RE-ADVERTISEMENT: International Consultancy: Feasibility assessment of the digital education landscape in Malawi in line with GIGA and reimagining education initiatives, Lilongwe, Malawi (o

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

Like other countries, the education system in Malawi was also affected significantly by the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools remained closed for over 6 months in 2020 and for about a month in 2021 interrupting learning for more than 7.7 million school-age children attending pre-primary, primary and secondary education. The school closure presented an unprecedented risk to children’s education and wellbeing, especially for girls and other marginalized children. To ensure continuity of learning, the government deployed measures of distance learning through radio, online and self-study materials. UNICEF Malawi and other partners supported the government in development of materials for radio programming and internet enabled online learning in collaboration with the private sector.

In an effort to support digital learning, UNICEF has introduced its flagship initiative referred to as Reimagine Education. The Reimagine Education initiative seeks to enable every child and young person (3.5 billion by 2030) to access world-class digital learning solutions which build the skills they need to leapfrog to a brighter future. The initiative operates through five key interconnected pillars: world-class digital learning solutions, connectivity, devices, affordable data and content, and young people’s engagement. Globally UNICEF has partnered with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to also launch “GIGA[1]”, an initiative aimed to connect every school to the internet, and every young person to information, opportunity and choice.

[1] https://www.unicef.org/innovation/giga

How can you make a difference?

This proposed assessment intends to help UNICEF and Ministry of Education in their work to ensure equitable access to digital education for all. Through its GIGA and Reimagine Education initiatives, UNICEF aims to address gaps in digital learning by connecting every school to the internet, and every person to information, opportunity, and choice. The initiative aims to provide evidence to upgrade digital learning content and platforms and strengthen digital skills among both students and teachers. UNICEF also aims to work with MoE as other partners to enhance connectivity and digital capacity of learning systems in collaboration with the private sector. This assessment will also document information for understanding user behavior and equity gaps in digital learning to inform UNICEF programs and potential opportunities for collaboration and scale up.

The study aims to carry out a comprehensive situational analysis of the digital learning landscape in Malawi. It also aims to apply an equity lens to highlight key disparities that exist among regions and socio-economic groups. It provides an overview of the access to and quality of digital learning; internet connectivity and affordability; availability of digital learning devices; relevance and content of platforms; and digital skills of students and teachers, and local capacity to develop and sustain Education Technologies and Innovation.

Specifically, the assignment aims to:

(1) Provide an analysis of the digital divide for children and young people in the country, including availability, quality and use of digital learning content and platforms, the digital literacy and skills gap for digital learning among teachers, students and other stakeholders, and accessibility and connectivity of schools, learning centres and communities to the internet connectivity. The analysis will also look into gaps and bottlenecks that would impact the quantitative and qualitative expansion of digital learning in terms of learning content and platforms, human capacity, and internet connectivity.

(2) Undertake an analysis of the policy landscape in terms of the enabling environment, including governance for digital learning or digital services provision, noting gaps and opportunities bottlenecks that would impact quantitative and qualitative expansion of digital learning in terms of learning content and platforms, human capacity, and internet connectivity. Underline any appropriate recommendations to usher the country into the digital age.

(3) Map out the government’s on-going and planned initiatives and programmes in education, learning and skills development aimed at improving digital connectivity and learning. Identify on-going and planned initiatives and programmes of other partners as relevant including private sector who is accessing and where to establish equity concerns.

(4) Based on the analysis, the study will provide practical recommendations on key strategies and priorities along innovation, education and skills development to be undertaken by the government, the private sector and development partners including UNICEF to increase internet connectivity and expand and improve digital learning across the country.

(5) Provide an analysis of UNICEF’s comparative advantage and added value to expand and improve digital learning in the country.

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

Academic qualification: A Master or PhD in Educational technologies and or application of Digital technologies in learning or Information technologies.

Work experience: The consultant has at least above 10 years’ extensive experience in qualitative research methods, monitoring and evaluation, implementation of monitoring systems in developing countries. High level experience in developing relevant feasibility surveys and assessments particularly in digital technologies landscape. This should include experience with digital data collection instruments, and real time data analytics. Broad experience in working with government departments, in particular highly technical departments overseeing the open, distance e-learning.

Languages: High level proficiency in English both verbal and written.

Please refer to the attached full Terms of Reference ToRs for feasibility assessment for GIGA and Reimagine education thru digital technologies.pdf for more details on the consultancy and requirements

How to apply....

Interested consultants should provide the following:

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Brief technical proposal (no longer than five pages) demonstrating the consultant’s understanding of the assignment and approach/methodology to the assignment
3. Financial proposal including a breakdown of their all-inclusive fees (including professional fees, travel, living cost, visa and other costs). Complete the attached form Financial Proposal for Consultancy.xlsx.
4. References details

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

Excellent writing and presentation skills; portfolio-proven experience in print and digital media design; portfolio-proven experience in creating infographics and visualizing complex information.

Effectiveness assessment of education projects: education economics expertise to conduct cost benefit analysis and cost effectiveness analysis (Value for Money (VfM) or other approaches)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.