National Consultant – Situation Analysis of the Education Sector and Capacity Building in Data Analysis for NESP 2021-2030

Call for Consultancy

National Consultant – Situation Analysis of the Education Sector and Capacity Building in Data Analysis for NESP 2021-2030

Terms of Reference

Date Issued: 16 September 2020

Organizational unit: UNESCO Myanmar Project Office

Duty Station: Yangon, Myanmar (with possible travels to Nay Pyi Taw)

Title: National Consultant

Duration of the contract: 1 October 2020 to 15 December 2020 (2.5 months)

Application deadline: 23 September 2020

I. Introduction

The Ministry of Education (MOE) has established a number of NESP 2021-30 Drafting Teams to undertake in-depth reviews of available education sector data and draft NESP 2 Chapter 1, called Achievements and Challenges and NESP 2 Chapter 2 called Situation Analysis of the Education Sector.

The MOE is planning to undertake a Situation Analysis of the Education Sector to support the identification and selection of priority Components in NESP 2. The Situation Analysis of the Education Sector has two main parts:

Part 1: Situation Analysis of Achievements and Challenges and NESP Targets; and,

Part 2: Situation Analysis of the Education Sector.

The findings from Part 1 will inform NESP 2 Chapter 1. The findings from Part 2 will inform NESP 2 Chapter 2. Capacity Building in Data Analysis will mainly support the development of inputs for Part 2, along with some key targets of NESP 2016-2021, particularly on access and participation. The methodology for the Situation Analysis will involve the following steps:

Step 1 – Collection of data for the studies (MOE, Grant Agent and CDT)

Step 2 – In depth review of literature and data (National and international experts)

Step 3 – Workshop No. 1 with Departments to identify key indicators for analysis and commence joint drafting of Sub-sector Chapter Sections (Department Drafting Teams, national and international experts (already completed))

Step 4 – Joint drafting of Sub-sector Chapter Sections (Department Drafting Teams, National and international experts)

Step 5 – Workshop No. 2 with Departments to continue analysis of key indicators and draft Sub-sector Chapter Sections (Department Drafting Teams and CDT members, national and international experts)

Step 6 – Drafting inputs for NESP 2 Situational Analysis (chapter 1 and 2) (National and international experts)

Step 7 – Workshop No. 3 with Departments and SSWG members to review ESA challenges and Plan priorities (Department Drafting Teams and CDT members, national and international experts)

Step 8 – Development of various targeted studies of the education sector (National and international experts (not part of the scope of work for this consultancy))

Step 9 – Workshop No. 4 with Departments and SSWG members to review Program design and prepare for consultation (Department Drafting Teams and CDT members, national and international experts)

Step 10 – Submission of zero draft situational analysis (National and international experts)

Step 11 – Review draft NESP Chapter 1 and 2 (Department Drafting Teams and CDT members, national and international experts)

Step 12 – Final drafting NESP 2 Chapter 1 or 2 (National and international experts)

II. Scope of Work

A learning-by-doing approach will be adopted to strengthen capacities of Department Drafting Teams in drafting the Situation Analysis of the Education Sector and to ensure that drafting teams are closely involved in the interpretation of data to determine the current state of the education sector and review priority components for NESP 2. National and international experts will closely support Department Drafting teams with the drafting of the NESP 2.

International experts from the UNESCO International Institute for Education Planning (UNESCO-IIEP) will provide technical support to all Drafting Teams to successfully develop inputs for the Situation Analysis of the Education Sector, which will result in the completion of zero drafts of the NESP 2 Chapters 1 and 2.

The objective of the Workshops listed above will be to strengthen capacity of Ministry officers in data analysis and to support joint drafting of the Situation Analysis of the Education Sector. The first workshop is tentatively scheduled for mid-September, and a second workshop would follow in the first week of October. Given the current travel restrictions due to COVID-19, it is anticipated that the both workshops will be conducted via teleconference meeting with in-country support provided by the national consultant and the capacity development team.

During this same period, the Drafting Teams will also work closely with UNESCO-IIEP staff to review the analysis from the targeted studies, contribute additional data analysis, and develop further inputs to shape the Situation Analysis of the Education Sector. A zero draft of the Situational Analysis, based on the work of the Drafting Teams, will be submitted by national and international experts on 31 October.

Following the submission of the zero draft inputs for the Education Situational Analysis (ESA), MOE and UNESCO-IIEP will lead Workshop No. 3 tentatively scheduled for the first week of October and workshop 4, with members of Drafting Teams and members of Sub-Sector Working Groups (SSWGs). During these workshops, participants will discuss key priorities emerging from the zero draft Situation Analysis of the Education Sector — Chapters 1 and 2.

The first complete draft Situation Analysis of the Education Sector is expected to be finalized at the end of November, or when the targeted studies foreseen under the ESPDG grant have been submitted. It would also incorporate the comments from MOE and other key stakeholders. The final draft of the Situation Analysis of the Education Sector will be tentatively submitted to the MOE by mid-December.

III. Work Assignment

The National Consultant’s responsibilities include the following:

• Act as a resource person for the MOE in assisting its staff members (including the NESP 2 Drafting Teams and ESA Core Team) in the completion of the various technical tasks assigned to them for the preparation of the ESA;

• Act as the facilitator and/or rapporteur of the different Drafting Teams and ESA Core Team;

• Assist the Drafting Teams in analyzing statistical data and in drawing conclusions for the Situation Analysis, as per the assignments conveyed by IIEP team to the Drafting Teams and ESA Core Team;

• Prepare basic statistical information for the Situation Analysis with comments;

• Collect relevant data about education costs, budgets and expenditures for the Situation Analysis;

• If necessary, provide rough translation for documents and reports from Myanmar to English or English to Myanmar

IV. Deliverables and Timeframe

1. Excel document with the education budget and expenditure data collected, organized and ready to be analyzed

2. Consolidated draft analysis conducted by Drafting Teams at the end of the workshop (Word document) and related graphs and tables (Excel document)

3. Consolidated draft analysis conducted by Drafting Teams after the workshop as per assignment conveyed by IIEP team (Word document) and related graphs and tables (Excel document)

V. Qualifications:

• Professional experience in research, monitoring and evaluation, and education, including experience working with the UN and at the international level;

• Possess good knowledge of education statistics and indicators;

• Possess working knowledge of Excel (including preparation of graphs and basic formulas);

• Excellent writing and communication skills in Myanmar and English language;

• Experience in working with government officials in Myanmar preferred