National Research Coordinator to coordinate evidence generation activities with USAID Pre-Primary Education Activity, 150 w/ds, Dushanbe, Tajikistan (for Tajik nationals only)

UNICEF works in a number of the world’s hardest locations, to achieve the world’s most deprived kids. To avoid wasting their lives. To defend their rights. To assist them fulfill their potential. 

Throughout 190 nations and territories, we work for each little one, in all places, daily, to construct a greater world for everybody. 

And we by no means surrender. 

For each little one, Schooling 

The elemental mission of UNICEF is to advertise the rights of each little one, in all places, in all the things the group does — in packages, in advocacy and in operations. The fairness technique, emphasizing essentially the most deprived and excluded kids and households, interprets this dedication to kids’s rights into motion. For UNICEF, fairness implies that all kids have a chance to outlive, develop and attain their full potential, with out discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the diploma that any little one has an unequal probability in life — in its social, political, financial, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There may be rising proof that investing within the well being, schooling and safety of a society’s most deprived residents — addressing inequity — not solely will give all kids the chance to satisfy their potential but in addition will result in sustained progress and stability of nations. For this reason the deal with fairness is so very important. It accelerates progress in direction of realizing the human rights of all kids, which is the common mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Conference on the Rights of the Youngster, whereas additionally supporting the equitable growth of countries. 

UNICEF in Tajikistan has acquired funding from USAID Tajikistan to help a 5-year undertaking known as “Inclusive Pre-Main Schooling Exercise” in 20 chosen districts of Tajikistan aiming at strengthening nationwide techniques at central and native stage to ship high quality, inclusive and inexpensive PPE companies for all kids. The undertaking will reveal an evidence-based method to develop inclusive, high quality PPE programming in Tajikistan, utilizing proof, analysis, and actual time studying within the inception part to tell program design and implementation. This proof, analysis and real-time studying is crucial to designing companies which might be attentive to the various completely different wants of younger kids and their households.

Within the first yr of the undertaking implementation, UNICEF will conduct a number of complete stock-taking workouts, which collectively represent a panorama evaluation together with the Data, Perspective, Follow. This panorama evaluation will inform nature and scale of interventions and actions for the approaching years, making certain that the undertaking is evidence-based and data-driven, and that actions are fine-tuned and contextualized to the wants in the neighborhood. Collected information will even set up the baseline in opposition to which the exercise progress and outcomes shall be measured.

Panorama evaluation: The panorama evaluation will present the evaluation of PPE standing within the 20 chosen districts/places, the place the undertaking will likely be carried out. The 240 Early Childhood Schooling (ECE) facilities, that UNICEF beforehand arrange and supported, are situated in these 20 districts/places. PPE panorama evaluation will set baseline throughout the next, however not restricted to areas together with:
a. Variety of kids attending ECE facilities (disaggregated by gender, nationality, incapacity), together with their general college readiness stage (enrolled in ECE companies throughout college yr September 2023-Could 2024).
b. Variety of academics/workers by gender and their qualification/schooling background and availability of crucial ECE coaching expertise to ship top quality service (understanding of Early Studying Improvement Requirements, ECE curriculum for various fashions, availability of ECE coaching packages and instructor information).
c. Bodily and studying surroundings evaluation of facilities, accessibility and affordability (price) of the facilities in opposition to inclusivity and fairness benchmarks (FGDs with dad and mom and academics).
d. Main funding sources/stakeholders/companions of present and/or future funding and help for pre-primary schooling within the chosen places.
e. Availability of child-friendly and incapacity delicate educating and studying supplies, which promote and allow child-centered and play-based service supply.

Revisions of the present high quality assurance framework for PPE in Tajikistan on problems with inclusion. This exercise will evaluation the present high quality assurance techniques for PPE within the nation. Particularly, the evaluation will look at present indicators inside the high quality assurance instruments, and the extent to which the present high quality assurance mechanisms deal with points pertaining to academics’ pedagogical competencies, the standard of interactions between academics and college students and early studying environments inside ECE settings. The evaluation will even deal with the diploma to which present high quality assurance mechanisms embody indicators on younger kids with disabilities and delays, and related indicators pertaining the inclusivity of PPE studying environments. This exercise will even embody an evaluation of the work that the World Financial institution is supporting on strengthening monitoring and analysis for early childhood growth within the nation, making certain that actions inside this Sub-objective are complementary.

