CONSULTANCY FOR PHILIPPINE NATIONALS ONLY: Designing the Phased Implementation of in-person learning in Early Childhood Education, (60 WORKING DAYS)

This Consultancy aims to help the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Council in designing the phased implementation of in-person learning in Early Childhood Education (ECE). This is part of UNICEF’s support to development and/or enhancement of ECE national standards, policies, programs and systems in the context of new normal brought about by COVID 19 pandemic. If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. We are looking for an Education Professional who will assist the UNICEF Education Section and ECCD Council in preparing the design of a risk-informed phased in-person learning as learning centers in various local government areas are poised to re-open.

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.

For every child, a fair chance

UNICEF has been an active partner of the Government of the Philippines and civil society in realizing the rights of every Filipino child, in line with priorities to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. UNICEF efforts have been focused on the most vulnerable regions identified by the Government of the Philippines Development Plan, particularly in the regions of Visayas and Mindanao. To ensure that interventions are sustainable and scaled up, UNICEF will support primarily local government units (LGUs) as the main instruments of delivering services and building systems. The level of engagement with government institutions will take into account capacities, economies of scale and sector issues.

It has a field office in Cotabato City, the second largest city in Mindanao, southern Philippines, with some 300,000 population. The city is the regional administrative centre of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and over 80 percent of the population is Muslim. Mindanao is both conflict-affected and prone to frequent earthquakes and typhoon storms. 

Visit this link for more information on Philippine Country Office: https://www.unicef.org/philippines/

How can you make a difference?

The Consultant shall provide technical and operational support in the development and improvement of a phased approach in in-person learning in ECE.

Under the direct supervision and guidance of the Education Specialist, and in coordination with Executive Review Team comprising of representatives from ECCD Council, selected LGUs, and DepEd to guide the entire process until the finalization and submission of the key deliverables.

The consultant shall undertake the following:

Work Assignments/Tasks

1. Conduct of quick desk review of international experiences in providing in-person ECE in the COVID-19 context.
   1. Review international experiences in providing in-person ECE in COVID-19 context including benchmark countries and countries with similar characteristics to the Philippines.
   2. Identify which practices can be adopted/adapted in the Philippine context and will be considered in designing the phased implementation of in-person learning in ECE.
2. Prepare the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for in-person ECE in the COVID-19 context, including health and safety considerations to minimize risks of infection and transmission
   1. In close coordination with ECCD Council Secretariat and UNICEF, prepare the SOP for in-person ECE in the COVID-19, based on international best practices but adapted to the Philippines context. SOP will include detailed health and safety considerations with step-by-step instructions for all the actors involved in the provision of the ECE service.
   2. The SOP should consider how to operationalize the Global Guidance in Reopening of ECE Setting by World Bank, UNESCO and UNICEF.
3. Identify provinces and CDCs within those provinces in which the initial phase of in-person implementation would be feasible in low risk areas
   1. Collection of primary and secondary data/information to identify possible areas which are considered low risk from COVID 19 local transmission.
   2. Recommend selection criteria and list of areas and CDCs that will be part of the initial phase of in-person learning in ECE.
4. Prepare the costed Implementation Plan of initial phase of in-person ECE
   1. Prepare the detailed workplan for the implementation, documentation, monitoring, assessment and dissemination of results and corresponding resource requirements.
   2. As part of implementation, the detailed workplan should include necessary support to CDCs and LGUs to operationalize the 10 Guiding Principles in Reopening ECE Setting mentioned above.

Methodology

• To perform the above-mentioned tasks, the following methodology will be adopted:
• Quick desk review of international experiences in providing ECE in the COVID-19 context.
• Virtual consultations for the preparation of SOP for the phased implementation of in-person ECE.
• Collection of primary and/or secondary data or information to identify possible areas and CDCs for the initial phase of in-person ECE. Primary information will be obtained through online meetings and interviews with national government agencies and LGUs.
• Virtual consultations and workshop for the preparation of the costed implementation plan of the initial phase of in-person ECE

Deliverables

• Draft Inception Report to include framework, methodology and workplan
• Final Inception report
• Desk review report of international experiences, including recommendation on which practices can be adopted/adapted in the Philippine context.
• Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for in-person ECE in the COVID-19 context, including health and safety considerations to minimize risks of infection and transmission’s draft and final reports.
• List of Provinces and CDCs that will be covered in initial phase of in-person implementation
• Costed Pilot Implementation Plan

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

• Masters Degree in Education, Early Childhood Development, or related Education Research and/ or related Social Sciences
  *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 5 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• A minimum of Five (5) years of relevant professional experience in in designing and implementing programmes, research, monitoring and evaluation.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required.

HOW TO APPLY

Qualified candidates are requested to complete an online candidate profile in http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/ by 19 march 2021.  Only applications sent through the e-recruitment portal under Job Number: will be considered.

All candidates are requested to submit a COVER LETTER indicating your  daily or monthly rate to undertake the terms of reference above. Submit a a duly filled P 11 form which can be downloaded from our website at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc indicating three (3) previous supervisors. Please indicate your availability. Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.

Only shortlisted consultants will be contacted.

By applying through our Talent Management System (TMS) you agree to our privacy statement which is in line with the Philippines Data Privacy Act. You are strongly advised to read carefully through the privacy statement before submitting your application.

"UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations, 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."

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.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

Functional

• Analyzing (2)
• Applying technical expertise (2)
• Learning and researching (2)
• Planning and organizing (2)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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:

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.