Individual Consultant – Education Sector Coordination

Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: Yangon

 Job Family: Education

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 7 to 11 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 13-MAY-2024

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST
Long Description

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is seeking to recruit an international consultant to provide programme support for the UNESCO Project Office in Yangon (the Office) on the education sectoral and UN coordination. One of the competencies of UNESCO is to coordinate various development partners in the education sector. The objective of this consultancy is to support the office to play a role to coordinate the development partners to facilitate the education development for the children and youth under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4.

UNESCO is to coordinate the development partners in the education sector as an effective convener to support to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4.  The consultancy is to support the Head of the Office to communicate with various partners, design the TOR for research and assessment, facilitate meetings with partners, and report to donors. The consultant is to technically contribute to design the next phase of the education coordination project as well as other projects in the education unit of UNESCO Myanmar Project Office.  

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

To get technical and advisory support bringing critical input from an Individual Specialist for the education unit of the Office regarding the education sector coordination, its relevant research, development of key documents, activities and events.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the overall authority of the Director of UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok, the direct supervision of Head of UNESCO Project office in Yangon, the Individual Specialist is responsible for providing programme support on the education sectoral and UN coordination. Within the framework of UNESCO’s global development agenda such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Individual Specialist will undertake the following tasks:

Long Description

• Provide coordination and facilitation support for the Office in Yangon to manage sector groups, such as Education Sector Group (ESG), Education Sector Representative Group (ESRG), Education Development Partner Group (EDPG), regular Co-Chair meetings of ESG, and thematic working groups as requested. 
• Provide support to work as the Coordinating Agency (CA) of Global Partnership for Education (GPE) initiatives in Myanmar, communicate with Grant Agents (GA) of GPE programmes in the past and present, organize technical sessions with GPE and development partners if required, and design the scope and Terms of Reference for Enabling Factor Assessment of GPE for Myanmar.  
• Provide coordinated support to Myanmar interagency work on SDG monitoring, and other UN thematic working groups when expected by the Supervisor. Liaise with UNESCO’s partners and support the office in building new partnerships to expand and deliver on the office’s education programming. 
• Provide research and knowledge management for the review and revision of the Joint Response Framework (JRF), develop Terms of Reference for experts and contractors, and contribute inputs and feedback to their work, to ensure quality delivery of outputs.  
• Support to collaborate with two other Grant Agents that implement the Education Sector Programme Implementation Grant (ESPIG), set the regular meetings with GAs to present the progresses, and develop the monitoring and evaluation systems of ESPIG with other experts. 
• Support to implement the Education Sector Plan Development Grant (ESPDG), under the Supervision of the Head of the Office, design activities and the workplan of these activities, monitor the progress of the project, and utilize UNESCO’s relevant tools such as SISTER to provide data inputs on ESPDG.  
• Under ESPDG, support to design the thematic research through consultation with the development partners as well as work on Terms of Reference for technical assistance to mobilize resources for the education sector with consideration of Multiplier of GPE funding.  
• Support to develop the concept note on a new project for the education sector coordination called System Capacity Grant (SCG) of GPE with consultations of development partners and members of ESRG, develop the project proposal based on the concept note with budget tables.  
• Carry out close coordination with the Strengthening Pre-Service Teacher Education in Myanmar (STEM) Project Team to ensure Teacher Education (and other relevant thematic areas) are promoted in the education sector work, and to inform the STEM Project Team of relevant sectoral developments.  
• Provide substantive, logistical and administrative support to joint projects, consultations, meetings and events under the guidance of the Supervisor. 
• Coordinate partnerships with consultants and contractors accordingly under the guidance of Head of the Office.

Long Description

TRAVEL

The Individual Specialist will be required to travel on missions directly related to projects and implementation during the assignment. The Individual Specialist should travel economy class and receive Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) at the standard rate (and which should be reduced, as necessary, when the number of days of DSA exceeds the limits stipulated in the table of rates published by International Civil Service Commission (ICSC). DSA is only payable to individuals carrying out assignments away from their usual place of residence or work. The Individual Specialist is expected to make her/his own travel arrangements and should be provided with a lump sum to cover travel-related expenses in accordance with UNESCO rules and regulations.  Travel-related expenses (e.g. the cost of tickets, terminal fares and DSA) must be fixed and agreed between the parties. The Individual Specialist is responsible for obtaining United Nations Department for Safety and Security (UNDSS) security clearance prior to each approved mission.  

