Education Consultant (m/f)

Description

• Type of contract: National consultancy contract
• Post Number: N/A
• Period of contract: 3 months
• Location: Mozambique, 1 month in Maputo and 2 months in Nampula
• The Effective Date of Assignment : As soon as possible

Operational Context

• The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is an international organization with the mandate to assist persons in need of international protection; asylum seekers; refugees; statelessness; and internally displaced persons. The total refugees and asylum-seekers registered population in Mozambique is 26,159 people of concern (PoC), out of which 33% live in the Maratane settlement, 9% live in Nampula city, 16% live in the Maputo city and 18% in the Maputo area. A total of 24% live in other locations including provinces of Tete, Cabo Delgado and Zambezia. Located in the north of Mozambique in the Nampula district, the Maratane Refugee Settlement, considered a protracted situation since it has existed for more than 18 years, hosts more than 9,000 asylum seekers and refugees and 53% of them are under 18 years old, among that 49% are girls under 18. The camp is administered by INAR, the National Institute for Refugee Assistance
• For refugees, completing education can be an enormous challenge. Not only are refugees less likely to enroll in education than their host community peers, but they are also more likely to drop out of school. Secondary school enrolment is particularly problematic. Nearly two thirds of refugee children who go to primary school do not make it to secondary school and globally 77% of refugee youth do not attend secondary school. This challenge is exacerbated by the fact that more than 80% of refugees are hosted in developing countries, and nearly 30% in the lowest income countries. The scale, duration and growing complexity of forced displacement, and continuing gaps in humanitarian and development funding and action on education for forcibly displaced children and youth mean that enrolment and retention rates at primary and secondary education level have remained largely static globally
• Refugee youth are often excluded from national education systems or face limitations to their freedom of movement, preventing them from going to schools that are far from their homes. In many areas with a high concentration of refugees, there are few, if any, secondary schools, thus making lack of infrastructure a key barrier. Refugees miss out on school for long periods due to conflict and displacement, making it difficult to enroll in school without extra additional support, which is often unavailable. For example, they may need to learn a different language, and hosting countries may not accept external exam certificates, or may not allow children without birth certificates or identity papers to enroll
• Cost also poses a significant barrier to enrolment. Per student, secondary schooling costs more than primary, as secondary schools are more complex to manage, staff are more specialized, and facilities and teaching materials are more expensive. Opportunity costs also have an impact, as refugee youth may be required to work to supplement the family income. The barriers to enrolment are even greater for refugee girls, who often face multiple social and cultural restrictions on attending school, including risks of gender-based violence and harassment. Access to post-primary education is a challenge worldwide for refugees and in many low-income countries is also a challenge for local youth
• Mozambique serves as a positive role model on the inclusion of refugees into national systems, including national education systems at all levels. However, Mozambique is a low-income country which struggles to meet the needs of all. GPE’s 2019 summative evaluation report for Mozambique found out that national primary completion rates remain below 50% and measures of grade three literacy nationally average at just 6.9%. At secondary level, the enrolment percentages are much lower with, a net enrolment rate of only 16.7% and a completion rate at lower secondary of 28.8% and 13.1% at upper secondary. This situation is magnified for many refugees, where additional barriers such as the language of instruction come into play

The position

• UNHCR is seeking a national consultant to conduct research on educational data and gaps for refugees, asylum seekers and host community in Mozambique. Beside collecting data on the current educational situation for refugees in specified locations in the country, the consultant will need to understand key factors, practices and activities that support access to and retention in primary and secondary education for refugees, in particular for girls. On the basis of that research, the consultant will identify a strategic road map and potential activities (with estimated cost and impact) to boost school retention and completion, with a particular focus on secondary education, as well as the transition phase from primary to secondary, in the Nampula area

Overall Purpose and Scope of the Consultancy

• The Consultant will conduct research that supports the development of an evidence-based programming to document and analyze:
• The current educational situation for refugees and asylum seekers in the country (in-school population, gross and net enrolment, out of school population – disaggregated by sex and age) and comparison with host community education data with a specific focus on Nampula District/Maratane area. In addition, it would be imperative to understand the impact of COVID-19 in asylum seekers and refugees education in Mozambique
• Identify main challenges and success factors required for refugee children and youth to complete primary and secondary education, with a focus on the transition phase, including an analysis of learning, cultural and structural barriers
• Develop analyses comparing the retention of girls and boys in the school and the reasons for school drop-out according to gender and age
• Identify a strategic road map and practical recommendations for both UNHCR and State authorities to support the successful school retention and completion and quality learning of refugee youth, including a list of potential activities (with estimated cost and impact)
• This consultancy is expected to strengthen the capacity of UNHCR's country team to engage with education and government partners both at national, provincial and district level to advocate for refugee enrolment in national schools and redefine its approach toward education activities, in line with the GCR commitment to strengthening national systems for the benefit of all learners

