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NATIONAL INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION

Tashkent

  • Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
  • Location: Tashkent
  • Grade: Consultancy - Consultant - Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Education, Learning and Training
    • Children's rights (health and protection)
    • Early Childhood Development
  • Closing Date: Closed

The purpose of this assignment is to provide technical support to the UCO Education Section to implement selected activities of the 2019-2020 Work Plan related to improving quality of preschool education. The assignment is basically of technical assistance in nature and the consultant shall not be directly involved in administrative or Programme managerial tasks and duties normally performed by UNICEF staff.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

Background:

Early Childhood Development and Education is one of the priority areas of the UNICEF Uzbekistan Country Programme 2016 - 2020. UNICEF has been providing technical assistance to the Government of Uzbekistan in its efforts to improve the Early Child Education (ECE) services. The UNICEF-MOPSE Joint Work plan for 2019 - 2020 includes several activities agreed and planned to support systemic improvements in ECE, including support in capacity development if MOPSE specialists on quality preschool education programmes, support in modeling alternative and innovative ECE services and improvement of pre-and-service teachers training programmes for quality ECE services. Several key activities were initiated and accomplished in 2019 - such as technical support in development of training package on ELDS and new preschool curriculum; and training of a large pool of trainers at national and zonal levels to ensure efficient and effective introduction and implementation of the newly developed ELDS and Curriculum. UNICEF has also supported the development of a Conceptual Framework for introducing alternative and innovative models of ECE provision, which also includes an Action Plan for implementation.

There are a number of activities planned in the 2019-2020 Work Plan to be implemented in 2020 and several other ongoing activities to support sustainability of the projects already initiated and implemented. The technical support to develop a series of comprehensive teacher guide books in support for implementing ELDS and curriculum has been started and a range of refreshment training for Master Trainers has been planned to be conducted in 2020. For alternative models, sites have been identified, supply plan finalized and procurement of teacher - learning materials is ongoing. As part of launching the alternative models, activities related to capacity building at various levels as well as thoe for the development of M&E mechanisms are planned to be developed in 2020.

In order to ensure efficient and effective support to the activities agreed in the Joint Work Plan, especially to support quality ECE services, UNICEF Uzbekistan Country Office's Education Section seeks assistance of a national professional individual.

Purpose:

The purpose of this assignment is to provide technical support to the UCO Education Section to implement selected activities of the 2019-2020 Work Plan related to improving quality of preschool education. The assignment is basically of technical assistance in nature and the consultant shall not be directly involved in administrative or Programme managerial tasks and duties normally performed by UNICEF staff.

Tasks and Deliverables:

The assignment is expected to start in February 2020 and should be finalized by December 2020.

To achieve this objective, the consultant should provide following deliverables and implement the following activities:

1. Provide technical support and expertise in the development of a comprehensive package of five teacher guidebooks based on ELDS and Curriculum, related to improving quality of preschool education, particularly:

  • Assistance to the International Expert and ECD Officer in the coordination of the five MOPSE Working Groups on developing teacher guidebooks/methodological manuals, support in collecting materials, arrange regular meetings and discussion;
  • Provide Working Groups with relevant support materials and up- dated information in ECE, according to the requirements; 
  • Monitor implementation of the action plan for development of the teacher guidebooks/methodological manuals to ensure timely completion of the tasks;
  • Review and provide feedback to the Working Group in drafting a comprehensive package of five teacher guidebooks in consultation with the UNICEF team and International Expert;
  • Assist and organize pre-testing of the guidebooks and prepare report on the results of pre-testing and in collaboration with International Consultant provide comments and recommendation to improve;
  • Review the final edition of methodological manuals, and preparation for printing in close collaboration with the MOPSE and the Expert;
  • Support MOPSE to develop strategy to introduce 5 methodological manuals in practice for increasing capacity of preschool teachers at the different levels-in-and pre-service teacher training, different levels of preschool education departments of MOPSE and preschools.
  1. Co-facilitate refresher training for Master Trainers on the areas required attention
  • Provide technical assistance in collecting and compiling necessary information for the International Expert related to the feedback from national trainers on problems in teaching certain topics; from zonal /regional trainers on the existing problems in implementation of ILK Kadam and ELDS;
  • Provide technical support to the International Expert in the preparation of the second training package for refreshment training for Master Trainers: guideline, agenda, handouts for refreshment training, based on the identified gaps/problems and recommendations of the first TOT report;
  • Co-facilitate to the International Expert in the refreshment training and follow up with the monitoring and coaching of National Trainers.
  1. Monitoring of the implementation of the ELDS and Curriculum:
  • Provide necessary information and support in the development of the tools and indicators for monitoring of the implementation of the ELDS and Curriculum (should be in line with the Quality Assurance System);
  • Support in development of tool for observation of a child development based on the ELDS and Curriculum;
  • Assistance to the International Expert and MOPSE in development of the monitoring plan;
  • Provide technical support to the government (MOPSE) in the pre-testing and implementation of the monitoring tools in regions;
  1. Provide technical support to improve a capacity building for ECE specialists (teachers, methodologists) on the proposed innovative approaches of preschool education (play-groups and multi-age groups).
  • Provide technical support to MOPSE in implementation of the updated action plan for creating the alternative of ECE in 2 pilot regions; 
  • Review and provide inputs to the training module and training materials drafted by the International Expert for the teachers of alternative groups based on the Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS) and National Curriculum;
  • Co-facilitate to the International Expert in Conducting of two 4 -days training for teachers of alternative ECEs and regional Master Trainers and 2 days refreshment training; 
  • Support to MOPSE with the monitoring and coaching of teachers in 8 alternative groups in 2 regions, based on the demand of teachers;
  • Provide assistance in development of tools and indicators for regular monitoring of the functioning and results of the alternative ECE groups in the selected regions, as well as in the development of mechanisms for project evaluation of the piloted alternative ECEs;
  • Conduct regular monitoring of the project implementation and provide detailed reports with follow up actions and recommendations;
  • Documenting the process of introduction of alternative forms of preschool education in close collaboration with international expert, UNICEF team and MOPSE.
  1. Provide inputs to the final Process Documentation report of the activities implemented.
  2. Perform additional technical programmatic tasks as instructed by the supervisor and agreed by consultant.

