CONSULTANCY POSITION
Development of Inclusive Education Strategy and the M&E Framework
VACANCY#: UNICEF/MLW/2014/022
- BACKGROUND
A recent UNICEF study (2013) entitled from “From Exclusion to Inclusion” found that schools and communities in Malawi are only partly aware of the existence of children with disabilities living in and around their communities and re-enforces the conclusion that significant numbers of children are ‘hidden’ within their own communities. This in itself is the first and single most important barrier to meaningful community school engagement in the plight of disabled children that must be addressed.
A recent World Bank financed study (2013) on Inclusive education in Malawi found that schools did not provide enabling environments for inclusive education with the biggest obstacle being teachers having no clear understanding of inclusive education and a general lack of commitment to teaching learners with disabilities. Further, the study found that pre service training rarely prepares teachers to teach inclusively while a review of available training programs found that they focused more on special needs education rather than inclusive education. The study concluded that there is a lack of knowledge about different kinds of disabilities (e.g. analysis of EMIS information and confusion amongst teachers regarding disabilities in general) and determining what kind of support could be provided, thus leaving many children with disabilities both in and out of schools unsupported.
The first steps towards inclusion are neither in early learning institutions or primary schools, but in families at home. In the absence of love, social inclusion, health care and early sensory stimulation, young children are at risk of missing out important developmental milestones which can affect the realisation of their full potential. Therefore, with family and community support from the earliest years, children with disabilities can be better placed to make the most of their school years and to prepare themselves to be lead productive and healthy lives.
To achieve these goals, UNICEF would like to support the Malawi Government through the Ministry of Education in conjunction with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, and the Ministry of Disability and Elderly Affairs to develop an inclusive Education Strategy and its corresponding monitoring and evaluation framework (2015-2020).
UNICEF Malawi would like to hire an international consultant to develop a national multi sectoral strategy on inclusive education. The strategy will have clearly delineated roles and responsibilities of different stake holders. It will be supported with a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework that will be a basis of evaluating the progress made in order to assess its relevance, effectiveness, efficiency and impact.
- SCOPE OF WORK
The following provisions outlines a detailed scope of works that the consultant is expected to undertake. The scope of work is not cast in stone, but provides a focus on salient issues that the consultant should give utmost consideration and an overarching framework from which the consultant should refer. During discussion of the inception report, if need be, the scope of work will be revisited and reworked. In consultation with the Ministry of Education and UNICEF, the consultant will do the following;
- Prepare an inception report summarising how the consultant has understood the tasks and deliverables and how they propose to deliver on the consultancy, i.e. highlighting the methodology, the data collection and analysis process and the presentation of results.
- Develop protocols/ instruments for the development of the strategy in consultation with the National Reference Technical Team comprising of Ministries of Education as its Secretariat; the Ministry of Disability and Elderly Affairsand the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, as well as UNICEF, DFID, World Bank, GIZ and key Civil Society Organisations.
- Facilitate the development of the strategy that integrates Inclusive Education into Early Childhood Programs, Parenting Education Programs, the CFS/School Improvement and the Teacher Education programmes
- Map partnerships working in the area of Inclusive Education as part of the overall Inclusive Education Strategy development and conduct consultative meetings with them as part of the data collection protocol for designing an inclusive, effective and efficient Inclusive Education strategy
- Identify as part of the Inclusive Education Strategy post-primary, and post-secondary support systems that exist for children who have completed primary and secondary education in order to strengthen synergies and support systems
- Clearly identify goals, targets, milestones and indicators as part of the Inclusive Education Strategy and provide/suggest mechanisms or strategies for continuous data collection and analysis as part of EMIS
- In consultation with stakeholders, Identify 4-6 Inclusive Education key indicators to be annually reported on through EMIS in each of the following sectors ECD, Primary, Secondary and Tertiary education sectors
- Present the draft inclusive education strategy to the national technical reference group and review inputs of the reference group to validate and consolidate the findings
- Present 4 final hard copies and an electronic version of the Inclusive Education Strategy with its accompanying monitoring and evaluation framework to the Director Planning, Ministry of Education Science and Technology, with copies to UNICEF, the Ministry of Disability and Elderly Affairs and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare
- EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE
- Advanced University Degree in the social sciences, Inclusive Education, Special Needs Education, development studies or other relevant field of study;
- At least 5 years of experience working with SNE, preferably in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Demonstrated experience and clear understanding of Inclusive Education; and familiarity with development assistance in sub-Saharan Africa.
- At least 5 years’ experience in developing national strategies preferably in education related fields.
- Excellent communication skills, including report writing skills and facilitation skills
- DURATION 100 working days
How to apply:
- METHOD OF APPLICATION
To apply for this consultancy, interested individual consultant shall submit their expression of interest together with:
- A cover letter, no longer than 2 pages, and curriculum vitae of the proposed members of the team, showing how the consultant meets the required qualifications, experience and expertise.
- A technical proposal, no longer than 3 pages, highlighting:
- How they have understood and interpreted the assignment and any suggestions to improve the outcomes of the assignment.
- The proposed methodology that the consultant will utilize, including sampling frame, data collection methods and tools, processing, analysis and interpretation and reporting framework.
- The time frame with clear milestones
- Logistics and resources requirements, e.g. transport, perishables etc.
- Any ethic concerns that could affect people involved in the study
- Financial proposal, no longer than one page, including all eligible fees, (salaries, transportations and DSA for data collection and fieldwork, communication costs), except the cost of reference group meetings, which will be covered directly by UNICEF Malawi.
iv. Personal History Form (P-11 form) (which can be downloaded from our website athttp://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_53129.html) and attach copies of their certificates.
Applications should be sent on or before 20 June 2014 to the following address:hrmalawi@unicef.org
NOTE:
· UNICEF is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staff. Well qualified candidates, particularly females are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Only shortlisted applicants will be acknowledged.
- Applications sent through the post office or hand delivered is not accepted.
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