UNICEF AMMAN - COMMON SERVICES UNIT
TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR SERVICE CONTRACTING
Assignment / SENIOR BLENDED LEARNING CONSULTANT (Individual SSA)Location / Amman.
Duration / 3rd December 2016 - 3rd October 2017
Estimate number of working days / 120 Working days (3 working days a week for ten months)
Reporting to / Ms. Rana Kawar –Education Specialist
1. JUSTIFICATION/BACKGROUND
By end 2015, UNICEF and partners contributed towards reducing out of school children by 47% through supporting formal education and expansion of alternative education. In formal education, there was a 12% increase in enrolment in public school amongst Syrian children from 129,342 (48% boys, 52% girls) in 2014 to 148,458 (49% boys, 51% girls) in 2015. This achievement was due to UNICEF interventions directed at expanding access to educational opportunities in the formal system. Also UNICEF focuses its attention on scaling up educational opportunities in alternative education pathways, namely in Non-formal Education (NFE) and Informal Education (IFE) to reach children who cannot obtain a seat in formal school due to eligibility, lack of available seats or age. According to MOE, a child who has been out of school for three consecutive years cannot be admitted into formal schooling. As a result, UNICEF supported 40,000 children with alternative education pathways, i.e., NFE and IFE.
With 83,000 children remaining out of school at the start of 2016, UNICEF pushes to put every child in school. UNICEF and partners successfully advocated for the education of Syrian and other conflict-affected children at the London Conference on “Supporting Syria and the region.” The conference increased donor commitment in the areas of education and transitioning from education into employability. In Jordan, this additional support has helped to roll out a massive effort at scaling up formal education, previously considered as a barrier to access education. Through this scale-up effort, UNICEF and donors plan to provide an additional 50,000 children with access to formal education and another 25,000 children with NFE through the new Catch-up program targeting children aged 8 to 12 who have been out of school for over three years. UNICEF, in partnership with MoE plans to establish 102 additional schools in host communities through making existing single shift schools become double shifted in order to accommodate more children.
UNICEF’s Makani (My Space) is the name given to the learning centres, established through the existing network of national and international non-governmental (NGO) and community-based (CBO) organization partners, throughout Jordan. Makanist deliver comprehensive and holistic learning services, inclusive of basic literacy and numeracy, psychosocial support and life skills, to out-of-school children regardless of nationality. These services aim to support girls and boys, adolescents and youth to achieve their full development - physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and spiritual. They also aim to promote and address children’s wellbeing in a variety of ways. Each Makani centre offers age-structured and gender specific activities covering grades 1-9, mainly:
· Learning Support services (LSS) - including basic literacy and numeracy, in addition to remedial education program for all children in Arabic, Mathematics, Science and English;
· Psychosocial support activities; and
· Life Skills trainings for 10 to 24 year olds, including civic engagement, respect for diversity, conflict resolution, and employability.
UNICEF wishes to add an IT dimension to the materials that are currently being used in Makani and public schools and introduce a blended learning approach across all levels. To this purpose, UNICEF partnered with Orange Company to develop e-learning materials, which are based on the Ministry of Education (MoE) learning outcomes, to support improved learning content and its delivery in 129 Makani centres and 20 public schools.
2. OBJECTIVE AND TARGETS
Objective
· The consultant is expected to technically support:
1. The delivery of the IT blended learning approaches project in all 129 Makani centres and 20 MoE schools.
2. Training and capacity building of 600- 800 Educational facilitators in 129 Makani centres and 200 MOE teachers (all the teachers ) in 20 schools on blended learning approaches and strategies.
3. Monitor and provide technical support to the digitization process of the formal MoE curriculum (all subjects) from grades 1-12 and to the content development of Math and Science for grades 5 & 6 for the 20 MoE schools.
4. Monitor and provide technical support to the content development of four subjects from grades 1-6 for the 129 MAKANI centres.
5. Post-training delivery support and mentoring for the 20 MoE schools and the 129 Makani centres
· The consultant is also expected to achieve the following targets:
1. Ensure that the e- content /digitized materials for the LSS component is in line with MoE learning outcomes.
2. Build the capacity of MAKANI facilitators and MOE teachers on blended learning approaches. .
3. Technically support the quality of the blended learning approaches implementation in both MoE schools and Makani centres.
