Understanding performance in the basic education sector, Pretoria, South Africa

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, Basic Education

How can you make a difference?

As part of the public finance portfolio in social policy, annually, a series of budget briefs is done to probe the extent to which budgets affect the financing and outcome for children’s programmes. This is used in year-long advocacy and forms the foundation for the Country Office’s submission to the National Parliament.

SCOPE OF WORK:

a) Track relevant quality indicators in the basic education sector over the last decade (2010-2019) and draw methodologically sound conclusions about the extent of progress in meeting these goals. Particular attention should be paid to SDG indicators for the sector. The final set of indicators to be tracked over time will be discussed with the Social Policy Manager and colleagues in the Education Programmes of UNICEF South Africa. Indicators must include both non-financial and financial indicators. b) Summarise the statistical evidence of quantitative studies over the last decade and what it says about the ability of the basic education sector to address quality issues, especially in poor public schools. It is expected that the Consultant will be selective in the choice of studies and that the overall methodological rigour of the completed studies would be the main criterion in selecting studies. The Consultant may also consult studies prior to 2010 especially if these studies enable a clearer definition of the key areas of concern. c) Summarise and interpret the government’s response to the emerging empirical evidence (both quantitative and qualitative studies), list the various policy interventions, and comment on the extent to which these interventions are helping to address key quality issues. Policy responses must include and refer to budgetary interventions and even when policy interventions are discussed, reference to the budgetary implications of the proposed interventions are required. d) Based on the emerging and established evidence, suggest a workable path/agenda to address quality education at the provincial level and delineate the roles and responsibilities of various actors, including development actors like UNICEF South Africa. Both budgetary and policy interventions should be included in the final set of recommendations for a quality basic education agenda.

Masters

Public finance Social sector budgeting Basic education financing Monitoring and Evaluation

KNOWLEDGE/EXPERTISE/SKILLS required:

a) At least a master’s degree in economics, Public Policy, or any relevant and comparable Social Science qualification. b) Substantial policy and empirical work done in the health sector in South Africa. c) At least eight years of experience in handing publications of this nature, especially work with the international development community; and d) Competencies: Excellent understanding and command of written English. e) Sufficient understanding of the public finance context in South Africa and consolidated national and provincial health’s place in that overall system.

HOW TO APPLY:

Interested and qualified candidates are requested to submit their application to the following link: https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=551528 by 13 June 2021.

This notice will also appear on http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/, http://www.unicef.org/southafrica, UN Job List, UN Jobs Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in ZAR) to undertake the terms of reference above (including admin cost if applicable). 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.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from South African nationals, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation “UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and on any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.”

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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.

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. The candidate may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid).