Country: Senegal
Closing date: 23 Sep 2018
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Background
When empowered and when given the right opportunities, adolescent girls can have a transformative impact on their wellbeing and on the lives of their peers, families and communities. Investing in girls’ education has a significant return and benefits beyond economic growth, leading to positive impact in reducing rates of infant mortality, maternal mortality, postponement of early marriage and pregnancy, and reduction of incidence of HIV/AIDS and malaria; as well as positive impact on agricultural development and resilience to natural disasters . In recent years, fifty percent (50%) of the reductions in under 5 mortality worldwide has been attributed to women's educational achievements. Further evidence shows the high impact of education in decreasing fertility rates, increased earnings, birth registration, reduction of intergenerational poverty as well as domestic violence and harmful practices.
Instituting girls’ empowerment as a key country policy could contribute to achieving sustainable economic growth and social development particularly in contexts where challenges persist. For instance, 57% of primary school age Out of School Children (OOSC) are girls. In West and Central Africa 38% of marginalized adolescent girls (between the ages of 10-19) have never attended school while 13% have dropped out during the course of primary education. For primary completion, gender gap is 7 percentage points, but reaches 30 between the richest and poorest households .
While much progress can be accounted for in girls’ education, many girls, especially those from large and poor families, living in rural areas, or in humanitarian emergencies, continue to face multipronged disadvantages. According to current trends, it would take another 70 years for all girls in West and Central African (WCA) region to complete primary education, and even more for post primary education. Presently in this region, 4 out of 10 girls get married before reaching the age of 18, affecting the lives of 8 million girls. Of these, 16% are married before they are 15 years old. The prevalence levels of child marriage is amongst the highest in the world, with the region containing 3 countries with the highest rates globally (Niger, Central Africa Republic and Chad). In Niger, as many as 34% of girls are married before they turn 15. By 2030, the number of child brides is projected to reach nearly 12 million if responsive action is not taken.
The UNICEF strategic plan (2018-2021) orients all support given to member States, as to enable and ensure that every girl and boy, especially those in marginalized circumstances and living in crisis conditions , have access to quality education. Since 2016, UNICEF WCARO has been implementing the Regional Education Strategy which identifies empowerment of marginalized girls as one of the key strategies to reduce the number of OOSC and improve learning outcomes. Most recently UNICEF WCARO established a series of Key Results for Children (KRC) dedicated to improving access and quality of education. A designated KRC on child marriage serves as an overarching issue encompassing education, protection and empowerment of girls while tackling the multi-dimensional risks and vulnerabilities they face.
Moreover, a 3-year project financed by the Government aid program of Norway (NORAD) is set to improve access to a quality education for children in the Sahel region. The project has 5 components, of which four at country level and one at regional level:
• Component 1: Expanding access to education for the most marginalized
• Component 2: Improving the quality of basic education
• Component 3: Strengthening education system research and monitoring
• Component 4: Ensuring communication and visibility for the project
• Component 5: Supporting the country offices in improving access to quality education by developing effective strategies and tools at the regional level
At the regional level WCARO serves as the grant manager and supports country offices for an efficient and timely implementation of activities.
How can you make a difference?
Objectives
The consultant will work under the guidance of the UNICEF WCA Regional Education Advisor in close collaboration with the Child Protection Section, Country Offices as well as key partners at regional and global level. The consultancy will aim at:
1. Taking the study on Early Pregnancy and Child Marriage forward and empower the countries to incorporate the recommendations in their programmes. The consultant will organise several webinars to disseminate the study; support countries through technical assistance and mission to identify entry points for the education sector to address/respond to early pregnancy and child marriage and ensure availability of country factsheets on early pregnancy and child marriage, in both English and French, for use by national teams and partners in the region;
2. Empowering the countries on resource mobilisation for programmes on Early Pregnancy and Child Marriage to support implementation of the recommendations in the study;
3. Collaborating with French Natcom to support regional and global advocacy opportunities around girls’ education and contribute to the International Day of the Girl Child;
4. Coordinating and contributing to the implementation of the multi-country programme on Equitable Access to Quality Education in the Sahel by supporting the education specialists at the regional office and the 3 countries;
5. Supporting the education section on taking the work on girls’ education in the region forward in a multitude of ways, for instance by coordinating UNICEF’s support to countries in the development and the implementation of education programs related to gender equality. A special focus should be given to girls primary and secondary education by supporting gender mainstreaming and the development of specific interventions with a focus on (but not limited to) STEM and TVET; providing technical assistance to the education sector planning analysis, program planning and reviews, and follow-up on recommendations for specific action; and providing input in country programme documents with a gender equality in education lens.
