Education for Successful School Pathways Strategy (TSE) Consultant, Brasilia (remote), Brazil

JOB CONTEXT AND PURPOSE OF ACTIVITY/ASSIGNMENT:

Brazil has come a long way in terms of the right to education in recent decades. However, access to education has not yet been universalized, as required by law. In 2019, around 1.1 million children and adolescents were out of school (Pnad / IBGE). This number reached more than 5 million during the COVID-19 pandemic (Pnad – COVID, 2020). Once the health emergency has passed, its legacy remains in education, with an increase in educational inequalities, especially among girls and boys who are already historically more vulnerable, such as the poor, blacks, and indigenous people. Research by UNICEF and IPEC, carried out in September 2022, projected that 2 million children and adolescents aged 11 to 19 were not attending school in Brazil, double the number in 2019, before the pandemic.

According to the 2022 School Census, more than 1.8 million students failed in Brazil, almost 6 million were in age-grade distortion and around 740,000 dropped out of school. In addition, there was an increase from 15.5 per cent to 33.8 per cent in the number of second graders who couldn’t read and write even single words between 2019 and 2021 (Source: SAEB, 2021).

Among the challenges left by the covid-19 pandemic, the delays and damage to the learning and development of children and adolescents resulting from the prolonged closure of schools for face-to-face activities is one of the most visible and will require coordinated action from different sectors of Brazilian society in the coming years.

Education unit has the role to address different themes as access to education and its quality, specific issues on childhood education, connectivity and, aligned with UNICEF Strategic Plan 2022-2025, is also implementing projects on how to have schools and students addressing the impact of climate, environment and disaster risk on children and adolescents, among other themes.

UNICEF in Brazil has as one of the priorities of its Country Program for 2023-2028 the confrontation of this culture of school failure in Brazil. To this end, the Education area has developed the Successful School Pathways Strategy (SSP), that aims to support municipalities and states in the definition, implementation and evaluation of policies and actions to battle against age-grade distortion. It is already being implemented in 7 states and has enrolled more than 30.000 students.

A consultancy is needed to work closely to education strategic focal points, to support the implementation of the Successful School Pathways (SSP) Strategy through the training of teachers and technical teams of the Education departments of states and municipalities that choose to adhere to the strategy.

SCOPE OF WORK:

• Work closely with the Education team to support the implementation of the Successful School Pathways strategy by monitoring the program’s training activities, results and strategies to contribute to the preparation of strategic donor reports, as well as supporting the work of the strategy’s implementing partner.
• Work closely with Education team to support the preparation, implementation,  monitoring and evaluation of educational projects that contributes to the rights  of children and adolescents’ rights along  the participant municipalities of Seal UNICEF.
• Work closely with the Education team to Monitor projects and training that link the One Million Opportunities strategy to the SSP strategy.
• Work closely with the Education team to support the preparation, implementation and monitoring of education and climate change projects.

DELIVERABLES

1. Work Assignment 1

Work closely with the Education team to support the implementation of the Successful School Paths strategy by monitoring the program’s training activities, results and strategies in order to contribute to the preparation of strategic donor reports, as well as supporting the work of the strategy’s implementing partner.

1.1.  Deliverables/Outputs

1.1.1.     Monitor qualitative and quantitative results of the implementation of the Successful School Pathways Strategy at the 7 states and 31 municipalities that have adhered to the Successful School Paths strategy by delivering monthly reports of the stage of SSP implementation.

1.1.2.      Monitor the program’s training activities in 7 states, of the Successful School Pathways strategy accompanying the implementing partner.

1.1.3.      Participate in 7 face-to-face and online training, accompanying the work of the implementing partner, as well as offering weekly distance support based on the demands of the states and municipalities that have adhered to the Successful School Pathways strategy.

1.1.4.     Liaise with colleagues from Brasília Education and the zonal offices, in face to face meetings or electronic format twice a week to monitor the implementation of the Successful School Pathways strategy in the territories.

