National Individual Consultant, serving as a team lead to support the MER in the review and development of the new National Curriculum documents

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. The national consultant will serve as a Team Lead and a member of the team of experts in the process of review and development of the new National Curriculum. He/she will also be responsible for the facilitation of the public consultations at the national level.

1. Objectives of the consultancy

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

1. Serve as a team lead /coordinate the national consultants work.
2. Design the concept of the public consultations on the vision of the new National Curriculum
3. Draft the study methodology, evaluation tools, data sources, structure, and presentation format
4. Conduct analysis of integrated curriculum approaches in other countries to identify the best practices for the development of a comprehensive curriculum framework
5. Conduct analysis of the basic and extension curriculum structure in other countries
6. Draft a report/synthesis study with findings from the conducted consultations, analysis to ensure alignment with educational sector policies, etc.
7. Summarize and process the data provided by the experts within the Working Group (WG) and presenting the integrated report to the MER for validation
8. Develop the RNCF, the structure of the basic and extension curriculum/ at own choice (high school grades – pilot schools that will pilot the innovative framework plan)
9. Conduct analysis of how to integrate cross-curricular topics into the curriculum based on the experience of other countries
10. Design the structure of the integrated subject curriculum/ at students’ choice for pilot schools that will pilot the innovative framework plan
11. Design innovative framework plan models (primary, lower/upper secondary levels, choice of subjects and standards)
12. Compiling all sections delivered by experts, reviewing, and editing the draft of the RFNC
13. Organization and facilitation of public consultations regarding the FNC
14. Preparation of the integrated report completed with all the target groups involved at the consultation stages
15. Analysis of the operational curriculum development methodology for previous editions of the national curriculum.
16. Elaboration of criteria and indicators to assess the comprehensiveness of the newly designed curricula for the school subjectsConduct national consultations of the drafts developed.

2. Details of how the work should be delivered

The consultant will be responsible for leading the team of experts that will be selected by UNICEF to work on the review and development of National Curriculum documents. The key responsibilities include:

• facilitate clear communication with the team members, MER, and UNICEF
• track the progress of activities, by regularly reviewing performance against goals and making adjustments as necessary
• provide constructive feedback to the members of the team on the process of documents development and quality of deliverables
• validate and provide quality assurance for all deliverables prepared by the team, before submission to MER and UNICEF

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 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.
• Focus on youth, with whom the transformation in education starts.

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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.
• Relevant 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 Consultant_Team Lead_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_Team Lead Curriculum.docx

 Financial Offer_Team Lead 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.