OVERVIEW

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

UNESCO strives to promote education in Afghanistan as a fundamental human right while aiming to provide access to quality, relevant and inclusive education for all. The Office focuses on ensuring access to and quality of adult literacy and non-formal education. In the last 10 years, UNESCO has provided basic general literacy and skills-based literacy to over 1 million youth and adults in the country.

Within its literacy programme, UNESCO is revising and developing teaching and learning resources for non-formal youth and adult literacy and basic education (YALBE) (levels I-III) and increasing access to basic general literacy and skills-based literacy programmes, with a particular focus on adolescent girls and women, underpinned by accurate and reliable education sector data.

UNESCO has recently developed the YALBE level II curriculum (equivalent to grades 4-6 of formal education) in two learning areas (Literacy and Numeracy) and will start the development of YALBE level III curriculum (equivalent to grades 7-9 of formal education). UNESCO is aiming to further revise, adapt, and possibly expand the YALBE level II curriculum after the piloting/field test.

Long Description

Furthermore, through alternative learning methods, UNESCO has developed the materials for the implementation of Family and Intergenerational Literacy and Learning (FILL) in Afghanistan. FILL programmes are an effective means of developing and improving the literacy, numeracy, and other foundational skills of parents and children, promoting parents’ support for children’s education, and fostering ‘wider benefits’ such as self-esteem, civic participation, and adults’ pursuit of further education.

All YALBE teaching and learning materials are being developed in the framework of an inclusive process with education providers and experts in the country (youth and adult education providers, teachers, community-based education providers, university lecturers, etc.). To this end, UNESCO has established a YALBE Curriculum Technical Working Group (TWG) within the Youth and Adult Education Platform.

UNESCO is seeking an international consultant to lead the development of the YALBE Level III instructional materials; the piloting of Level II textbooks and instructional materials; and review and further development of learning assessment for YALBE Level I ensuring synergies with the learning assessment tool development of grade 3 of general education. The consultant will also

provide capacity building and technical guidance to YALBE curriculum team of UNESCO and its partners in teaching and learning content development and effective ways of the assessment of learning achievements for youth and adult learners.

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Main Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall authority of the Officer-in-Charge of the UNESCO Kabul Office, overall supervision of the Head of Education unit, and direct supervision of the Non-Formal Education Project Officer/Team Lead, the consultant shall perform the following duties and responsibilities:

1. Provide technical guidance to the YALBE curriculum team and Curriculum TWG in planning, designing, implementing and evaluation of the curriculum development process;
2. Develop and ensure implementation and completion of the workplan for the development of YALBE Level III curriculum/skills development curriculum;
3. Lead the process of conducting a desk review, needs assessments as well as benchmarking of best practices of other countries in the development of the YALBE Level III curriculum;
4. Provide technical guidance to the YALBE curriculum team to ensure the development of YALBE Level III curriculum (including textbooks/workbooks, teacher guides, and assessment tools) for each learning area;
5. Oversee the piloting of Level II instructional materials to ensure the project has clear objectives, the required tools/questionnaires for close monitoring, insight gathering, and compilation of findings to further improve the quality and responsiveness of the package for youth and adult learners;
6. Review and revise the YALBE Level II instructional materials which are being piloted;.
7. Continuously review, adapt, and revise Students Assessment Framework which have been developed by UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL); and
8. Lead the monthly TWG meeting on YALBE curriculum development and conduct consultation meetings/workshops with a variety of technical experts from the TWG.

Note: In line with UNESCO’s overall gender mainstreaming strategy, the consultant is expected to integrate a gender perspective in all activities and apply gender analysis and mainstreaming concepts whenever feasible.

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Timeframe

The consultancy is expected to start on 1 March 2024 for the duration of 7 months. By the 30th of each month (starting from 1 March 2024), the consultant is required to provide a monthly consultancy report demonstrating the work progress of that month against each main duty and responsibility, results, and achievements of YALBE curriculum development, challenges, recommendations, and proposed next steps for any recommended subsequent technical work for the next month of the contract. By 30 September 2024, the consultant is required to provide a final consultancy report demonstrating achievements made during the entire consultancy period against each main duty and responsibility, including results and achievements of YALBE curriculum development and challenges and recommendations.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced degree (at least Master’s degree) on education, psychology, social science or a related field.

Work experience

• At least 10 years of relevant work experience in education, including curriculum development.

Skills

• Sensitivity and adaptability (culture, gender, religion, race and nationality);
• Excellent research skills;
• Excellent analytical and writing skills;
• Competent computer skills for word processing, online collaboration, presentation and data analysis; and
• Excellent independent working skills.

Language

Fluency in English (both written and spoken)

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced degree (doctoral degree) on education, psychology, social science or a related field.

Language

• Fluency in Dari/Persian or Pashto is desirable.

Work experience

• At least 10 years of relevant work experience in education, particularly curriculum development for non-formal education or youth and adult literacy and basic education; and
• Previous work experience in education projects in crisis-affected contexts such as Afghanistan.

Conditions of work

UNESCO requires the consultancy to be based in Kabul and will cover the most direct, economical round trip flight tickets to and from the country of origin of the consultant. This consultancy is comprised of both remote work and work in office at the duty station, where the consultant is expected to have 3 missions in whole consultancy period and the duration for each mission will be 1 month. UNESCO will also provide the daily subsistence allowance and visa fee in line with the relevant UNESCO rules and regulations. An office space will be provided to the consultant, including needed office equipment.

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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