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Expert for monitoring the quality of the capacity building programme (Pre-school Education)

Belgrade

  • Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
  • Location: Belgrade
  • Grade: Consultancy - Consultant - Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Education, Learning and Training
    • Monitoring and Evaluation
    • Project and Programme Management
  • Closing Date: Closed

UNICEF in Serbia is seeking a qualified expert for monitoring the quality of the capacity building programme in the field of Pre-school Education. Duration of the assignment: Oct 2020 – Dec 2022 (part-time, up to 66 workdays)

Early childhood education and care is a right of all children. The Government of Serbia has recognized that Quality ECEC programs play a critical role in laying the necessary foundation for skills development early on, and for narrowing the equity gap in education access and performance. As a result, the Government committed to improving the access to quality ECEC, with a focus on children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds for all children ages 0 to 6.5 years.

In order to strengthen the capacities of pre-school teachers for the implementation of the new pre-school curriculum and approach - in the next 5 years, with the World Bank (WB) loan, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development (MoESTD) is adding about 17,000 preschool spaces for children, and will roll out a comprehensive capacity building programme (training, mentoring, coaching, horizontal sharing) for 12,000 pre-school teachers.

The mechanism envisaged to reach so many teachers is the “cascade training model “, e.g. training core trainers, which will then form training pairs with pre-school teachers and expert associates for further delivery of training.  The capacity building program was envisaged as a cyclical training process, including collaborative mentoring with professional institutions, professional networking, and continuous support. The main components of the capacity building program will combine the following approaches: 1) blended training (classical and online trainings) using active learning methods, 2) mentoring, 3) peer learning and horizontal exchange within the kindergarten/pre-school institutions and between pre-school institutions.

It is envisaged that throughout the implementation process, the quality of the capacity building programme will be improved, based on the continuing monitoring. The focus of the monitoring will be the quality of the capacity building programme in terms of its relevance, delivery (engagement of the participants), outcomes and further needs, etc. In the previous period, the monitoring framework, methodology and most of the instruments have been developed in consultation with the MoESTD and the Institute for Pedagogy and Andragogy.

Work Assignment Overview:

The consultant will work in close cooperation with the National Monitoring Expert who developed the Monitoring Framework and instruments for the implementation of the monitoring framework. S/he will take part in monitoring the trainings, mentoring support and horizontal exchange, as well as in data processing and development of reports, in accordance with the agreed monitoring framework. The work will require visits to preschools which are part of the monitoring sample across Serbia during weekends.

Duration of the assignment: Oct 2020 – Dec 2022 (part-time, up to 66 workdays)

Detailed task description:

Task 1.

Monitor trainings for preschools that are part of the monitoring and evaluation sample.

Timeline: Sep 2020 – June 2022 (38 days)

Task 2.

Monitoring mentoring support provided to preschools that are part of the monitoring and evaluation sample.

Timeline: Sep 2020 – June 2022 (7 days)

Task 3.

Monitoring horizontal learning between preschools.

Timeline: Dec 2020 – June 2022 (13 days)

Task 4.

Participating in data processing and development of reports.

Timeline: Dec 2020 – June 2022 (8 days)

Deliverables: Quarterly monitoring reports

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

  • University degree in Education, Pre-school Education, Early Childhood Development, Pedagogy, Psychology, Sociology, Special Pedagogy or other fields of Social Studies and Humanities.
  • At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in education policy and practice in Serbia.
  • At least 5 years of experience in monitoring and evaluation.
  • Excellent knowledge of all regulations in the field of preschool education in the Republic of Serbia.
  • Basic computer skills (MS Office - Word, Power Point, Excel, Internet).
  • Capacity to maintain focus on priorities and deliverables, in the face of pressure, or when things do not go according to the plan.
  • Ability to demonstrate flexibility, developing alternate plans in rapidly changing situations, uncertainty and adversity.
  • Fluency in both Serbian and English.

How to apply:

The application must include a financial proposal in RSD as a separate document, providing the following information:

  1. Daily rate (all costs included e.g. health insurance, pension, usage of mobile phone),
  2. Daily travel allowance for an overnight stay in Serbia (including accommodation),
  3. Transportation cost per km (for travel within Serbia).

Important notes:

Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

For every child, you must demonstrate UNICEF's core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability.

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’s office is accessible to a certain extent, and employees are entitled to reasonable accommodations that are needed for ensuring equitable working conditions.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and on any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will therefore undergo reference and background checks.

This vacancy is now closed.
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