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Psychosocial Support Curriculum Writer -- Education Cannot Wait

New York City

  • Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
  • Location: New York City
  • Grade: Consultancy - Consultant - Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Public Health and Health Service
    • Social Affairs
    • Communication and Public Information
    • Education, Learning and Training
    • Translations and Languages
  • Closing Date: Closed

ECW seeks a PSS/child protection consultant to craft a series of scripted PSS lesson plans aimed at adolescents. Adolescent girls and boys are a diverse group with an array of needs; the curriculum will serve as a template, which can be adapted and tailored to meet the needs of different subsets of marginalized adolescents.

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.

Consultancy Title: Psychosocial Support Curriculum Writer

Section/Division/Duty Station: Unied Nations Hosted Funds- Education Cannot Wait – Remote

Duration: 40 work days over a period of 3 months, between April 30 and July 15, 2020

Background & Rationale

 

Education Cannot Wait (ECW) is the first global multilateral fund dedicated to supporting education for children and youth in countries affected by wars, disasters and crises. It was launched at the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016 by a broad coalition of international aid agencies and public and private donors to usher in faster and more sustainable education responses in crises settings. ECW inspires political commitment to financing education in humanitarian contexts, catalyzes financial resources, facilitates joint programming between humanitarian and development actors, empowers local partners and seeks to strengthen quality and accountability. ECW is hosted by UNICEF. The Fund is administered under UNICEF's financial, human resources and administrative rules and regulations, while operations are run by the Funds own independent governance structure that provides strategic guidance and oversight to its investments. ECW's day-to-day activities are carried out by a Secretariat under the direction of the ECW Director.

 

ECW includes psychosocial support (PSS) as a key focus in its provision of quality education. As such ECW encourages in-country partners to use PSS interventions that are structured, skills-based, evidence-informed and adaptable for use in a variety of contexts. In the EiE ecosystem, ECW sees a particular need for innovative approaches to PSS for adolescents (10-18 years of age). Adolescent girls and boys are at a crucial age, making a critical transition between childhood and adulthood. During this pivotal decade, they are particularly vulnerable to protection risks. By engaging adolescents in meaningful and practical skills-based PSS, ECW equips adolescents with tools to successfully navigate life’s transitions and unleash their unlimited potential.

 

ECW seeks a PSS/child protection consultant to craft a series of scripted PSS lesson plans aimed at adolescents. Adolescent girls and boys are a diverse group with an array of needs; the curriculum will serve as a template, which can be adapted and tailored to meet the needs of different subsets of marginalized adolescents. The lessons will teach principles inspired by Viktor Frankl’s Logotherapy (from his book, Man’s Search for Meaning) in a practical, interactive, experimental manner – with opportunities for application and re-learning. The lessons can be further enhanced by teaching skills associated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). The lesson plans will be used by PSS instructors to facilitate whole class instruction, so that adolescents living in displacement, refugee and crisis contexts learn skills and tools to foster resilience.

 

The aim of the consultancy is to first develop a brief curriculum framework, inspired by the principles of Logotherapy, CBT and ACT. This curriculum framework should include an outline of standards and competencies that can be generalized for adolescents attending ECW-funded programming. Based on the proposed curriculum framework, the PSS package will consist of a set of scripted lessons plans, teaching and learning materials (facilitator’s manual, student workbook, etc.), and training guides and materials (slidedeck, handouts, etc.). The final deliverables will be a general package that in-country partners can contextualize, using the guidance in the facilitator’s manual. The contextualization process will ensure alignment with existing core curriculum that is used already in a context or is leveled based on the phase of the response to adapt to differentiated needs.  

 Purpose

The purpose of the consultancy is to create a curriculum that will promote resilience in adolescent girls and boys living in adverse circumstances.

Reporting Lines

The consultant will report to ECW’s MHPSS Specialist and the Chief of Education.

