International Consultancy - Inclusive Education Strategy, Freetown, Sierra Leone

UNICEF Sierra Leone is seeking to hire an international consultant to develop UNICEF Sierra Leone's inclusive education strategy to address gender, equality, disability, and social inclusion in education.

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, a future.

Please access UNICEF Sierra Leone information here and here

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose and Objectives:

The purpose of this consultancy is to develop UNICEF Sierra Leone inclusive education strategy to address gender, equality, disability, and social inclusion in education. Through a cross-sectoral approach, the consultant will work in close collaboration with UNICEF Sierra Leone Education section and relevant national stakeholders, particularly the MBSSE, the Ministry of Social Welfare (MoSW), the Ministry of Health (MoH) and National Commission for Person with Disability (NCPD).

The objectives of this assignment are:

1. Develop UNICEF inclusive education strategy comprehensive of perspectives on gender, equity, disability, and social inclusion, an actionable road map and a costed operational plan.
2. Develop the capacity of UNICEF education staff (including staff from other sections, as needed) and the MBSSE officials to address gender, equality, disability, and social inclusion in education.
3. Build the momentum for enhancing implementation of sector inclusive education policy.

Methodology and Technical Approach:

Through remote and face-to-face consultations/workshops with and trainings to UNICEF education staff and relevant MDAs officials the consultant will deliver the tasks listed below.

Specific Tasks:

Under objective 1 the specific tasks are:

• Conduct a Gender, Equity, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) study of the UNICEF education programme and the MBSSE education plan through desk review, consultations with UNICEF staff and relevant MDAs officials as well as field visits to conduct focus group discussion with children and parents.
• Building on findings and recommendations from the study, to develop UNICEF inclusive education strategy, road map and costed work plan. The strategy should include a mapping of the stakeholders with whom UNICEF could collaborate to implement the strategy.

Under objective 2 the specific tasks are:

• Assess capacity and gaps among UNICEF education staff and MBSSE officials on addressing gender, equality, disability, and social inclusion in education.
• Develop training modules based on the skill gaps identified.
• Conduct at least two capacity building trainings for UNICEF staff and MBSSE officials on addressing gender equality, disability, and inclusion in education.

Under objective 3 the specific tasks are:

• Based on the findings from the GEDSI study and the UNICEF inclusive strategy to develop a policy brief on inclusive education.
• Develop an advocacy and communication plan in alignment with the inclusive education strategy.
• Organize and deliver a one-day seminar on inclusive education in Freetown to launch the GEDSI study of the MBSSE education plan and share its key findings and recommendations with key stakeholders.

Please see attached ToR for detailed information.  ToR Consultancy Inclusive Education.pdf

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Sociology, Social Sciences, Education, Gender, Psychology
   *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree. 
• At least 8 years of demonstrated experience in:
• Working with and advocating for GEDSI issues in education.
• Proven experience and expertise in gender, inclusive education, policy, and practice.
• Demonstrated experience working with Ministries of Education, other relevant ministries, and development partners.
• Proven experience in developing GEDSI strategies, inclusive education strategies, and interventions in the education field, including M&E of the same.
• Proven experience in developing policy brief and advocacy plan on inclusive education.
• Proven experience in conducting capacity building trainings on addressing gender equality, disability, and inclusion in education.
• Strong writing and analytical skills.
• Proven ability to work with a team of experts and stakeholders, including government and non-government bodies.
• Previous relevant work experience in Africa contexts will be well regarded.
• Experience in working with UNICEF, other UN agency or regional organization preferred.
• Excellent spoken and written English language skills.

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. 

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.