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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.

As part of the Pacific Regional Education Framework (PacREF), within the policy area of Learning Pathways, Pacific education systems identified the need to develop a framework for the Pacific on the domains of home to school and through-school transitions to support systems to scaffold learners, their families, and schools through the points of change and transition across education (including transitions in/out and between schools/systems as relevant). The framework is intended to support two distinct outcomes of the Learning Pathways policy area:

i) our youngest learners (preschoolers) are prepared to engage in formal schooling

ii) linked pathways between levels of schooling and beyond.

This will mean the framework needs to consider both the initial transitions from home to ECE and into primary education but also other points of transition in a young person’s schooling e.g. from primary to lower secondary, or the transition from schooling to the world of work or higher education. The framework is intended to support countries to meet the needs of learners, schools and families at different points of transition based on country systems, culture and contexts.

The framework will consider the dimensions/characteristics identified in research through a Pacific lens, creating a broader understanding through the cultural perspectives of Pasifika. It will need to consider Pacific concepts of learning and the eco-social context in which young people in the Pacific have learnt new knowledge and skills for thousands of years and the avenues for support they receive through the course of their schooling years1. The development of any framework for education must reflect how Pacific people are socialized, learn and communicate with one another.

This framework contributes to PacREF Regional Good 7: Regional knowledge and frameworks for family-learner-school partnerships so countries can engage all stakeholders in supporting learning at all levels. It may draw on a variety of contributing PacREF activities and related regional goods, as well as the aims of PacREF itself, the 2050 Strategy for a Blue Pacific, the Pasifika Call to Action for ECD, and the Pacific Culture Strategy.

How can you make a difference? 

This consultancy will support the development of this framework in close collaboration with senior education officials across the region, the PacREF Early Learning taskforce, the Pacific Inclusive Education Taskforce, relevant NGO and CSO, and other development partners active in the sector (and other sectors). UNICEF will facilitate the formation of a Reference Group from selected representatives of education leaders, academics and partners across the region to support thought leadership from countries and provide the consultant with advice and guidance as required, particularly in ensuring the framework reflects the Pacific and provides opportunity for each country to utilize as a tool for supporting transitions in the national context.

The consultancy will cover the following activities and deliverables:

1. Inception Report with Desk Review-Conduct desk review of existing documents, data, and recent research with a focus on available research in the region. Carry out initial consultations with the reference group and senior officials or their nominees to co-construct the methodology with proposed approach, including the modality for ongoing engagement with countries. As part of the preparation for the inception report, the consultant will complete a preliminary literature review of the documents sourced. An initial meeting with UNICEF and possibly Reference Group representatives in which the consultant will share their initial thinking on approaches and methodology prior to commencement on the Inception Report is expected.

2. Development of First Draft- Based on the agreed methodology to consultations, research and technical inputs of regional officials and partners, draft an initial framework including: rationale, domains/dimensions, descriptors and rubrics of continuum for each domain, indicative indictors and M&E activity. Where possible, examples of strategies to guide regional and national activity should be provided to illustrate domains and rubrics. Short case studies of current practice may also be included.

The consultant will participate in consultations with the Reference Group to gather and document initial feedback on the draft. The consultant is also expected to provide guiding questions which can help countries provide their feedback.

3. Second Draft of Report- Based on the feedback provided in the first draft, and in collaboration with the reference group, revise the framework and develop a second draft. Share again with countries to ensure that feedback has been interpreted and integrated as intended.

4. Presentation of Framework- Based on the feedback received on second draft, finalize the framework and prepare a presentation for the Pacific Heads of Education (PHES)6 for their endorsement

5. Dissemination- The consultant is expected to develop, and co-facilitate with members of the Reference Group a regional workshop for dissemination of and capacity building in the Framework. The modality of the workshop will be dependent on complimentary regional activity with the intent of promoting national contextualization of the framework. The consultant will be expected to create an online shared folder of all documents reviewed, minutes of consultations, and the final versions of all deliverables and share with UNICEF. The Consultant should prepare two PowerPoint presentations (one for high level advocacy and one for community dissemination), that countries may revise and use for further national work with the Framework.

The approaches to the consultancy as described above are indicative. It is expected that the consultant will also propose improved approaches as relevant, in discussion with UNICEF and other stakeholders..

The consultancy is also expected to identify, leverage and collaborate with other existing expertise, analyses and initiatives, maximizing any potential synergies with other ongoing or planned efforts in the region, particularly in relation to PacREF.

Please refer to the ToR ( TOR_EDU.MCP.Home school transition.pdf) for further information on the deliverables and the timelines. 

GUIDANCE FOR APPLICANTS:  

All applications should be supported by a cover letter, a technical proposal defining the approach and methodology for executing the consultancy with critical consideration on how a strong Pacific approach will be adopted, and a financial proposal with per day professional fees in US dollars and other costs.

The financial proposal should be a lump sum amount for all the deliverables and should show a breakdown for the following:

• Monthly / Daily fees-based on the deliverables in the Terms of Reference above
• Travel (economy air ticket for applicable field mission travel)
• Living allowance where travel is required
• Miscellaneous- to cover visa, health insurance (including medical evacuation for international consultants), communications, and other costs.

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

Education:

• At least a Master’s degree or higher in education, childhood development, social sciences or related field.

Experience & Skills:

• At least 10 years of proven experience and expertise in education research and policy and planning with a focus on relevant areas of work including child development and wellbeing, school management, parent and community roles in education, partnerships for learning etc.
• Substantial experience in conducting literature reviews, planning for and facilitation consultation, analysis of primary and secondary data and producing user-friendly syntheses and presentations for a range of different audiences.
• Experience of developing technical user-friendly and easy to understand guidance documents to be used by ministries of education.
• Knowledge of Pacific cultures and education systems, including regional frameworks, institutions and partnerships and institutions required.
• Understanding of the broader crosscutting issues such as: gender mainstreaming, inclusion, early childhood development, child protection, Climate Change Awareness/Disaster Risk Reduction
• Demonstrated ability to establish harmonious and effective working relationships across cultures and disciplines, including doing so remotely.
• Strong communication and facilitation skills
• Diplomatic skills to liaise with counterparts and different stakeholders.

Language:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset. 

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.