Consultant to Support C4D and Communication on Education Tender, Solomon Islands - 28747148

Procurement Summary

Country : Solomon Islands

Summary : Consultant to Support C4D and Communication on Education

Deadline : 02 Dec 2018

Other Information

Notice Type : Tender

TOT Ref.No.: 28747148

Document Ref. No. :

Competition : ICB

Financier : United Nations Secretariat

Purchaser Ownership : -

Tender Value : Refer Document

Purchaser's Detail

Purchaser : UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND
1st Floor, City Centre Building Mendana Avenue, Honiara Tel: +677-28002 / 28001 Fax: 28007
Solomon Islands
URL :http://www.unicef.org/

Tender Details

Tenders are invited for Consultant to Support C4D and Communication on Education, Solomon Islands.

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, an Education

Solomon Islands is an island group comprising of 997 islands and atolls located in the Melanesian region of the Pacific. Solomon Islands has a population of 515, 870, and is one of the Pacific region-s fastest growing nations. Children and youth aged 0-19 make up around 50 per cent of the total population. The majority of Solomon Islanders (80.2 per cent) live in rural areas. Solomon Islands is highly prone to disaster and climate risks, including (but not limited to) tropical cyclones, tsunamis, floods, earthquakes and droughts.

The net enrolment ratio (NER) in early childhood education has not improved over recent years and currently stands at 39 per cent, and available information suggests that many parents may not engage in the early stimulation, learning and school readiness activities that help children prepare to enter school. At the primary school level, NER increased slightly over the last years and currently stands at 92 per cent. However, a significant proportion of children enrolled are over-age and there is an enrolment disparity in favour of boys. The junior secondary NER only stands at 42 per cent, suggesting that less than half of children aged 13-15 are not enrolled in school. The high birth rate in Solomon Islands places continuous strain on the education system, a bottleneck which is exacerbated by late enrolments. The lack of schools, particularly secondary schools, and varying standards of school infrastructure, has meant that children have had to travel long distances to the nearest functioning school, which discourages enrolment and drives school drop-outs.

While early childhood education has long targeted children ages 3-5, the government has opted to focus on rolling out a one-year Pre-Primary Year (PPY) for all children age 5 as part of the Basic Education package. The PPY curriculum has recently been developed and piloted in two provinces and the capital city. The MEHRD subsequently decided to roll this out nationwide in the 2019 school year. In preparation for this, training of teachers and printing of training materials and teacher guides is currently underway in November 2018.

Given that the PPY is a new programme, targeting only 5-year-old children and with an aim to secure as widespread enrolment among age 5 children as possible, MEHRD has developed a draft communication strategy, but requires support to refine and implement the same.

UNICEF also supports the education sector in the Solomon Islands in other areas, and will benefit from this technical support to produce a limited set of communication materials to communicate the work of UNICEF in Education in the Solomon Islands. During this consultancy, key activities on Inclusive Education and Disaster Risk Reduction are expected to roll-out, and will require project-specific documentation for sharing with partners, donors and potential donors. In addition, a fact sheet on the education programme in the Solomon Islands (which can also serve as a template for similar fact sheets in other countries) as well as a human-interest story and photos of key interventions are needed.

How can you make a difference?

The purpose of the assignment is to provide technical guidance to revise and implement a communication strategic plan to promote PPY in Solomon Island, while building capacity of MEHRD to continue implementation as well as design and implement strategies thereafter, and also contributing content to support external communication about the programme and its successes to MEHRD, development partners, donors, and public (via social media, media, etc.). The assignment will also contribute to UNICEF capacity and stock of communication materials on PPY and the education programme more generally.

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

· Completed Master-s Degree in Communications, Social Sciences or a related field required

· Specialized training / experience in Communications, Communications for Development, Social Marketing

· Familiarity with UNICEF work and communication standards strongly preferred

· Familiarity with education, early childhood education, early childhood development preferred

· A minimum of five (5) years- relevant work experience

· Fluency in written and verbal English language is required

· Knowledge and experience in engaging and effective written, oral and visual communication methods, including the full range of external communication genres. Must be able to clearly and concisely express ideas and concepts in written, visual and oral form and to listen to and acknowledges others' perspectives and views.

· Computer knowledge, skills and practical experience, including internet navigation and publishing, social and new media, the MS Office Suite, telecommunications and various office applications. Photography and multimedia editing skills an asset.

· Commitment, understanding and appreciation of diversity, inclusion and integrity.

· Relating and networking, entrepreneurial thinking, persuading and Influencing, and team work.

· Familiarity with the Pacific region and Solomon Islands an asset

· Comfort and flexibility working in challenging contexts, including travel on small boats and planes

APPLICATIONS

The current advertisement seeks applicants for the proposed C4D and Communication consultancy to support education in the Solomon Islands per the proposed timeline. Applicants for this consultancy should reference “C4D and Communication in Education in the Solomon Islands” in the letter of interest.

Applicants interested in being considered for future consultancy opportunities in communication and C4D in education in the Pacific region may also apply, and should reference “C4D and Communication in Education Roster in the Pacific” in the letter of interest.

All applicants must submit: (i) brief technical description of approach to C4D and Communication in Education (per the ToR or similar relevant) with summary of relevant experience and confirmation of availability; (ii) financial offer (professional fees); (iii) scan of highest degree. (iv) CV.

Attached is the TERMS OF REFERENCETOR Education Communication and C4D. Advert. .docx

HOW TO APPLY:

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=518110

Documents

 Tender Notice