Technical Consultant: To support the GPE Program Document (PD) development in PNG

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

With over 850 indigenous languages and one of the most ethnically diverse populations, widespread poverty, and gender inequality make it hard for many children to realize their rights. In Papua New Guinea, UNICEF’s works effectively both ‘upstream’ (with governments) and ‘downstream’ (at the grassroots level) to carry out its mission through a programme of cooperation jointly developed with the government guides our work in the country.

How can you make a difference? 

The purpose of the consultancy is to develop a comprehensive proposal for the GPE’s STG and SCG in line with the priority reform identified in the Partnership Compact through consultations with NDoE, LEG and other relevant stakeholders.

The specific objectives are:

1. Review key strategic plans and policy documents to ensure alignment to the country needs in basic education.

2. Facilitate consultations with key stakeholders and partners at both national and sub-national levels, including LEG members and experts as part of the process to identify and cost strategies and plans, as well as identify a pathway for sustainability beyond the grant’s life.

3. Draft and finalize the proposal for the STG and SCG, using GPE templates while ensuring relevant feedback from all stakeholders is included, in developing the strategy for achievement of the committed indicators for the programme.

SCOPE OF THE CONSULTANCY:

The selected candidate will work closely with NDoE, LEG, sub-sector teams, CSO/NGO and development partners, other relevant stakeholders and experts on the following:

1) Review key strategic documents: The key documents include:

• PNG Partnership Compact
• Enabling Factors Analysis (EFA) and Independent Technical Advisory Panel (ITAP) report
• National Education Plan 2020-2029
• Education Sector Development Plan (ESDP)
• Medium-Term Development Plan 2023-2027 (MTDP IV)
• Education Sector Analysis (ESA)
• Other relevant policy and evidence documents

The expected outcome is to develop an inception report with clear roadmap and methodology for the proposal development and a draft outline of the grant application taking into account the GPE Quality Assurance Review (QAR) requirements. These deliverables are to be presented for fine-tuning during the consultations.

2) Facilitate consultations with education stakeholders and partners

The NDoE will establish a Task Team (TT) of relevant Division representatives, chaired by the Deputy Secretary, School Directorate (GPE Focal Point). The consultant will closely support and work with the Deputy Secretary and the TT members to organize a series of stakeholder/partner consultations. These consultations can be virtual and/or in person. Bilateral meetings will be required to collect additional feedback from stakeholders. Thes consultations shall create opportunities for dialogues on key issues and priorities that can directly or indirectly affect the programme implementation. The consultant shall consult partners and stakeholders to review the draft document and appropriate strategies to achieve the targets in a coherent fashion. The key deliverables are to prepare the required comprehensive programme design documents (Concept Note [CN] and Program Document [PD] highlighting key bottlenecks and priorities for achieving the objectives set out in the program design.

3) Draft a Concept Note for the first Quality Assurance Review (QRA1)

Following the initial consultations, the consultant shall draft a Concept Note (CN) based on the GPE proposed guidelines and the PNG Partnership Compact. The draft CN will be reviewed and validated by the TT. After the validation, the CN will be presented to LEG for review, feedback and endorsement to be submitted to the fist Quality Assurance Review (QAR I) by the GPE Secretariat.

The CN shall highlight: ’

(a) Program objectives

(b) Proposed components and key (high-level) interventions (with indicative budget allocation) accompanied by a (high-level) theory of change/ results chain,

(c) Key results and indicators, and

(d) An overview of the implementation arrangements

The QAR I will evaluate:

1) The design of the program (including gender hardwiring), and the alignment of the program with the priority areas and interventions described in the Partnership Compact;

2) Sustainability; and

3) Aid effectiveness.

The QAR I is anticipated to take 2-3 weeks. The final CN document shall reflect on QAR I feedback to be the basis for the PD development

4) Develop a Program Document (PD) of the STG and SCG Following the QAR I submission, the consultant shall continue developing a Program Document (PD) and incorporate QAR I feedback from the GPE Secretariat. The consultant will support the NDoE, especially the TT, to continue organizing stakeholder/partner consultations to ensure the draft PD reflecting key interventions and implementation arrangements to support realisation of the Partnership Compact’s priority reform in PNG. The PD design will be validated by key stakeholders and partners and the TT will ensure its quality before sharing with LEG for review, feedback and endorsement. The consultant will finalize the PD application package using the relevant templates to be submitted to the GPE Secretariat for the final Quality Assurance Review (QAR III).

The final Quality Assurance Review (QAR III) will evaluate based on the seven program quality standards of GPE:

1. Program design/ system transformation/ gender hardwiring/ alignment with GPE’s Private Sector Engagement Strategy

2. Program budget,

3. Monitoring and evaluation

4. Implementation arrangements and readiness,

5. Risk identification (including SEAH – Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment) and mitigation measures,

6. Sustainability, and

7. Aid effectiveness.

The expected outcome is the finalized full PD and related application document of the GPE STG and SCG.

WORK ASSIGNMENT OVERVIEW:

The consultant will be responsible for the delivery and technical quality of the final product. All deliverables shall be submitted to NDoE and UNICEF for quality assurance and clearance:

• Inception report, based on a desk review of the key sector and sub-sector documents, including the PNG Partnership Compact, detailing the methodology to be adopted, work plan with clear responsibilities, quality assurance checklist as per the GPE STG/SCG guidelines and key milestones in the process of developing the PD  Stakeholder and partner consultations, interviews and meetings organized, including consultative workshops for review of the draft PD by key stakeholders  Draft Concept Note (CN) developed based on the PNG Partnership Compact and initial stakeholder and partner consultations, ensuring the QAR I requirements reflected
• CN finalized based on QAR I feedback to be the basis of the PD development  Draft and finalize a Program Document (PD) developed through continuous consultations with and inputs provided by key stakeholders and partners, incorporating QAR I feedback, and presented to LEG for review, feedback and endorsement
• LEG-endorsed PD application package to be submitted for QAR III by the GPE Secretariat

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

• An advanced university degree in the fields of education/education planning, economy, sociology, social sciences and any related fields.
• At least 5 years of work experience in a relevant field.
• Experience in development of a programme/project proposal for a major donor at national and internal levels
• Professional Experience of working with GPE grants and proposal development process including the quality assurance process
• Demonstrated experience in strategy development for government and/or international development organizations in the social sector.
• Fluency in English is a must.
• Experience in PNG and the Pacific is considered an advantage.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

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. 

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 visa (applicable) and 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. 

Read Full Description