International Consultancy – EMIS Policy and Strategy for Integrating Foundational Learning Data (Freetown, Sierra Leone) Hybrid – 95 working days

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 

Please access UNICEF Sierra Leone information here and here

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose and Objectives:

The primary objectives of this consultancy are to review and update the EMIS policy in alignment with international standards, including those set by the UNESCO UIS, and to develop a strategy for integrating foundational learning data and scorecard for performance monitoring on foundational learning, ensuring comprehensive data coverage and utilization. The assignment includes reviewing available documents, engaging with the Education Data Working Group (EDWG), facilitating validation workshops, and gathering input and feedback at national and sub-national levels and to design a mechanism that allows capturing school performance on a regular basis against a set of indicators on foundational learning and provide evidence for appropriate resource allocation. 

In collaboration with MBSSE, MTHE, and UNICEF, and following consultations with EDWG, the consultant will work under the direct supervision of the UNICEF GPE Coordinator. He or she will engage with technical team from MBSSE, MTHE, UNICEF and members of the EDWG to:

1. Review, update, and finalize the EMIS policy, ensuring alignment with UIS standards in consultation with the MBSSE and the EDWG.
2. Engage with key stakeholders, including EDWG members, government officials, education partners, and district representatives, to select appropriate Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for capturing school performance on foundational learning and build consensus on using scorecards for performance monitoring and resource allocation.
3. Design a mechanism that allows capturing school performance on a regular basis against a set of indicators on foundational learning and provides evidence for appropriate resource allocation. 
4. Develop a strategy and roadmap for integrating foundational learning data. Outline clear objectives, activities, timelines, and responsible stakeholders. The strategy should also consider how the use of ULID can contribute to tracking student performance in foundational learning and their progression.
5. Conduct a workshop to validate the EMIS policy and strategy for integrating foundational learning data.
6. Finalize the EMIS policy, scorecard, and strategy for foundational learning data, based on feedback received, and submit the comprehensive document to MBSSE and MTHE.

Please see attached ToR for detailed information.  ToR EMIS Policy and FLN Data Integration .pdf

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Education Data Management, Information Systems, Public Policy, Related fields (not specified but inferred to be fields related to the ones listed).

At least 8 years of demonstrated experience in:

• Developing and implementing EMIS policies and strategies.
• Effectively engaging with diverse stakeholders to gather insights for policy development and review.
• Data systems and technology, with the ability to propose mechanisms for integrating and aligning large scale systems.
• Developing and updating EMIS policies in alignment with international standards such as those set by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS).
• Developing scorecards for performance monitoring, strategies, and roadmaps for integrating data systems in education or other sectors.
• Engaging with diverse stakeholders, including government officials, education partners and district representatives.
• Education sector planning, including the range of modalities for delivering education, linkages between different sub-sectors.
• Planning and conducting workshops for policy and strategy validation, and in facilitating discussions and gathering feedback from workshop participants.
• Fluency in English is required. 

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.