National Individual Consultant to provide technical support in introduction of Alternative models of preschool education and support in digital initiative on “Learning Passport” Platform and

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.

Background:

The Government of Uzbekistan has been paying enhanced attention to preschool education sector and has been exploring ways to enhance the access to and participation in ECD/E services in the country over past five years. The establishment of the national Ministry of Pre-school Education in 2017, along with the adoption of the Law on Preschool Education issued in 2019 provided a long-term vision that is now enabling increased access to quality ECE, while ensuring expansion of at least one-year preschool education in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4.2. In particular this enabled the staggering increase in enrolment with the number of children (3-6 years) accessing ECE services increasing from 634,000 in 2015 to almost 2 million by 2022 – equivalent to over 39% increase of national coverage in just 5 years since the establishment of Ministry of Pre-school education.

Early Childhood Development and Education is one of the priority areas of the UNICEF Uzbekistan Country Programme. UNICEF has been providing technical assistance to the Government of Uzbekistan in its efforts to improve the ECE services. The UNICEF-MOPSE Joint Work plan includes several activities agreed and planned to support systemic improvements in ECE, including:

• Strengthening the capacity and responsiveness of national system through evidence-based policy planning, monitoring and coordination.
• Investing on quality of Early Childhood Care and Education programmes through ongoing curriculum review and teacher training.
• Continuing the expansion of access through flexible and innovative service delivery.
• Introducing innovation and technology, further learning from the experience of the COVID-19 response.

While implementing the joint Work Plan, UNICEF is providing technical assistance in creation of Alternative multi-lingual inclusive preschool groups in Surkharndarya region within the EU funded project “Ensuring enhanced access to inclusive education, social services and legal aid in the Surkhandarya region”. The main aim of the project is to establish innovative inclusive pre-school education facilities in communities that are not covered by pre-school education, with the focus to reach marginalized and ethnic minorities. It is expected that 10 new alternative groups will be established in the communities where Afghan people live with the aim to provide equal services for most vulnerable children.

Additionally, UNICEF has been promoting the use of innovative tools to deliver various programs intended to have positive social impact and different programme teams is taking lead to identify, prototype, and scale up digital solutions to strengthen UNICEF's work for children over the decades. Recognizing the potential of digital solutions in improving quality of life and services for children and their families, UNICEF Head Quarters and Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECARO) supported the development of 'Learning Passport' (LP) and a Parenting App – Parenting Buddy, Regional initiative to support parents through mobile application. The work on both projects has started in 2021 and continued in 2022.

The Parenting App was launched in November 2021 with all mandatory and partially non-mandatory content translated, adopted and downloaded to the App for users. More content needs to be finalized and introduced in 2022 and promotion work through service providers along with communication activities is planned in 2022.

Complementing this work there is also need to enable enhancement of the content in LP/ Bolalik Akademiyasi with more relevant content and increase the number of users for both Mobile App and LP. This will require additional support in terms of development of content, on-line courses to be embedded into in-service teacher training (ISTT)system, promotion to be done through service providers and existing ISTT system in 2023.

In light of the above mentioned needs and activities, UNICEF Uzbekistan Country Office Education Section seeks assistance of a national professional individual to ensure efficient and effective support in relation to the implementation of alternative models of ECE services and advancement of digital solutions for ECE.

Purpose:

Under the supervision of ECD Officer the individual contractor selected for this assignment will work with government counterparts (MOPSE) for the successful implementation of the several activities:

• Introduction of alternative multi-lingual inclusive groups within the EU funded project “Ensuring enhanced access to inclusive education, social services and legal aid in the Surkhandarya region”.
• Further enhancement of deployment of the Learning Passport global platform in Uzbekistan “Bolalik Akademiyasi” and Parenting App “Bebbo” to accelerate the achievement of ECD results in Uzbekistan context.

The individual contractor will also support in liaising with all stakeholders to build a preferred set of solutions for Uzbekistan.

