Consultants for improving quality of non-formal early learning programmes of refugee and migrant children

UNICEF in Serbia is seeking two consultants for improving quality of non-formal early learning programmes of refugee and migrant children The duration of the assignment is from July 2017 to 31 December 2017, totalling 39 working days during 6 months period for each consultant.

Improving quality of non-formal early learning programmes of refugee and migrant children (2 posts with different geographical coverage):

-1st consultant: Preševo, Bujanovac, Divljana, Pirot, Dimitrovgrad, Vranje, Sjenica and Tutin

-2nd consultant: Belgrade (Krnjača), Lajkovac (Bogovadja), Banja Koviljača, Principovac, Adaševci, Kikinda and Subotica.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

Serbia is situated along the preferred route through the Western Balkans for refugees and migrants originating from the Middle East and Asia, aiming to seek asylum in Europe. The vast majority of them want to seek international protection in the European Union. According to the available data, there are currently around 6.650 refugees, asylum- seekers and migrants present in the country, out of whom 94% accommodated in the governmental facilities and out of whom around  2.724 children, out of which 415 are of pre-school age (3 to 6 y/a).

UNHCR and UNICEF have highlighted the extreme vulnerability of families travelling with children and unaccompanied children and have agreed with State actors and other partners to prioritise the needs and protection of children. Therefore it is of utmost importance to provide an access to quality education to all refugee pre-school and school-age children and youth, both during their transition from their countries of origin to final destination, and in the countries in which they resettle. This also means that the non- formal education programmes which are being implemented in the Asylum/Transit/ Reception Centres should be of high-quality which will consequently enable easier integration into educational systems of their final destination countries and broaden their educational and professional opportunities.

In order to support this process and ensure the high quality and fulfilment of expected results of non-formal education programmes UNICEF has: a) developed the Guidelines for non- formal education in the Reception/ Transit/ Asylum Centres through consultative process with all stakeholders. The Guidelines are comprising a description of basic principles of work with the children, optimal standards that implementers and non-formal education programs should achieve, as well as the minimum standards that should be provided at the beginning of the program realisation; b). Provided continuous tailored made and on the job capacity building to all partners present in the field through trainings, couching, mentoring, provision of adjusted working materials.

In the previous period, focus of non-formal education programme was on school aged children, since the pre-school children were at least covered by different creative, recreational and educative activities implemented in child- friendly spaces. But since the time of stay in Serbia is prolonged and since the investment in the pre-school education is the most efficient measure, it is needed to provide on-the job support and training to educators and facilitators working with children at the pre-school age to implemented more structured pre-school education programmes.

Start Date: July  2017      

End Date: 31  December 2017     

Number of working days/months 39 working days over six months period, (paid on actual days worked)

Work Assignment Overview Tasks

Task 1:  Develop and implement a training for facilitators of non-formal education programmes related to project based learning in pre-school education.

Deliverables:  Training agenda and materials; on-line materials

Timeframe: 7 days each during the July-August 2017

Task 2:  Support development and quality assurance of the pre-school education materials available to facilitators of non-formal education programmes on shared devices and provide on-line support to facilitators.

Deliverables:   Pre-school education materials and quality monitoring tools/check lists developed and available to facilitators through shared devices.

Timeframe:  12 days in the period July- September 2017

Task 3:   Provide mentoring and coaching to facilitators of the early learning programmes in the Reception/Asylum/Transit Centres. This task will be geographically shared between the two consultants, where one will cover the centres in the Preševo, Bujanovac, Divljana, Pirot, Dimitrovgrad, Vranje, Sjenica and Tutin, while another will cover centres in  Belgrade (Krnjača), Lajkovac (Bogovadja), Banja Koviljača, Principovac, Adaševci, Kikinda and Subotica.

Deliverables: Short field visit reports submitted after each visit; Monthly reports on support provided

which include # of children reached indirectly through mentoring and coaching of facilitators.

Timeframe:  Consultants should visit each of the centres app twice in the period of July- December 2017, total of 20 days each

Minimum Qualifications required:             

University degree in psychology, pedagogy, education or other related field            

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

-More than 5 years of professional experience in pre-school education

-Knowledge in capacity building of pre-school professionals (trainings, mentoring, peer learning…)

-Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving

-Usage of ICT skills for professional development

-Excellent oral and written Serbian language skills. English is an asset.

-Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment

-Sound judgement is required in follow-up on requests; high degree of accuracy is important.

-Ability to meet tight deadlines through excellent time management, organization and multi-tasking skills.

The application must include the following:

1. Daily rate in RSD
2. Daily allowance cost for travel within Serbia in RSD (for overnight)
3. Daily allowance cost for travel within Serbia in RSD (without overnight)
4. Transportation costs in RSD per km for transport for the first consultant to: Preševo, Bujanovac, Divljana, Pirot, Dimitrovgrad, Vranje, Sjenica, Tutin and for the second to Belgrade (Krnjača), Lajkovac (Bogovadja), Banja Koviljača, Principovac, Adaševci, Kikinda and Subotica and to potential other new locations of Asylum/ Reception Centres. (consultants are expected to organise their own transportation)

Important note: Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. 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.