International individual consultancy for digital learning and development of standard specifications for devices and digital solutions

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
Promoting systemic approach to digital learning and school connectivity, the Republic of Uzbekistan has been recognized as a UNICEF Learning Pioneer Country and a best practice within the UNICEF global Giga Initiative. UNICEF is currently engaged with the Government in a visioning exercise and school-based modeling of digital learning solutions to unlock digital learning for improving learning outcomes.
The UNICEF Giga initiative, aligned to the Digital Uzbekistan 2030 Strategy, has enabled the Government to define exact location and connectivity status of all state schools of Uzbekistan – this was a first time for this kind of data to be collected and visualized in an open source. In 2023, collaborating with the UNICEF Global Learning Innovation Hub-Office of Innovation in Helsinki, UNICEF launched the piloting of the Eduten Finnish-based digital solution for personalized and gamified learning in Mathematics. The platform was tailored to align to the national curriculum with piloting targeting 5th-grade students. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to introduce innovative digital solutions for learning and respond to current challenges affecting low learning outcomes.

Championing digital transformation at school level, UNICEF is currently supporting the Ministry of Pre-school and School Education (MOPSE) of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the upgrading of current specifications and standards for the use of portable digital technologies, integrating ICT into teaching and learning and advancing STEM learning. UNICEF support will enable a proof of concept with the modeling of school-based accessibility and inclusiveness of digital and STEM learning in 50 schools at national level meant to inform the review of current policies and standards needed to sustain inclusive digital environments and supporting outreach for the most marginalized through improved access to personalized digital learning pathways.

Overall Objectives
Provide technical support in building national capacity for the deployment of ICT, and digital learning for improving learning outcomes and STEM in Public Education, through the development of minimum standards and specifications for innovative portable digital devices (focused on inclusivity and quality education services).

The development of standard specifications for identified digital learning devices will be based on the review of international minimum standards on transparent deployment, maintenance, and security and informed by the consultant’s support to a school-based assessment of digital and STEM learning environments.

Scope of Work:
UNICEF’s Education section requires International consultant to provide technical support to MOPSE and UNICEF in the following:

• Development of methodology and tools for conducting a school-based assessment of digital and STEM learning environments, developing report on baseline assessment of schools.
• Development of minimum standards and specifications for innovative portable digital devices and solutions (focused on inclusivity and quality education services) and fir-for-the-purpose STEM tools to equip new digital learning labs in schools.

Duration of assignment: August – December 2024

Tasks – Deliverables – Estimated timeframe

1. School-based assessment of digital and STEM learning environments 

Task: 

1) Desk review of available international frameworks on assessing readiness of school for digital learning (with focus on digital infrastructure including but not limited to: electricity and power supply; connectivity, devices including maintenance, storage and security; software and operating systems, school digital practices used by teachers and school principals).’The desk review will further inform the development of standardized specifications for procurement of devices with focus on minimum standards for transparent deployment, maintenance, storage, and storage, along with software and operating systems (task falling under component 2 of the TORs); 2) Develop draft methodology, indicators, and tools for assessing readiness of school for digital and STEM learning in selected schools of Uzbekistan (jointly with technical team from the MOPSE), to inform procurement of digital devices and learning solutions for establishment of new inclusive smart resource centers in 50 schools. The methodology should integrate/reflect human-centered design approaches, including ensuring there is clear consideration for intended users, e.g., teachers, school principals/school leaders, and learners; and potentially parents and school management committee members; 3) Finalise the tools and guidelines for data collection based on field-testing and visit of selected schools in Uzbekistan (visit to Uzbekistan); 4) Train team of selected national research company to be appointed by UNICEF for conducting school-based data collection in line with developed methodology and tools. (This can be combined with task 3 above based on availability of travel to Uzbekistan); 5) Analyse collected school-based data compiled by UNICEF national research company and develop detailed report with existing situation in selected schools related to developed indicators including but not limited to ICT infrastructure, connectivity, devices for digital and STEM learning, and school management for digital and STEM learning. 6) Track the process of implementation of activities including analysis of challenges and lessons learned with a focus on human centred design.

Deliverables – Estimated timeframe:

1 and 2) Inception report with methodology, indicators, and assessment tools for assessing readiness of school for digital and STEM learning (baseline and end line assessment) – 29 August – 17 September 2024; 3) Final data collection tools and guidelines for data collection – 18-27 September; 4) Training on data collection – 18-27 September; 5) Baseline assessment report, incorporating comments from UNICEF and Ministry of Pre-school and School Education -7-30 October 2024; 6) Process report – 30 November 2024

2. Development of standards and specifications for digital devices, software, and operating systems

Task:

7) In close collaboration with UNICEF Global Learning Innovation Hub-Office of Innovation and MOPSE technical team:
a. Develop draft standard digital package (list of digital learning devices, equipment, accessories, and software package) for the new digital learning labs (inclusive smart resource centers) in 50 schools. b. Develop draft standard specifications for each item of the list as well as software(s) and operating system that will be loaded to the devices. 8) In close collaboration with UNICEF Programme Specialist (Supply Chain) review unit costs for the devices and other equipment to identify most cost-efficient options for the standard package, based on the developed specifications for each item. In close collaboration with UNICEF Global Learning Innovation Hub-Office of Innovation and MOPSE technical team, develop draft standards on transparent deployment, maintenance, storage and security for digital learning devices, software, and operating systems as well as standardized specifications for procurement of devices. 9) Finalize the standard digital package (list of digital learning devices, equipment, and software package) and standard specifications for them with indicative market cost (s) for the devices and other equipment. 10) Following technical consultations, provide recommendations to be adopted as national guidelines/roadmap for maintenance, storage and use of digital devices, further informing scalability of digital devices with proposed specifications and requirements. These recommendations should consider human-centered design principles, ensuring they meet current needs while also recognizing the fast-evolving nature of the EdTech space and the potential for future adaptation. 11) Track the process of activity implementation including lessons learned

Deliverables – Estimated timeframe:

7) Draft digital package for the new digital learning labs. Draft standard specifications for each item of digital package – 27 September – 7 October 2024; 8) Draft scenarios with identified options of specifications for a standard package with estimated prices – 1-10 November 2024; 9) Draft standards – 10 – 20 November 2024; 10) Final list for digital package and standard specifications for each item; 11)  Report including recommendations and roadmap incorporating comments from UNICEF and MOPSE – 1-15 December 2024; Process report – 15-20 December 2024.

TOTAL: 100 working days

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

• Advanced university degree in computer engineering, science, digital transformation, Information and communication technology or any other relevant fields. 
• Minimum of 7 years of professional working experience in education digital transformation, school information management systems, education innovation.
• Proven experience in developing methodology and implementation of school-based assessment including data analysis
• Strong report writing skills
• Previous work experience with international organization
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language – Russian 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.