Consultant to assess UNESCO's Strategy on Education for Health and Wellbeing

OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: Multiple

Job Family: Education

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 1 to 6 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 04-JUN-2021

 

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

 

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST Long Description

1) Background

The UNESCO Strategy on Education for Health and Wellbeing was introduced in 2016, building from the previous UNESCO Strategy for HIV and AIDS. It sought to align the Strategy to the recently introduced Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as to the updated UNAIDS Strategy for 2016-2021. The Strategy on Education for Health and Wellbeing reflected a conceptual shift from the MDG-era, in that it sought to take HIV and AIDS out of isolation, integrating within a broader approach to education for health and wellbeing.

While the time period of the current Strategy is nearing its end in 2021, much that is articulated in it remains relevant, in particular the focus on the mutually reinforcing linkages between SDG 4 (Education), SDG 3 (Health) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality). However major changes in the international health, education and development agendas mean that the strategy is once more ripe for re-examination. Notably, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a greater recognition of the important linkages between education and health, and underscored the need to reinvigorate the school health and nutrition agenda. The Strategy will also need to be aligned the new UNESCO Medium-Term Strategy (2022-2029) and the new UNAIDS Strategy (2022-2025) currently under development.

 

> UNESCO Strategy on HIV and AIDS / 2011-2015 > UNESCO Strategy on Education for Health and Wellbeing / 2016-2021 > UNESCO Strategy... 2022-2029

2) Objectives and responsibilities

The objectives of the consultancy will be two-fold :

a) To assess the strengths and limitations of the current Strategy on Education for Health and Wellbeing, through interviews and surveys with key stakeholders and analysis of reports and project documents

b) To outline at least 2 options for a revised strategic framework and theory of change that can inform the update of the UNESCO Strategy on Education for Health and Wellbeing for the 2022-2029 period

The assessment should seek to identify the strengths and limitations of the current Strategy, with a view to informing decisions on what remains relevant and should be retained, and what should evolve. Key questions for consideration include, but are not limited to:

• To what extent did the existing strategy provide a helpful framework for the development and implementation of activities, and for resource mobilization?  
• Did activities respond to and fit naturally within the Strategic framework? Were there key action areas in the Strategy that were not covered by UNESCO activities, or conversely, activities in areas of work that were not covered under the Strategy?
• Are there emerging areas of work that are not adequately encompassed under the current structure, either because they do not fit within it or they are not sufficiently prominent?
• Does the strategy demonstrate relevance and alignment to the current and subsequent UNESCO strategic results framework (C4/C5), the UNESCO Education Strategy, and the UNAIDS strategic results framework (UBRAF)? How does it complement and intersect with other bilateral and multilateral strategies?
• Does the strategy respond to recent evidence and guidance in the areas of adolescent wellbeing, safe and violence-free schools, and gender equality? Notably with reference to the PMNCH, H6+, Safe to Learn, Generation Equality and other key commitments.
• Does the current Strategic framework position UNESCO to respond to emerging challenges for health and education, such as pandemics, non-communicable disease, and climate change?

These questions should be answered through a mixture of methods, starting with a desk review of the UNESCO Strategy alongside annual reports and relevant project documents from activities contributing to the achievement of the Strategy. The desk review will also be informed by recent internal discussions and surveys on School Health and Nutrition, School Violence and Bullying and School-related gender based violence.

The consultant will also undertake a mapping of other strategies touching on key areas of relevance for UNESCO’s work on education for health and wellbeing, including the draft UNAIDS Strategy, and strategies of other key partners such as UNFPA on SRH, UNICEF on education, WHO (including PMNCH) on adolescent health, UNGEI on girls education, among others. The purpose of the mapping will be to help identify where UNESCO’s work aligns, to avoid duplication, and to flag any gaps or missed opportunities.

Based on emerging trends from the desk review and mapping, the consultant will prepare a brief online survey, in consultation with the HAE Section. The survey will be shared with key UNESCO staff around the world, including dedicated Health and Education staff as well as Field Office Directors and other UNESCO staff. It will also be circulated to representatives of other UN, civil society and bilateral partners, including staff working through the UNAIDS Joint Programme.

Finally, the consultant will hold interviews with a select set of stakeholders including UNESCO Regional HIV and Health Education advisors, as well as representatives from key partners including Ministry of Education officials, UN agencies, donors, UNESCO Chairs and other partners.

The consultant will present the results of these different workstreams during a half-day meeting with the UNESCO team. The meeting will be led by the consultant through a participatory approach, in order to generate discussion around the headline messages resulting from the assessment, and how they can best be addressed through the revised Strategy. It will also be an opportunity to outline the directions that the updated strategy might take, with the aim of reaching consensus on two options that can be elaborated into a draft strategy results framework and theory of change subsequent to the meeting.   

Following the half-day meeting, the consultant will prepare a final report that will summarize key results of the assessment, outline at least two options for an updated Strategy, including specific proposals for updated strategic frameworks (Overarching objective, Expected Outcomes, and Outputs), and theories of change.

 

3) Timeframe, deliverables and payment schedule

The consultant’s services are required during the period of 14 June to 30 August 2021. The deliverables will be submitted according to the timeframe described below (exact dates to be confirmed upon conclusion of contract):

Date                Deliverables                                                                                                                 % Contract

28 June           Desk review and mapping                                                                                           20 %

5 July               Online survey and stakeholder interview questions drafted and submitted                20%

26 July             Online survey and Stakeholder interviews completed                                                20%

30 July             Presentation of results to HAE team                                                                          20%

30 August       Framework and theory of change                                                                                20 %

4) How to apply

Interested individuals should submit a written proposal which should comprise: 

• A short proposal describing your relevant experience and outlining your approach to the assignment  
• An up to date curriculum vitae  
• An estimated rate for completing the assignment, which should be quoted in US dollars
   

The proposal should be sent to Ariana Stahmer (a.stahmer@unesco.org) by midnight (CET) 4 June 2021. 

5) Qualifications:

Required:

• Advanced academic degree in a related field (international development, public health, management, etc.)
• At least 7 years’ professional experience conducting reviews and evaluations in the health, education or social development sector
• Strong interview and research skills
• Strong group facilitation skills and experience with participatory approaches

Desirable:

• Experience working with UN organizations, other international organizations or bilateral development partners
• Familiarity with the health and education development landscape
• Working knowledge of French

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial) Accountability (C) Communication (C) Innovation (C) Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C) Planning and organizing (C) Results focus (C) Teamwork (C) Professionalism (C) - For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework. Footer

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