3. SCOPE OF THE WORK (MAJOR TASKS)
The consultant is expected to do the following:
i. Formal Education:
A) Work closely with Orange Company and MoE on the content development plan and implementation plan
B) . Oversee and monitor the development of the digitized e-content ( Zero-book)for Formal Education Curriculum for grades 1 to 12 for all subjects except grades 5,6 for Math and Science
C) Identify the learning resources that need to be developed in collaboration with the developing company and provide the needed support to the company’s team during the resources development cycle. These resources have to be specific, relevant and approved by MOE.
D) Identify the learning outcomes for the e-content development material of two subjects (Math & Science) for grades 5 & 6, needed for the implementation phase
E) Develop e-content development evaluation tools and seek MoE approval on them.
F) Attend the MoE e-learning committee meetings that are related to this particular activity.
G) Provide periodic status reports to UNICEF JCO-Education on the progress, challenges, suggesting refinement as required.
H) revised the implementation phase evaluation tools and the developed training manual
I) D) Work collaboratively with the solution providing company in order to generate a distribution plan to hat manage reaching, handling and fixing the blended learning module hardware and digitized content to all identified centers. 20 MoE schools.
J) work with the schools administration staff, teachers and computer labs teachers on integrating the blended learning approaches in the daily school schedule
K) Train 200 teachers from the 20 schools on blended learning approaches.
L) Conduct at least one visit for each of the schools and prepare a visit report for each school.( 20 field visits)
MAKANI –Learning Support Services (LSS)
A) Review Pilot phase recommendations and report, and work collaboratively with UNICEF JCO Education team to priorities the recommendations.
B) Review/Develop Makani implementation plan to enable introducing blended learning approaches in 129 Makani centers.
C) Develop a monitoring tools that enables tracking finalizing of the remaining e-content materials For four subjects from grade 1-6.
D) Work collaboratively with the solution providing company to generate a distribution plan to manage reaching, handling and fixing the blended learning module hardware and digitized content to all identified Makani centers.
E) Manage the roll-out phase related activities and update UNICEF focal point/s with the phase ongoing processes, challenges and successes.
F) Develop all (Improve and modify according to the pilot phase Recommendations) needed data collection tools, observation instruments and M&E tools that are needed during the roll-out phase.
G) Conduct at least 30 programme monitoring visits to Makani centers to ensure the successful implementation in Makani centers.
H) Manage and lead the training and capacity building activities for 600-800 Makani facilitators as it is in the approved training plan. (this include training the facilitator on both pedagogy and evaluation strategy)
4. EXPECTED DELIVERABLES
The consultant is expected to produce the following:
1. Evaluation reports on the e-content materials developed as well as on the first phase/second phase project implementation in formal education and Makani centers (LSS) with executive summary in Arabic and in English in hard and soft copies.
2. Updated blended learning approaches training manual, including the needed monitoring and evaluation tools, lessons plans, etc.
3. Final -content materials developed for both projects and shared with UNICEF.
4. 50 field visits, including 30 to MAKANI centres and 20 Public schools
This is a part time consultancy. The consultant will split his/her physical presence between UNICEF Jordan Country Office and 129 MAKANI centres/20 public schools as mutually agreed in an operational plan.
· Each payment is subject to the receipt of:
a. Approved deliverables.
b. Certified invoice.
· An allowance for communication and transportation costs will be paid.