Consultant is expected to provide monthly reports on co completion of the tasks and progress and will be paid upon satisfactory performance and completion of deliverables.

Activity

Deliverables

No of days

  1. Provide technical support and expertise in the development of a comprehensive package of five teacher guidebooks based on ELDS and Curriculum, related to improving quality of preschool education

Five teacher guidebooks based on ELDS and Curriculum developer and finalized

 

30

  1. Preparation work and co-facilitate on the refresher training for Master Trainers on the areas required attention

Report

10

  1. Monitoring of the implementation of the ELDS and Curriculum

Monitoring tools

20

  1. Provide technical support to improve a capacity building for ECE specialists (teachers, methodologists) on the proposed innovative approaches of preschool education (play-groups and multi-age groups
  • Updated action plan
  • Order of MOPSE for the activity
  • Training package for the training for teachers of alternative ECEs (in collaboration with International Expert)
  • Report on the training
  • Draft monitoring tools

55

  1. Provide inputs to the final Process Documentation report of the activities implemented

Process Documentation report drafted

5

  1. Perform additional technical programmatic tasks as instructed by the supervisor and agreed by consultant.

Report

10

Total days

 

130

Management:

The consultant will be working under the direct supervision of ECD Officer, in consultation with International Consultants.

Resource requirements:

Consultancy fee shall be paid based on deliverables. Payment will be made upon satisfactory completion of the assignment and provision of monthly report of accomplished tasks and deliverables approved by the supervisor.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

  • Advanced University degree in education, health, social sciences, or related field (validated by diploma);
  • At least 8 years of professional and relevant experience in education, preferably in ECD/E and knowledge of the situation with ECD/E in Uzbekistan (proved by CV and work experience); 
  • Good knowledge of legislative and programmatic bases of Education in Uzbekistan with special focus on ECD (verified by CV and/or interview);
  • Good networking and interpersonal skills (verified through an interview);
  • Excellent written and spoken skills in Uzbek and Russian. Working knowledge of English will be an asset (verified by examination of previous written work and interview)

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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.

Procedures and Working Conditions  

Duty station for the assignment is Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The assignment will be part time office based in UNICEF office within regular working days. UNICEF shall provide for office space, ICT equipment and physical resources required for the completion of the assignment. In case of need, several travels to regions may be undertaken. All trips will be arranged based on UNICEF rules and regulations.

The consultant will be responsible for any taxes that might arise because of this assignment and remuneration received by UNICEF, and UNICEF undertakes no liability for taxes, duty or other contribution payable by the consultant on payments made under this contract.  

Reservations

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if deliverable(s) incomplete, not finalized or for failure to meet deadlines and contract can be terminated within 15 days of notice. UNICEF will reserve copy right of all developed materials and own primary data collected through this assignment. The materials cannot be published or disseminated without prior written permission of UNICEF. UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future. The contractor must respect the confidentiality of the information handled during the assignment. Documents and information provided must be used only for the tasks related to these terms of reference.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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

This vacancy is now closed.
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