Measurement of Studying Outcomes of youngsters enrolled in PPE companies in 20 chosen districts. In the course of the Yr I of the undertaking, the preparation actions will begin to measure studying outcomes with the therapy cohort of youngsters enrolled in undertaking supported ECE facilities throughout college yr September 2024 – Could 2025 (begin of intervention part). UNICEF will discover IDELA (Save the Kids) and/or MELQO/MODEL (World Financial institution) evaluation toolkits to measure abilities/skills of youngsters throughout their first day of PPE expertise in ECE facilities (Sep 2024). The commentary of the identical kids will proceed over the course of 9 months of ECE service and there will likely be second/remaining evaluation to grasp what kids gained on the finish of service (Could 2025). The evaluation will collect data on 5 little one growth domains (cognitive, language, motor, socio-emotional, and government operate/self-regulation) to reveal developmental domains kids are benefiting least from. This data shall inform evidence-based resolution making, tackle vital wants and diversifications and adjustments within the curriculum, educating practices and parental engagement, and set off coverage dialogue about advancing and reforming the first schooling curriculum.
Along with kids’s evaluation of studying outcomes, classroom high quality evaluation instrument will likely be used, with a deal with studying environments for all kids, together with these with and with out incapacity and from nationwide minority. This instrument is utilized in collaboration with evaluation of youngsters’s studying and growth abilities, which was talked about above.
As a part of this evaluation, the caregivers/dad and mom of youngsters in ECE facilities will likely be interviewed on disability-inclusivity companies to lift their consciousness and improve their participation of their kids enrolment in ECE facilities and crucial studying help mechanism in dwelling surroundings.

Behaviour evaluation (KAPB). The research will accumulate data and information to arrange baseline on the ECE panorama within the chosen districts and supply vital and well timed details about the state of ECE companies, together with general enrolment charges, academics’ capability, neighborhood engagement, governance, planning and funds. No less than within the 5 focused districts, a situational evaluation of the prevailing native techniques concerned in addressing the wants of younger kids with disabilities and their households throughout social, well being and schooling sectors will likely be initiated together with evaluation of themechanisms for referral of youngsters with disabilities to ECE facilities and help for inclusive studying. The situational evaluation will likely be carried out by native and worldwide consultants throughout Yr 3.

How will you make a distinction? 

The aim of this consultancy is to have interaction a nationwide expert and skilled Analysis Coordinator, who will play a pivotal position within the profitable implementation of the proof technology for the undertaking, primarily through the Yr I (inception part). The Analysis Coordinator will contribute to the refinement of the initiative’s design, making certain it aligns with the overarching purpose of enhancing pre-primary schooling in Tajikistan and conduct high quality assurance for all proof technology actions. Analysis Coordinator will deal with overseeing and coordinating a complete evaluation of the pre-primary schooling panorama and assessing college readiness/pre-primary studying outcomes which is aimed for Yr 1 of the undertaking.

DUTY STATION/DURATION:
Period: 150 working days between 1 February 2024 – 31 December 2024
Supervisor: Schooling Officer, UNICEF Tajikistan

Goal 1: Pre-Main Context (Panorama) & Faculty Readiness Evaluation
1.1. Help the undertaking group with the commercial and choice of analysis firms to implement proof technology actions and evaluation
1.2. Coordinate the gathering, aggregation and evaluation of knowledge associated to ECE facilities, together with the variety of kids attending (with gender and incapacity disaggregated information), workers demographics, bodily capacities, and funding sources.
1.3. Facilitate and supply technical experience throughout thorough evaluation of present pre-primary schooling high quality assurance mechanism, figuring out gaps and areas for enchancment collectively with the analysis firm.
1.4. Make sure the inclusion of numerous demographics, corresponding to kids with disabilities, women and ethnic minorities.
1.5. Oversee the coaching of knowledge collectors and make sure the efficient implementation of the chosen instrument
1.6. Plan for the measurement of studying outcomes in years 2, 3, 4, and 5, offering a longitudinal perspective on the influence of the initiative

