Job in Zimbabwe: Global Partnership for Education
Opening in UNICEF
Organization: UN Children’s Fund
Country: Zimbabwe
Closing date: 29 Dec 2016
UNICEF Zimbabwe is inviting proposals from individual International consultants for the provision of Technical Support in Global Partnership for Education
Background
UNICEF is the Grant Agent for the new Global Partnership for Education grant of $ 20 million likely to be awarded to the Government of Zimbabwe through the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education for the period 2017-2019. This grant covers interventions to be implemented largely in the 72 districts spread across the 10 provinces of the country. Some of the activities will also be implemented at the district and sub district levels of cluster and school. The education programme supports Ministry in the monitoring of the usage of these funds at these levels as well as in the building the capacity of the education officers and accountants in managing, administering and reportage on the usage of the funds. The education programme also works very closely with Head Office in the coordination of the activities implemented at these various levels. UNICEF is desirous of engaging a consultant to support the components of this new Grant and other interventions of the education programme from 1 January to 30 November 2017.
Introduction
With the closure of the current grant and inception of the new grant, the Education Section in UNICEF will require someone to put together the end of grant reports for the ending grant (period 2013-2016) and support the education section in terms of rolling out the implementation of the new programme. A consultant will be required to maintain active and constant communication with the subnational levels of Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. In the 1st year of the new GPE Grant in Zimbabwe, a number of tasks need to be accomplished to achieve the set targets, chief among them the setting up of the relevant structures and institutional processes and systems for the successful roll out of the various interventions. Monitoring of the District Operational Plans will be another key task. With the district and provincial funds continuing to be sent directly to them, it is essential to have someone in the team who can analyze action plans, district budgets, reports and data. These processes will be ongoing.
Objective (s)
The goal of this consultancy is to support the education programme in: reporting on the ending GPE grant, rolling out the new GPE implementation plan as well as monitoring of district plans, budgets and activities
Methodology
The consultant will support the education team with effective and successful completion of the following tasks:
Working with other national specialists and the GPE Manager-
- Finalize the end of grant report for the GPE programme (2014-2016)
- Assist Ministry in the fine tuning of the GPE Implementation plan (2017-2019)
- Support UNICEF and Ministry in
- Development of Legal and policy development work
- Development of Inclusive education policy
- Consolidating the Early reading initiative with a focus on pre-service work
- Integration of PLAP with learning support initiatives
- Rolling out initiatives on leadership and management development for school support
- Support Ministry in the monitoring of the District Operational Plans (DOPs)
- Assist in UNICEF’s management of the GPE component, including:
- documentation of best practices, lessons learnt and experiences from interventions under GPE;
- Conduct monthly programme monitoring visits to districts
- Liaison between Ministry focal persons, UNICEF and other partners on issues of GPE reporting, budgeting and planning
Expected Outputs
- Monthly and quarterly updates on status of overall GPE implementation progress by component and funds utilization
- Up to date records of progress in implementation of DOPs and GPE activities and interventions at sub national levels
- Comprehensive documentation of key lessons, best practices and experiences from GPE interventions with a view to finding solutions and improvements
- Sound communication channels for all GPE activities across partners, provinces, districts, clusters
- Contribute to GPE publications including donor reports and GPE information dissemination
Major Tasks
Task: Produce monthly reports outlining activities done at district level against the those planned
Deliverable: Monthly report on status of GPE II implementation and progress towards targets.
1x end of GPE I grant report;
Task: Analysis of field monitoring reports in close liaison with Ministry; using data from districts and provincial field reports;
Deliverable: One annual GPE programme report produced
Task: Maintain a record keeping system for all district and provincial data for reporting against GPE indicators; monitoring DOP progress
Deliverable: GPE Quarterly report I (January-April) produced
Task: Analysis of national, provincial and district budgets and action plans and reports on activities, In close liaison with Ministry at various levels
Deliverable: Comprehensive documentation report of key lessons, best practices and experiences from GPE interventions with a view to find solutions and improvements
Task: Track achievement of targets and indicators for the GPE using district reports and M&E framework
Deliverable: GPE Quarterly report II (May-August) produced
Task: Maintain sound communication channels for all GPE activities across partners, provinces, districts, clusters
Deliverable: Progress report on GPE II implementation across all focal areas
Task: Track achievement of targets and indicators for the GPE using district reports and M&E framework
Deliverable: GPE Quarterly report III (September-November) produced
Task: Track achievement of targets and indicators for the GPE using district reports and M&E framework
Deliverable: Status report on GPE II implementation across by focal areas, outlining achievements, challenges, lessons leant and recommendations
Task: Produce detailed analytical report on progress, challenges and bottlenecks for year 1 of GPE II with recommendations for improvement
Deliverable: Final progress report
Timeframe
This consultancy will start 1 January- 30 November 2017
Consultancy Requirements
Specific skills, qualifications and experience required of the consultant are:
Education
A minimum of a Masters degree in Social sciences, humanities, human rights, human development or education related field
Work Experience
- At least five (5) years’ experience working in a development context, two years’ of which is in education sector in Southern African context
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
- Good computer and data analysis skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to support multi-disciplinary teams in a multi- cultural environment
- Familiarity with the Zimbabwean education and programming context
- Ability to interact with government and non-government partners
- Good understanding of the Global Partnership for Education programmes and approach will be an added advantage
How to apply:
If interested and available, please submit your application letter, CV, Technical proposal and an all-inclusive financial proposal detailing monthly professional fees, in-country travel costs (estimated 20 field travel days) and the needed support expenses for all phases of work for delivering the assignment, to email address: hararevacancies@unicef.org by 29 December 2016. To quote “GPE Consultant” as the email subject heading. Only shortlisted consultants will be contacted. UNICEF does not charge a fee during the recruitment process.