Full-time Home-based consultancy with the ECARO: Research/Data Analysis Consultant – Education (initial duration 5 months)

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, education

 

Background

UNICEF works for and with children and adolescents, especially the most vulnerable across 21 countries and territories in Europe and Central Asia (ECA). This is a region with the resources to meet the needs of every child. Yet, too often, the poorest children, including those living with disabilities, those who are refugees and migrants, and those from ethnic minorities, are being left behind.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these inequalities, closing the doors to school for more than 49.8 million children at the height of the pandemic. Alternative learning delivery was provided via multiple modalities, including online and offline distance learning, but reachability estimates show that, in the best case scenario, just half of children in ECA could access online or computer-based learning, with the most vulnerable children seeing the greatest impact of school closures. Overall, education systems were largely unprepared for the crisis, from the availability of ICT infrastructure to provide continued learning delivery, to teachers’ and learners’ digital skills to engage with learning in this new way.

Based on lessons learned during the pandemic response and results from emerging impact assessments, and in line with national priorities, the region’s Learning Flagship Result, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UNICEF Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECARO) has developed the LearnIn Implementation Plan 2020-2025. The Plan operationalizes the global Reimagine Education initiative and, working with ongoing global and regional initiatives such as GenU and Giga, it aims to leverage and scale up existing digital learning activities to support education systems in providing stable, flexible, effective, inclusive and safe learning opportunities to school-aged children, especially the most vulnerable.

In tandem with ongoing country, regional, and global initiatives to address multiple factors contributing to low learning outcomes and persistent exclusion, LearnIn will provide support oriented at integration within the instructional core of schools, including: accessible learning platforms; quality, curriculum-aligned, relevant and competency-based content; teacher upskilling and ongoing support; internet connectivity and device procurement; and support to learners and youth engagement. These activities will be supported by efforts to strengthen the enabling environment for quality, inclusive digital learning, financing, partnerships, and evidence generation, not only for improving implementation but also to support ongoing learning and knowledge sharing. At the country level, UNICEF will continue assisting governments for health, education and social protection system strengthening through advocacy, policy advice, horizontal exchange and convening, partnerships and leveraging, technical advice and capacity development. ​

In relation to the above-mentioned challenges and opportunities presented by COVID-19, and as part of UNICEF’s ongoing work in ECA, the consultant will work across the areas of innovation, scale up and sustainability, advocacy, oversight and evaluation. The consultant is required to support analysis, review of literature, report drafting, and communication with Country Offices in order to help the Education Section to strengthen the COVID-19 education response, the LearnIn Implementation Plan, LearnIn Evidence Generation Strategy, support to teachers, data products, and knowledge management and dissemination. 

Objectives

The consultant will be involved in supporting literature reviews, primary and secondary data analysis, contribution to conceptual and methodological approaches, and the drafting of concept notes, reports, and other knowledge products. The consultant will also be asked to provide support and inputs to other programme activities, including meetings, trainings, and events, as requested.

Related to the above the candidates should have experience of empirical research in at least two of the following areas: comparative education research, educational governance, teaching and teacher motivation, and qualitative data analysis methodologies. The candidate should have excellent analytic and drafting skills and be responsive and able to work within a dynamic team.

Specific tasks to be completed to achieve the objectives

As part of the original ToR and previous extensions, the consultant was working in the following areas:

1. Analyse data and indicators for the Learning Flagship Results in line with SDGs in areas of pre-primary, primary and secondary education with focus on learning and secondary education
2. Finalize the 2020 addendum to the Regional Learning Flagship Result
3. Based on the work under a) and b), support the preparation of related products (e.g. annotated bibliographies, databases, media products).
4. Analyse data and indicators for the Learning Flagship Results in line with SDGs in areas of pre-primary, primary and secondary education with focus on learning and secondary education.
   • Support the RO in annual planning and mid-year review;
   • Employ qualitative and quantitative data analysis methods to organize, interpret and synthesize data from countries in Europe and Central Asia;
   • Conduct causal comparative analyses within and between countries;
   • Improve the functionality of the regional education data dashboard;
   • Support the RO in improving existing data on children with disabilities in the region.
5. Contribute to other project activities upon request
   • Support and participate in meetings, trainings and events;
   • Assist with the organization of national and international dissemination events, including the preparation of background information and communication materials;
   • Travel, regional or country office locations to present findings as requested by the supervisor.

