International Consultancy to deepen the understanding and local capacities to promote and support equal access to quality MTB MLE programmes in Abkhazia.

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

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

Since early 2016, UNICEF has been engaged in an evidence-based advocacy with local decision makers and education experts, district boards of education, as well as relevant civil society organizations in Abkhazia, Georgia on the introduction of mother tongue based multilingual education (MTB MLE). The aim has been to increase the knowledge and understanding of local decision makers and education experts on international best practices in MTB MLE and the positive impact MTB MLE could have in Abkhazia on the quality of education, learning achievements of children, and social cohesion.

Between 2016-2018, several advocacy papers were developed, and intensive consultations were held with relevant stakeholders. In addition, two round tables were organized by UNICEF with participation of both international and local education and language experts. The first roundtable focused on international experiences and best practices in MTB MLE, including education and language rights of children, general concepts of MTB MLE, as well as various European and non-European models and practices. The second roundtable focused on international experiences and best practices in the revival and development of small and endangered national languages through education, including examples of Wales/UK and the Basque Country (Euskadi/País Vasco)/Spain. Furthermore, UNICEF organized a study visit to Malaysia and Singapore to look at successful MTB MLE practices and ways to promote mother tongue education in multilingual societies.

In 2018-2019, two workshops/roundtables for local experts were organized focusing on models and best practices of existing guidelines on how to introduce and develop an MTB MLE programme. As a follow-up to the roundtables, an assessment study by UNICEF was carried out on the challenges and opportunities of developing and introducing MTB MLE in Abkhazia. Abkhaz language curriculum evaluation study was also carried out. In 2018, a language mapping exercise was conducted by a group of local specialists under the guidance of UNICEF.

Moreover, since 2016, a number of trainings, workshops and other capacity building activities for education experts, school administrators, teachers and students have been conducted on student centered instruction (SCI), content and language integrated learning (CLIL) and other modern language teaching methodologies.

UNICEF is seeking to recruit an international consultant to support sensitization of local experts, decision makers and other relevant stakeholders, and deepen and broaden their understanding on best international practices on MTB MLE and its impact to learning outcomes, confidence building and social cohesion. 

Scope of Work:

It is planned that the consultant or a group of consultants will review, update and combine the previously developed reports and surveys on language teaching and learning in Abkhazia, as well as further develop a roadmap for future interventions to support the introduction of MTB MLE models. Upon the development and agreement of a detailed road map, the consultant is expected to provide expert support and training to pilot this approach in selected education institutions and provide guidance and recommendations. It is also planned that, based on international best practice, the consultant/s will provide consultations with relevant local stakeholders and decision makers to further sensitize, deepen and broaden their understanding on best international practices on MTB MLE and its impact on learning outcomes.

UNICEF seeks to engage an international consultant or a group of international consultants to deepen the understanding and local capacities to promote and support equal access to quality MTB MLE programmes in Abkhazia in close cooperation with UNICEF and relevant stakeholders.

Interested individual experts should apply for the whole scope of the consultancy indicating the fee in the Cover Letter.

In case of groups of experts, each group member should apply individually referencing all other members of the group in the application and specifying which components of the TOR each of the members of the group will be covering (with estimated number of days), so that together they cover the entire scope of the TOR. Daily fee and the lump sum for relevant components should be indicated. 

Most of the work will be implemented remotely. A 5-day visit to Abkhazia will be considered depending on the situation with entry procedures.  Thus, applicants need to include two financial proposals: one with travel costs and one without travel costs.

Duration: 1 May – 31 July

Location: Home-based

Travel: It is planned to organize one international travel to Abkhazia to conduct meetings and workshops with local stakeholders. Airfare economy flight ticket (round-trip).

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

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• Advanced university degree in Philology, Education, Law or other relevant fields;
• At least 8 years of work experience in one or several of the following areas: mother tongue based multilingual education, sociolinguistics, language policy;
• Proven experience of advocacy work, planning of MTB MLE programmes and advising public authorities on mother tongue and/or multilingual education;
• Proven experience in training programme development and training delivery on MTB MLE related topics;
• Excellent English language skills;
• Working knowledge of Russian language will be considered as an asset;
• Excellent presentation skills;
• Familiarity with UNICEF’s work in the area of education

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.