UNICEF Zimbabwe is inviting applications for an Individual Consultant to provide technical assistance in the Independent Appraisal of the Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP) 2021-2025

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!

UNICEF has been operating in Zimbabwe since 1982. We are a team of passionate professionals committed to the protection and fulfillment of children’s rights.

The current UNICEF-Government of Zimbabwe Country Programme of Cooperation (2016-2020), extended to 2021, aims to support Zimbabwe to sustain and build upon the gains achieved for children during the 2012-2015 Country Programme of Cooperation. The programme focuses on improving the quality of social services, increasing access to services, and helping to build national and sub-national capacities to provide low-cost, high-impact interventions for all children, especially the most vulnerable.

For more information about UNICEF Zimbabwe please click here

You can also access and explore all new UNICEF vacancies and create job alerts via the UNICEF Zimbabwe website link below:

https://www.unicef.org/zimbabwe/work-us

How can you make a difference?

Individual consultancy services are being sought to provide the technical assistance needed by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE) and stakeholders in appraising the soundness, relevance, and coherence that form the credibility of ESSP 2021-2025 based on the characteristics defined in the GPE/IIEP Guidelines for Education Sector Plan Appraisal and help development partners to ensure the robustness and credibility of the Plan and its M&E framework.

ASSIGNMENTS:

The consultant will be responsible for:

1. The review of the Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP) 2021-2025
2. The production of an ESSP 2021-2025 Appraisal Report that will subsequently be endorsed by the ECG and shared with partners including Global Partnership for Education.

Key deliverables:

a. Presentation of inception report and preliminary findings to the Local Education Group.

b. Draft appraisal report shared with UNICEF Zimbabwe CO, GPE Secretariat and Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.

c. Final appraisal report that includes an executive summary.

The consultants' work should include:

d) A desk review of key documents, including the following:

5. The previous and current draft Education Sector Plan and its Action Plan.
6. The previous and current Education Sector Analysis.
7. The current Simulation Model of the ESSP.
8. Learning Assessment Reports.
9. Education Management Information System (EMIS)
10. Thematic studies, with a focus on equity, learning and efficiency.
11. The National Development Strategy 1.
12. Reports on implementation of education sector reforms and other interventions that contributed to the implementation of the previous education sector plan or evaluation of various education projects.
13. The most recent joint sector review report, if available.

e. On-line preparatory meetings with the Local Education Group and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.

f. On-line meetings /virtual and consultations with key partners and LEG members, including:

- Government agencies at central level: Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.

- Education authorities at sub-national levels

Major tasks and deliverables

Tasks/Milestone:

Deliverables/Outputs:

Timeline

To produce an inception report and preliminary findings detailing how the consultant will perform the task of Independent Appraisal.

Inception Report and preliminary findings

10 days

Draft appraisal report shared with UNICEF Zimbabwe CO, GPE Secretariat and Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education

Draft Appraisal Report

20 days

Final appraisal report that includes an executive summary.

Final Appraisal Report

10 days

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant

For more information on the consultancy TOR, kindly follow this link TOR_ESSP Independent Appraisal.pdf

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

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• An advanced university degree (Masters or higher) in Education, Law, Development Studies or Social Sciences
• Excellent analytical and writing skills
• Familiarity with the GPE/IIEP Guidelines for Education Sector Plan Appraisal
• At least 5 years of experience conducting assessments on the Education Sector planning and review

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

• Builds and maintains partnerships
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Works collaboratively with others

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.

To apply

If interested and available to undertake the consultancy, please submit your application online and attach the required documents including the technical and an all-inclusive financial proposal (detailing professional fees, DSA, airfare etc. where necessary). UNICEF will provide transport support for field travel in pursuance of the assignment.

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.