Educational Curriculum Development Consultant - Jordan

TERMS OF REFERENCE

External consultant to analyse, design, draft and package educational curriculum

1. Background

   The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a non-profit organization registered with the Ministry of Interior of Jordan since 2008 and operational in Jordan since 2012.  In the Education Core Competency, NRC offers informal education for children and youth in Zaatari and Azraq camps, and education projects in host community areas in northern Jordan, in partnership with the Ministry of Education.

   In 2017, the NRC education programme will continue in both camps and in host communities. In Zaatari and Azraq camps, programme activities mainly support the learning of children aged 6-15 who are in-school but at risk of dropping out, as well as those who remain out-of-school. The purpose of NRC’s camp education programme is to support all Syrian children to be able to access and stay in-school and to achieve well academically. Children receive learning support with a combination of literacy and numeracy, life skills, psychosocial well-being and computer skills to help retain them in quality education. In the host community programme, NRC conducts school expansion activities of classroom and WASH block construction combined with education on hygiene and school maintenance practices. NRC also provides remedial education for refugee and host community children; helps to build the skills of formal school management and teachers; and assists parents and community members to meaningfully engage in education through PTAs and school councils.

    

2. Objectives

   The main objective of the consultancy is to assist NRC to analyse, source, design, draft and package appropriate and quality educational curriculum and materials to address the needs of NRC’s current caseload. NRC currently utlises a variety of remedial and other educational materials. NRC plans to analyse the relevance of these materials; source and/or design and draft materials to fill gaps; and package some of its existing materials.

    

3. Scope of work
   1. Analyse materials and curriculum currently being used in NRC education programmes and activities, taking into consideration the context and learning needs of NRC beneficiaries as well as NRC Education Programme priorities. Identify and provide recommendations for addressing gaps in existing curriculum.

       

   2. a) Either source, design and/or draft appropriate materials to address gaps.

      b) Edit and package relevant existing materials into a complete curriculum. Packaging will include formatting documents to the level of ready-to-publish. Materials can be prepared in English but should be ready to publish in high-quality Arabic.

       The following types of educational content will be addressed:

      •  Remedial education as support to formal education from grades 1-12, literacy and numeracy for adolescents, life skills for children 6-15, digital/online/ICT-based learning    
      • Teacher training and professional development programmes
      • School enhancement and social cohesion materials
      • Parental and community engagement activities

         

   4.Specific outputs

The consultant will deliver the following outputs:

1. ONE short report (approx. 5 – 10 pages) of:
   • Analysis of existing programme materials identifying gaps
   • Recommendations for addressing gaps, including real examples, materials and strategies
   • A workplan for addressing gaps
2. At least ONE (to be confirmed and detailed in an appendix to the TOR at the time of engagement) complete package of educational materials for use in Vacation School programmes and other educational settings, including:
   • Remedial/academic materials, up to grade 9
   • Life skills materials
   • Recreational and social cohesion materials
   • Teacher training materials
3. A complete curriculum for use in NRC’s Camps Education activities which can include:
   • Materials from Output 2
   • Other existing NRC materials
   • Existing materials from non-NRC sources (with permission for their use by NRC)
   • Original materials, custom-drafted for NRC programme activities

  5.Timeframe

The table below provides an outline for the consultancy. Exact dates will be decided upon finalization of the contract between the consultant and NRC. The total time of the consultancy is 50 working days. Whilst the consultant is welcome to work more than five days per working week many of the tasks may be dependent on other actors and it cannot be assumed they will be available on normal weekends.

   6.Requirements

Consultant: The consultant will be assisted by NRC Jordan staff where necessary for the in-country work.

National Team Members: NRC national staff in Jordan will be available to support the consultant. NRC staff will also contribute to logistics and security support.

Other Stakeholders: The consultancy may require interaction between NRC staff, partners and beneficiaries as well as the local authorities and other stakeholders in Jordan. Communication with key members of the NRC Education team and other stakeholders will be an essential part of the process.

 7.Qualifications and Experience

The consultant must demonstrate the following qualifications:

• Thorough knowledge of and experience working in Jordanian educational context, including awareness of Jordanian MoE priorities and strategies
• Extensive skills in sourcing, drafting and packaging educational curriculum and materials
• Experience with materials addressing all educational content listed in Specific Outputs above
• Experience in humanitarian/refugee/camp educational contexts and/or complex environments
• Experience working with humanitarian organisations
• Demonstrable skills in formatting/publishing high quality documents – Evidence may be requested during recruitment process
• Fluency in Arabic and English, both written and verbal
• Relevant university qualifications
• A minimum of four years of relevant professional experience

8.Applications for Consultancy

Interested consultants must submit their application through the Webcruiter website by 21st February 2017.  The application must be sent in Word, Excel and/or PDF files as an attachment to the resume. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. 

Consultants who wish to apply for this consultancy must submit an application that contains the following:

1. Consultant contact information including the consultant’s name, email address and phone number(s).
2. Cover letter
3. Consultant CV (or separate CVs if more than one consultant will participate). Each CV is limited to 3 pages
4. Expressions of Interest (see guidance below)
5. Estimated budget

 

Expressions of interest must include a proposed budget for the entire 50-day consultancy including, for example:

1. Consultancy fees
2. Formatting/publishing costs (but not printing)
3. Translations costs, if required
4. Communications and any other incidental costs.Each of these items should be differentiated in the budget. The budget must present consultancy fee costs according to number of expected working days over the entire period.  NRC will facilitate in-country transport during the consultant’s period of work.

Finalists may be asked to submit references and/or samples of past work.