1.1.5.      Monitor and analyze the dissemination of the two new SSP booklets, 3 pedagogical  experiences and 1 game that will contribute to SSP implementation.Work with SSP’s implementing partner to identify at least seven good pedagogical practices from the SSP strategy and plan their dissemination to states and municipalities.

1.2. Timeline    Accordingly to the  table below

2. Work Assignment 2

Work closely with Education team to support the preparation, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of educational projects that contributes to the guarantee of children and adolescent’s rights with the participant municipalities of Seal UNICEF.

2.1.  Deliverable/Outputs

2.1.1.      Monitor quantitative results and evaluation of educational projects to the guarantee of children and adolescent’s rights with the participant municipalities of Seal UNICEF

2.1.2.     Monitor  weekly skills development activities reported by municipalities, objectives, targets and deadlines for implementing UNICEF Seal actions, in order to prepare  education reports.

2.1.3.      Develop work plan for monitoring UNICEF Seal actions.

2.1.4.      Prepare weekly bulletin to support the UNICEF Seal implementing partners.

2.1.5.      Participate,  once a month,  in online and face-to-face meetings to monitor UNICEF Seal education actions.

2.2. Timeline      Accordingly to the  table below

3. Work Assignment overview 3

Work closely with the Education team to Monitor projects and training that link the One Million Opportunities strategy to the SSP strategy.

3.1.  Deliverables/Outputs

3.1.1.      Participate in 3 face-to-face and online training on life projects offered by the Million Opportunities and School Success Pathways strategies.

3.1.2.      Monitor and analyze the production of 3 original materials on life project

3.2. Timeline    Accordingly to the  table

4. Work Assignment overview 4

Work closely with the Education team to support the preparation, implementation and monitoring of education and climate change projects.

4.1.  Deliverables/Outputs

4.1.1.       Follow up  the results of the student listening activities carried out in the four territories of the climate change project. Liaise with colleagues from Brasilia Education and the zonal offices, in face to face meetings or electronic format,  once a month, to monitor the implementation of “Education and Climate Change” program

4.1.2.       Carry out critical reading of up to 6 materials from the “Education and Climate Change” program in close collaboration with the Education Officer and the implementing partner.

4.2. Timeline    Accordingly to the table below

DURATION OF CONTRACT:

12 months

TRAVEL PLAN

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENT

• Degree in Management, Education is required.
• Advanced University degree (equivalent to Masters) in education.
• A minimum of 7 years of professional work experience at national levels in relevant Education programs. Experience in UN system agency or organization is an asset.
• Fluency in Portuguese is required.
• Knowledge on children’s rights issues, including the Convention of Rights of the Child and the Statute of the Child and the Adolescent.
• Teamwork skills and capacity to work with tight deadlines.
• Knowledge in the use of digital media tools and social networks.
• Experience in the production of materials for learning programs or content for social mobilization initiatives.

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

Excellent writing skills in Portuguese

UNICEF’S CORE VALUES

Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS)

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 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.

GENERAL CONDITIONS: PROCEDURES AND LOGISTICS

• Consultant will work from home using own equipment and stationery. UNICEF will provide office space for consultative meetings when needed.
• Consultant’s, travel costs should be included in the consultant’s fee.
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant and mandatory courses are completed.
• Consultants will not have any representative, certifying, or approving authority, or supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget.
• The consultant will work remotely on a delivery basis.

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

• Costs indicated are estimated. Final rate shall follow “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee.
• A financial proposal including the fee for the assignment based on the deliverables and number of days must be submitted. Consultants are asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum, administrative cost, travel cost and subsistence costs, as applicable.
• The payment will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

INSURANCE AND HEALTH COVERAGE

• The contractor is fully responsible for arranging, at his or her own expenses, such life, health, and other forms of insurance covering the term of the contract as he or she considers appropriate.
• The contractor is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members.

RESTRICTIONS

• Consultants may not receive training at the expense of UNICEF.  Notwithstanding, consultants must complete the applicable mandatory trainings before the signature of the contract. 
• In case of government officials, the contract cannot be issued without prior written clearance by the Government​, or unless on leave without pay.

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.