UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, education.

In the Pacific we work in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu: These 14 Pacific island countries are home to 2.3 million people, including 1.2 million children and youth, living on more than 660 islands and atolls stretching across 17.2 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean, an area comparable to the combined size of the United States of America and Canada. Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are classified as Fragile States according to World Bank/OECD criteria.

All 14 Pacific Island countries and territories have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, but only a third are on track with reporting obligations. Explore the different areas of our work in the link provided here www.unicef.org/pacificislands.

Background of Assignment:

The Tuvalu Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MEYS) wishes to develop a new evidence based, gender sensitive and risk-informed sector plan – the Tuvalu Education Sector Plan IV 2024 – 2028 (TESP IV). MEYS has successfully applied for a System Capacity Grant (SCG) from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) to support this work. The new plan will reflect the priorities for Education in Te Kete (2021-30), the Tuvalu national development strategy, and be based on a comprehensive education sector analysis and synthesis of stakeholder views from broad consultation including the community representatives, teachers and students, parents CBOs,NGOs and Tuvalu Education Partners Group (TEPG).

In addition to the development of TESP IV, MEYS are looking ahead to the implementation of priority programmes identified in collaboration with partners and to be defined through a Partnership Compact for Tuvalu to align government and partner programmes and resources to a transformative priority for education. This work will be informed by self-assessment of the enabling factors for implementation of the priority areas namely; data & evidence, gender-responsive sector planning, policy and monitoring, sector coordination (including coordinated financing) and funding and volume, equity and efficiency of domestic public expenditure on education which MEYS has recently completed.

This is a significant amount of work for an already over-stretched Ministry and they need support to guide the process and provide technical inputs and drafting. This consultancy will provide both technical and logistical support to MEYS in facilitating and ensuring the education sector planning process is an evidence-based, participatory, and consultative process, and is able to guide enhancing coordination of partners for aligned support to the education sector in Tuvalu.

How can you make a difference?

The consultant will provide technical and logistical support to MEYS leadership in the development of the Tuvalu Education Sector Plan IV (TESP IV), including facilitating an Education Sector Analysis to inform the TESP IV (additional technical assistance will oversee the ESA development). The consultant will also support the development with partners of Tuvalu- Partnership Compact. Supporting the sequencing of work and addressing any bottlenecks to ensure the smooth flow of activities will be an essential part of the consultancy to support MEYS leadership and the Tuvalu Education Partners Group (TEPG). Throughout the contract, the consultant is expected to engage with a range of stakeholders across the education sector, including but not limited to facilitating and synthesizing consultations and meetings, drafting documents, and doing relevant document searches and consolidation. The consultancy will be based at MEYS offices in Funafuti.

Please refer to the ToR for further information on the deliverables and the timelines

Guidance for applicants

• Please submit a separate financial offer along with your application. The financial proposal should be a lump sum amount for all the deliverables and should show a breakdown for the following:
• Monthly / Daily fees– based on the deliverables in the Terms of Reference above
• Travel (economy air ticket where applicable to take up assignment and field mission travel
• Living allowance where travel is required
• Miscellaneous- to cover visa, health insurance (including medical evacuation for international consultants), communications, and other costs.
• The candidate is expected to provide 6 months of continuous in-country support in Tuvalu before proceeding to about one and half months of remote support (as shown in the ToR). The consultant is then expected to report back to Tuvalu and be able to provide in-country technical support for the remaining periods of the contract duration. UNICEF will cover two rounds of return (to and from) economy class airfares but DSA or living allowance will be paid only while in Tuvalu for the consultancy period.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• A post graduate qualification in education or other social sector programme with some study/papers in policy or planning.
• A minimum of 8 years of relevant experience, preferably in the education or other social sector with knowledge of planning and consultation and increasing responsibility for both.
• Some knowledge of Tuvalu government structures and mechanisms or proven experience in other Pacific settings and the ability to quickly learn is an asset and advantageous.
• Knowledge of the Tuvalu education sector, policies and plans is preferred but other Pacific experience is considered.
• Ability to support engagement with a range of stakeholders and build useful networks.
• Must be familiar with GPE/IIEP guidelines and/or be willing to become fully familiar with the same.
• Ability to quickly form relationships with a range of people and contribute to a team
• Understand issues of equity, inclusion, and quality in the social sector
• Good written and oral communication skills and the ability to fit the message to the audience.
• Please note any previous relevant UNICEF consultancies or work activity in the application is highly desirable.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit  here

Remarks:  

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract 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 and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors 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 to ensure 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.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.