UNICEF
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,
The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy, and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias, or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic, and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education, and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. Therefore, the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.
UNICEF is seeking for national expertise to support international institutional consultants to address the capacity gaps in pre-service teacher education and training system, this will complement the international and national expertise already mobilized to address CBE in general secondary education with a focus on a) revision of the curriculum and b) reforming in-service teacher professional development and support systems. The interventions are expected to introduce the new models and CBE approach in the pre-service teacher training institutions to ensure that newly appointed teachers come prepared with CBE knowledge and skills, receive adequate support in the start of their teaching careers and become champions of CBE reform in general secondary schools.
How can you make a difference?
To achieve the objectives of this assignment, the following key interventions will be implemented together with international consultants:
- Revision of the current curriculum of pre-service teacher training institutions/departments with incorporation of a new course based on inclusive competency-based pedagogy
- Revision of the current model of teacher practicum to enable student teachers to explore actual competency-based practice
- Introduce Action Research at Bachelor and/or Master levels to build reflective teaching competencies
- Introduce blended learning as an additional modality for delivery of quality courses
- Strengthen the capacity of pre-service teacher training institutions/departments in designing and delivering inclusive CBE based courses/syllabuses
- Develop a model of CBE Glossary to be uploaded and updated regularly on online platforms (being developed by the MoES)
Duration: 220 working days
Duty station: Dushanbe
Period: 30th July 2022 – 20th July 2023
On site: 220 Days
Off-site: in-country visits at request
Reporting to: Education Specialist
Supervisor: Chief Education
Key Deliverables/Timeframe/Payment Schedule
The assignment will be carried out in overall 220 days spread over a period ranging from 30 July 2022 to 20th July 2023. Deliverables for each specific streams of this consultancy aligned with the tasks for Year 1.
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Task/milestone
Deliverable
Number of days
Timeline
Payment schedule
1
Support the Tajik State Pedagogical University (TSPU) and Higher Education Department under the MOES in the process of establishing core working groups for each of the project streams, including support for the development of work plans and budgets.
3-4 working groups established, work plans & budgets approved.
5
15th of August, 2022
20 %
2
Collect all the necessary documents needed for the desk research of the pedagogical faculty curriculum, school practicum, as well as previous CBE related initiatives.
Brief descriptive report on the current curriculum practice, pedagogical practicum model and previous CBe related initiatives. All the identified documents included as annexes and added to the project folder
10
15th of September 2022
3
Collect all the necessary documents needed for the desk research on the current approach to end of semester written assignments and bachelor dissertations of students.
Brief descriptive report on the written assignments and bachelor dissertations of students. All the identified documents included as annexes and added to the project folder
10
15 September 2022
4
Collect all the necessary documents and materials for the desk research on blended approaches in pedagogical universities / faculties and existing blended courses and online learning platforms.
Brief descriptive report on online and blended learning practices in pedagogical universities / faculties. All the identified documents included as annexes and added to the project folder
5
15th October 2022
5
Collect all the publications and documents on pedagogical terminology in the Tajik language.
Brief descriptive report on the terminology, including the analytical part on consistency of usage and correspondence between the English – Russian and Tajik terminology.
5
15th October 2022
6
Support the international consultant in developing and testing the methodology and the tools for a baseline on current pedagogical practicum models, including field visits to schools.
Brief report on current practices, including evidence from school visits.
5
30th October 2022
25 %
7
Support the international consultant in developing and testing the methodology and the tools for a baseline on current pedagogical practicum models, including field visits to schools.
Weekly capacity building events for the established working group (at least 4 events each month)
20
10th of November 2022
8
Support the international consultant in developing and testing the methodology and the tools for a baseline on current pedagogical practicum models, including field visits to schools.
Weekly capacity building events for the established working group (at least 4 events each month)
20
30th of November 2022
9
Support the international consultant in the process of developing a blended course on CBE, including regular liaising with partner institutions.
Weekly capacity building events for the established working group (at least 4 events each month)
20
10th December 2022
10
Support the international consultant in the process of developing and testing tools for a new model of pedagogical practicum.
Weekly capacity building events for the established working group (at least 4 events each month)
20
30th December 2022
30%
11
Support the international consultant in the process of developing a blended course on action research, including regular liaising with partner institutions and observation of classes.
Bi-weekly capacity building events for the established working group (at least 2 events each month)
20
20th January 2023
12
Support the international consultant in the process of developing a blended course on making blended courses, including regular liaising with partner institutions and assisting in running sessions.
Weekly capacity building events for the established working group (at least 4 events each month)
20
30th January 2023
13
Support the international consultant in the process of developing a trilingual glossary, including regular liaising with the partner institution.
Weekly capacity building events for the established working group (at least 4 events each month)
20
20th March 2023
25%
14
Support the international consultant in the process of testing a blended course on CBE, including regular support of the testing team and collection of feedback.
Weekly capacity building events for the established working group (at least 4 events each month)
20
20th June 2023
15
Support the international consultant in the process of testing a blended course on action research, including regular support of the testing team and collection of feedback.
At least 3 events for each stream have taken place
Dissemination materials for each events are available in the project folder
20
20th July 2023
Total
220
100%
Note: Based on availability of qualified specialist this consultancy may be divided between several consultants.
Due to COIVD19, the work and deliverables are subject to change. Consultancy need to be flexible to adjust to any unforeseen adjustments that might occur during the implementation.
Upon Completion Of The Deliverables, The Following Documents Shall Be Developed And Submitted To The UNICEF Learning Section In Soft Copy
- Detailed reports should be submitted to UNICEF in Tajik language in word and pdf formats. The reports will be reviewed and feedback provided by UNICEF.
Performance indicators for the evaluation of results
The Evaluation Of The Results Will Be Based On
- Technical and professional competence (quality of the products delivered to UNICEF);
- Scope of work (e.g. No. of meetings with the stakeholders);
- Quality of work (quality of documents submitted);
- Quantity of work (completing the tasks indicated in the table above within the set timeframe)
In addition, such indicators as work relations, responsibility, drive for results, and communication will be taken into account during the evaluation of the Consultant’s work.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Consultants is expected to have work experience in Tajikistan specifically with higher education institutions. The required qualifications/knowledge include:
Education: Advanced university degree in the fields of higher education, with focus on teacher preparation and professional development, competency-based education, use of technology, blended-learning approaches.
Work Experience: At least 3 years of work experience in a relevant field, with focus in pre-service teacher training, development of courses on pedagogy and introduction of blended learning modalities of delivery.
Technical Knowledge: Strong knowledge of pedagogy, Higher Education course design, teacher preparation curriculum.
Competencies: Good pedagogical, analytical and conceptual thinking. Excellent writing, communication and presentation skills with stakeholders. Ability to work under pressure and commitment to work to tight timeframe. Good writing skills.
Language: Fluency in Tajik is required. Knowledge of Russian and English is an asset.
Qualified Candidates Are Requested To Submit
- A technical proposal with proposed methodology/approach to development of higher education programme, managing the project, showing understanding of tasks and work plan (no price information should be contained in the technical proposal).
- Curriculum vitae (CV).
- Financial quote in TJK Somoni. The financial quote should include only the cost of technical assistance. Additional costs and logistics of the events will be covered by UNICEF through separate contractors.
- Applications without a financial quote will not be considered.
Queries can be sent with the subject line “National Individual Consultancies to provide technical support to the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan in integration of Competency Based Education and blended learning in teacher pre-service programmes”. Applications must be received in the system 28 July 2022 on our website.
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).
To view our competency framework, please visit 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 offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.
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.
The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.
To apply for this job please visit secure.dc7.pageuppeople.com.