Afghanistan: Senior International Consultant, Instructional Materials Development

Background and rationale:

A relevant, high quality curriculum is essential to ensuring education systems equip learners with the attitudes, skills, knowledge, and values to participate and contribute meaningfully to their communal and economic contexts. Whilst acknowledging the enormous progress made since 2002 in expanding access to education to all groups within society, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GoIRA) now considers the improvement of quality in its education system to be a key priority in the next 5 years. Underpinned by broader concerns about learner achievement, the Government also seeks to improve the preparedness of youth for employment and better ensure its education systems foster the inclusiveness needed for continued national reintegration, in part by revisions and improvements to the education system.

The third National Education Strategic Plan (NESP III), positions improved quality alongside continued expansion of access to education and sector-wide management reform as its guiding priorities through to 2021. A critical component of quality improvement is comprehensive, evidence-based curriculum reform.

A request was made to UNESCO by the Ministry of Education (MoE) to prepare the foundations for sector-wide curriculum reform. Through its Capacity Development for Education 2030 (CapED) program and in partnership with UNICEF, the MoE has been supported to conduct national curriculum consultations, and draft its curriculum framework. Syllabus reform is in process, with a competence framework currently in its drafting phase, and work in the planning phases for the syllabus revision.

Purpose of this TOR:

This consultancy position will support the next phase of implementation, namely the development of guidelines to support the Ministry in the phase of textbook/instructional materials development. This assignment will support the production of technical instruments to guide MOE, and a plan for the development of the technical capacities of MOE staff to assess existing textbooks, and guide their revision, to ensure alignment with the new curriculum framework, competence framework, and syllabi overviews.

It is possible that this activity may be extended beyond the initial contract period, depending on availability of funding and need.

The consultant will be supported by a national consultant. It is preferred if the international consultant is able to participate in the hiring of the national consultant, though UNESCO Kabul is also able to support this process independent. A separate TOR is developed and advertised.

The consultant will work closely with both UNESCO staff (Chief of Education, Project Coordinator CapED), experts engaged by UNESCO for other aspects of curriculum work, and Ministry of Education staff leading the process of curriculum reform and implementation.

Objectives:

This assignment carries the following specific objectives:

1. Increase awareness amongst Ministry of Education staff and stakeholders of best practices in textbook/instructional materials development.

2. In close collaboration with MoE, develop guidelines for the process of textbook/instructional materials development, to ensure quality teaching and learning materials are produced, and consistency with the new curriculum.

3. Build capacity of Ministry staff through collaborative engagement across all planned activities.

Duties and responsibilities:

The consultant will perform the following duties:

1. Recommend and justify best practice in textbook development;

2. Guide stakeholders (MoE staff, technical working groups convened for scope and sequence development) on making choices leading to the development of guidelines for textbook development consistent with international best practices;

3. Produce textbook development guidelines for the Afghanistan Ministry of Education;

4. Ensure the guidelines are aligned with the timelines for curriculum reform adopted by MoE;

5. Organize and co-facilitate workshops and consultations with MoE and stakeholders as required.

6. Consult closely with MoE and key stakeholders at each stage of the assignment. All deliverables will be presented to MoE and relevant stakeholders (e.g. the Curriculum Working Group)

Deliverables:

1. Comprehensive guidelines, including tools and checklists, to support MOE to develop competency based instructional materials development (particularly textbooks and teacher guides);

2. A plan for textbook and teacher guide development, aligned with MOE timelines and based on international best practices.

The fees for each deliverable will be paid in USD.

Proposed dates:

March 1^st– June 30^th, 2018 (4 months).

Conditions of Work

The consultant will be provided with secure office space by UNESCO while in Kabul including equipment, office stationaries, printing, photocopying, and communication equipment.

The consultant maybe required to conduct travel within the Kabul region and to selected provinces. All travel is subject to UN security clearances, and will be in UN vehicles only.The UNESCO Office in Kabul will supply the vehicle when required and other logistical support (e.g. radios). Mandatory security training (three days) is required on arrival in Kabul.

Accommodation will be arranged by the UNESCO Office in Kabul and will be in premises cleared by the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) in Afghanistan.

A period of time away from Afghanistan during the consultancy for the purposes of rest and recuperation may be negotiated.

Supervisory arrangements:

The consultancy will be under the overall supervision of the Director and Representative of the UNESCO Office in Afghanistan, the Chief of Education and the Project Coordinator, Capacity Development for Education 2030.

Qualifications:

• Advanced university degree in education, preferably with a focus on curriculum/textbook and instructional designing studies

• At least 10 years of relevant work experience in education, with a significant component of this experience acquired in curriculum/instructional materials development.

• Experience in educational consultancy or development work at the international level is strongly preferred.

• Excellent understanding of education systems, policies, planning and capacity development

• Excellent analytical and report writing skills

• Advanced cross-cultural communication skills

• High-level drafting and communication capacity in English

• Experience working in Afghanistan is an asset

Application Procedure:

Candidates are requested to send their application, including a CV (one in free format and one in the UNESCO format, available at https://en.unesco.org/careers/media/3705 ) and cover letter (in English) briefly outlining the methodology and activity plan proposed for completing the defined deliverables within the designated time period to the UNESCO Kabul email ki.consultant@unesco.org before midnight (Afghanistan time), February 19, 2018.

All applications must be submitted by email, including the position title in the email subject line.