Review of ECE materials from gender-transformative and disability inclusive lens Consultancy, Maseru, Lesotho, 90 working days (Home based)

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, Education

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

Despite the transformative role pre-primary education can play in addressing gender and disability inequalities, and challenging common gender and disability inclusion norms and stereotypes while they are being acquired by the youngest learners, boys and girls continue to have different classroom experiences. Gender and disabilities biases and stereotypes are frequently reproduced in teacher-student interactions, play, pre-primary education curriculums, and teaching and learning materials. They shape gender identities, aspirations, and expectations that go on to have a profound impact on life choices, opportunities, outcomes, and inequities faced by girls and boys.

Tackling gender inequalities and disability exclusion from the early years is a strategy for building a gender-transformative and disability-inclusive pre-primary education system. Government of Lesotho, policy-makers curriculum developers and institutions of higher learning especially those that train teachers should proactively incorporate gender-responsiveness into the design and implementation of their early childhood education (ECE) policies and general programming. In consideration of the above, there is need for country-level evidence on the extent to which early childhood care and development (ECCD) curriculum and related materials, teacher training curriculum for early childhood education, teaching and learning materials, parenting manuals, and guidelines are gender-transformative and disability-inclusive.

Scope of Work:

UNICEF is hiring a technical expert to investigate the extent to which the ECE resources are gender-transformative and disability-inclusive so that should there be gaps, then evidence-based interventions are designed.

Under the supervision of UNICEF Early Childhood Development Specialist, the consultant will:

Using a standard guideline that has been tested and proven for gender-transformation and/ disability-inclusion undertake a desk review of the available ECE resources in Lesotho from a gender-transformative perspective.

• Undertake a desk review of ECE resources to assess them from a disability-inclusive perspective using a standard guideline that has been tested and proven for gender-transformation and/ disability-inclusion.
• Administer questionnaires to get perspectives of policymakers, teacher training institutions, ECE teachers and other ECE personnel/practitioners on the extent to which ECE resources are gender-transformative and disability-inclusive.

To accomplish the above assignment, the consultant will be expected to carry out the following tasks over a period not exceeding 90 working days:

• Develop an Inception report including work plan, methodology for the exercise and time frame, etc. to be approved by the Ministry of Education and Training (CEO Primary also as the Chair of ECE TWG)
• Review ECCD Curriculum guide 2021 to assess its gender-transformative nature or lack of it.
• Review ECCD curriculum guide 2021 to assess its disability-inclusive nature or lack of it.
• Review teachers’ guides and syllabi for ages 3,4, and 5 years from gender-transformative and disability-inclusive perspective
• Review teacher training curriculum in institutions of higher learning to assess the extent to which it is gender-transformative and disability-inclusive.
• Interview ECE teachers, ECE teacher trainers, National Teacher Trainers, and other ECE stakeholders from NGOs to get their perspectives on gender-transformative and disability-inclusive pedagogy and teaching and learning resources.
• Interview curriculum developers at National Curriculum Development Centre for their views on gender-transformative and disability-inclusive curriculum for early childhood education
• Conduct classroom observations
• Compile a draft report with recommendations.

Facilitate validation of the report with ECE stakeholders, finalise the report and share with both UNICEF and MOET.

Work Assignment Overview:

Tasks/Milestone:****Deliverables/Outputs:****Timeline (period/deadline)****Payment structure (% of the total fee)Development of inception reportInception report with detailed methodology, draft interviewing tools, tested guidelines for reviewing teaching and learning resources, and workplan14 days after start of contract20%Draft report on findingsDraft report with findings and workable recommendations20 September 202435%Conduct validation workshop and incorporate stakeholders’ comments or additionsFinal draft with stakeholders’ comments and additions23 September 202410%Submit final report that has incorporated accepted findings and recommendationsApproved final Report with accepted findings and recommendations30 September 202435%To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree in Early Childhood Development/Education; Education with specialty in early childhood education or foundation phase; Curriculum studies; Law, Social Work/Policy, Education planning and research; International Development Studies, or any related field.

  Languages:

• Proficiency in English is required.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required

• A minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience in the education sector or related field
• Extensive experience in conducting research in the ECE sub-sector.
• Strong understanding of gender-transformation and disabilities-inclusion especially regarding early childhood education and development is critical.
• Excellent analytical and report writing skills including interactive and interpersonal communication skills.
• Have no criminal record in abuse of children
• Ability to work hard and adhering to deadlines are crucial.
• Experience working with United Nations or UNICEF will be an added advantage.
• A possession of PhD will be an added advantage.

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.

How to Apply:

Prospective consultants should apply through UNICEF jobs website using the link provided, within the provided deadline. The application package should include the following:

1. A cover letter;
2. Detailed Curriculum Vitae

3. Qualified candidates are requested to submit their daily and monthly fees, inclusive of insurance and travel (if necessary) in their financial proposal.

   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.