UNICEF Zimbabwe is inviting proposals from individual qualified national and international consultants for a Technical Assistance in Capacity Development of CERID

UNICEF Zimbabwe is inviting proposals from individual qualified national and international consultants for Technical Assistance in Capacity Development of Centre for Educational Research, Innovation and Development (CERID)

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1.  Background

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE) has established a Centre for Educational Research, Innovation and Development (CERID) in 2017. This is in line with the Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP) 2016-2020 core program 19(b) Education Research and Development, which is; "to establish a Centre for Educational Research, Innovation and Development (CERID) as the premier education research institute in Zimbabwe providing evidence-based outputs." The same program also speaks on the need to build the capacity of the planning and research department to provide accurate and timely data that has been analyzed to inform the ESSP policy goals and to inform specific areas of policy making.

Evidence-based policy making is a critical part of the implementation of the ESSP. UNICEF and other education partners have also contributed to the MoPSE's research and knowledge generation activities to inform relevant policy development processes. 

Currently, CERID is situated within the Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS) Department of MoPSE. At the initial stage, seven MoPSE officers have been seconded to spearhead CERID activities (e.g. conducting research, assessment and evaluation work and development of research database). CERID urgently needs to develop a costed Work Plan with clear deliverables and a comprehensive Operational Plan with organizational core functions and structures as well as roles and responsibilities clearly defined. In addition, the CERID officers need to be further capacitated with requisite skills in order to proficiently execute their mandate and carry out high standard knowledge generation activities to inform policy development in a timely manner.

For this reason, MoPSE and UNICEF are seeking to engage with a consultant to provide technical assistance in the capacity building of CERID.

2.  Objectives

Goal 2 of the ESSP's Education Research and Development Programme clearly states as "to establish the Centre for Educational Research, Innovation and Development (CERID) that will provide, on a sustainable basis, technical support as well as capacity building in the areas of research and evaluation, policy development and educational planning". The objective of this consultancy is to provide technical assistance in the capacity building of CERID to operate as an important education research institute to contribute to policy making and improved practices in the Education Sector. The consultant will be expected to: 

• Support development of a costed 2-year Work Plan of CERID for 2019-2020 with clear deliverables and timeframe, including Logframe;
• Support development of a comprehensive Operational Plan of CERID with organizational functions and structure as well as roles and responsibilities clearly defined;
• Provide technical assistance in capacity building of CERID Officers in research and analytical work.

3.  Methodology and Expected Outputs 

Under the general supervision of the Education Manager of UNICEF and the Acting Director of Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS) of MoPSE, the consultant will work with the assigned CERID officers and liaise with relevant departments and section of MoPSE on a day to day basis. The consultant will be stationed at CERID and required to report to UNICEF on progress periodically.

4.  Key expected Outputs

The expected outputs are:

• 2019-2020 costed CERID Work Plan developed, approved and initial implementation underway
• CERID Operational Plan developed and approved
• CERID officers well equipped with up to date skills and capacities to conduct research and manage knowledge base.

5.  Scope of Work

In close cooperation with the CERID team, the consultant will support the completion of the following tasks:

a)Development of a 2019-2020 Work Plan of CERID [30 days]:

• Desk review of all relevant documents, including ESSP, CERID draft concept notes, recent research, assessment and evaluation work CERID was involved, other related documents;
• Consultation and interviews with relevant MoPSE departments and personnel, UNICEF and other education partners;
• Review and planning workshop to draft a costed Work Plan of CERID for 2019-2020; and
• Presentation of draft CERID Work Plan at an ECG meeting for endorsement

b)Development of a CERID Operational Plan [30 days]:

• Research and desk review to draft and determine a scope of CERID's organizational functions and structure and define roles and responsibilities of key personnel;
• Consultation and interviews with relevant MoPSE departments and personnel, UNICEF and other education partners;
• Technical workshop to draft a costed Operational Plan of CERID; and
• Presentation of draft CERID Operation Plan at an ECG meeting for endorsement.

c) Capacity building of CERID Officers [60 days]:

• Training of CERID officers on research methodologies, data analysis techniques and other key theoretical and practical subject areas, including:

1. Theory on research design and methodology;
2. Sampling techniques;
3. Research instruments design and administration;
4. Data collection, collation, capturing, analysis and interpretation;
5. Use of ICT in research;
6. Desk research methods;
7. Report writing skills;
8. Presentation of findings;
9. Policy brief design.

• Accompany the CERID team to conduct at least one field research and one desk review study
• Support CERID officers to expand their research knowledge bases;
• Capacitate officers with relevant skills to interpret and unpack research findings to inform policy and practice in education; and
• Provide technical guidance to CERID officers for their professional growth in research and analytical work

6.  Major tasks, Deliverables, Timeframes and Payment Schedule

The consultant will be expected to successfully complete the following key tasks, shown in the table below:

UNICEF will provide all necessary administrative and logistical support.

All deliverables will have to meet the expected quality as assessed by the supervisor of the assignment. The consultant shall submit a monthly report that documents activities accomplished or progress made, results achieved, lessons learned as well as challenges and recommendations.

7.  Consultancy Timeframe

This assignment will be completed in 6 months starting from March 2019 and end in September 2019.

8.  Consultancy Requirements 

• An advanced university degree in education, social science, statistics, economics or other field is required
• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in Educational research, planning and management in the field of education or social development at the international level is required.
• Proven knowledge of research methodologies and data analysis techniques is required.
• Experience in advisory roles, especially at the international settings, are required.
• Experience with national education systems and in use of research to inform education policies are required
• Experience and familiarity with relevant academic, research or professional networks and institutes is required.
• Fluency in English is required.
• Excellent computer, research and data management and analysis skills are a must.
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills in English
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to support multidisciplinary teams and interact and communicate with government and non-government partners
• Familiar with the Zimbabwe context, the national education system

9.  Supervision

The Consultant will be supervised by the Education Manager in the Education Section, UNICEF Harare office.

Application Procedure

If interested and available, please submit your application letter, CV, Technical and all-inclusive Financial Proposal, detailing professional fees, international travel where applicable), daily subsistence allowances (where applicable) and other relevant consultancy costs for delivering this assignment.

Competitive market rates will apply and the consultant should submit an all-inclusive fee (lump sum) in his/her proposal.

The consultant will be expected to spend up to 20 days (spread within 6 months) in the field outside Harare as part of his\her tasks, for which daily subsistence allowance should also be included the proposal, and reimbursement of such an allowance will be on actual field trip basis.  

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.