The consultant’s work will have a specific focus on the following areas:

1. Developing the LearnIn Evidence Generation Strategy
   • Undertake review of literature, including grey literature, to review effective practices in digital learning and methodologies for evidence generation;
   • In close coordination with the ECARO Evaluation section, determine priorities, needs, methodologies, and strategies for evidence generation in relation to LearnIn implementation;
   • Support, as relevant, the development of ToRs for contracts related to LearnIn evidence generation in implementation countries;
   • Support the review and use of evidence generated for informing and improving LearnIn implementation;
   • Define clear channels and approaches for disseminating evidence gathered from LearnIn, including but not limited to: peer learning webinars and events, briefs, reports, and journal articles.
2. Supporting the preparation of products related to data use and analysis:
   • Work closely with PPD colleagues to finalize the interactive TransMonEE education thematic dashboards and country profile pages;
   • Develop an interactive user guide for disseminating the TransMonEE education dashboards and country profiles when finalized;
   • Support literature and policy reviews, data analysis and report writing for the Education Section and HQ’s report on Roma children and education using MICS data;
   • As necessary, continue to design questionnaires to gather information on and analyse UNICEF Country Offices’ response to COVID-19;
3. Developing teacher learning modules on Formative Assessment for Distance and Blended Learning based on Countries’ expressed need for supporting teacher capacity strengthening on this topic:
   • Finalize the draft modules and organize a pilot of the offline modules to collect and incorporate feedback from Country Offices and teachers;
   • Use the finalized PDF modules to develop and design interactive online modules for dissemination via training platforms such as AGORA;
4. Further developing and implementing a knowledge management and dissemination strategy for the RO Education Section, enhancing the section’s visibility through social media (in cooperation with Communications colleagues), and providing related, ongoing support to Country Offices:
   • Further develop the RO Education Section’s SharePoint site based on CO needs to facilitate more effective knowledge sharing;
   • Develop regional education newsletters and knowledge products related to the COVID-19 education situation and lessons learned, as relevant;
   • Assist with the organization of national and international dissemination events, including the preparation of background information and communication materials;
5. Contributing to other project activities upon request:
   • As relevant and upon request, developing the next (2022-2025) iteration of the Regional Learning Flagship Result;
   • Supporting the development of knowledge products and supporting activities related to Environmental Education and Education for Sustainable Development;
   • Support and participate in meetings, trainings and events;
   • Assist with the organization of national and international dissemination events, including the preparation of background information and communication materials;

Specific outputs/products/results:

The consultant will be hired on a full-time basis. The deliverables for each month will be agreed at the beginning of the month in consultation with the supervisor.

Qualifications and/or specialized knowledge/experience required and desirable for being included in the roster:

Education:

• Advanced University degree in International Education, Public Policy, International Relations, International Development, Political Science, or other relevant Social Science disciplines with a strong research focus. PhD would be an asset.

 Experience:

• Substantial experience in qualitative research in education or other international development fields.
• Excellent analytical and writing skills, with advanced training in qualitative or quantitative methods.
• Strong expertise in doing research in developing settings.
• Knowledge of international education issues and the education sector.
• Strong understanding of various qualitative data collection and analysis methodologies.

Other qualifications:

• Strong interpersonal skills and proven experience in presentation and meeting facilitation.
• Fluency in English mandatory. Knowledge of another official UN language is an advantage.
• Responsive and able to work both independently and in a team within a dynamic and multi-cultural environment.
• Ability to multi-task and deliver quality products under minimum supervision.
• Commitment to UNICEF principles and mandate.
• Availability to travel upon request

Duration of the consultancy:

The consultancy contract will be issued initially for 5 months (maximum up to 14 June 2021) with a possibility of further extension.

Supervision and reporting

The consultant will work under the technical guidance and supervision of Regional Education Adviser.

Deliverables and payment schedule:

Payments will be made monthly upon confirmation from supervisor that agreed deliverables have been achieved and services rendered has been satisfactory.

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.

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

 

Applications: qualified candidates are invited to apply online and duly complete the online profile. Please provide your fee. Applications without a fee will not be consider. 

 

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:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.