Scope of work
In line with UNICEF WCARO’s Regional Priority 2: “By 2021, UNICEF and its partners in WCAR have increased capacities to design, implement and monitor policies and programs which improve children and adolescents’ education opportunities in order to sustain learning and skills”, the office aims at generating evidence on Girls Education particularly to promote “gender-specific interventions supporting girls’ success in and through education”.
Accordingly, a study was conducted to take stock of Education Sector’s Response to Early Pregnancy and Child Marriage in the WCA region. Given the lack of a systemic analysis and evidence in the region on the two phenomena, WCARO intended with the study to better understand the sector’s response in 13 selected countries: Burkina Faso, CAR, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, DRC, Ghana, Gabon, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.
Of the 13 countries 3 have been selected to participate in the NORAD project (Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger) giving continuum to assessing bottlenecks to education access, retention and transition for children in the Sahel region. The project has as core objective to reach and support vulnerable children (girls and children with disabilities) by experimenting new and innovative approaches to supporting continued education and completion of the education cycle; development of the “safe school” model and approach for more resilient schools and; peer learning through school clubs . Most recently, as a result of the first Steering Committee, it was decided to add further girls’ education component to the NORAD project. This will take form of a study including, but not limited to, the three beneficiary countries.
A consultant is expected to be hired to ensure knowledge sharing and dissemination of the study on the Education Sector’s Response to Early Pregnancy and Child Marriage in the WCA region, and update data gathered and country trends around responsive mechanisms with respect to national commitments and national plans in close collaboration with UNICEF country offices. He or she is equally expected to support in the identification of funding opportunities for publication of the study as well as disseminate findings through a learning symposium for knowledge generation and best practices.
The consultant will also support country offices for an effective integration of girls’ education into selected sector plans among other national education processes; ensuring realistic costing and designated budget allocation to tackle aspects hampering girls’ progress in education.
Finally, the consultant will support UNGEI regional work, as needed, to promote partnership and advocacy support for country level results around girls’ education.
Deliverables and Schedules
1. Study on education response to early pregnancy and child marriage disseminated and support provided to countries in incorporating the recommendations in programmes through webinars, technical assistance and missions to ensure countries have a clear understanding of the thematic area and necessary actions to be taken by 31 December 2018
2. Funds mobilisation on early pregnancy and child marriage: write proposals and support countries in funds mobilisation by 31 March 2019.
3. Regional coordination of multi-country programme funded by Norad: monthly reporting, submitted, support provided to countries and to the education specialists at the regional office, continuous until end of June 2019.
4. Gender equality in education: Support of UNICEF’s assistance to countries in the development and the implementation of education programs related to gender equality with a special focus on Girls primary and secondary Education; technical assistance provided to the education sector planning analysis, program planning and reviews, and follow-up on recommendations for specific action. Review of country programmes and related documents with a gender equality in education lens, continuous until end of June 2019.
Timing
The consultancy is for a period of 9 months.
Reporting Requirements
Consultant will be required to submit a monthly progress report.
Administrative Issues
The Consultant will report to the Regional Education Advisor and will be supported by Education Specialist on Equitable Access and Quality Education.
This assignment is expected to start in September 2018 and end in August 2019. The consultant will be based in UNICEF West and Central Africa Regional Office, Dakar and if necessary be required to travel to country offices. WCARO will provide UNICEF computer and email address.
Reports describing activity progress and status, bottlenecks and recommendation for adjustment will be submitted on a monthly basis (every fifteenth of the month), including mission reports. All reports are submitted in electronic format to the designated supervisor, for quality check and to be attached to invoice for monthly payment. Payment will only be made for work satisfactorily completed and accepted by UNICEF.
Applicants are asked to submit a P11, and a financial proposal indicating the expected monthly fee rate and an all inclusive lumpsum monthly per diem rate.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
• A Master level degree in education, international development, or relevant field;
• At least 8 years of experience in the area of education required, experience in supporting areas of gender equality/girls’ education and/or child marriage will be an asset;
• Fluency in English and high proficiency of French; Portuguese or Spanish will be an added value;
• Knowledge of WCAR education and gender equality context will be an asset;
• Proven experience with knowledge management, capacity building, and workshop organization and lead;
• Experience with Donors’ relation and report writing.
For every Child, you demonstrate a future
UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
The technical competencies required for this post are….
View our competency framework at
http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.
Remarks:
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
How to apply:
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=516357