United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
OVERVIEW
Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)
Duty Station: Baghdad
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) : 05/02/2022
UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism
PROJECT BACKGROUND
UNESCO has undertaken to support the development of a 5-year national capacity development plan for education with an accompanying 3-year implementation plan, in alignment with the new National Education Strategy, as part of the project ���System building and capacity strengthening of Ministry of Education (MoE) and its sub-national Directorates of Education for effective delivery of quality education outcomes���.
The project is being jointly implemented in partnership with UNICEF Iraq, with funding support from the European Union. The 5- and 3-year plans will determine the strategic capacity needs… across the education system most able to support key objectives of the National Education Strategy, and pertain to the project���s second and third strategic objectives, namely:
��� SO2: To strengthen the capacity of MoE at central and governorate level to improve education services delivery (UNESCO at National Level, UNICEF at governorate level)
��� SO3: To enhance the quality of teaching and learning by operationalising the capacity development plan and developing teachers��� capacities at central and governorate levels. (UNESCO at central level and UNICEF at governorate and school level).
In Iraq, there remains the issue of the capacity of the education system to effectively deliver quality education programmes that respond to need. This lack of capacity on the one hand reflects the lack of a systematic approach to evidence-based policy making and on the other reflects a capacity deficit among the staff of the education system. This capacity deficit is evident at multiple levels across all education subsectors, among officials, school leaders and teachers, in the national ministry, directorates and schools. Of great importance is the need to build the capacity of the system and the people who work in it to make informed decisions that have the potential to improve education strategy, policies, procedures that can lead to improved access, teaching and ultimately improved outcomes for learners.
Making up more than 80% of staffing within the MoE, teachers represent a critical group to ensure high levels of capacity, particularly given their direct relationship with learning outcomes. However, Iraq faces numerous problems and impediments that have negatively affected the preparation and training of teachers. An attempt to address some of these issues was initiated in 2012 with the introduction of the National Framework for Teachers��� General Competency Standards and the subsequent adoption in 2014 of a National Teacher Training Strategy. However, a dual economic and security crisis has limited the degree of progress made with many of the important ideas proposed in these policy documents requiring a renewed focus. In particular, there is a critical need for coherent and coordinated teacher training plans to be designed and implemented at both national and General Directorate level including the development and piloting new training courses and delivery mechanisms that can help bridge immediate skills and knowledge gaps.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
In the framework of this Project, and under the overall authority of the Director of the UNESCO Office for Iraq, and the direct supervision of the Chief of Education and guidance of Associate Project Officer, the technical expert shall undertake the following:
��� Provide lead technical assistance for the finalization of a comprehensive 5-year capacity development plan and accompanying 3-year implementation plan for the education sector in Iraq;
��� Conduct a comprehensive literature review on the education sector in Iraq to support the finalization of the capacity needs assessment report and capacity development plan development, including but not limited to:
o The existing Capacity Needs Assessment report and draft 5- and 3-year Capacity Development and Implementation plans;
o The draft new National Education Strategy;
o Governorate Education Sector Plans produced as part of the same project by UNICEF;
o Previous work supported by UNESCO on teacher training, higher education, curriculum development, and literacy.
��� Prepare a brief report on the findings of the literature review, detailing gaps to be addressed in the existing Capacity Needs Assessment report and methodology for finalization of the 5- and 3-year plans;
��� Revise Capacity Needs Assessment report to reflect more critical analysis of needs assessment findings, inclusive of an institutional analysis of the central-level Ministry of Education and addressing issues of institutional and organizational factors in addition to individual capacities. Where necessary this may require the conducting of structured interviews with key MoE counterparts.