Description of the Assignment and Tasks:

Under the direct supervision of ECD Officer the consultant will be required to undertake the following tasks:

1. Support and facilitate introduction of new Alternative ECEs in the selected regions by:
   1. Providing technical support to the International Consultant in development of multi-lingual inclusive programme/guidance to be in line with national preschool curriculum and national context.
   2. In collaboration with Intranational Consultant facilitate the work of the working group (WG) of local experts in development and adaptation of the TLM.
   3. Support to pre-test and conduct baseline and end line assessment to capture practices, capacities, and attitudes around first and second language use, for preschool children and teachers in minority areas.
   4. In collaboration with International Consultants support in teacher trainings on ML and inclusive, multi-age play methodologies of pedagogy.
   5. Regular monitoring of the project and reporting on monthly bases.
   6. Provide support in development of final report on documenting the process and findings/results of the project.
2. Support in further operation and monitoring of the work of 10 previously opened alternative groups in Khorezm and Namangan region:
   1. Mentoring and regular support to the teachers of alternative ECEs.
   2. Facilitate regular monitoring activities by teachers and provide feedback and support.
   3. Regular monitoring visits to the regions and document the findings, undertake follow up activities with ECD officer, local preschool education departments and preschools.
3. Facilitate the work on digital solutions developed and introduced by UNICEF, specifically Learning Passport and Parenting App “Bebbo” by:
   1. LP content development and management and facilitate work of the local group of experts by identifying needs, prioritizing key areas and providing technical support.
   2. Support coordination with national stakeholders in promoting of the LP through teacher training systems.
   3. Quality assurance and monitoring of the content development.
   4. Facilitate promotion of the “Bebbo” mobile App through service providers – preschool teachers in Tashkent and Fergana Regions and further expansion of the strategy nationwide.
   5. Regular monitoring and reporting on monthly bases.
4. Other duties upon request and mutual agreement related to ECE
5. Process documenting Report

Total days: 185 working days

Timeline:

The assignment is full time between 8-11 months starting ideally from February 2021. Preferably the candidate will be available for 11 months.

Management:

Under the guidance of the Chief of Education, ECD Officer will directly supervise the National Consultant. National Consultant will be working in consultation with national and local stakeholders, Learning Passport and Parenting App Teams and in close collaboration with International Consultant on MLE.

Resource requirements:

According to UNICEF policy, the final fees will be set up based on the “best value for money” principle. Total project is expected to be allocated for the period of 11 months. Payment will be made upon satisfactory completion of the assignment on monthly bases and provision of monthly reports of accomplished tasks and deliverables approved by the supervisor.

The candidates are requested to submit their financial offer consisting of fee for the services to be provided. The Consultant will receive direct payment to his/her indicated bank account in Uzbek Sums based on the UN currency exchange rate.

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

• Advanced University degree in education, health, social sciences, or related field (validated by diploma);
• At least 8 years of professional and relevant experience in education, preferably in ECD/E and knowledge of the situation with ECD/E in Uzbekistan and understanding of UNICEF’s work in this area (proved by CV and work experience);
• Work with UNICEF in the area of ECE would be considered as an asset (verified through CV);
• Good networking and interpersonal skills (verified through an interview);
• Excellent written and spoken skills in Uzbek and Russian. Working knowledge of English will be an asset (verified by examination of previous written work and interview).

Procedures and Working Conditions

UNICEF will reserve copy right of all developed materials and own primary data collected through this assignment. The materials cannot be published or disseminated without prior written permission of UNICEF. UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify materials produced at any time.

The consultant must clearly identify any potential ethical issues arising from the fulfilment of her/his tasks and duties in the framework of this assignment and ensure that s/he performs the assignment in a manner that does not expose UNICEF to any such risks.

The Consultant is expected to work independently and respond to feedback from the supervisor in a timely and professional manner, to be results driven, and to have the ability to work under pressure and meet required deadlines. In case of need, UNICEF shall provide for office space, ICT equipment and physical resources required for the completion of the assignment. Several travels to regions may be undertaken. All trips will be arranged based on UNICEF rules and regulations. Consultant will be provided with UNICEF account.

UNICEF undertakes no liability for taxes, duty or other contribution payable by the consultant on payments made under this contract

Reservations.

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if the performance is unsatisfactory, if deliverable(s) are incomplete, not finalized or for failure to meet deadlines. UNICEF will reserve copyright of all developed materials and own primary data collected through this assignment. The materials cannot be published or disseminated without prior written permission of UNICEF. UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future. The contractor must respect the confidentiality of the information handled during the assignment. Documents and information provided must be used only for the tasks related to these terms of reference.

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.