Consultancy Title: Rapporteur for MEdNet

The UNICEF Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Education Network (MEdNet) meeting brings together the network UNICEF education specialists, officers and chiefs in the Country Offices of the MENA region. The MEdNet Meeting is periodically organized by the UNICEF MENA Regional Office (MENARO) to discuss and engage with government counterparts from Ministries of Education, education partners and experts on education programmatic directions and initiatives relevant to the MENA region, and to define relevant areas of work, collaboration and partnerships.

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LOCATION/DURATION:

Duration:1 October 2017 - 31 December 2017 (20 working days)

Location: Home-based and travel to Amman for the MENA Education Network (MEdNet) Meeting

On-site working days:

Off-site working days: 14 working days

Field Missions/Travel: 7 working days

Estimated Start Date: 1 October 2017

Estimated end Date: 31 December 2017

BACKGROUND:

The UNICEF Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Education Network (MEdNet) meeting brings together the network UNICEF education specialists, officers and chiefs in the Country Offices of the MENA region. The MEdNet Meeting is periodically organized by the UNICEF MENA Regional Office (MENARO) to discuss and engage with government counterparts from Ministries of Education, education partners and experts on education programmatic directions and initiatives relevant to the MENA region, and to define relevant areas of work, collaboration and partnerships.

The 2017 MEdNet Meeting is going to focus on the work conducted by Country Offices and MENARO and will present thematic areas relevant to education programming and planning in Country Offices, such as SDG4, EMIS, the Education Commission, sector analysis, the Out-of-School Initiative (OOSCI), Education in Emergencies (including issues relating to PVE/CVE and curricula) and knowledge management issues. The third day of the MEdNet meeting will be dedicated to the launch of the Life Skills and Citizenship Education (LSCE) Initiative with the launching of its relating products, such as the Conceptual and Programmatic Framework (CPF), the Analytical Mapping (AM), the 12 core life skills four-pages and the LSCE website. The launch will include high level participants (Ministers of education from the region and other high level officials). Panels will be organized on skills and employability, citizenship education in MENA and the measurement of the 12 core life skills.

A variety of experts and partners will be invited to contribute to the work and discussion during the six days of the MEdNet meeting. There is a need to ensure that the expert presentations, country engagement and consultations are captured in a succinct and clear report. The MEdNet Meeting report will inform the development of MENARO strategy for technical support to Country Offices in 2018 and it will guide Country Offices in formulating their forthcoming work plans. This requires an expert in education with strong writing skills.

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of this assignment is for the consultant to:

1. Participate in a preparatory meeting on 7th October 2017;
2. Participate in all plenary sessions and group work of the MEdNet Meeting as per final agenda (8-13 October 2017);
3. Take minutes and ensure consolidation of inputs from workshop participants and rapporteurs;
4. Write the final report of the MEdNet Meeting for dissemination.

DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT:

The consultant is expected to actively participate to the MEdNet Meeting, which will be held in Amman from 8th to 13th October 2017. The mission to Amman will include preparatory work (7th October 2017), participation to the six days of the MEdNet Meeting, including the launch of the LSCE CPF on 10th October 2017.

The consultant will be responsible to take minutes during the MEdNet Meeting (six days), and consolidate the inputs from group work and plenary discussions including the presentations of group rapporteurs.

The consultant will write the final report of the MEdNet Meeting, which will cover the six days of the meeting. The outline of the final report of the MEdNet Meeting will be discussed with the Education Regional Advisor and will be based on the final agenda.

The consultant will use his/her own laptop and IT equipment.

KEY DELIVERABLES:

Final report of the MEdNet Meeting (max 50 pages excluding annexes) based on final outline to be defined by MENARO to be delivered on 15 November 2017. The final report will include editing and formatting and present the following:

Executive summary;

Table of contents with list of acronyms and tables;

Body of the report;

Annexes (List of participants; Agenda; Key Note; Presentations; etc.)

Primary audience of the report will be UNICEF education officers, specialists and chiefs and it will be publicly available.

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS (IF APPLICABLE):

The consultancy will be undertaken from the location of the consultant with travel to Amman, Jordan as per below timetable. Effective communication with MENARO will occur through email, telephone and Skype. The consultant will submit all deliverables in Microsoft Word format. Specific timeframe of the deliverables is as follows:

TRAVEL CONSIDERATIONS (PLEASE CHECK IF APPLICABLE):

Mission travel: 7 October - 13 October (excluding travel days)

For individual contractors and consultants, all travel arrangements to commence the assignment, including insurance and visas, will be managed and paid by the individual.  Therefore, expected travel costs must be included as a budget item in the financial proposal.  Should "mission travel" be required, UNICEF will manage and pay for travel via Travel Authorization.  However, this will be subject to the following prerequisites:Medical Clearance, Security Clearance through the Travel Request Information Process (TRIP) system, the Basic and Advanced Security in the Field Trainings, Travel Visa, and liability waiver. Trip prerequisites will be met at the expense of the consultant.

Travel cost shall be calculated based on economy class travel, regardless of the length of travel.  Costs for accommodation, meals and incidentals shall not exceed applicable daily subsistence allowance (DSA) rates, as promulgated by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC at http://icsc.un.org).  The consultant must travel on UNICEF approved airlines.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

The candidate for this consultancy should have:

• Advanced degree in education, communication or related field including social science
• Expertise in report writing
• Relevant experience in education or related field (minimum 5 years)
• Previous work with the UN or International Organizations is an asset
• Proven track records of research and report writing in education
• Excellent communication and writing skills in English
• Familiarity with UNICEF Mission and mandates is a key asset

Payment Schedule:

12.  PROPOSED PAYMENT SCHEDULE

By Deliverable

• First payment upon submission of first draft: 50%
• Second payment upon submission of final report cleared by MENARO: 50%

EVALUATION PROCESS:

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Cover letter/application.
2. Financial quote as lump sum for professional fees, and lump sum for travel/administrative/subsistence.
3. CV.
4. Examples of previous, relevant work as applicable
5. At least 2 Referees
6. P 11 form (which can be downloaded from our website at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_53129.html ).

Late submissions, incomplete packets, or submissions with an incorrect email subject heading will not be considered.

Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable).  Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will be considered.

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