Re-advertised: National ECE Content Development Consultant

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, quality education.

How can you make a difference?

The purpose of the Assignment is to support the development of the ECD/ECE Digital Content and capacity building of education professionals for the use of the Digital School Platform.

Under the direct supervision of the Education Officer, the consultant will provide advice support the Ministry of Education, school management and professionals in the following two areas of importance for advancing ECD/ECE agenda by use of digital tools and platforms: mapping and development of digital content for preschool institutions, and capacity building for preschool professionals on the use of the Digital School Platform.

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks/Milestone: Deliverables/Outputs: Timeline

Digital content mapping, adaptation and development

• Ten digital content materials/resources mapped, and guidance provided for their adaptation
• 20 visual-didactic materials for preschool children aged 3 – 6 based on ECE curriculum
• Three courses for preschool teachers developed

Throughout the engagement period

Capacity building for preschool management and professionals to use the Digital School Platform

• One-day training program provided to at least 300 preschool teachers in Podgorica

September – December 2023

Support to implementation of the Digital School Platform concept in preschool institutions

• Case study on implementation of a model of the Digital School Concept in one selected preschool in Montenegro developed
• Mapping conducted and documented of processes at preschool level to be digitized and integrated in the Digital School Platform concept
• Final report prepared with recommendations for further work in the advancing ECD/ECE by use of digital tools and technologies

September – December 2023

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

• University degree in education, educational technology, child development, social sciences, or another relevant field. An advanced degree is considered as an asset

Experience:

• At least seven (7) years of professional work experience in preschool education/early learning, with manifested capacity to manage programmes involving many stakeholders.
• Excellent familiarity with the latest developments in digital education solutions and platforms.
• At least two (2) years of experience in digital learning design in the area of early childhood development and early learning.
• Good technical understanding and familiarity with information management systems.
• Excellent knowledge of the Montenegro education system, with focus on early childhood education and care.
• Excellent familiarity with UNICEF’s work on ECD and in Supporting Families for Nurturing Care.
• Work with UN/UNICEF or other international organization will be considered as an asset;
• Knowledge of at least Office 365 tools.

Language:

• Excellent oral and written communications in English and Montenegrin language required. Consultant should be at ease in presentations and meetings with different high-level stakeholders and officials. Consultant should provide examples of at least three occasions where he/she presented.

Other:

• Excellent presentation skills, strong strategic and analytical skills, demonstrated by proven record of concise and clear presentations and reports related to education, with a focus on digital education.
• Experience in working with policy makers and multiple government stakeholders for multisectoral approach is a strong advantage;
• Demonstrates tact and high sense of responsibility and discretion.
• Ability to work under pressure and strict timelines
• Demonstrates integrity and high ethical standards.
• Knowledge of the situation of children and adolescents in the ECA region and Montenegro.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

All deliverables should be produced in local language and final product in both local and English language.

The payments will be made upon successful completion of the deliverables and submission of invoices.

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines.

Upon conducting the recruitment process and prior to the signing of the contract, the consultant will be required to complete the following online courses. All certificates should be presented as part of the contract.

1. Ethics and Integrity at UNICEF

2. Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Abuse of Authority (PSEAA)

3. Prevention of Sexual Exploitation Abuse (PSEA)

Before commencement of any travel on behalf of UNICEF, the Consultants and Individual Contractors must complete course on B-Safe Security.

In addition to above, any consultant contractor who is issued a UNICEF email address must complete the following courses no later than 30 days after signature of contract:

1. Fraud Awareness;

2. General Information Security Awareness Course (only for consultants/individual contractors with a UNICEF email address). The above courses can be found on Agora through the following link: AGORA: Log in to the site (unicef.org).

Course completion certificates should be shared and retained with the human resources unit of the hiring office.

All applicants will be screened against qualifications and requirements set above. Candidates fully meeting all the requirements will be further evaluated based on the criteria below. The proposal will be evaluated against the following criteria:

A) Technical criteria – Technical evaluation process / Maximum points: 75

1. Technical Criteria – please select:

Desk review of CVs -75 % of total evaluation– max. 75 points

• Education: 15
• Previous experience: 25
• CV, Motivation/ cover letter and Proposed Work Plan: 30
• Other 5

Only candidates who obtained at least 75% of points from the technical part (who will score at least 56 points) will be qualified for considering for financial proposal evaluation

B) Financial criteria – evaluation of financial proposal - Maximum points: 25

The applicants are requested to submit lump sum financial proposal consisting of fees for the services / deliverables noted above.

The Financial scores will be calculated using the formula [lowest offer / financial offer of the candidate x 30].

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

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.

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.