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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.

The Akelius Digital Course initiative aims to provide students and teachers with an accessible tool to accelerate foreign language learning. The course is free, contains no advertising and requires no prior user information for access. Its core features- simplicity, flexibility, agility and fun- make it adaptable for diverse learning needs. Designed as a free public good, the course emphasizes user-friendliness and inclusivity. It is developed collaboratively with teachers and education professionals under a co-creation approach in partnership with UNICEF. The iterative design process incorporates teacher and student feedback to continuously enhance user experience and learning outcomes. Akelius also includes analogue materials, such as game boxes, workbooks, art books, and classical books. UNICEF Bosnia and Herzegovina is supporting education authorities to include the course into formal education and has so far reached to 20 primary schools in Una Sana, Sarajevo, and Tuzla cantons and refugee and migrant reception centres.

The Akelius initiative places strong emphasis on evidence generation, specifically monitoring and research, to build a robust evidence base. The collection of qualitative and quantitative data that aims at: (1) estimating the programme effects on the quality of educational experience and integration of students into formal schooling, (2) examining the co-creation process of the initiative, (3) examining the various modes of implementation of the course, and (4) understanding the programme sustainability and potential for scale.  This process aims to inform policies and strategies on the effectiveness of digital learning tools as one of the means to support children’s learning.  

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The purpose of this assignment is A) to collect and analyze qualitative data, including focus group discussions (FGDs), classroom observations, and in-depth interviews with children, teachers, and other relevant stakeholders on the effects of usage of the Akelius Digital Language Course in four primary schools (Kiseljak and Kreka in Tuzla Canton, and Gornje Prekounje-Ripač and Druga osnovna škola Bosanska Krupa). The assignment is to B) triangulate the data with the existing quantitative evidence, to produce a comprehensive report aimed at improving the course’s implementation and informing potential scale-ups. In focus, the assignment is to explore the course’s impact on learning for Roma and students with disabilities.

UNICEF BiH is looking for one national individual consultant to be contracted for a total of 41 working days over a period of 4 months. The consultant will work with the UNICEF Bosnia and Herzegovina Country Office and the UNICEF Office of Research- Innocenti to prepare and implement the data collection and analysis and to produce the report.

How can you make a difference? 

The consultant will be responsible for developing a detailed workplan and methodology, conducting field work, analysing data, and producing a comprehensive assessment report. The consultant will work under the overall supervision of UNICEF BiH Education Specialist, and deliver the following key outputs: 

1. Assessment work plan- the consultant should develop the work plan aligned with the assessment objectives and the finalized sample selected. This work plan must be submitted at least two weeks before the planned commencement of fieldwork.  It should outline, in detail, the consultant’s approach to managing fieldwork, including the selected sample, respondent groups, and draft assessment tools. Ethical considerations in relation to working with children, adolescents, including children with disabilities and Roma, as well as adults should be discussed, identifying potential risks and vulnerabilities, and ways to mitigate them. 

2. FGD and interview guides- the consultant should review and adapt the existing FGD and interview guides for children and adolescents, including children with disabilities and Roma children, teachers, and the Akelius management. The consultant should develop an additional FGD/interview guide for parents of children who are using Akelius and the FGD/interview guide for the representatives of education authorities. The consultant should adapt the already existing Akelius classroom observation tool. The tools should contain items related to inclusive education and the usage of both online and offline Akelius materials.

3. Qualitative data collection- consultant should conduct qualitative data collection based on the pre-agreed sample and instruments. This includes ensuring the timely completion and accurate recording of all interviews, FGDs, and related documentation. The preliminary sampling framework envisages the collection of six FGDs with children, four FGDs with teachers, four FGDs with parents, four classroom observations, and up to ten interviews with various stakeholders.

4. Data analysis and assessment report- Delivery of the draft and final assessment report of maximum 20 pages, in English, on the main findings and recommendations for improvement and scale-up. The report should incorporate and triangulate quantitative and qualitative evidence to address research questions and describe implementation modalities, effectiveness, levers, challenges and recommendations in the implementation of Akelius in formal education settings. In particular, the report should include a focus on the effects of the programme for learners from the Roma community and learners with disabilities and provide a concise set of recommendations for  improving the course’s implementation and informing potential scale-ups.[AI1] 

The selected consultant will work closely with experts from the UNICEF Bosnia and Herzegovina Country Office and the UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti to ensure the successful completion of the assignment.

The consultant is expected to use their own equipment, including computers and other necessary hardware and software, for data collection and management. UNICEF premises will be made available for meetings and consultations, if needed.  The consultant’s presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina will be necessary as determined by the methodological requirements of the assignment.

The consultant shall not make use of any unpublished or confidential information obtained during the course of the assignment without prior authorisation from UNICEF.  The products of this consultancy are not the property of the consultant and cannot be shared without the permission of UNICEF. The consultant shall respect the local norms and refrain from interfering in the country's political affairs. UNICEF remains the owner of the data and UNICEF rules and regulations apply on intellectual property will be applicable where necessary.

The consultant is required to adhere to the UNICEF Procedure on Ethical Standards in Research, Evaluation and Data Collection and Analysis which can be accessed here: 

https://www.unicef.org/supply/files/ATTACHMENT_IVUNICEF_Procedure_for_Ethical_Standards.PDF   

The contract starts upon signature and the assignment has to be concluded within four months. Data collection must take place within this period, with sufficient time to allow for all post-fieldwork deliverables.

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

• University degree Education, Psychology, or other Social Sciences with a strong research focus. 
• Proven experience in writing quality analytical reports (assessments, studies, research, and evaluation).
• Proven experience in undertaking qualitative data collection.
• Strong understanding of various qualitative and quantitative methodologies, including questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussions.
• Fluency and excellent language skills in English and BCS (Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian) are mandatory.
• Knowledge of the Bosnia and Herzegovina country context and major education issues. 
• Experience in interview transcription and qualitative data coding.
• Familiarity with qualitative analytical software tools such as NVivo, Atlas T.I., etc.
• Experience in research on and with children, and familiarity with relevant practical and ethical considerations.
• Must be available to work on project deliverables for the duration of this project.

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.