Duties

• Under the overall supervision of the Country Representative in Maputo and the Head of Field Office in Nampula, the consultant will deliver:
• Inception report – maximum 5 pages outlining opportunities, challenges and proposed methodology for each of the proposed report sections
• Research Report - a product of approximately 25 pages plus annexes, including a short 3 pages executive summary, based on desk and field research that includes the following:
• Desk research: A summarized presentation of literature review findings on the context using academic and practitioner evidence of identified success factors for refugee and host community enrolment and retention in schools
• Data collection and analysis on current educational situation for refugees and asylum seekers in the country and comparison with host community with a specific focus on Nampula District/Maratane area
• Summarized presentation of field research and consultations; Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) or focus group discussions; site-specific validation of key assumptions related to barriers. Field level consultations will use evidence and perceptions gleaned from the literature review to identify key issues. Particular attention to informants who may have been left out of existing reviews and assessments is required
• Brief analysis of the main barriers in retaining refugee learners in school, with a specific focus on transition to secondary education
• Identification of critical success factors in retention and completion of primary and secondary education, particularly for refugee girls
• Implementing Success factors: This includes strategic road map and practical recommendations for both UNHCR and State authorities (advocacy and programming), good practice summaries and list of potential activities with estimated costs and impact
• Annexes, including:
• Literature review
• Key findings reporting from key informant interviews, group discussions and observational/data validations
• PowerPoint presentation in Portuguese and English containing findings and recommendations to be presented to UNHCR, for capacity building and advocacy purposes

Key informant interviews and/or focus group discussions are expected with

• Host and refugee communities
• State authorities including INAR (National Institute for Refugee Assistance) and Ministries of Education at district level, provincial and national level as needed
• UNHCR and related UN agency staff
• INGO and CSO partners
• School managers and teachers
• Researchers in the field of education and refugees
• Donor agencies

Monitoring and Progress Controls (report requirements, periodicity, format, deadlines)

• Day 1 – 5: Inception report & tools development, desk research conducted
• Day 6 – 8: In Maputo conducted, field mission prepared
• Day 9 – 30: In Maputo, research together with competent authorities on Education
• Day 31 – 40: In Nampula, (including debrief meeting with Nampula team and local authorities to discuss preliminary findings)
• Day 40 – 50: 1st draft research and call for comments (with UNHCR and other relevant stakeholders if necessary)
• Day 50 – 65: Finalisation of research - presentations and recommendations on programming for key UNHCR staff (Maputo – VC for colleagues based in Nampula, Regional Bureau and HQs)
• Knowledge management is enhanced through regular updates to UNHCR
• The final product: 25-page report (+ executive summary in English and Portuguese + annexes, including PowerPoint presentation in Portuguese and English) and debrief meetings in Nampula (preliminary findings) and Maputo (final presentation)
• Delivery Periodicity, as applicable: Inspection of initial research and guidance documents on the first month of consultancy, and submission of the research materials on last month consultancy
• Work on the basis of time employed: Yes
• If it is to result in a written product specify: (i) Number of pages: Research report (Body 25 pages, Executive summary 3 pages. Total with annexes circa 100); (ii) Language(s): Portuguese (all)/ English (executive summary and ppt presentation); (iii) Number of copies: electronic (all)

Requisites

• Essential minimum qualifications and professional experience required
• The ideal candidate will have the following:
• A basic university degree plus a minimum of 15 years of relevant work experience in fields related to primary and secondary education, refugees, and humanitarian or development aid
• Or a post-graduate university degree in a relevant social science related to youth, refugees, education, community cohesion, research, or related fields, plus a minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience in the above-mentioned fields of work
• International work experience in countries of interest to UNHCR
• Demonstrated experience working/conducting research on education
• Demonstrated experience in developing recommendations that are pragmatic, actionable and underscored by research
• Demonstrated experience in producing quality written material to tight deadlines
• Reliability and independence
• Written and spoken fluency in Portuguese and English is required
• Knowledge and exposure to UNHCR Mandate, its principles and policies towards refugees and the persons of concern to UNHCR

Benefits

• Remuneration: A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For national consultancy, the salary is linked to the salary for National Professional Officers and is based on the experience of the selected candidate

Notes

• The research report will be delivered in Portuguese with an executive summary in English
• Personal History Form not submitted in UNHCR format as well as not signed, incomplete and late applications will not be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates will be required to sit for a written test and/or oral interview. UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing or any other fees)
• The evaluation of applicants will be conducted based on the information submitted during the application. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application
• UNHCR strongly encourages qualified female applicants for this position. UNHCR seeks to ensure that male and female employees are given equal career opportunities. UNHCR is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• UNHCR has a zero-tolerance policy against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA). SEA is unacceptable behaviour and prohibited conduct for UNHCR personnel. It constitutes acts of serious misconduct and is therefore grounds for disciplinary measures, including dismissal. Any concerns or suspicions about a possible case of SEA should be reported immediately to the Inspector General’s Office (IGO) at inspector@unhcr.org or through the online complain form at https://www.unhcr.org/php/complaints.php or by confidential fax: +41 22 739 73 80

How to Apply

Application

• Interested candidates meeting the above requirements are requested to submit their applications with fully complete and signed Personal History Form and Supplementary Pages (https://www.unhcr.org/afr/how-to-apply.html) as well as updated factsheet (internal candidates only) via email to: mozma@unhcr.org with the Subject line “Education Consultant”