Deadline extended: National Individual Consultant to support the MER in the review and development of the new National Curriculum documents for the sections related to the taxonomy of competencies and innovation

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 

The Republic of Moldova embraces an education policy that is consistent with the European and international education standards that responds to the current issues and needs of the education system and its beneficiaries. Aligned with the objectives of the Development Strategy “Education 2030” (DS), the education system still faces challenges related to the quality of education and poor learning outcomes. Improving the quality of education is part of Moldova’s integration efforts, as education is a cornerstone for economic development, social cohesion, and overall progress.

The projected trajectory of the planned curriculum reform initiated by the Ministry of Education and Research (MER) is influenced by both international trends, such as globalization, international student assessments, and the need for defining the knowledge and abilities that are seen to be most valuable in a society and necessary to prepare the children for the future.

UNICEF as grant agent and coordinating agency of a GPE System Capacity Grant, supports the MER in the curriculum reform. The overarching objective of the proposed project is to develop and institutionalize a comprehensive curriculum evaluation and development process within the general education system. This initiative aims to address the deficiencies highlighted in the existing curriculum framework, particularly considering the poor performance of Moldovan students in international assessments.

How can you make a difference? 

The purpose of this consultancy is to support the MER in the review and development of the new National Curriculum documents for the selected sections. The consultant will also conduct the public consultations and develop the reports on the results of public consultations.

1. Objectives of the consultancy

The national consultant will be responsible for achieving the following objectives:

1. Review the existing Reference Framework for National Curriculum (RFNC) to help address the forms of exclusion and to ensure full alignment with the education sector policies.
2. Analysis of the structure of the school curriculum based on the experiences of other countries.
3. Elaboration of the taxonomy and set of competences that will be included in the Reference Framework for the National Curriculum (RFNC).
4. Elaboration of the new generation disciplinary curriculum structure.
5. Elaboration of specifications for new curricular products: Digitization and innovative platforms.
6. Development of the section Competencies: Specific to subjects, competency units (sub-competencies) of Methodology for the Evaluation of Curriculum Implementation
7. Drafting of the section Criteria and quality indicators in curriculum development for the STEAM education field of the Methodology for the Evaluation of Curriculum Implementation
8. Development of a robust Methodology for Curriculum Development
9. Conduct national consultations of the drafts developed

2. Details of how the work should be delivered

During the assignment, the consultant will be guided by the Concept of School Curriculum Development[1] developed by the MER. He/she will take into consideration the Government’s priorities related to the education sector priorities, including the Development Strategy Education 2030, the SDG targets, as well as the National Development Strategy “European Moldova 2030”.

The consultant will be part of a team of experts and will work under the guidance of a lead expert selected by UNICEF. He/she will work in close collaboration with MER, including the General Department of Policies in the Field of General Education, National Agency for Curriculum and Evaluation (NACE) and UNICEF and ensure the reach out and engagement of broad audience during the assignment.

In convening national consultations, provide support to MER in following the next three principles:

• Adopt a whole-of-government approach, ensuring multi-sectoral representation beyond education, to include health, social protection, food and nutrition, labour, environment, and connectivity.
• Include multiple constituencies to ensure meaningful engagement of the full set of education stakeholders. They could be the voices of students and youth organizations, teachers and teacher associations, girls and young women, civil society groups, parliamentarians, the private sector, development partners, education advocates, community and religious leaders, academia, research institutions and university networks.
• Focus on youth, with whom the transformation in education starts.

[1] https://mec.gov.md/sites/default/files/concept-26-aprilie-compressed_6630a85a97a2e.pdf

3. Deliverables and timelines

Tasks

Deliverable

Timeline*

Activity 1. Review the existing Reference Framework for National Curriculum (RFNC)

1. Develop a report/study aimed at addressing forms of exclusion and ensuring direct connections with policies in the educational sector (Component – Achieving educational goals, the taxonomy of competencies, and implementation through the curriculum and ensuring interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary connections, integrating new educational approaches) and its completeness for the subject-specific curriculum based on the proposed study methodology.

Report on main findings

3 days

1. Develop recommendations and methodological tools in drafting the new RFNC to address forms of exclusion and ensure direct connections with policies in the educational sector (Component – Achieving educational goals, the taxonomy of competencies, and implementation through the curriculum and ensuring interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary connections, integrating new educational approaches) and its completeness for the subject-specific curriculum based on the proposed methodology.

Recommendations and methodological tools for improving the new RFNC to ensure the fair and justified distribution of instructional time per competence (criteria and their rationale).