Goal 2. General Venture Help
2.1. Collaborate with related stakeholders, together with authorities our bodies, NGOs, and academic establishments, to make sure seamless coordination and knowledge sharing
2.2. Contribute to the event of studies and displays primarily based on analysis findings, offering priceless insights for evidence-based decision-making
2.3. Take part in coverage dialogue periods, leveraging analysis findings to advocate for developments and reforms within the main schooling curriculum.

Goal 1: Knowledge assortment and evaluation
a) Coordinate the great assortment, aggregation and evaluation of knowledge associated to ECE facilities
b) Embrace disaggregated information on the variety of kids attending, with a deal with gender and incapacity
c) Assess workers demographics, bodily capacities, and funding sources of ECE facilities
d) Determine gaps and areas for enchancment in collaboration with the analysis firm
e) Make sure the inclusion of numerous demographics, corresponding to kids with disabilities, women, and ethnic minorities
f) Oversee the coaching of knowledge collectors
g) Guarantee efficient implementation of the chosen information assortment instruments

Goal 2: General Venture Help
Stakeholder Collaboration
a. Collaborate with related stakeholders, together with authorities our bodies, NGOs, and academic establishments
b. Guarantee seamless coordination and knowledge sharing amongst stakeholders

Reporting and Presentation
a. Contribute to the event of studies and displays primarily based on analysis findings
b. Present priceless insights for evidence-based decision-making

Coverage Advocacy
a. Take part in coverage dialogue periods
b. Leverage analysis findings to advocate for developments and reforms within the main schooling curriculum

Work Task
Duties/Milestone: (in step with the scope elaborated in section- III)	Deliverables/Outputs:	Anticipated Timeline	% of cost (most as much as 5 funds)
Goal 1: Knowledge assortment and evaluation Onboarding analysis firms Coordinate commercial and choice of the analysis firms to conduct panorama evaluation	Del 1. Analysis firms are chosen	– February – March 2024 (20 days)	30% cost upon submission on Del #1 and a couple of.
Coaching and Implementation Oversight Oversee the coaching of knowledge collectors Guarantee efficient implementation of the chosen information assortment instruments	Del 2. Trainings performed and efficient plan instruments developed	March – April 2024 (30 days)
Knowledge Assortment and Evaluation Coordinate the great assortment, collation and evaluation of knowledge associated to ECE facilities Embrace disaggregated information on the variety of kids attending, with a deal with gender and incapacity Assess workers demographics, bodily capacities, and funding sources of ECE facilities Guarantee Panorama Evaluation, High quality Assurance Framework, Behaviour evaluation (KAPB) and Faculty Readiness Evaluation are achieved on time with a very good high quality	Del 3. All deliberate research and assessments accomplished   Del 4. Knowledge assortment and evaluation out there	Could – September 2024 (50 days)	50% cost upon submission of De; 3 and 4.
Goal 2: General Venture Help Stakeholder Collaboration and Coverage Advocacy Collaborate with related stakeholders, together with authorities our bodies, NGOs, and academic establishments Guarantee seamless coordination and knowledge sharing amongst stakeholders Take part in coverage dialogue periods Leverage analysis findings to advocate for developments and reforms within the main schooling curriculum	Del 5. Coverage (advocacy) briefs and Energy level displays	August – December 2024 (30 days)	10% cost upon submission of Del #5.
Reporting and Presentation Contribute to the event of studies and displays primarily based on analysis findings Present priceless insights for evidence-based decision-making	Del 6. High quality studies on Panorama evaluation, High quality Assurance Framework evaluation, Behaviour evaluation (KAPB) and Faculty Readiness Evaluation with the required data and disaggregation	Quarterly (20 days) January 2024 (5 days) April 2024 (5 days) July 2024 (5 days) October 2024 (5 days)	10% cost upon submission of Del #6.
Whole	150 days	100%	Whole

