Technical Assistance to the Mid-Term Review of the Solomon Island National Education Action Plan (NEAP 2022-26)) -70 days

UNICEF Pacific is in search of a dedicated and proactive consultant who can provide technical assistance for the mid-term review of the national education action plan in Solomon Islands.

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.

We operate in the Pacific, specifically in the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. These 14 Pacific islands countries are home to 2.3 million people, including 1.2 million children and youth. They inhabit more than 660 islands and atolls that stretch across 17.2 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean. This area is comparable to the combined size of the United States of America and Canada. Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are classified as Fragile States according to World Bank/OECD criteria.

All 14 Pacific Island countries and territories have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. However, only a third are on track with reporting obligations. You can explore the different areas of our work at the link provided here: www.unicef.org/pacificislands .

Background of Assignment: 

The Solomon Islands Government, through the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD), launched the NEAP 2022-26 in May 2022. The plan is a medium-term framework guiding educational initiatives over the next five years. The NEAP responds to the higher-level Education Sector Framework (ESF), broader Solomon Islands National Development Strategy and the regional and global mandates of the Pacific Regional Education Framework (PacREF) and SDG 4. Work to implement the NEAP has progressed over the past years. However, finalization and the approval process of the new Education Act 2023 and the outbreak of COVID-19, have impacted the implementation and achievements of priorities. Consequently, the MEHRD seeks to conduct a Mid-Term Review of the Plan to assess progress; reorient strategies as necessary for the remaining period of this NEAP and give an indication as to priorities and strategies for the final period of the ESF which finishes in 2030.

How can you make a difference? 

The review of the Mid-Term Review (MTR) will focus on evaluating progress in achieving the three intermediate goals of the NEAP and their corresponding priorities:

1. To achieve equitable access to education.
2. To improve the quality of education.
3. To manage and monitor resources efficiently and cost-effectively.

The consultant will provide technical leadership to a NEAP review team comprising members from MEHRD and relevant partners in carrying out the review process. The review will adopt a tok-stori approach with stakeholders, encouraging open dialogue and contributions to capture opinions, success stories, challenges and solutions. Pacific Guidelines on consultation – including the Tok Stori approach – are available to support the consultant gain an understanding of this. Dedicated MEHRD staff will be available to support the consultant in the consultations with stakeholders under the overall leadership of MEHRD planning unit.

Day to day supervision in country, particularly during the review of desk analysis, interviews and consultations, will be through the Strategic Support Division of MEHRD in close collaboration with UNICEF Solomon Islands and Pacific offices. Regular briefings with the MEHRD are expected during the consultancy. Approximately 30 days of in-country work is expected with this consultancy primarily within MEHRD and UNICEF office as required with remote work either side for initial desk review and final drafting. When working remotely, regular meetings with both MEHRD and UNICEF Education Specialist will be expected to ensure work is on track and to plan for future activity or address any emerging issues.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

 The scope of the technical assistance will be to work with the relevant staff of MEHRD to achieve the following:

• A desk review of all documents relating to the plan and its implementation, analysis of relevant available data to be able to identify strengths and challenges in the implementation and achievement of targets including the enabling environment.
• Facilitation and documentation of a consultation series for identified stakeholder groups on the implementation and achievement of targets in the current NEAP.
• Draft and finalise the NEAP MTR report summarizing overall findings on implementation and outcomes of the plan with recommendations for consideration in the remaining years of implementation with a presentation on the final report developed for the MEHRD to use in dissemination.

Supervision will be provided by the Education Specialist Solomon Islands Office in Honiara.

Please refer to the ToR ( TOR National Education Action Plan.pdf) for further information on the deliverables and the timelines.

GUIDANCE FOR APPLICANTS:

Please submit a brief technical proposal with any relevant previous work materials along with a separate financial offer along with your application and CV. The financial proposal should be a lump sum amount for all the deliverables and should show a break down for the following:

• Monthly / Daily fees– based on the deliverables in the Terms of Reference above.
• Travel and (economy air ticket where applicable to take up assignment and field mission travel).
• Living allowance where travel is required.
• Miscellaneous- to cover visa, health insurance (including medical evacuation for international consultants), communications, and other costs.

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

Education:  

• An advanced University degree (Masters) in policy, management, strategy, education, or relevant fields.

Experience, Skills and Language:  

• A minimum of 10 years’ experience in organizational development, strategy or policy coordination within the public sector education.
• Experience in education planning, policy and monitoring and evaluation suitable for the Solomon Islands context;
• Demonstrated understanding of effective education systems in diverse contexts and practical experience in education policy development and implementation, including monitoring and evaluation and financial execution.
• Demonstrated understanding of cross-cutting development issues, particularly in relation to equitable service delivery.
• Experience working in developing countries, preferably in the Pacific and able to work effectively with local counterparts in the Ministries and education stakeholders as demonstrated by experience building and maintaining cross-cultural relationships, with a clear understanding of when to lead and when to allow others to lead.
• Easily comprehended written style and excellent analytical skills;
• Ability to share ideas, concepts and experiences in education analysis and review as well as coordinate multiple complex activities and take a collaborative approach in achieving success;
• Able to demonstrate commitment to teamwork, coaching and mentoring, patience, flexibility, resilience and problem-solving skills;
• High level ICT proficiency.

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here.

Remarks:  

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. 

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. 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.