National Consultancy to write a preschool curriculum/educator guide for the Colombo Municipal Council (Sri Lankan Nationals ONLY))

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,  how can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Education Officer, the consultant will be responsible for providing high quality support to develop the curriculum and facilitate its introduction to its end users.

 

Activities and Tasks:

1. Review existing content of the curriculum of the CMC and make revisions as necessary
2. Write new content for the curriculum based on an organizational structure provided by UNICEF
3. Consolidate new and existing content in to one instrument with the througline of an evidence-based curriculum that foster active, democratic, child-centered, culturally responsive, developmentally appropriate environments through a playful pedagogy.
4. Present this consolidated curriculum to the teachers and other external reviewers nominated by UNICEF, and collate their contributions.
5. Conduct a curriculum validation meeting at which the draft curriculum is reviewed by the teachers and administrators of the CMC.
6. Revise the draft curriculum document and incorporate the comments made at the validation workshop.
7. Design a training to introduce the curriculum to its end users who are the teachers the municipal council, to provide them with the skills and knowledge to use it in their classrooms.
8. Deliver the training.

Proposed methodology of the curriculum review and development process:

• The consultant should work closely with the Education Officer of UNICEF and the teachers/monitoring officers of the CMC.
• The methodology undertaken during the validation should be highly participatory and to include group discussions and plenary sessions.

 

Work relationships: 

The following working relationships will be required:

• With the Education Officer, who will provide overall guidance and direction for the assignment
• With the Preschool Monitoring Officers of the municipal council who will provide specific guidance on context and content for the assignment

 

 Outputs/Deliverables:  

• Preschool curriculum
• Agenda and all materials/handouts of the training program
• Delivery of the training program
• A report with recommendations for follow-up activities by the CMC/UNICEF

 

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education:  Education:  Tertiary qualifications – graduate or post graduate degree in a relevant field

Experience:

Essential –

• At least 10 years providing advisory services on early learning in Sri Lanka
• Proven evidence of evaluating and developing teacher resources including curriculum and lessons plans
• Experience in delivery of adult training
• Experience of working within the Sri Lankan education or early learning system
• Exceptional writing skills in Sinhala

 

Desirable –

• Experience working with government agencies in Sri Lanka on early learnng
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or nonprofit in early learning

 

Language: Fluency in Sinhala and English

Tentative start date: 25 June 2021

How to apply

Please complete your profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system.

Please indicate your ability, availability and fee/rate (in LKR) to undertake the terms of reference above. Indicate an all-inclusive fee (including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable) to undertake the tasks in the Terms of reference. 

Duty station –  Colombo 

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.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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:

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.

If you think this Consultancy might be for you, please take the time to review our Country Office Mutual Agreements before you apply.

If you believe you can team member that can uphold these everyday, then we look forward to receiving and reviewing your application.