Under the System Strengthening Output of its Education Program, UNICEF supports policy development, evidence generation, capacity building, sector planning, and sector coordination. UNICEF’s support in this field in recent years included, for example, providing technical assistance for the education sector analysis and the development of education sector plans at the sub-national level (Governorate-level Education Sector Plans or GESPs) with the General Directorates of Education (GDoEs), under the umbrella of Iraq’s National Education Strategy (INES, 2022-2031) and per the country’s decentralization efforts. The main activities under the Education System Strengthening Output include scaling existing activities and initiating new ones in strategic areas. More specifically, they include but are not limited to the following:
Research, data collection, and/or study on out-of-school children and the impacts of climate change on education
Education sector planning and budgeting
Advocacy for the equitable allocation of public resources to and within the education sector, especially for early childhood education
Collection and analysis of evidence and development of policy briefs and/or investment cases for pilot initiatives, especially in the roll-out of digital technologies for education
Facilitation and support for the education sector coordination at the sub-national level which includes knowledge transfer to key stakeholders and monitoring the progress status of the GESP implementation
Development of gender-sensitive mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) training packages and their roll-out
Development of training modules on foundational skills contextualized for vulnerable children and their roll-out
Development of school action plans for climate change and disaster risk reduction
Analysis of the impacts and results of the Back-to-Learning (B2L) campaigns for school enrolment at the correct age
If the required and desired expertise and experience are met, the candidates selected for this consultancy roster will be contacted to express their interest and indicate availability to provide technical assistance in one of the following assignments. The details of each assignment will be shared in advance:
Conduct a comprehensive out-of-school children study
Capacity building (training, mentoring, coaching, etc.) of MoE and GDoEs in allocating public resources for education, especially for early childhood education, leading to the development of mid-term budget expenditure frameworks
Develop a policy brief based on a detailed analysis of education technology initiatives in pilot schools for future advocacy and scale-up
Support GDoEs and Governor’s Offices to establish/consolidate sub-national level education sector coordination mechanisms
Facilitate joint reviews of the implementation status of the governorate-level education sector plans
Develop a gender-sensitive MHPSS training package and organize master trainer training using the package
Develop pedagogical training modules on foundational skills (literacy and numeracy) contextualized for children who have experienced a learning loss, thus at risk of dropouts or grade repetition, especially those with special needs, adolescent girls, and/or in displacement. Ensure master trainer training using the modules.
Conduct a joint study on the impacts of climate change on the education sector in Iraq and develop school action plans based on the study that include disaster risk reduction.
Analyze the impacts and results of the B2L campaigns supported by UNICEF Iraq and formulate policy recommendations for MoE to increase school enrolment at the correct age
Minimum Qualifications required:
An advanced-level university degree (Master or Ph.D.) in education, economics, social science, or other relevant fields
A minimum 8 years of relevant professional experience in the indicated field of expertise
Proven skills, knowledge, and experience in one or more of the following fields:
Education research or study including data collection and analysis
Public financing and budget
Sector coordination and planning
Organization and facilitation of workshops and/or training
Coaching and mentoring
Development of training modules
Climate change
Disaster risk reduction
Education technology
MH/PSS
Foundational skills
Early childhood education
Advocacy
Conceptualizing
Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:
Computer skills including Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, etc.) required
Experience working in the education sector in the Middle East and/or Iraq
