Consultancy – Early Childhood Education, Education Outcomes Fund (EOF/UK) (Three (3) months starting July 2022), Kigali, Rwanda: (Deadline 6 Jul 2022)

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 fulfil 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…

There are few greater challenges faced by the global community than the twin crises of learning poverty and youth unemployment. In response, the Education Commission (chaired by Gordon Brown, former UK Prime Minister and UN Special Envoy for Global Education) and the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment (chaired by Sir Ronald Cohen) came together to create EOF. We aim to improve the education and employment outcomes of 10 million children and youth by supporting governments to utilize a range of innovative finance instruments at scale, including outcomes funds and other results-based financing (RBF) instruments.

EOF supports improvements in the quality of education and skills programs, with a special focus on underserved populations, including the hardest to reach, rural populations, girls, children with disabilities, and refugees. It measures (and pays for) what matters – both core skills like literacy and numeracy, but also critical 21st Century skills such as socio-emotional skills, ICT skills, and other broader fundamentals of a quality education. It helps close the persistent gap between the skills needed by employers and those attained by today’s youth by paying for employment and retention outcomes.

For all the above, EOF pays primarily on the basis of the results achieved, ensuring that taxpayer-funded domestic resources, aid, and philanthropic funds are only used to pay for what works. This is a game-changing way to finance results in education. It is more than just a fund – it is a powerful new set of partnerships and way of working.

Together with our supporters, we believe this is the early stages of a much larger movement. Our approach is at the cutting edge of development finance, shifting risk to the private sector, crowding in private capital, and harnessing the capacity and capability of non-state actors, with huge potential to achieve better outcomes for children and youth around the world.

Rationale for the consultancy

Following initial meetings with the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) and the National Child Development Agency (NCDA), government officials in Rwanda have demonstrated a strong interest in exploring the use of RBF in ECD in the country to support holistic child development and help achieve their aspirations around universal reach.

How can you make a difference?

EOF is looking for an exceptional consultant in Rwanda to provide support in conducting a concept development study to understand if and how RBF can increase access and improve learning outcomes of children in Rwanda. The consultant will report directly to the Early Childhood Education Manager and will collaborate with all members of the Early Childhood Education team at EOF.

The mission will take place for around three months (from the end of July 2022 to the end of October 2022).

DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT (TASKS):

• Support a scoping or ‘concept development’ study by providing valuable contributions on the country context and problem diagnosis in the ECD/ECE space in Rwanda, stakeholder mapping of the ECD/ECE ecosystem, viability and rationale for using RBF, analysis of the most appropriate RBF instrument, and preliminary recommendations of the RBF program.
• Lead in-country stakeholder engagement, having strategic discussions and working sessions with the Rwandan Government, non-state actors providing ECD services in the country, and other development partners including potential local outcome funders.

• Support the planning and organization of in-country workshops or events with relevant stakeholders, as well as operational and logistical support to the missions of the EOF team to Rwanda.
• Other activities in line with the above-mentioned components may be required, as per needs identified

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

• A degree in Education, Early Childhood Development, Development Studies, Economics, Demographics, Social Policy or other field relevant to ECE is preferred.
• Minimum of five years of prior experience working in relevant sectors, ideally experience leading or collaborating on Early Childhood Development programs in Rwanda targeting the most vulnerable
• Excellent knowledge of, and relationships with, key stakeholders within the government of Rwanda
• Experience engaging with senior government, NGOs, donors and private sector stakeholders in the country
• Experience collecting, analyzing, and synthesizing data sets and information
• Experience with or technical knowledge of Result-Based Financing instruments is a plus
• Fluent in English is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

• Build and maintain partnerships (II)
• Demonstrate self-awareness and ethical awareness (I)
• Drive to achieve results for impact (I)
• Think and act strategically (I)
• Innovate and embrace change (I)
• Work collaboratively with others (I)
• Manage ambiguity and complexity (I)

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.

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.

UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. This position is not considered an elevated risk role. However, UNICEF reserves the right to conduct further vetting/ assessment within the scope of child safeguarding as appropriate.

Remarks:

PROPOSED PAYMENT SCHEDULE: Monthly

The consultant will invoice monthly the time worked, with a limited number of days agreed with EOF team. We expect the consultant to be available to commit at least a total of 40 days distributed across 3 months. The final number of days will be discussed and agreed, as per the consultant’s availability and needs identified.

For individual contractors and consultants, all travel arrangements to commence the assignment, including insurance and visas, will be managed and paid by the individual.  Therefore, expected travel costs must be included as a budget item in the financial proposal.  Should “mission travel” be required, UNICEF will manage and pay for travel via Travel Authorization.  However, this will be subject to the following prerequisites:  Medical Clearance, Security Clearance through the Travel Request Information Process (TRIP) system, the Basic and Advanced Security in the Field Trainings, Travel Visa, and liability waiver. The consultant/individual contractor is responsible for arranging his/her own travel and submitting invoices to UNICEF for payment as part of the contract.

Requirements

Please indicate your ability, availability and financial proposal (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a financial proposal will not be considered.

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

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.

If selected for this consultancy, the resulting appointment will be limited to EOF, a UNICEF-hosted fund.

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