Consultant Regional Research Climate Change Displacement & Right to Education (Caribbean countries)

OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Field Office

Duty Station: Santiago

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) : 15-06-2021

 

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

 

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

 

Climate change is now an unequivocal fact, and human influence on the climate system is clear (IPCC, 2014, SPM1-SPM1.1). The warming of the climate system has led to observed changes in the environment, such as sea level rise, heavy precipitation events, extreme high temperatures and impacts such as heat waves, droughts, floods, cyclones and wildfires. These changes will undoubtedly affect human mobility. The climate crisis is already a reality for many regions, and large numbers of people are already displaced. Despite this, the conversation often remains focused on the distant future and is often heavily centred on migratory rights.

Yet the right to education in the context of climate migration is almost completely overlooked by academics, policymakers and the international community. Urgent action must be taken to ensure that more attention is paid to access and continuity of education in disruptive circumstances, and how the education sector can withstand the pressures of displacement and heightened mobility. UNESCO launched in early 2020 a new initiative on Climate Change Displacement and the Right to Education. This new project aims to investigate the barriers that exist to the right to education of children, youths and adults displaced by the effects of climate change, considering the law and policy implications of heightened human mobility in this context. The overall expected outcome is to thereby improve the preparedness of states to ensure the inclusion of all displaced persons in quality education. The project will culminate with the publication of a guidance toolkit for the UNESCO Member States- providing specific and practical policy recommendations, as well as advocacy and communication materials, that policymakers and stakeholders can utilize to protect and fulfil the right to education for climate-displaced persons.

Long Description

Under the overall authority of the Director of the OREALC/UNESCO Regional Bureau for Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNESCO Santiago), and the supervision of the chief of the Right to Education section, the consultant will undertake the regional research study, including:

• Two in-depth case studies from the Caribbean region (the Bahamas and Jamaica)
• A synthesis report based on the two-country cases studies.

The core responsibilities of the consultant include to:

• Undertake research of the two countries in the Latin America & Caribbean region identified by UNESCO and develop two country case study reports.
• Produce a synthesis report, based on the two-country case studies.
• Participate in regular interactive meetings organized by UNESCO to monitor the progress based on an agreed timeframe, identify jointly with UNESCO pending issues, and provide updates on the assigned deliverables.

 

Long Description

Methodology and research questions for country case studies and regional synthesis report

The main objectives/aims are to:

1. Identify the characteristics and profiles of climate displaced persons;
2. Identify barriers or, if they exist advantages, to education for climate displaced persons;
3. Investigate whether national policies, strategies, actions or measures already exist for climate displaced persons in the field of education;
4. Develop policy recommendations to enhance the quality and inclusiveness of national education systems and to optimize education opportunities for climate displaced persons.

 

The researcher should devise the research methodology to undertake the case studies, building on the preliminary background reports on climate-change displacement and right to education prepared by UNESCO HQ, and regional synthesis in order to:

• Present a diverse range of displacement scenarios, including internal displacement, international migration, displacement due to slow onset or rapid onset weather events, permanent and temporary displacement, communities in the process of planned relocation and trapped populations;
• Consider education from a holistic, lifelong perspective, including at the early childhood stage;
• Draw conclusions about the impact that climate displacement may be having on education;
• Draft a regional synthesis report, which to draw a conclusion from case studies and, from the conclusions, provide concrete and practical policy recommendations that the Member States could implement;
• Analyze regional trends, sub-regional differences, and suggest feasible measures for regional coordination following the results analysis.

Long Description

This includes developing research tools/framework as necessary, i.e. surveys, interview questions, etc. and sampling methodologies.  UNESCO will share the relevant preliminary background reports and related materials with the researcher(s). UNESCO will be able to connect the researcher(s) with relevant stakeholders in each country, however, the researcher will be expected to thereafter communicate and connect with stakeholders directly.

Guiding research questions:

1. What are the characteristics and profiles of climate displaced persons in the selected two countries?
2. What barriers or obstacles to education exist for climate displaced persons in these countries?
3. Do national education policies, strategies, actions or measures already exist for climate displaced persons in these countries?
4. In what ways can Member States enhance the quality and inclusiveness of national education systems and to optimize education opportunities for climate displaced persons?

The methodology developed by the researcher is flexible and can include a range of strategies so long as the final country case study ultimately answers the four questions above.

 

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) SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Interested individual consultants, which meet the above required qualifications are invited to submit a short written proposal containing: (1) A letter of intent, (2) Technical proposal, and (3) Financial proposal.

Each proposal will be assessed first on its technical merits and subsequently on its price.  In making the final decision, UNESCO considers both technical and financial aspects.  The Evaluation Team (composed of UNESCO members) first reviews the technical aspects of the proposal, followed by review of the financial proposal of the technically compliant vendors. The proposal obtaining the highest overall score after adding the scores for the technical and financial proposals together that offers UNESCO the best value for money will be recommended for award of the contract.

The Proposal (not exceeding 5 pages) should include but not be limited to the following:

Methodology: Detailed methodology and/or approach to requirements detailing how to meet or exceed UNESCO’s desired research, information, and final case study requirements;

Profile: Ensure to include information related to the experience of the individual consultant;

Partners: Include any existing partnerships that the individual consultant has, as well as any government bodies, NGOs, or other institutions to whom you can envision contacting to obtain the necessary research and information;

Workplan: Workplan and schedule/timeline, and comments on the Terms of Reference, if any;

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Summary of outcomes, outputs and activities: Briefly list the anticipated outcomes, outputs and activities of the project;

Team Composition: CV of the consultant;

Measures to address any possible setbacks, impediments to obtaining information, and work-arounds

The Financial Proposal should include but not be limited to the following:

Bidders are expected to submit a lump sum financial proposal to complete the entire assignment based on the terms of reference.  The lump sum should be broken down to show the details for the following:

Regular rate: Daily rate multiplied by number of days;

Any other costs (if any): Indicate nature and breakdown;

Copy of the company/organisation registration;

Disclaimer: No travel is expected or required for this consultancy. If contractor decides to travel they do so under their own risk and own expenses.

Following the submission of the proposal, UNESCO will undertake a Cumulative Analysis which will be used to evaluate and award proposals.  The evaluation criteria associated with this TOR is split between technical and financial as follows:

80 % Technical

20 % Financial

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100 % Total

Expressions of interest, technical and financial proposal, should be submitted no later than 14 June 2021, midnight Santiago time to the attention of:   roster.santiago@unesco.org 

The subject line should be: Regional Research on Climate Change Displacement and its Impact on the Right to Education (Caribbean countries)

Questions about the assignment can also be directed to f.saffirio@unesco.org

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application in the  UNESCO careers website. The technical and financial proposals of the candidates sent to the indicated email will only be reviewed for cases that have also completed the on-line application forms.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced academic degree in a related field (preferably education; human rights; international development; sociology, etc.).
• Subject matter expertise in right to education, migration, climate change, disaster risk reduction.
• Experience in designing research methodology and tools.
• Strong skills in research methods for qualitative and quantitative data and data analysis.
• Experience in synthesizing material of a technical or scientific nature; writing for academic publications and other professional written work, including for a general audience.

Excellent analytical, writing and communication skills in the English language.
 

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Familiarity with key concepts and topics in quality inclusive education (notably, gender equality, preventing stigma and discrimination/ supporting inclusion and diversity).
• Previous experience working with the UN/multilateral/bilateral institutions.
• Competency in languages (other than English) in the Caribbean region.

Previous work experience in Latin America & the Caribbean and an understanding of the social and political sensitivities.

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