National Early Childhood Education Consultant, Tbilisi, Georgia.

National Early Childhood Education Consultant, Tbilisi, Georgia.

1. Background

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) in Georgia is a decentralized system with municipalities in charge of provision of public ECEC services free of charge for children 2-6 years of age. In response to a number of system level challenges in ECEC, the Parliament of Georgia adopted the first Law on Early and Preschool Education and Care (EPEC) in June of 2016. The EPEC law was developed in 2014-2016 with UNICEF’s technical support and active participation of multiple stakeholders: the Parliament of Georgia, line ministries - Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Protection, Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure; municipal kindergarten management agencies, NGOs and academia. The law includes major innovations targeted to improving quality, access and equity in ECEC throughout Georgia. The EPEC law introduces mandatory national standards and standard-based authorisation system of all public and private preschool institutions.

UNICEF is supporting the Government of Georgia with the implementation of the EPEC law.  In 2016 UNICEF has provided technical assistance to the line ministries in development of EPEC national standards and regulations in line with national requirements and evidence-based best international practices/standards. UNICEF continues to support Ministry of Education and Science in developing guidelines and resources for preschool institutions, as well as municipalities in strengthening their capacity in EPEC field. In 2017-2018 UNICEF will provide technical assistance to EPEC Law Implementation Monitoring Council in the Parliament of Georgia.

 Overall goal of consultancy

1.  The overall goal of consultancy is to support the implementation of programme activities of the Education Joint Work Plan 2017-2018, more specifically:

    

• Supporting the implementation of the Law on Early and Preschool Education and Care (EPEC)

  • Coordination and oversight of the team of national ECE consultants supporting MoES responsibilities as designated by the EPEC Law
  • Supporting Parliamentary Council for Monitoring EPE Law Implementation

  • Planning and coordination of implementation of municipality workshops and seminars on implementation of the EPEC law at municipal levels.

     

• Coordination and facilitation of implementation of the following studies

  • Coordination of implementation of Early Childhood Education Quality Study
  • Planning and coordination of the EPEC Law Costing Study

  • Coordination and oversight of the qualitative study on access to education and health services by refugee children.

     

    The national consultant will work closely with a team of other national and international consultants, governmental and other partner organizations to fulfill the assigned tasks. The consultant will work closely with MoES, NAEC, Parliament of Georgia, State universities, professional organizations, municipalities and other stakeholders.

     

    The consultant should meet the set deadlines as a full-time consultant as described in the below Chapter 3 (Specific tasks, timeframe and deliverables) and produce deliverables in a high quality manner. UNICEF will measure the consultant’s performance and the quality of deliverables in accordance with UNICEF’s regulations.

     

    Specific tasks, timeframe and deliverables

Focus area 1: Supporting implementation of the Law on Early and Preschool Education and Care (EPEC)

Activity/Task 1: Coordination and oversight of the team of national ECE consultants supporting MoES responsibilities as designated by the EPEC Law;

Coordinate the work of ECE consultants working on:

• • Educators’ training programme and relevant visual and video materials
  • Preschool education standards monitoring tools
  • Preschool curriculum for ages 2 to 5 and mixed age groups
  • Inclusive Preschool Education Guide
  • Practitioner’s Guide on child-friendly preschool environment

Review and ensure quality of the deliverables meets high standards; provide necessary feedback.

Timeframe: November 2017 – February 2018

Deliverable: Monthly report updates on the status of tasks and deliverables completed by the team of national consultants; Regular feedback provided to the national consultants on ongoing activities and produced deliverables.

Activity/Task 2. Support to the Parliamentary Council for Monitoring EPE Law Implementation; Coordinate jointly agreed activities with the Parliamentary Council;

Ensure timely completion of tasks and deliverables by the National Consultant supporting the Council, including finalizing of 2018-2020 strategy for the implementation of the EPEC law.

Timeframe: Throughout consultancy.

Deliverable: Monthly report updates on the status of tasks and deliverables completed by the national consultant; Regular feedback provided to the national consultants; minutes and presentations from joint activities and meetings with the Parliamentary council on EPEC law implementation.