DELIVERABLES AND TIMELINES

1.    TOR of technical assistant for resource mobilization and Technical proposal with budget tables for SCG,  15th June 2024 
2.    TOR/scope of work of JRF revision/prioritization,   30th June 2024 
3.    Brief progress report of ESPDG to submit GPE,    31st July 2024 
4.    TOR of JRF review 2024,     31st August 2024 
5.    List of all education related research and data/information collected under ESPDG as a repository,    30th September 2024 
6.    Synthesized progress report/ppt of ESPIG GAs for GPE and development partners,      31st October 2024 
7.    Final progress report of ESPDG to submit GPE,      30th November 2024 
8.    Detailed workplan of SCG from 2024 to 2028,    31st December 2024 

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)
Accountability (C)
Communication (C)
Innovation (C)
Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)
Planning and organizing (C)
Results focus (C)
Teamwork (C)
Professionalism (C)
–
For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education 

An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in fields such as: education, economics, management studies, international development or a related field. 

Work Experience 

At least five years of experience in the field of education development, preferably relating to education planning and management, as well as monitoring and evaluation. Previous experience in teacher education or higher education reforms, preferably in the developing country contexts, would be desirable.

Skills/Competencies 

• Excellent project management, coordination and organizational skills; 
• Good analytical and problem-solving skills; 
• Ability to perform in facilitating workshops, dialogues and seminars focused on education, SDG 4, gender, inclusive education  
• Strong technical skills regarding the projects related to education sector coordination  
• Strong expertise and demonstrated experience in developing action plans and advocacy strategies aimed at mobilizing donor support for education development under emergency  
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and negotiation skills; 
• Creative thinking and problem-solving skills; 
• Proven ability to work efficiently, under pressure, and in a multi-cultural environment 
   

Languages 

Excellent knowledge of English (both written and spoken).  

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Work Experience 

• Work experience with the UN or other inter-governmental organizations in relevant fields;  
• Strong ability and prior experience working in education development in the Asia-Pacific Region 
• Familiar with Myanmar’s education landscape and context, including knowledge on the existing education programmes and projects in the country  
• Proven experience in regional coordination and technical assistance;  
• Proven experience in donor and stakeholder relationship management;  
• Experience in preparing publications and reports;  
• Experience in leading, guiding and supervising international teams; 
• Relevant experience in the Asia-Pacific at both regional and national levels.  
• Good knowledge of the Myanmar country context would be desirable. 
   

Skills/Competencies 

Good leadership and teamwork with excellent managerial skills. 

Languages 

Knowledge of another UN official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish).   

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should click on “Apply Now” and complete the Employment History form (Word document) in “Employment History Form / My Documents.” Before uploading the document, at the end of the Word document, please insert the extra pages with the following required information. Upload all documents as a single PDF document in place of the Employment History Form.  
•    An updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience make you suitable for the assignment.  
•    Written technical and financial proposals (in English): 
•    Approach and methodology for carrying out the assignment (maximum 4, A4 pages), a workplan and comments on the Terms of Reference, in brief, if any, and  
•    The proposed daily or monthly rates or the amount/budget to be charged for the assignment, which should be quoted in USD. Travel expenses should be drawn up separately. 
•   Contact details including telephone numbers and email addresses of three referees.  

UNESCO places great emphasis on ensuring that the objectives of the work assignment, as described in the Terms of Reference, are met. Accordingly, in evaluating the proposals for the assignment, attention will focus first and foremost on the technical elements. From those proposals deemed suitable in terms of the criteria in the Terms of Reference, UNESCO shall select the proposal that offers the Organization the best value for money.

Assessment
•    Only applications providing the information requested in the application procedure will be considered.
•    Evaluation of qualified applicants may include an assessment exercise and a competency-based interview.

Note:   
•    Due to the large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidate(s) about the outcome or status of the selection process. 
•    Please submit your application through SuccessFactors. 

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.

The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview. 

UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.

Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.

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UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of staff members shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity. UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment. UNESCO is committed to achieving and sustaining equitable and diverse geographical distribution, as well as gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Candidates from non- and under-represented Member States (last update here) are particularly welcome and strongly encouraged to apply. Individuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. Worldwide mobility is required for staff members appointed to international posts.

UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.