Background & Rationale
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) operates in Brazil to strengthen the right of every girl and boy to learn in school. It is known that, in this century, the full development of children and adolescents also requires access to connectivity and comprehensive education that considers and integrates new information and communication technologies (ICTs).
Therefore, UNICEF has been implementing actions at global, national, and territorial levels to expand school connectivity while strengthening digital culture and quality education practices based on the use of ICTs.
Thus, UNICEF Brazil works in close collaboration with Giga, a joint initiative between UNICEF Global and the ITU, which aims to support national governments in connecting all schools worldwide to the Internet, addressing global digital exclusion. Giga provides governments with open-source tools for school georeferencing, contract management, connectivity monitoring dashboards, financing models, etc.
Purpose
Under the supervision of an Education Program Officer, the consultant is expected to carry out deliverables supporting the work of officers in the management, execution, and monitoring of the Connected Territories project and the Giga initiative in Brazil.
To promote the expansion of connectivity in schools, regarding the Giga initiative, the consultant will deliver data reports to support the monitoring of the activities developed by the global team monthly at the request of UNICEF Brazil, as well as support the Brazilian office in customizing some ongoing Giga tools, like the Giga Maps, that shows the status of schools connectivity across Brazil, with national data, and provide technical support in dialogues with the federal government, subnational governments, and other stakeholders involved in school connectivity such as Nic.br, MCom, MEC, and Anatel.
Expected results:
Result 1: Provide technical knowledge in coordinating the work of UNICEF Brazil and Giga in school connectivity and digital inclusion, with relevant national and international stakeholders:
Result 2: Support UNICEF Education officers in monitoring and oversee the implementation of UNICEF Brazil's Connected Territories project, focused on digital education in 105 quilombola, indigenous, and rural schools, acting as the project focal point for the Education team, UNICEF's Zonal Offices (Boa Vista, Recife, Manaus, São Luis, Fortaleza), local governments, and implementing partners (Casa da Arvore and Makira E’ta).
Result 3: Final Report
Prepare the Final Service Report of up to 40 pages, considering the main results of the Connected Territories project, implemented by the two implementing partners in the municipalities mentioned above in 105 schools; the use of the Learning Passport platform and equipment; the Giga work agenda (interfaces with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Communications, ITU, Anatel, Nic.br, recording the main results in school connectivity in Brazil in 2025. The report should include chapters: (scope of activities, developed materials, goals achieved concerning the results outlined in this proposal, challenges, and lessons learned).Deliverables
Product
Deadline
Payment
(% of the contract)
Deliverable 1
1st Report
Support UNICEF Education officers in managing the work of implementing partners working with 105 schools and their respective municipal managers in integrating digital education.1 month
One month from the contract signed.
12%
Deliverable 2
2nd Report
Support UNICEF Education officers in monitoring monthly the work of implementing partners working with 105 schools and their respective municipal managers in integrating digital education.2 months
Two months from the contract signed.
11%
Deliverable 3
3rd Report
Support UNICEF Education officers in oversee the training and distribution of devices carried out by implementing partners in the schools participating in the Connected Territories project.3 months
Three months from the contract signed.
10%
Deliverable 4
4th Report
Prepare the Narrative Report for the Connected Territories project.4 months
Four months from the contract signed.
9,5%
Deliverable 5
5th Report
Prepare a report on the Giga initiative's activities in the country during the first five months.
5 months
Five months from the contract signed.
9%
Deliverable 6
6th Report
Support UNICEF Education officers in monitoring the implementation of the Connected Territories project with UNICEF Brazil's Zonal Offices.Provide technical support for advocating universal school connectivity in relevant national and international forums.
6 months
Six months from the contract signed.
8,5%
Deliverable 7
7th Report
Support UNICEF Education officers in monitoring the implementation of the Connected Territories project with UNICEF Brazil's Zonal Offices.7 months
Seven months from the contract signed
8%
Deliverable 8
8th Report
8 months
Eight months from the contract signed
7,5%
Deliverable 9
9th Report
Monitor the implementation and new planning of the Connected Territories project with UNICEF Brazil's Zonal Offices.9 months
9 months from the contract signed
7%
Deliverable 10
10th Report
Monitor the implementation of the Connected Territories project with UNICEF Brazil's Zonal Offices.10 months
10 months from the contract signed
6,5%
Deliverable 11
11th Report
Monitor the implementation of the Connected Territories project with UNICEF Brazil's Zonal Offices.11 months
11 months from the contract signed
6%
Deliverable 12
12th Report
Monitor the implementation of the Connected Territories project with UNICEF Brazil's Zonal Offices.12 months
12 months from the contract signed
5%
Duration of Contract
365 days (12 months)
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Punctuality in meeting deadlines; Quality of the contents; Timely provision of the deliverables; Full adherence to the workplan and diligences as agreed with supervisor.Immediately upon signature of the agreement, the UNICEF supervisor and the selected individual contractor will meet for detailed discussion of the Work Plan and the quality criteria for product delivery. Regular meetings will also be scheduled at a distance or in person to follow up the activities defined in the Work Plan. If needed, revisions and alterations may be requested by UNICEF related to quality and technical depth parameters. Only after final clearance from the UNICEF Brazil will the payment be processed.
Technical background, and experience required
Teamwork and good communication skills. At least 10 years of experience in public policy, advocacy, project management on education and technologies projects. A minimum of 5 years of professional work experience at national or international levels in relevant Education, Advocacy, Public Policies, Technology or related programs. Solid knowledge in the field of Education, Quilombola education, Indigenous education, Rural education, and the pedagogical use of technologies. Knowledge on children’s rights issues, including the Convention of Rights of the Child and the Statute of the Child and the Adolescent. Teamwork skills and capacity to work with tight deadlines. Experience working on educational product/program management is an asset. Experience in UN system agency or organization is an asset. Familiarity working with quantitative and qualitative statistics and government data is desired: census, EMIS, location data, etc.MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENT
A university degree in one of the following fields is required: Technology, Law, Administration, Public Relations, Communication, International Development, Political Science or other relevant fields. Master’s degree in technology, Law, Administration, Public Relations, Communication, International Development, Political Science or other relevant fields is an asset.Language Proficiency
Portuguese and English is required. Knowledge of Spanish is an asset.TRAVEL
The activities will be carried out from the municipality of São Paulo, with an estimated 1 trip to each of the project municipalities (Connected Territories: Caucaia, Betância, Bequimão, Alcântara, Maués, Boa Vista, Pacaraima, Cantá, Bonfim, Uiramutã, Currais Novos, Cerro Corá, Extremoz, Lagoa de Velhos, Pedro Avelino, and Touros) and 4 trips to Brasília. Each trip is estimated in 2 to 4 days. The consultant is responsible for arranging his/her own travel, including travel insurance. All travel fees must be included in the financial proposal.Financial Proposal
A financial proposal including the fee for the assignment based on the deliverables and number of days must be submitted. Consultants are asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum, administrative cost, travel cost and subsistence costs, as applicable.REMARKS:
Individuals engaged under a consultancy will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants. Consultants are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.
The selected candidate is solely responsible for ensuring that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.