National Individual Consultant for the Development of the Education Sector Strategic Plan 2024-2029, Kigali-Rwanda, 50 Working Days

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 

To learn more about UNICEF career and the work in Rwanda, please visit the country website https://unicef.sharepoint.com/sites/RWA/ or watch this video about UNICEF work in Rwanda: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7B91m5Yzoc and UNICEF Careers UNICEF Careers.

How can you make a difference? 

Background

Implementation of the Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP) 2019-2024 is due to end in June 2024. The strategic plan had nine priorities set to be achieved over a five-year period. The priorities include improving learning outcomes for all students, strengthening teacher professional development and the management, enhancing STEM education, utilizing information, communication, and technology (ICT) in education more effectively, improving school infrastructure, promoting research and development, and enhancing governance and accountability.

Over the last five years, significant progress has been achieved in the education sector in terms of access to education and improving quality. Over 200 new schools have been established and the number of classrooms increased from 59,032 in 2019 to 84,558 in 2022, reducing student to class ratios and bringing schools closer to home for children.

Moreover, the number of qualified teachers increased from 6,183 in 2019 to 9,215 in 2022. Other essential educational inputs for improving quality learning, such as provision of textbooks, computers, and teacher training, have also seen an increase. This has led to progressive improvements in learning outcomes for students, as indicated by the Learning Achievement in Rwandan School (LARS) Report 2023.

In line with overall Government of Rwanda (GoR) planning guidelines, the Ministry of Education has commenced the development of the new phase of ESSP, covering the period 2024 to 2029. A comprehensive review of the 2019-2024 ESSP implementation has been undertaken to take stock of results achieved, lessons learned and emerging issues. In addition, a comprehensive education sector analysis is required to ascertain whether the previous priorities remain relevant, considering new developments in the education sector. This analysis will outline new priorities that will guide the education sector for the next five years, aligning with the visions and aspirations of the government of Rwanda.

Given the context described above, the Ministry of Education has requested UNICEF to engage an experienced consultant to support the sector analysis and development of the 2024-2029 ESSP in collaboration with a task team established by the Ministry of Education to guide development of the strategic plan.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The purpose of the consultancy is to support the Ministry of Education in the development of the Education Sector Strategic Plan 2024- 2029.

 More specifically, the consultant will:

• Conduct situation analysis of the education sector and identify strategic priorities for the education sector.
• Support elaboration of ESSP planning including objectives, indicators, activities, and targets
• Support costing and financing plan

Key Tasks:

1. Situational analysis of the education sector and identify sector priorities.

• Gather relevant data and information on the current state of the education sector.
• Conduct the sector comprehensive SWOT analysis (key achievements, lessons learnt, and key emerging issue)
• Prepare a brief note on the situation analysis of education sector, highlighting key issues, opportunities, and potential priorities. 
• Prepare the education sector priority matrix.

2. Elaboration of ESSP, including strategic objectives, interventions, monitoring and evaluation framework

• Develop criteria for prioritizing interventions and draft the sector priorities for ESSP.
• Develop detailed plans for addressing each sector priority identified.
• Define specific objectives, strategies, activities, and expected outcomes.
• Establish a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework, including indicators, targets, and strategic interventions.
• Submission of priority interventions and M&E matrix

3. Development of ESSP costing and financing Plan

• Estimate the financial requirements for implementing the SSPs.
• Conduct cost-benefit analysis to ensure the economic viability of proposed interventions.
• Identify potential funding sources and develop a financing plan.
• Prepare a submission of SSPs costing and financing Plan. 

Key Deliverable:

• A brief note on the situation analysis of the education sector.
• Education sector priority identification matrix
• Draft of the ESSP document
• Priority intervention matrix and M&E matrix
• ESSPs costing and financing plan report.
• Final ESSP document

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

• A master’s degree in education, international development, economics or related social sciences. 
• At least 8 years of progressive professional experience in Education sector
• Proven experience in the development of strategic plans, preferable for the education sector.
• Technical expertise in conducting research in education and education situational analysis.
• Familiarity with Rwanda education policies and the current Education Sector Strategic Plan is an asset
• High degree of professional ethics, integrity, and responsibility.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

 To view our competency framework, please visit here. 

 UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.