Vacancy Announcement : Individual National Consultancy : Support the Ministry of Education and Sports COVID-19 response coordination and implementation
UNICEF is a UN organization mandated by the UN General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. In Lao PDR, UNICEF is working with its partners to support the Government to realize children’s rights on survival, development, protection and participation.
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, support
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UNICEF in Vientiane, Lao PDR is looking for an Individual National Consultancy: Support the Ministry of Education and Sports COVID-19 response coordination and implementation. The duration of this assignment is from July 2020 to December 2021. The consultant will be based in the Ministry of Education and Sports. Agreement to work remotely/at home for certain days has to be agreed upon with MoES, based on government guidelines on mitigation efforts for COVID-19. Regular communication with UNICEF is also required as well as meetings.
Summary of key functions/accountabilities :
Support day-to-day coordination within MoES and externally in relation to the implementation of the Education COVID response, including development of funding proposals :
This will include support to :
- Organization of meetings and preparation of meeting minutes ;
- Follow-up with respective MoES departments/bodies, Provincial and District Offices, and Development Partners to get inputs/key information needed to support the design and implementation of Education COVID related interventions ;
- Provision of translation support during meetings and relevant documents.
Output : Meetings organized and relevant information/data collected related to support the design and implementation of COVID education response interventions, including GPE proposal preparation.
Provide technical inputs to relevant documents in Lao and English :
- This includes inputs to reports, directives, powerpoint presentations that are related to the Education COVID response, in Lao and English ;
- Output: Relevant documents with technical inputs from consultant
Participate in meetings, monitoring visits, and advocacy and other related events :
The consultant will participate in meetings related to the coordination and implementation of the Education COVID response, including internal MoES meetings, inter-sectoral meetings, Education Cluster meeting, Education Sector Working Group (ESWG) meetings, etc. The consultant will also join monitoring visits as well as advocacy and other related events. The consultant will also support data collection including for the GIS-enabled monitoring platform for the Education COVID-19 response. As needed, the consultant will prepare brief updates/key points from the meetings and monitoring visits.
Output : Participation in relevant meetings, events and monitoring visits, and brief updates from the meetings and monitoring visits.
Support MoES and UNICEF in the preparation and finalization of regular reports to the GPE Secretariat for the COVID Accelerated Funding :
The consultant will support MoES provide timely inputs as part of reporting requirements for COVID-related funding. This includes follow-up with relevant MoES departments and Development Partners/Education Cluster members to get the most updated information for the preparation of regular update reports to UNICEF and the GPE Secretariat. The consultant will also liaise closely with MoES ESSC/EMIS Unit and ICT Department to get the most updated information from the online GIS-enabled platform for the monitoring and planning of the COVID response.
Output : Timely inputs and data/information provided for regular reports
Support MoES to prepare and process funding and supply requests to UNICEF in line with the Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT) :
UNICEF will provide direct funding support and supplies to MoES for COVID-related interventions. Processing these requests will follow HACT procedures and would require for the consultant to work closely with relevant MoES departments, and Provincial and District Offices to prepare funding and supply requests, liquidation reports and other relevant information.
Outputs : Funding and supply requests and liquidation reports for UNICEF processed on time
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will need to have :
The consultant is expected to hold a degree in education/international development or any related field. S/he must have at least five years of experience working in the education sector, including in supporting an emergency response. S/he must be familiar with the education development context in Lao PDR, including MoES structure and functions, and education development partners. S/he must be fluent in both English and Lao language with excellent verbal and writing skills in both languages. S/he must have an excellent knowledge of Lao culture and language. S/he should be adaptable and flexible in their working approach.
- Submission of applications :
Interested candidates are kindly requested to submit applications electronically and include the following documents :
- Letter of Interest (cover letter) ;
- CV or Resume ;
- Performance evaluation reports or references of similar consultancy assignments (if available) ;
- Financial proposal: All-inclusive lump-sum cost as per the work assignment.
The deadline for applications is 24 June 2020
- Assessment Criteria :
As part of the evaluation and selection, a Cumulative Analysis Method (weight combined score method) shall be used for this recruitment. This involves assessment of
a) Technical Qualification (max. 100 points) weight 70 %
- Relevant education/degree (30 points) ;
- Experience working in the education sector in Lao PDR (40 points) ;
- Fluency in both English and Lao languages (30 points).
b) Financial Proposal (max. 100 points) weight 30 % :
The maximum number of points shall be allotted to the lowest Financial Proposal that is opened /evaluated and compared among those technical qualified candidates who have attained a minimum 70 points score in the technical evaluation. Other Financial Proposals will receive points in inverse proportion to the lowest price.
The Contract shall be awarded to the candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores, subject to the satisfactory result of the verification interview, if required.
Please find the ToR here : 
ToR Template_Consultant_support MoES COVID Response for VA.pdf
For every Child, you demonstrate…..
UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
View our competency framework at : Competencies.pdf
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.
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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
Remarks :
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
Applications close : 24 Jun 2020 05:00 PM SE Asia Standard Time.