Consultant for the Education Section

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
UNITED NATION CHILDREN'S FUND REGIONAL OFFICE FOR SOUTH ASIA
Closing date: 25 Apr 2010
Location: - Consultant's Country of Residence

Position :Consultant for the Education Section -UNICEF REGIONAL OFFICE FOR SOUTH ASIA

Terms of Reference

1. Programme Information

Programme (No. & Name ): Basic Education
Project (No. & Name): Education for All
Activity: Enhance the knowledge base on education issues for children in South Asia
Year: 2010 and 2011

2. Purpose of assignment:

To increase evidence based resources on children and their right to education, for governments, partners and stakeholders in South Asia

Background

An estimated 35 million children, of whom 53% are girls, are out of school in the South Asia region . There are several reasons for never enrolling, or dropping out before completing a full cycle of basic schooling. Some children are disadvantaged on the basis of either gender or caste/class, language, or a combination of all three as well as other factors. Girls are often withdrawn from school at puberty, or marriage (often early marriage), or they find that conditions in school, such as sanitation facilities or practices related to water, are not conducive to their particular needs, or schools do not address parental concerns of safety.

Several studies to better understand factors that exclude children from exercising their right to basic schooling and mitigating options to address these issues, have been planned at global and regional levels,. Most studies will be completed during 2010, although a global study on out of school children and a related regional study on transition during basic schooling, will continue into 2011.

The Education section requires a professional editor to make ready for publication several ongoing and planned studies, further described below.

Objective

Have Education section papers, studies, reports and guides developed and edited professionally to publication stage

3. Duty Station: Consultant’s country of residence

4. Supervisor: Regional Education Adviser

5. Major tasks to be accomplished (Scope of Work) during 2010 and 2011

Edit and make ready for publication a synthesis paper on Social Inclusion in Education in South Asia, and three advocacy briefs on: (i) water and sanitation in schools; (ii) open and distance learning; and (iii) girls’ education and gender equality

Prepare seven user-friendly advocacy briefs by country, for senior policy makers, stakeholders, UNGEI partners and the media, based on the 2009 study on Gender, Equality and Education, a Report Card for South Asia

Other tasks based on mutual agreement, such as overseeing the successful publishing of two documents (Training Manual for Young Champions and Gender, Equality and Education, a Report Card for South Asia), currently with the printer

6. End Products: Outputs:

Outputs will correspond to the tasks described above, as follows:
Synthesis paper on social inclusion in education edited and made ready for publication
Three advocacy briefs edited and made ready for publication
Seven user-friendly advocacy briefs prepared
Other editorial tasks based on mutual agreement

Estimated Budget: Remuneration for this consultancy will be based on the current UNCEF salary scale, and will depend on the qualifications and experience of the Consultant.

7..Time-Frame: 60 days of work spread over 8 calendar months

Starting Date: May 10, 2010

Completion Date: December 31, 2010

8. Qualifications or specialized knowledge/experience required: An experienced, professional editor and writer in English for the education sector, with an advanced university degree in education or the social sciences. Prior experience with UNICEF and knowledge of printing, publishing and design lay-out techniques are distinct advantages.

How to apply

Applicants should submit a cover letter and CV or P11 Form, via email to: hchreki@unicef.org and copy rpradhan@unicef.org clearly indicating the title of this consultancy “Enhance the knowledge base on education issues for children in South Asia” in the subject line of the message. The deadline for the submission of applications is 25 April 2010.