��� Conduct high-level consultations with key Ministry of Education, Ministry of Planning and other relevant line ministry management to review key capacity challenges and needs to redefine the scope and scale of the capacity development plan, and subsequently to present revised 5-year and 3-year plans for feedback and inputs;
��� Finalise existing 5-year and 3-year draft plans and M&E framework, with a view to:
(i) streamlining and prioritizing the identified training needs and identifying interventions other than trainings where appropriate;
(ii) ensuring alignment with priority programmes identified in the new National Education Strategy and with the governorate-level sector plans developed by UNICEF as part of the same project;
(iii) ensuring that the implementation plan complements work undertaken as part of the project���s third strategic objective – the development of training materials for teachers.
DELIVERABLES AND TIMEFRAME
1. Initial report based on literature and document review, identifying analytical gaps to be addressed in the draft needs��� assessment report, and outlining a methodology for finalization of the 5-and 3-year plans (Month 1).
2. revised capacity needs assessment report, based on the literature review and where necessary on interviews with Ministry of Planning staff, and other key stakeholders (Month 2, finalized report submitted for Month 3)
3. A finalized 5-year national capacity development plan, differentiated by sub-sector, identifying critical capacity issues and strategic levers to respond to them, identifying time frames, dependencies, responsible parties, inputs and costs (First revised draft submitted in Month 3, an updated draft revised according to MoE and UNESCO inputs and feedback in Month 4; final draft submitted in Month 5).
4. A finalized 3-year implementation plan & M&E framework for the national capacity development plan, detailing specific costed plans and actions identified as priorities by the MoE, and a draft training scheme detailing key training interventions for pilot development and delivery, based on specific needs identified through the national-level capacity needs assessment, and through the governorate level-development of GESPs by UNICEF (First revised draft submitted in Month 3, an updated draft revised according to MoE and UNESCO inputs and feedback in Month 4; final draft submitted in Month 5).
5. Monthly reports describing work undertaken, deliverables and outcomes achieved, a work plan for the coming period, any challenges to implementation and risks.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Education:
��� Advanced university degree in Education, Public Policy, Public Administration and management, Social Sciences, or another related field.
Professional experience:
��� At least 15 years of proven relevant experience in education policy and reform, with demonstrated experience at the international level;
��� Strong knowledge of and technical expertise in education sector policy, planning and management, and teacher professional development. Additional experience in Higher Education, TVET or early-years education an advantage;
��� Demonstrated experience in capacity development programs, preferably within education systems in a post-conflict/ post-disaster (PCPD) context;
��� Demonstrated experience in providing strategic advice to and working with high-level officials within government;
��� Excellent facilitation and representation skills at technical working groups and consultation meetings;
��� High-level analytical and report writing, written and oral communication skills;
��� Excellent knowledge of English; knowledge of Arabic a distinct advantage;
��� Ability of work effectively in a multicultural/ multi-national environment;
��� Previous experience in the Middle East will be an advantage;
��� A commitment to UN values of non-discrimination on the basis of race, gender, economic status or religion.
CORE COMPETENCIES
��� Accountability
��� Communication
��� Teamwork
��� Innovation
��� Results focus
��� Planning and organizing
��� Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement
APPLICATION PROCESS
Interested candidates should click on ���Apply Now���, then download and complete the Employment History form (Word file). At the end of the Word file, insert extra pages with the following required information in English:
Upon completing the Word file with all the requested information above, upload the file at the ���My Employment History Form / My Documents��� section of the online application form. Only applications with the above-requested information will be considered.
I. A statement indicating how their qualifications and experience make them suitable for the assignment.
II. A Technical Written proposal (4 Pages Maximum) consisting of:
��� A description of your proposed approach and methodology for undertaking the assignment;
��� Work plan with detailed milestones and key deliverables/activities;
��� Comments on the Terms of Reference, if any (in brief);
��� An up-to-date curriculum vitae (CV), and a statement indicating how your qualifications and experience make you suitable for the assignment.
��� List of work assignments and/or THREE (03) contacts as references ��� to be filled and returned to UNESCO as part of the submission.
��� A Financial proposal is attached to the application. To be filled and attached with the submission proposal.
The proposal must be in English.
SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.
The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview.
UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.
Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.
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