Tasks and Expected results

Under the supervision of the MHPSS Specialist, the consultant is expected to undertake the following tasks:

  • Complete a desk review of Logotherapy, CBT and ACT concepts that skills-based and appropriate for use in crisis, displacement and refugee settings.
  • Based on information gleaned from desk review, craft a curriculum framework and set of competencies inspired by Logotherapy, CBT and/or ACT, appropriate for adolescents in ECW’s country contexts.
  • After receiving feedback from the MHPSS Specialist on the curriculum framework and competencies, draft scripted lesson plans that will form a PSS package including:

    1. A facilitator’s manual -- including a curriculum framework, a series of lesson plans, and a significant section with step-by-step, practical guidance on how to contextualize and adapt the curriculum and lesson plans for specific contexts
    2. A student workbook that will reinforce and provide opportunities to apply what is learned; handouts/supplemental learning materials such as posters and game pieces (as needed)
    3. ToT training Powerpoint slide deck, ToT lesson plans and handouts
  • Go through 3 rounds of revisions so that ECW staff can monitor and ensure the curriculum is appropriate for use in ECW country contexts
  • Create a 2-day ToT plan and package; walk through this ToT package over the course of a half-day with ECW’s MHPSS Specialist, to ensure that the package is best practice and comprehensive.

 Duty Station : Home based

Deliverables

Duration

(est. # of days)

Curriculum framework and standards/competencies (based on desk review)

6

Submission of first draft of all materials:

Facilitator’s manual with scripted lesson plans, student workbook and handouts, ToT slidedeck and training handouts

19

Submission of second draft of all materials:

Facilitator’s manual with scripted lesson plans, student workbook and handouts, ToT slidedeck and training handouts

8

Submission of third draft of all materials:

Facilitator’s manual with scripted lesson plans, student workbook and handouts, ToT slidedeck and training handouts

5

Review ToT with MHPSS Specialist; integrate feedback and make final edits

2

Total

40

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

Payment will be in 3 installments:

After 1st draft submission: 25 days

After 2nd draft submission:  8 days

Final edits and review of ToT with MHPSS Specialist: 7 days

Key competences, technical background, and experience required

  • Advanced university degree in mental health, psychology and/or social work, preferably with specialized training and experience delivering Logotherapy, Mindfulness, CBT and/or ACT group interventions to adolescents
  • At least 7 years of professional work experience in the field of mental health and/or PSS
  • Previous experience creating PSS packages for adolescents – including sample facilitator’s guides, student workbooks and training materials and tools.
  • Strong knowledge in education and/or child protection in emergencies and familiarity of integration of gender and inclusion considerations in education in emergencies and protracted crises
  • Minimum of 3 years field experience of countries in conflict situations; demonstrate understanding of the realities on the ground in the countries ECW works in.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, of publication standard
  • Strong analytical and critical thinking skills
  • Persistence in follow up, tact and diplomacy to work
  • Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines
  • Outstanding demonstrated skills in editing and proofreading is desirable  
  • Experience and excellent understanding of standard requirements (file formats, writing style, etc.) to produce materials suitable for professional design and publishing is desirable
  • High level proficiency in standard computer software, in particular, Microsoft Word is an asset
  • Familiarity with UN and international NGOs programming is an asset

Competencies required

Core Values

  • Care     
  • Respect
  • Integrity
  • Trust
  • Accountability

Core competencies

  • Communication
  • Working with People
  • Drive for Results

 Functional competencies

  • Creating and innovating
  • Planning and organizing

How to Apply

Applicants are requested to apply by April 10, 2020, 23:00pm EST.

Applications must include:

  • Cover letter,
  • CV, and
  • Writing samples of similar work

Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/ rate (in US$) to undertake the assignment. Applications submitted without a daily rate will not be considered.

NOTE: Files should not exceed 5.0MB limit:

ECW is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

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.

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

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.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

This vacancy is now closed.
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