To qualify as an advocate for each little one you’ll have… 

• Schooling: Superior college diploma within the fields of analysis, sociology, social science with deal with growing evidence-based schooling planning.
• Work expertise: No less than 5 years {of professional} expertise in working with schooling statistics, data techniques or quantitative/qualitative analysis.
• Understanding the advanced socio-economic elements affecting little one well-being, together with the wants of youngsters with disabilities and developmental delays.
• Specific experiencing in information assortment and evaluation statistical software program
• Good understanding in statistical evaluation is required for this project. The guide needs to be well-versed in information evaluation, interpretation, and modeling to make sure the methodology used is statistically sturdy and exact.
• Proficiency in analysis and information assortment strategies, together with combined strategies/analysis in ECE space with deal with inclusive schooling and youngsters with disabilities and developmental delays.
• To coordinate completely different research is required to assemble and analyze information on socio-economic indicators.
• Stable information and expertise in working with administrative information and composite indicators.
• Languages: Fluency in English and Tajik/Russian is required.

Certified candidates are requested to submit:

• Cowl letter/software/CV.
• A technical proposal with proposed method to managing the consultancy deliverables, exhibiting understanding of duties. 
• Monetary proposal specifying consultancy price, per day of labor, requested for the duties described within the Phrases of Reference in TJS in addition to journey and subsistence prices: 14 journeys for 7 months April – October 2024 (2 journeys per thirty days, every 5 days). Whole 70 days, DSA for 70 days. 
• Examples of earlier, related work associated to the deliverables.
• Functions with out technical and monetary proposals is not going to be thought-about. 

Functions should be acquired within the system by 22 January 2024 on UNICEF web site.

For each Youngster, you reveal… 

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

To view our competency framework, please go to  here. 

UNICEF is right here to serve the world’s most deprived kids and our world workforce should mirror the range of these kids. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, regardless of their race/ethnicity, age, incapacity, gender identification, sexual orientation, faith, nationality, socio-economic background, or some other private attribute.

UNICEF affords reasonable accommodation for consultants/particular person contractors with disabilities. This may occasionally embody, for instance, accessible software program, journey help for missions or private attendants. We encourage you to reveal your incapacity throughout your software in case you want affordable lodging through the choice course of and afterwards in your project. 

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance coverage on conduct that’s incompatible with the goals and goals of the United Nations and UNICEF, together with sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF additionally adheres to strict little one safeguarding rules. All chosen candidates will likely be anticipated to stick to those requirements and rules and can due to this fact endure rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will embody the verification of educational credential(s) and employment historical past. Chosen candidates could also be required to offer extra data to conduct a background examine. 

Remarks:  

Solely shortlisted candidates will likely be contacted and advance to the following stage of the choice course of. 

People engaged underneath a consultancy or particular person contract is not going to be thought-about “workers members” underneath the Workers Rules and Guidelines of the United Nations and UNICEF’s insurance policies and procedures, and won’t be entitled to advantages supplied therein (corresponding to depart entitlements and medical insurance coverage protection). Their situations of service will likely be ruled by their contract and the Normal Circumstances of Contracts for the Providers of Consultants and Particular person Contractors. Consultants and particular person contractors are chargeable for figuring out their tax liabilities and for the cost of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with native or different relevant legal guidelines. 

The chosen candidate is solely accountable to make sure that the visa (relevant) and medical insurance required to carry out the duties of the contract are legitimate for the whole interval of the contract. Chosen candidates are topic to affirmation of fully-vaccinated standing in opposition to SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Well being Group (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which should be met previous to taking on the project. It doesn’t apply to consultants who will work remotely and aren’t anticipated to work on or go to UNICEF premises, programme supply places or straight work together with communities UNICEF works with, nor to journey to carry out capabilities for UNICEF in the course of their consultancy contracts.