions for all children, especially those with vulnerabilities such as Roma, Egyptian, and children with disabilities.

Albania ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) on February 11, 2013 and in September 2016, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) adopted and published General Comment No. 4 (2016) on Article 24: "Right to inclusive education." While progress has been noted in policies regarding the inclusion of children with disabilities in the public education system, still in Albania there exist a dual system which allows for inclusive mainstream schools and special schools to coexist. The Law on Pre-University Education states that Special Schools for children with disabilities should be transformed into Resource Centers and all children with disabilities should be included in mainstream schools. So far, no specific legal provisions on how to carry out this transformation are in place and no clear analysis and guidelines for this major transformation exist. According to "Order 31, dated January 28, 2020, on the Regulation of the Functioning of Pre-University Education Institutions in Albania," special schools are intended to serve as Resource Centers for mainstream schools. So far there are 9 special schools in Albania that based on the Education Law should be gradually transformed into resource centers. No detailed analysis on their functioning, way of supporting for children with disabilities in line with Article 24 of CRPD on Inclusive Education and the shifting of responsibilities towards becoming resource centers have taken place yet.

How can you make a difference?

The national consultant will work in tandem with an international consultant to assess the current situation of the special schools (policy, legal, institutional, financial and capacity building aspects) and their potential readiness to be transformed into resource centers. The national consultant will accompany this process along the way working closely with the MOES ensuring the steps that will lead towards full transformation. The consultant will report to the Education Specialist in UNICEF Albania office.

The main deliverables, timeline and specific tasks for each of the deliverables are included herein below:

Deliverable 1 - Timeline: to be completed by end of January 2024

• Briefs and summaries on policy and legislation for children with disability in education revised as requested.
• Inception report and full methodology for the assessment revised and inputs provided as needed.
• Online meetings organized as per UNICEF's request.

Specific tasks under Deliverable 1 are:

- Work with an international consultant and support him/her with relevant summaries/briefs to develop a review on the Albanian legal/policy framework related to the children with disability and share all the policy briefs/summaries with the international consultant.

- Help the international consultant to develop the methodology for the rapid assessment and inception report with inputs, reviews, information from the ground, school visits, meetings with children with disabilities (CHWD) groups and parents.

- Organize online meetings with the international consultant and UNICEF, MOES specialists, Civil Society Organizations after the inception report has been prepared to receive comments and inputs.

****Deliverable 2 - Timeline: to be completed from February to end of March 2024****

• Data gathering in schools report submitted to UNICEF and International Consultant.
• Six Focus group discussions facilitated, and minutes/actions summarized.
• Support given to the international consultant to finalize the roadmap with data reviewing, and providing inputs as needed.

Specific tasks under Deliverable 2 are:

- Conducts interviews and observations in the nine schools as per methodology provided by the International Consultant.

- Organize and participate actively supporting the international consultant in conducting 2 focus group discussions with schoolteachers from the special schools and 2 mainstream schools.

- Support to organize and participate actively in 2 focus group discussions with parents of children attending the above schools and teachers as per methodology and guidance of the International Consultant.

- Develop inputs as needed for the draft final report.

Deliverable 3- Timeline: to be completed from April to end of December 2024

• One report on the provision of summaries inputs for the new legislative acts on school transformation delivered.
• One report with the list of profiles needed for transformation of schools delivered.
• One report on communication packages for special school’s transformation delivered.
• 8 trip reports prepared and delivered.

Specific tasks under Deliverable 3 are:

Support the activities of the action plan to be implemented for turning special schools into resource centers namely with:

a. Help shape the new legislation acts with inputs from roadmap/inputs from focus groups etc

b. Identify and develop a list of profiles and job descriptions needed for the resource center’s new role.

c. Help design instructions for the schools to implement the roadmap.

d. Provide the Agency for the Assurance of Quality in Preuniversity Education (ASCAP) with additional materials to be shared as part of their training (as per roadmap).

e. Develop a list of communication packages on the roadmap and work with the MOES team to ensure that all schools are informed on the transformation.

f. Travel to schools, special schools to receive inputs on the new policies and legislative acts and reform of resource center (8 travels)

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

• An advanced university degree (master’s or higher) in human sciences, preferably education, pedagogy, psychology, sociology or other humanities.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in Inclusive Education.
• Experience in education research will be an asset.
• Knowledge of the UN/UNICEF mandate and UN rules/procedures is an asset.
• Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills
• Ability to meet tight deadlines through excellent time management and organizing skills.
• Fluency in English is required.

What to submit:

• Letter of interest summarizing the educational background, the working experience that is relevant to the assignment and the specific role the candidate will play.
• Proposed methodological approach as per deliverables set forth.
• Updated resume
• Financial proposal in ALL (lumpsum to complete the assignment inclusive of all taxes)

If you have any question related the Terms of Reference for this consultancy, please contact HR 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.

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Potential interview questions

Added 2 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unicef.org