Education Communications and Donor Relations Consultant, UNICEF Yangon, Myanmar

Advertisement for Consultancy opportunity with UNICEF Yangon, Myanmar - Education Communications and Donor Relations Consultant (11 months)

 ToR_Education_Consultant - for advert.docx;  EoI _Education Coomnication Consultant.doc

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.

For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

Background and Purpose of the Assignment

Education in Myanmar is in transition. With the new government in place for over a year, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has recently completed its restructuring. The MOE launched the National Education Strategic Plan (NESP) in February 2017. Curriculum reform is ongoing both at primary and post-primary education levels. The country is progressing with peace process, which has elevated the sensitivity of some issues concerning education, such as the use of ethnic languages in education system.

Donors supporting Education Sector in Myanmar have increased, and their modality of support has diversified, in recent years. This also influences the role UNICEF Myanmar plays in the education sector in Myanmar, with implications to the volume of communications made and knowledge shared. The type of donors supporting UNICEF programme has diversified, too, including the private sector, as exemplified in H&M Foundation.

In this evolving context, UNICEF Myanmar Education section is looking for an Education Communications & Donor Relations Consultant to provide technical support to the section for documentation, reporting and communication of results and lessons learned from the Education Programme.

Objectives of the Consultancy: The Education Communications & Donor Relations Consultant will help the Education section in documentation, reporting and communication of results and lessons learned from the Education Programme, in light of an enhanced knowledge sharing and donor relations. In particular, the consultant will undertake reporting requirements for the Education Section and will jointly prepare a series of short documents on key issues currently supported by H&M Foundations, Government of Japan and other Grants (including of BEGE programme based on the new Country Programme), for the use in future funding proposals. The assignment requires dedication of time that is beyond the time available to the Education team as it currently stands.

Assignment Tasks and Expected Deliverable

1. Coordinate the preparation of eight (8) donor report

End Product/deliverables:

Eight (8) donor reports prepared with inputs from Education staff in the advised format, and presented to the Chief, and assist the section for finalization and submission, according to the office calendar to meet the deadline.

• BoQBEP progress report: February 2018
  - Progress reports on Grant SC160108: 31 Aug. 2017 & 28 Feb. 2018
  - Progress reports on Grant SM1500488: 31 Oct. 2017 & 30 April 2018
  - Country Office Annual Report: 15 Dec. 2017
  - Education Thematic Report: 28 Feb. 2018
  - Progress report on Dutch Natcom: 31 May 2018

Deadline:

• As per the calendar

2. Support UNICEF Myanmar Education team on the production of communication materials

End Product/deliverables:

• At least 11 blog updates from the implementation of H&M, Government of Japan and/or BoQBEP-suppoted activities produced (one per month) with the section’s relevant staff and assisted for dissemination - end of each month 
• Ten (10) Human Interest Stories (HIS), relevant to UNICEF work supported with H&M foundation, Dutch NatCom, and others, produced with the section’s relevant staff and assisted for dissemination - end of each month (except the last month) 
• Bi-weekly digital posts with photos for social media produced with inputs from the relevant education staff - at least one, at the end of each month
• Advocacy messages and materials based on findings from studies that are supported with grant from H&M foundation, including those on out-of-school children initiative, child labor and education, and conflict and education (timeframe to be determined in due course). End of each month - tbc

3. Support UNICEF Myanmar Education team on the production of short documents on the key issues covered by the Programme, and develop funding proposals, for fund mobilization.

End Product/deliverables:

• Plan on how to develop communication materials (e.g. short documents on key issues) drafted in consultation with Education Chief, Specialists and Officers - 31 July 2017.
• Short documents and PPTs on below key output areas (OA) and the issues within the Myanmar education sector developed in consultation with relevant Education Specialists and Officers. All short documents will include a brief situation analysis, UNICEF plan (interventions) with expected outcomes, and required tentative budget.
- Overall Education programme based on the new Country Programme - 31 July 2017
- OA1: Early Learning :
 Early childhood intervention
 Early childhood development scale
 parental education
 Early learning and language - 30 September 2017
- OA 2: Inclusive Education for Social Cohesion:
 Inclusive education
 children with disability and education
 language and education
 in-service teacher education
 student assessment
 student participation e.g. student councils
 education at sub-national level
 gender equality in education - 31 December 2017
- OA 3: Alternative Education:
 out-of-school children
 non-formal/ alternative education
 education for adolescents
 education in emergencies
 education and peacebuilding
 education and DRR 30 September 2017
• A generic funding proposal for the education programme drafted.
• Five (5) issue-based proposals developed as below (the listed issues are subject to change and will be determined before the work), with deadline to be discussed and agreed with the supervisor: - tentatively 31 October 2017; 31 December 2017
 Education and peacebuilding
 Keeping children in school – inclusive education modelling - tbc
 Other two issues will be identified based on the donor trend and updated country situation 31 July 2017

4. Prepare for and support the donor visits, including H&M Foundation/Swedish NatCom and Dutch NatCom

End Product/deliverables:

• Agenda, speaking points, briefing notes and other communication products for donor visits prepared with the relevant Education Officers and Specialists, in collaboration with the Advocacy, Policy and Communication section.
• Press release and other relevant articles on donor visits drafted - As per donor visit schedules including 2 visit in November (TBC)

5. Support the Section in editing/proofreading of Speech writing, official letters and Memos, external meeting minutes, ToRs, and strategy notes.

End Product/deliverables:

• Speech writing, official letters and Memos, external meeting minutes (the ones to be shared with partners), ToRs, and strategy notes edited/proofread - As per needs

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

Education and Years of relevant experience

• Advanced degree in Education, Development, Communications or closely related field;
• 3 years’ work experience in Education, Development, Communications or closely related field;
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and verbal;
• Demonstrated experience and ability in report writing and drafting grant proposals;
• Proven inter-personal skills and experience working collaboratively with partners across cultures and sectors;
• Excellent planning and coordination skills;
• Proven ability to take initiatives, and work independently and systematically.

The following qualifications are preferred but not required:
• Familiarity with the education context in Myanmar;
• Previous experience and familiarity with a United Nations organisation in particular UNICEF programming.

Competencies of Successful Candidate

To view our competency framework, please click here. 

Application

Interested and qualified candidates are requested to submit their applications on line with updated resume and completed Expression of Interest, attached to the announcement. The consultant will be selected through a competitive process based on the qualifications presented below and immediate availability. A writing sample (without edits by any other) needs to be submitted.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.