Activity/Task 3.  Plan and coordinate the implementation of municipality workshops and seminars on implementation of the EPEC law at municipal levels:

• Coordinate the publication of the Municipality Guide on EPEC law implementation, developed in 2016-2017 with UNICEF’s technical assistance (ensure participation of Parliamentary Council on monitoring EPEC law implementation and Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure in the process; ensure timely editing, design, printing) (Timeframe: November-December 2017)
• Develop terms of reference for a trainer/facilitator to conduct workshops and seminars for municipalities (Timeframe: November 2017)
• Develop a plan for workshops and seminars for municipalities. The plan should be developed in coordination with the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure and Parliamentary Council for Monitoring EPEC law implementation. (Timeframe: November 2017)

• Coordinate and support the implementation of the workshops and seminars for the municipalities. (Timeframe: January – March 2018)

  Timeframe: See above for each sub-activity

  Deliverables: Printed Municipality Guide on EPEC law; Developed and approved terms of reference for trainer/facilitator to conduct workshops and seminars for municipalities; a plan for conducting workshops and seminars for municipalities; Workshops and seminars with municipalities successfully conducted in three regions.

   

Focus Area 2: Coordination and facilitation of implementation of studies

Activity/Task 4. Coordination of implementation of Early Childhood Education Quality Study:

• Coordinate study related activities with the Education and Social Policy team

• Ensure coordination between the international consultant and the NAEC
• Regularly follow up with the international and consultant and the NAEC for ensuring that the various phases of the study (fieldworks, analysis, report writing) are carried out in compliance with the action plan and set timelines
• Review and ensure the deliverables are produced in a high quality manner.
• Provide support to the international consultant and NAEC team as necessary
• Plan and coordinate the presentation of the study results and recommendations.

Timeframe: November 2017- February 2018

Deliverables: Monthly report updates on the status of the study activities; Feedback provided on all deliverables produced as part of the study (international consultant and NAEC).

Activity/Task 5. Planning and implementation of the EPEC Law Costing Study:

• Coordinate activities as needed (throughout consultancy)
• Ensure coordination and oversight of quality deliverables produced in a timely manner by the selected organization conducting the costing study. (throughout consultancy)
• Develop a plan for advocacy and dissemination of the costing study results with UNICEF Education, Social Policy and Communication teams (March 2018)

Timeframe: See above for each sub-activity

Deliverables: Monthly report updates on the status of the study activities; Advocacy and dissemination plan.

Activity/Task 6.  Coordination and oversight of the implementation of the qualitative study on access to education and health services by refugee children.

• • Coordinate study related activities with the Education and Social Policy teams

• Coordinate and support implementation of the study (throughout consultancy)
• Provide supervision and necessary feedback to the team of researchers
• Ensure timely completion of the quality deliverables, including the final study report.  

Timeframe: November, 2017- January 2018

Deliverables: Monthly report updates on the status of the study activities; feedback on tasks and deliverables produced by the team of researchers.

Activity/Task 7. (General) Other tasks as designated by the supervisor.

                Timeframe: Throughout consultancy

                Deliverables: Depending on assigned task.

  Duration and mode of consultancy. The consultancy service is required for the duration of five (5) months starting as of November, 2017. 

Supervision

The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the UNICEF Deputy Representative. Day-to-day supervision and guidance will be provided by UNICEF’s Education Officer.

 Required qualification

• Advanced degree in Education or Education Administration. 
• Good knowledge of existing laws, regulations and standards in the field of early and preschool education in Georgia.
• At least three years of professional work experience in the field of early childhood/preschool education.
• At least two year of professional work experience in project management.
• Successfully proven experience of conducting and/or coordinating quantitative and qualitative research.

• Excellent and proven presentation, negotiation and advocacy skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex relationships with a wide range of partners.
• Fluency in written and spoken Georgian and English.

Competencies for the post:

• Working with People; Communication; Analysing, Writing and Reporting and Drive for Results.

   

   

  Payment terms and rates

Consultancy fees will be disbursed to the national consultant on a monthly basis upon delivery of respective deliverables as specified in Chapter 3 above (Subject to agreement with consultant in accordance to UNICEF rules and regulations)

NOTE: Applicant should include a requested monthly fee (Gross including 20% of income tax) in Georgian Laris in his/her application letter to UNICEF.

 Contract arrangement and duration:

1. This is a full-time consultancy service for the duration of five months.

   Duty station: Tbilisi (office-based work) and occasional travel to the regions

   Travel: Travel will be arranged by UNICEF as necessary.

Leave

• The consultant has no entitlement for annual leave, sick leave, maternity, adoption or paternity leave or any other kinds of special leave.

• Health Insurance: UNICEF does not provide or arrange health insurance coverage for consultants. Health Statement forms must be submitted to UNICEF prior to signing the contract.

   Termination of the Contract

The contract may be terminated by either party before its expiry date by giving a 14 days’ notice in writing to the other party.  However, in the event of termination on the ground of misconduct, UNICEF will be entitled to terminate the contract without notice. In such case, the Contractor will be compensated on a pro-rata basis for no more than the actual amount of work completed to the satisfaction of UNICEF.