National Individual Consultant to develop the compendium on experiential projects implemented by the educational institutions from Cahul and Ungheni

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

UNICEF Moldova is the implementing partner for the EU4Moldova: Focal Regions Programme, which is funded by the European Union and implemented in partnership with UNDP. The overall objective of the programme is to strengthen economic, territorial, and social cohesion in the Republic of Moldova by facilitating inclusive, sustainable, and integrated local socio-economic growth, as well as improving the standards of living for children, adolescents, and all citizens in the two focal regions, Cahul and Ungheni[1].

In 2024, UNICEF supported the advancement of quality and inclusive teaching practices in pre-primary and general education institutions in Cahul and Ungheni through experiential and project-based learning. As part of this initiative, 20 WASH-related projects were implemented in schools across both regions, alongside 17 other experiential projects on various topics in pre-primary and primary education institutions. The aim of these initiatives was to create inclusive classroom environments that empower children, including those with disabilities and special educational needs (SEN), to actively engage in their learning process and interact with parents and communities. This also helped educators and teachers develop engaging and inclusive learning environments, thereby fostering meaningful and hands-on learning experiences.

To highlight these experiences from Cahul and Ungheni, a compendium of the implemented projects will be developed and made available to other educational institutions for inspiration. This will make it easier to disseminate the experiential and project-based learning initiatives implemented in the key regions, at the national level.

[1] For more details about the programme and all its component, please visit the related webpage: EU4Moldova: Focal Regions jobs-near-me.org United Nations Development Programme (undp.org)

How can you make a difference?

1. Purpose of the consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is to document and compile a comprehensive compendium of school-based projects implemented in Cahul and Ungheni. This compendium will serve as a reference for educators, policymakers, and development partners, highlighting best practices, lessons learned, and key results from the experiential and project-based teaching practices implemented at the local level in the key regions.

2. Details of how the work should be delivered

The consultant will develop a compendium of projects implemented at the level of educational institutions from Cahul and Ungheni, under the EU4Moldova: Focal-regions programme. The related information should be presented in a structured format applied to all mapped initiatives, in an easy-to-understand language, with visuals that enhance understanding of the achieved results for educational practitioners.

The compendium should capture elements of project design, implementation and results, as well as content integration into the teaching practices, for the following initiatives:

• Twenty (20) projects implemented in 20 schools from Cahul and Ungheni on impactful environmental activities to address critical issues such as water management, waste sorting, biodiversity conservation, and sustainability education.
• Seventeen (17) projects implemented in primary schools, illustrating how teachers and children jointly identified real-life issues, either from their own school community or their community at large, developed and implemented solutions to those issues.

The consultant will be responsible for mapping and documentation of the 37 school-based projects implemented in the schools from Cahul and Ungheni. More specifically, the consultant will:

1. Collect and analyze the information about implemented initiatives. Relevant information will be collected from 37 implementing educational institutions, through UNICEF implementing partners National Environmental Centre (WASH) and Step by Step Educational Program. Preliminary information will be provided by UNICEF and the two implementing partners, with the missing details to be collected by the consultant directly from the implementing teams at the educational institutions.
2. Prepare a well-structured format of the compendium, in a professional and reader-friendly format, based on the analyzed preliminary information. One project should be presented in a maximum of three (3) pages, with all projects being presented in the same format.
3. Collect, analyze and integrate relevant data, presentations, posters, evidence photos from implementing teams, into a compendium. Categorize projects based on thematic areas or tackled challenges.
4. Prepare the lightweight design/layout of the compendium.

3. Deliverables and timeline

Tasks

Deliverables

Timeline*

Develop the template of the compendium, based on preliminary assessment of implemented school-based projects

Template of the compendium, validated with UNICEF

2 w.d.,

Develop the compendium, based on the information collected from schools and UNICEF implementing partners

Final compendium, in Romanian, accepted by UNICEF

15 w.d.

Prepare the lightweights design/layout of the compendium, in PDF format

Layout version, Romanian and English versions**

5 w.d.

• Exact deadlines will be mutually agreed upon contract signature
• The final deliverable will be translated from Romanian into English by UNICEF and the consultant expected to support with the preparation of the designed document.

4. Reporting requirements

The selected consultant will report to UNICEF Moldova Education Officer, who will regularly communicate with the selected consultant and provide feedback and guidance on his/her performance and all other necessary support to achieve objectives of the consultancy. At each stage, the deliverable shall be sent to the Education Officer.

The consultant will produce the above-mentioned deliverables and products during the assignment implementation. All deliverables will be prepared and presented electronically to UNICEF for approval. The deliverables will be developed in Romanian, but other reporting will be in English.

5. Payment schedule

The contract fee will be paid in one lumpsum, after the satisfactory completion and acceptance by UNICEF of the deliverables listed above.

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs are incomplete, not delivered for failure to meet deadlines.

6. Work location and official travel involved

The work will be provided remotely and might require online meetings with school teams who implemented the projects, in order to gather necessary information. UNICEF office will facilitate introductions to key stakeholders.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

• A university degree in Education, Social Sciences, Philology, Economy, IT or a related field is required
• Familiarity with the child rights and public education system in Moldova
• Proven experience in compiling case studies, evaluations or other knowledge products (at least 5 knowledge products)
• Relevant experience working with international organizations, NGOs, or government institutions in education
• Fluency in Romanian, both oral and written is required
• Working knowledge of English is a minimum; good command of English is a strong asset, both oral and written.

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):

2025_ToR_Nat Indiv Consultant_Compendium school projects_EU4MD_VA.docx

HOW TO APPLY: Your online application should contain the Technical and Financial Offers (templates below):

Technical Offer_Compendium school projects_EU4MD.docx

Financial Offer_Compendium school projects_EU4MD.xlsx

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility jobs-near-me.org UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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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