4 days

1. Conduct public consultations based on the draft report/study (preparing the agenda, identifying the target group).
2. Drafting the report on the public consultations conducted with the identified target group.

• 1 round table x 0,5 day facilitated
• Report on the public consultations conducted with the identified target group.

1 day

Subtotal:

8 days, in November 2024

Activity 2. Develop a new gender responsive and inclusive RFNC

1. Develop the section: The Curriculum competency system. Developing the taxonomy and set of competencies as an integral part of the RFNC, the methodology for integration into the structure of subject-specific curricula, as well as exemplifying the specific methods for developing these competencies through subject-specific curricula.

The taxonomy of competencies and the methodology for integrating them into the structure of subject-specific curricula, along with examples of specific methods for developing these competencies across all school subjects.

4 days

1. Analysis of the curriculum structure for compulsory subjects in the standard educational plan based on the experience of other countries.

The report with the results of the curriculum analysis based on the experiences of other countries (in Romanian)

2 days

1. Develop the section Curricular documents. Developing the structure for a new generation of curriculum for school subjects, excluding integrated subjects, of the RFNC and the step-by-step algorithm for subject curriculum authors.

The structure of the new generation curriculum and the operational algorithm for subject curriculum authors.

3 days

1. Develop the Implementation of the National Curriculum. Developing Specifications for New Curricular Products: Digitization and Innovative Platforms of the RFNC

Specifications for developing new curricular products: Digitization and Innovative Platforms developed

3 days

1. Conduct public consultations of the RFNC – 1 Round Table (max. 125 participants).

• 1 Round Table (max. 125 participants)
• Interim Report Completed with the Target Group

2 days

Subtotal:

14 days, during November – December 2024

Activity 3. Development of a robust Methodology for the Evaluation of Curriculum Implementation

1. Development of the section Evaluation of the component “competencies: specific to subjects, competency units (sub-competencies)”

The section Evaluation of the component “Competencies: specific to subjects, competency units (sub-competencies)” developed

5 days

1. Development of the section Criteria and indicators for evaluating the learned/assessed curriculum. Methodological tools and Instructions for experts

The section Criteria and indicators for evaluating the learned/assessed curriculum. Methodological tools and instructions for experts developed

5 days

Subtotal:

10 working days, during February – March 2025

Activity 4. Development of a robust Methodology for Curriculum Development

1. Development of the section component “Competencies: specific to subjects, competency units (sub-competencies)”

The section Component “Competencies: specific to subjects, competency units (sub-competencies)” developed

4 days

1. Drafting of the section Criteria and quality indicators in curriculum development for the STEAM education field. Methodological tools and instructions for experts

The section Criteria and quality indicators in curriculum development for the STEAM education field. Methodological tools and instructions for experts developed

3 days

1. Online presentation of the draft to academia.

• Online presentation delivered
• Report on the results of the public consultation

1 day

4. Develop the Final Report

• Final report presented to MER and UNICEF
• Summary report (up to 6 pages) in English
• Summary of results in PPT in English

2 days

Subtotal:

10 working days, during May – June 2025

Total:

42 days

4. Definition of supervisory arrangements 

The consultant will work under the oversight of the Education Officer of UNICEF Moldova, in close coordination with the Education Specialist. Payments will be rendered upon successful completion of each task, as per the schedule outlined above. 

5. Work location and official travel involved 

The work mainly performed remotely and will only require participation in meetings at MER, or other locations within Chisinau. The UNICEF office will facilitate introductions to key informants.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

• Advanced academic degree in education science/policy, social studies and/or another relevant field.
• A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in the development of curricula for general education
• Proven experience in conducting broad national public policy consultations in the education sector.
• Proven experience in gender equality and inclusivity in education.
• Demonstrated experience in working with government institutions.
• Strong networking and stakeholders’ engagement skills.
• Experience in working with UN Agencies will be an asset.
• Fluency in Romanian and working knowledge of English is required.

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. 

For more details on the consultancy assignment and requirements, please refer to attached Terms of reference (ToR) 

2024_ToR_Nat Indiv Consultanct_Innovation_Curriculum.docx

HOW TO APPLY: Your online application should contain the Technical and Financial Offers (templates below). Please secure the Financial Proposal *.pdf document with a password on document view; the password will be requested only from technically qualified candidates. 

Technical Offer_Innovation Curriculum.docx

Financial Offer_Innovation Curriculum.xlsx

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. 

Remarks: 

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. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the 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. 

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