Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)
Duty Station: Kabul
Classification of duty station: [[filter12]]
Standard Duration of Assignement : [[filter13]]
Job Family: Education
Type of contract : Non Staff
Duration of contract : From 7 to 11 months
Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates
Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 31-JULY 2024
UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Afghanistan faced a serious learning crisis with one of the highest levels of learning poverty in the world. 93 percent of Afghan children aged 10 years old were unable to read and understand a simple text. Results from the 2017 Systems Approach for Better Education Results (SABER) Service Delivery Survey by the World Bank also show that, despite remarkable expansion of schooling in the country over the past decades, Afghan students were not learning effectively. After spending 4 years in primary school, only two-thirds of Afghan students have fully mastered the Grade 1 Language curriculum and less than half of them mastered the Grade 1 Mathematics curriculum (World Bank, 2018). While learning disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have had negative impacts on students’ learning outcomes across the world, including Afghanistan, both schooling and learning deprivations are likely to be exacerbated due to the current country context.
UNESCO strives to promote education in Afghanistan as a fundamental human right while aiming to provide access to quality, relevant and inclusive education for all. UNESCO has over the years been implementing education programmes and projects in Afghanistan. In alignment with UNESCO’s approved C/4 and C/5 and related country frameworks such as the UN Strategic Framework for Afghanistan, UNESCO Kabul Office seeks to accelerate the implementation of education programmes and projects in response to the fast-changing operating contexts. In addition to its leading role in sector-wide coordination and strategic planning while ensuring learning continuity through community-based programmes and alternative learning modalities in Afghanistan, the Office aims to enhance the knowledge base and knowledge sharing on several critical areas of the country’s education sector, including learning outcomes, teacher content knowledge and pedagogical skills.
Within the framework of the Education Sector Programme Implementation Grant provided by the Global Partnership to UNICEF Afghanistan, UNESCO Kabul is leading its component. This includes measuring the academic achievement of Grade 3 students in Afghanistan, conducting an in-depth research study on teaching and learning practices, and disseminating key findings to relevant stakeholders.
Main duties and responsibilities:
Under the overall authority of the Officer-in Charge of the the UNESCO Kabul Office, the overall supervision of the Head of the Education Unit, and immediate supervision of the inclusion, Quality of Education and Research (IQR) Project Officer/Team Lead, the incumbent will undertake the following tasks and responsibilities:
1. Provide technical assistance to the implementation of IQR Team’s projects, including a Grade 3 student learning assessment, a positive deviance research study, and alternative learning projects;
2. Assume primary responsibility for developing and finalizing learning assessment instruments, including question banks, test booklets, and background questionnaires for teachers, students, and schools, in collaboration with other national and international consultants and other IQR team members.
3. Support the development and finalization of research instruments for the positive deviance study. This includes creating questionnaires, interview guides, and observation checklists that effectively capture relevant data. Ensure that the instruments are both valid and reliable and assist in piloting and revising them based on feedback;
3. Assist in organizing consultative meetings with technical partners such as relevant Sections at UNESCO HQ, UNESCO Institutes, UNICEF and other members of the Education Strategic Thematic Working Group (Ed-STWG) in Afghanistan to ensure a participatory approach to the implementation of IQR Team’s research projects;
4. Provide technical assistance to the development of relevant technical documents and knowledge products within the framework of IQR Team’s research projects;
5. Support, as required, in coordinating with relevant education stakeholders to facilitate the seamless implementation of IQR Team’s projects;
6. Provide quality assurance to the outputs of alternative learning projects, such as audio lessons and digital teaching and learning materials, by conducting thorough reviews and evaluations to ensure content accuracy, clarity, and effectiveness;
7. Support the IQR Team Lead in consolidating relevant data and information to prepare project reports, including progress and financial reports. Ensure reports comply with donor requirements and organizational standards.
8. Undertake any other tasks as deemed relevant by the IQR Team Lead and/or UNESCO Kabul senior management.
Deliverables
The consultant is required to submit the following deliverables in editable format by the due dates below. Payment under this consultancy will be output-based and will be made upon satisfactory completion of the assignment.
Education: First-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in Education, Pedagogy, Linguistics, Mathematics, Sciences or a related field.
Experience:
Skills and Competencies:
Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Education, Pedagogy, Linguistics, Mathematics, Sciences or a related field.
Work experience:
This vacancy is archived.