5. EXPECTEDDELIVERY DATES AGAINST DELIVERABLES
Consultancy duration: 3rd October 2016 -3rd August 2017
Deliverables / Location / Target Date1. Training plans for the Formal Education project and the MAKANI/LSS project developed and approved / Amman / 15th Dec 2016
2. E-content for MOE Formal Education and MAKANI/LSS projects revised and recommendations integrated and Learning outcome Matrix developed for E-content and compared with MOE/MAKANI LSS learning outcomes / Amman / 3rd Dec 2016-
30 June 2017
3. Monthly progress report about the content development process with %of completion of the E-content / Amman / 1st January 2017- 1st June 2017
4. Updated Blended learning approaches manual for Formal Education project and MAKANI/LSS projects completed / Amman / 30 January 2017
5. Operational/User Manual is updated and revised / Amman / 30 January 2017
(1st instalment: 30% of the payment upon successful completion of Tasks 1-5)
6. Capacity building workshops conducted for 129 MAKANI centers 600-800 facilitators) / Amman / 1 Feb 2017
7. Capacity building workshop is conducted for MOE 200 teachers / Amman / 15 Feb 2017
8. / Amman / 15 March 2017
9. Evaluation report of the first phase of implementation of formal education and MAKANI/LSS projects / Amman / 30 April 2017
(2nd instalment: 30% of the payment upon successful completion of Tasks 6-9)
10. 48 blended learning lesson plans modules developed and piloted / Amman / 30 June 2017
11. 30 field visits reports to MAKANI centres submitted / All governorates / 1st January 2017 -30 August 2017
12. 20 field visits reports to 20 MOE/Public schools submitted / All governorates / 1st January 2017-30 August 2017
13. Index for all the digitized lessons developed for both the Formal Education and MAKANI/LSS / Amman / 15 September 2017
14. Final Evaluation report of the second phase of implementation / Amman / 3 October 2017
(3rd/Final instalment: 40% of the payment upon successful completion of Tasks 10-14)
6. OFFICIAL TRAVEL INVOLVED
50 programme monitoring visits to 129 Makanis and 20 MoE schools.
7. DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE OR EXPERIENCE
The successful applicant should:
· Master/PHD University degree in education, ICT or any other related field.
· Ten years progressive experience in managing blended learning programs.
· Proven research and analytical skills
· Excellent interpersonal communication skills.
· Mastery of English and Arabic languages
· Proven ability to work with time constraints in the preparation of high quality documents.
· Ability to travel nationwide
8. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FOR EVALUATION OF RESULTS
Delivery of quality documents and deliverables in point 5, in addition to:
· The final reports (in English language) of the phase one and two of implementation in both FE and MAKANI projects.
· Presentation on the main findings of the two reports (in English language).
· Training workshops for core training teams on blended learning approaches and strategies.
9. FREQUENCY OF PERFORMANCE REVIEWS
Frequent feedback will be provided to the consultant on the quality and the timely submission of deliverables as necessary.
10. CALL FOR PROPOSALS
The following criteria drafted to select the candidate:
- General adherence to Terms of Reference 15%
- Professional experience of consultant(s) 15%
- Meeting academic requirements10%
- Meeting minimum years of experience10%
- Previous similar work experience 10%
- Meeting required certifications, professional qualifications, etc.10%
11. INDICATION OF HEALTH STATEMENT AND CERTIFICATE OF GOOD HEALTH HAS BEEN RECEIVED PRIOR TO SIGNING THE CONTRACT
The Consultant is required to submit a certification of good health.
12. UNICEF RECOURSE IN CASE OF UNSATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE
If the consultant is unable to deliver the work by the delivery date stipulated in the contract, the consultant shall immediately consult with UNICEF to determine the most expeditious means for delivering the work and use an expedited means of delivery, at the consultant’s cost, if reasonably so requested by UNICEF.
In the event of late completion of any of the deliverables indicated under this contract, or for deliverables which do not meet UNICEF’s requirements and are therefore rejected by UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment, in part or in full.
13. INDICATION THAT THE CONSULTANT HAS RECEIVED A COPY OF THIS DOCUMENT OR. ALTERNATIVELY, AN EXPERT OF RELEVANT PROVISIONS INCLUDING THOSE CONCERNING LEGAL STATUS, OBLIGATIONS AND TITLE RIGHTS.
14. REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL EVALUATION AND WEIGHTING CRITERIA
N/A. A desk review will be completed to select the desired consultant due to the very specialized nature of the consultancy.
15. CONDITIONS
· The consultant will work using own computer(s) and other required office resources and materials in the execution of this assignment. The contractor’s fee shall be inclusive of all office administrative costs
· Local travel and phone calls will be covered in accordance with UNICEF’s rules and tariffs.
Enquiries:
Please direct any enquiries to: (supply)@unicef.org