National Individual Consultant:National Digital Education Platforms Consultant

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

In 2020, the Tanzanian Institute of Education and UNICEF developed paper-based home learning materials that allowed partners to reach over 359,000 children in four regions. In addition to this, TV and radio programs were produced to be broadcasted so children did not stop their learning. These programmes targeted grade four, eight, form four and form six students helping them in their exam preparation. As observed, the exploration of the mobile phone-based channels was not so active and there is now the opportunity to do it in a planned, sustainable manner. The present consultancy will therefore focus on prototyping digital platforms for educational content delivery that are aligned with UNICEF and the Government of Tanzania’s goals and vision for digital education.

 How can you make a difference?

The consultant will support the Education and Innovation team to implement the activities that lead to the delivery of educational content utilizing mobile devices or rich media channels.
1. Support TIE Tanzania in upgrading its Digital Library as per requirements identified.
2. Support UNICEF Tanzania and civil society partners in the creation of a SMS content system for delivery of Educational content
3. Support UNICEF Tanzania in implementing a digital Education Landscaping analysis for both Mainland and Zanzibar
4. Prepare monitoring framework for the intervention and document all progress and results for KM purposes.

MAIN OBJECTIVES, DELIVERABLES AND TIME FRAME 

Main activities:

1. Support TIE Tanzania in upgrading its Digital Library as per requirements identified.

1.1. Jointly with TIE and UNICEF Tanzania map out requirements for the upgrade of TIE’s digital library capable of harnessing the existing educational materials.

1.2. Provide technical support and advice as needed to ensure the products follow high quality standards and are compliant with the Principles of Digital Development.

1.3. Convene regular stakeholder meetings to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and way forward to address said bottlenecks.
1.4. Monitor disbursement of funds and implementation of activities.

2. Support UNICEF Tanzania and civil society partners in the creation of SMS content for delivery of Education content

2.1. Support UNICEF and identified partners in the implementation of partnership agreements or other programmatic agreements.

2.2. Convene regular stakeholder meetings to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and way forward to address said bottlenecks.
2.3. Monitor disbursement of funds and implementation of activities.

3. Support UNICEF Tanzania in recruiting an individual or a firm to conduct a digital Education Landscaping analysis for both Mainland and Zanzibar

3.1. Monitor progress of work
3.2. Facilitate dissemination of findings workshop for UNICEF Tanzania

4. Prepare monitoring framework for the intervention and document all progress and results for KM purposes.

4.1. Together with UNICEF team, most notably the Education Specialist define monitor indicators, data flow and reporting mechanisms to track progress and results of the work with TIE, Civil Society agreements and Landscaping analysis.
4.2. Document key activities, lessons learnt and best practices and maintain repository on online library (to be agreed with Education Specialist).

Deliverables and Time frame:

Deliverables Duration	Detailed breakdown of deliverable and time	Date	% of total cost
Payment 1 (20Days)	– TIE Library requirement documentation. -ToR for Institutional or Individual contract to implement Landscaping analysis – Recruitment / selection of institution or individual for the Landscaping analysis – Stakeholder meetings note – Monitoring visit reports – Quarter 1 progress report	16 August 2021	18%
Payment 2 (80 Days)	– TIE Library requirement documentation. – Stakeholder meetings note. – Monitoring visit reports. – Digital Education Landscaping findings workshop for UNICEF Tanzania. – Quarter 2 progress report	16 December 2021	72%
Payment 3 (10 Days)	– Programme assessment report, documenting key activities undertaken, best practices / successful practices identified, challenges and bottlenecks and recommended way forward. – End of programme workshop session materials. – Final consultancy report	31 December 2021	10%
Total			100%

 

PAYMENT SCHEDULE
Payments will be made upon submission and acceptance of the specified deliverables in the table above under section TASKS, DELIVERABLE AND TIME FRAME. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/output is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines.

SUPERVISION

The Consultant will work under the supervision of the Education Specialist.

LOGISTIC AND LOCATION
The consultant will be based in Dar es Salaam but with field visit.

Medical Evacuation Coverage:
The consultant will be required to submit the proof of medical/Health Insurance with medical evacuation coverage.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will need to have the following:

• Degree in computer science, information technology, electrical engineering, statistics, mathematics, or completed higher studies in equivalent areas of knowledge. Master’s degree or higher is an asset.
• Experience in at least one modern object-oriented programming language, especially PhP or Python.
• Experience working with databases (e.g.: MongoDB, Oracle SQL, MySQL)
• Proven experience in programmes utilizing mobile technologies and database management systems.
• Minimum 3 years of working experience in similar capacity
• Understanding of principles of stakeholder participation in software developments

For every Child you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, respect, Intergrity, Trust, and Accountablity (CRITA) and core competencies.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

Builds and maintains partnerships, demonstrate self-awareness and ethical awareness, innovates, and embrace change. drive to achieve results for impact, manages ambiguity and complexity, thinks and acts strategically, work Collaboratively with others.

To view our competency framework, please click the link below.

ttps://www.unicef.org/careers/media/1041/file/UNICEF%27s_Competency_Framework.pdf

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.