National Individual Consultant to develop a methodology and a study on the professional and personal development needs of teachers, mentors, and school managers

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 the professional development system for teachers. These include an absence of a well-defined training framework, limited use of peer review among educational and managerial staff, and a lack of structured framework for implementing a mentoring system to support teachers. One of the key goals of the DS is to restructure human capital development mechanisms to align with the demands and needs of the labour market.

UNICEF Moldova, with the financial support of the European Union, supports the Ministry of Education and Research (MER) in implementing a comprehensive set of activities aimed at overcoming some of these challenges and achieve the goals of the DS. These activities are part of the Programme Advancing Quality Education and Lifelong Learning Opportunities for All and contribute to human capital development, improving quality and relevance of education and lifelong learning opportunities. Among other objectives, the programme focuses on strengthening institutions and systems for teacher, mentor and school leaders’ professional development.

How can you make a difference?

1. Purpose of assignment

The consultant will support MER and INEL in determining the personal and development needs of teachers, mentors, and school managers from the perspective of improving the learning outcomes. The study’s results will serve as a reference for decision-making regarding teacher training policies, for the re-design of initial and ongoing professional development programs for teachers and school managers, and the development of mentor training programs.

2. Objectives of the consultancy 

• Carry out an analysis of international practices regarding the ways of determining the professional and personal development needs of teachers, mentors, and school managers, which are applied in countries with modern models of teacher training (Finland, Estonia, Switzerland, Singapore)
• Carry out an analysis of local practices (355 schools) of determining the needs for professional and personal development of teachers, and school managers. It will inform decision-making at national, regional, institutional, and individual levels
• Develop and apply the Methodology for determining the professional and personal development needs of teachers, mentors, and school managers
• Elaborate the Study on professional and personal development needs of teachers, mentors, and school managers based on the result of the applied methodology

3. Details of how the work should be delivered

The methodology of the study will include a desk review of the national and international practices regarding the identification of training needs. The methodology will be based on the results of the desk review and will embed the most successful existing practices. The sets of tools for identifying the needs, and for processing and interpreting the results will be described in the methodology (surveys, interviews, etc.).

The online format for applying the methodology is recommended to effectively reach all 355 educational institutions, where the mentors are active. The consultancy will also imply country travel to at least 6 schools for the collection of data based on the analysis of young and experienced teachers’ portfolios, school documentation (long-term projects, short-term projects, teaching tools, etc). The consultant will ensure the integration of gender equality and PSEA considerations, including safe and ethical protocols into the development of the methodology and study completion.

Once endorsed by MER and INEL and following the application in 355 schools, the Methodology for determining the professional and personal development needs of teachers, mentors and school managers will become an effective tool that will help identify and prioritize needs at national, regional, institutional, and individual level.

The Study on professional and personal development needs of teachers, mentors, and school will describe the aim and objectives, methodology, instruments, findings and results, conclusions, and recommendations following the application of the Methodology for determining the professional and personal development needs of teachers, mentors, and school managers.  The development needs of teachers, mentors, and school managers will be categorized into two types: professional and individual. The results will be presented separately for novice teachers, mentors, and experienced teachers/managers.

At the end, a comprehensive presentation of study’s outcomes and insights will be shared to stakeholders, facilitating informed decision-making.

Considering the complexity of the consultancy, INEL will support the consultant through a dedicated team that will be providing the necessary support, including information and communication with schools and mentors, regional departments of education, school managers, approval of instruments and tools, support with data analysis, etc.

4. Deliverables and delivery dates 

Nr.	Task	Deliverable	Expected timeline
1.	Conduct desk review and research of national and international trends Draft Methodology for determining the professional and personal development needs of teachers, mentors and school managers Draft an inception report	Inception Report containing Results of the desk review Methodology and tools	8 days
2.	Consult the methodology with MER, INEL and UNICEF and adapt the final methodology following the consultations Apply the methodology Finalized detailed methodology and tools applied online to 355 schools, At least 6 visits to schools conducted	2 days 12 days
3.	Develop the Study on professional and personal development needs (current and strategic) of teachers, mentors, and school managers	Study developed in Romanian and presented to MER, INEL and UNICEF	10 days
4.	Validate the research results with MER, UNICEF other relevant stakeholders within a workshop	A PPT presentation / summary of key findings per area and per target group and related recommendations (in English and Romanian)	2 days
5.	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
Total			36 days

The consultants 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.

6. Work location and official travel involved 

The work will require at least six 1-day local travels to schools in order to conduct in-person visits and interviews with the different educational stakeholders, as per their availability. The UNICEF office will facilitate introductions to key informants.

The consultants are expected to cover costs, arrange, and schedule such visits, including transportation. The UNICEF office will facilitate introductions to key informants.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

• University degree in educational sciences is required
• Minimum 5 years of working experience in the relevant field (professional development programs, development of surveys and studies, management of education programs, research etc.) are required
• Proven experience in collecting and analysing datais required
• Experience in conducting desk reviews and research, including qualitative studies and baseline assessments, evaluations is required
• Demonstrated work experience in the education sector with national/international institutions/organizations is a strong asset
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills, both at technical level and policy level is required
• 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.

ToR_Nat Indiv Consultant_Study Needs_VA.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_Study Needs.docx

Financial Offer_Study Needs.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. 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 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.