International Consultant for Conflict Analysis (Impact on Education System in Conflict-Affected Contexts in Afghanistan)

International Consultant for Conflict Analysis (Impact on Education System in Conflict-Affected Contexts in Afghanistan).

 Background:

Afghanistan remains one of the most dangerous, and most violent, crisis ridden countries in the World. The continued deepening and geographic spread of the conflict has prompted a 13% increase in the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance in 2017, now 9.3 million. [1] Since the international forces have wound down, the Taliban and AGEs have been fighting the government and have increased their control of the country to about 60%.

In 2016 all regions of the country have been affected by the conflict. Over half a million displaced families are scattered across 34 different provinces – with approximately 20% extremely hard to reach in gradually expanding areas of nongovernment controlled territory. In last years, with the extension of conflict to other communities in the regions of South, North, West and East, the number of children affected by the conflict has increased. A significant number of schools in these regions have remained closed for several months. 

In this context the Afghanistan Education Sector faces many challenges due to insecurity, displacement due to conflict; the violations committed by parties to the conflict (school damage, occupation), natural disasters, growing urbanization trends and the effect on the absorption capacity of the sustained arrival of returnees from Pakistan.[2]

As a result Afghan conflict, children are facing multiple challenges accessing education due to the lack of required documentation, economic constraints and the inability to afford education associated costs, distance to schools, capacity of schools/education centers to absorb additional student, lack of female teachers and language and cultural barriers.[3] In addition existing disparities are magnified such as gender inequality.

The current study will be an attempt to find out the impact on, and needs of the Education Sector in Conflict affected areas.

Overall Objective :

The over-all objective of this study is to analyze the risks and vulnerabilities related to conflicts affecting the Afghanistan educational system.

 Specific Objectives:

• Identify and list the risks of crisis in the country as well as their impact on the population (vulnerabilities/capacities);
• Identify root causes of conflicts and others (typology of conflicts, scale of crises) ;
• Analyse the impact of conflict on the performance of the education system (correlation between some indicators of education) ;
• Analyse the ways in which the education system impacts on conflicts either positively or negatively;
• Analyse the capacities of the education system and the capacities of different education stakeholders to respond to the effects of the crisis;
• Provide guidelines for UNICEF education program intervention in conflict affected context of Afghanistan.

Tasks, deliverables and timelines:

The following table gives the activities, deliverables and timelines for the consultancy.

Tasks

Deliverables

Time Frame

·         Conflict Analysis Process Proposal and desk base review and study

·         Design a comprehensive conflict analysis process and draft proposals in line with the “Conflict Analysis Preparation Guidelines”

·         Identify and map out existing conflict analyses that may have been conducted by UNICEF, as part of an inter-agency planning process, by multi-lateral/bi-lateral donors or any other agency or institution; map out relevant policies, strategies and frameworks in Education System

·         Conduct a comprehensive desk study of existing education (e.g. education sector plan) and conflict analysis documentation, assess relevance and identify gaps

·         In collaboration with the CO programme team, identify and liaise with key stakeholders to be consulted for the conflict analysis

·  End of first month (desk base review and study done, meeting with national level partners, MoE)

 

·         Conduct Field based study and primary data collection in most affected provinces

·         Lead consultations with stake holders in the field, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews; compilation of structured questionnaire  documents

·  Third week of second month complete field base study  and primary data collection in most affected provinces and draft report

·         First Draft report from Desk based study comprise with field study (primary data collection)

 

·         Draft a comprehensive conflict analysis report based on desk and field study.

·  End of Second month first comprehensive draft report ready.

·         Consultation workshop for final report with key stakeholders including MoE and unicef team

·         Support the Education section in the organize Conflict Analysis final consultations/workshops with key country office staff and education section and other stakeholders, MoE, lead workshops and finalize the report with key findings, recommendations

·         Provide the country office final report on Conflict Analysis in Education

·  Consultation workshop in mid of Third month for finalize the report

·   End of Third month final report ready including key findings, guidelines and recommendation for education country program for UNICEF as well Education sector

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Duration

The contract will be for a total duration of three months.  The table above is an indicative time table for the contract.  The proposer is free to propose a different time table, as long as the proposal clearly explains the sequence of activities, the resources deployed at each stage and the feasibility of the duration of each stage. Earlier delivery while maintaining quality standards will be favorably considered in the technical assessment. However the contract will not be extended beyond said period.

Management and implementation arrangement:

The contract will be managed by The Education Section in Kabul under the technical guidance of the Chief of Education and Education Specialist (Emergencies). All materials developed by the consultant contracted will remain the copyright of UNICEF and the Ministry of Education. 

Deliverables and installment payment:

Payment for the consultant is expected to be processed in Four installments as per the offered conditions below:

End of first month Inception report includes Desk study and outcomes of the discussion with stakeholders 20%

End of second month  (Field base study Report and First draft of comprehensive report of desk and field study)30%

End of Third month (Final Report submission)50%

 

The fees will be paid in USD. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines.

Requirements:

 

• Advanced university degree in social sciences (e.g. education), international development, conflict studies, public policy or other related field*
• Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience in social development, management, programme design and management.  Field experience in peacebuilding, conflict prevention and conflict sensitivity highly desirable.
• Knowledge of local social, cultural, political, economic context is highly desired
• Fluency in English is required. Fluency in a local language is highly desired.

*A first level university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

 

Conditions of work:

Consultant provides his/her personal computer and Internet connection. UNICEF provides all network and server systems for Conflict Analysis study.

•              Costs for mission travel are covered by UNICEF. Airfare, if required will be covered at economy class.

•              Consultants are not entitled to payment of overtime.  All remuneration must be within the contract agreement.

•              No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant or Contractor.

•              In all cases, consultants may only be paid their fees upon satisfactory completion of services. In such cases where payment of fees is to be made in a lump sum, this may only be payable upon completion of the services to UNICEF’s satisfaction and certification to that effect. In cases where payment of fees is to be made in installments, the final installment may not be less than ten per cent (10%) of the total value of the contract, and will only be payable upon completion of the services to UNICEF’s satisfaction and certification to that effect.