Jordan: CfP Senior/Executive-level Consultant to Conduct Evaluation of EMIS Architecture and Streamline Operational and Coordination Structures

UNESCO AMMAN OFFICE

Call for Proposals for Senior Individual Consultant

AMN/CONS/18/07

Senior/Executive-level Consultant to Conduct Evaluation of EMIS Architecture and

Streamline Operational and Coordination Structures

Date: 12 July 2018

Dear Sir or Madam:

UNESCO Amman Office is inviting written proposals from Individual Consultants for the work assignment described in (Annex A).

Your proposal and any supporting documents must be in English.

Please read thoroughly the following submission procedures. Your written proposal should include the following parts:

1) A Technical Proposal (maximum of 5 pages excluding the CV – P.11) should consist of:

a) A description of your proposed approach and methodology for undertaking the assignment;

b) Description of the main deliverables and milestones related to the assignment;

c) A work plan with a detailed time frame, including information on expected number of missions estimated and duration of each mission to Amman,

d) Comments on the Terms of Reference, if any (in brief).

e) An up-to-date curriculum vitae based on P11 form (Annex B);

2) A completed vendor’s form (Annex C)

3) A signed price schedule form. Fee should be based on as lump sum amount to be charged for the assignment. Estimated cost for travel, accommodation and subsistence costs). Cost should be quoted in United States Dollars or in Euros. Please fill and sign the price schedule form (Annex D)

Applicants must indicate clearly number of working days (home-based) and number of working days (field-based).

4) UNESCO's Contract template for individual consultants (Annex E)

5) A signed Declaration of Compatibility of the Professional Status (Annex F)

6) Confirmation that applicant consultant has registered himself/ herself in the UNESCO’s consultants’ roster (link: https://careers.unesco.org/careersection/roster/joblist.ftl ). Please indicate your registration number/ ID.

Note on Travel Costs:

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Senior/Executive-level Consultant to Conduct Evaluation of

EMIS Architecture and

*Streamline Operational and Coordination Structures1. Background**

Upon the request of the Jordanian Ministry of Education (MoE), UNESCO provided technical support towards the sustainable overhaul of the Ministry’s Education Management and Information System (EMIS), with the goal of enhancing data accessibility and use of statistical information for evidence-based policy formulation. With generous support from the European Union, UNESCO assisted the MoE by implementing a 46-month project, Technical Assistance to enhance accessibility and use of the Jordanian Ministry of Education – Education Management Information System (EMIS) for evidence-based policy formulation between 2014 and 2017.

This project had the following six components:

Component 1

Technical reviews, needs assessments and inventories of human, technical, institutional capacities or procedural issues

Component 2

Consolidation and expansion of the Jordan OpenEMIS indicators automation, reporting and data visualization features

Component 3

OpenEMIS enhancement, pilot-test, consolidation and deployment

Component 4

OpenEMIS expansion or connectivity to additional data sources

Component 5

Specialized policy-level technical advisory services

Component 6

MoE and EMIS SC oversight, monitoring and quality control of the project’s deliverables

In January 2018, a commissioned end-of-project external evaluation found that, while the project achieved its expected goals over the four years of implementation, there is a need for the MoE to strengthen its capacity to autonomously sustain the use of the OpenEMIS. In particular, the core MoE EMIS team requires further support in the full utilization of the system’s various reporting functionalities, in order for EMIS to be fully maximized in evidence-based policy-making.

Some key recommendations put forward by the evaluation were:

1. Continue building Queen Rania Center’s (QRC)[1] capacity to maintain and manage the core IT aspects of the OpenEMIS platform, but identify a more suitable MoE counterpart for strengthening the link between EMIS data and its utilization for evidence-based policy formulation.

2. Incorporate broader institutional support for building a culture of evidence-based policy making in MoE.

3. Conduct a comprehensive stakeholder consultation to ensure cross-MoE consensus on the primary features and functionalities of the OpenEMIS platform, and clarify institutional roles and responsibilities in relation to the EMIS.

4. Incorporate change management, communications and stakeholder management workstreams into the core project management component.

5. Ensure the project is coordinated and aligned with other donor support to MoE relating to planning, M&E, research and evidence-based policy making.

In this context, and in light of the recommendations proposed above, UNESCO Amman Office seeks a senior technical consultant to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the OpenEMIS architecture and provide expert suggestions on: (1) how to achieve an efficient and effective architecture that can be fully managed by MoE and local institutions, and; (2) how to streamline existing operational and coordination structures to better achieve efficient data collection and utilization.

The main objective of this assignment is to provide expert technical advice and support to the Ministry of Education of Jordan on systemically strengthening the existing OpenEMIS architecture and maximizing the EMIS data utilization for effective planning and policy-making through incorporating international best practices in EMIS implementation.

As a result of this consultancy, MoE will have a clear roadmap to address the existing challenges in OpenEMIS operationalization, and will be equipped to know how to mitigate those challenges to improve and reinforce the OpenEMIS holistically – not only in the technical aspects, but also in the institutional and coordination aspects. 2.Scope of Work

Specifically, the Consultant is expected to perform the following tasks:

1. To comprehensively evaluate the OpenEMIS architecture to identify and anticipate challenges and their implications for education policy and planning in Jordan. This task will be done through desk review, mapping, and in-country stakeholder consultations;

2. To conduct a diagnosis of OpenEMIS data collection, management, and analysis, and subsequently provide operational recommendations to streamline processes with a view to improve monitoring, evaluation, and reporting against Jordan’s Education Strategic Plan (ESP) 2018-2022 indicators;

3. To share international best practices and successful models of robust and sustainable EMIS operationalization;

4. To propose an EMIS Technical Working Group structure that is best suited to support the efficient operationalization of EMIS, and;

5. To provide initial support to streamline coordination between the Planning Directorate and Queen Rania Centre (QRC) of the MoE, with the goal of ensuring quality, sustainable EMIS for evidence-based policymaking and planning. 3.Deliverables

6. Inception report describing the Consultant’s work plan, methodology, and technical approach;

7. First technical report on the comprehensive evaluation of Jordan’s OpenEMIS architecture;

8. Second technical report on the diagnosis of the OpenEMIS data collection, management, and analysis, providing recommendations informed by international best practices and models to holistically (i.e. technical, institutional, and coordination aspects) strengthen OpenEMIS operationalization and improve monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of progress against the ESP 2018-2022;

9. Consultative sessions with UNESCO and MoE to identify key stakeholders within the Planning Directorate and QRC for the EMIS Technical Working Group, with the goal of streamlining coordination structures;

10. Preparation of agenda and chairing the first EMIS Technical Working Group meeting;

11. Final narrative report capturing the main findings and action points emerging from the evaluation, diagnosis, and stakeholder consultations, including recommendations for the way forward. 5.Qualifications/Requirements:

Required

1. Advanced degree (preferably PhD) in education, demography, statistics, economics or other social sciences

2. At least fifteen years of experience in supporting the technical implementation of EMIS projects

3. At least ten years of experience in data management, data analysis, monitoring and evaluation, social statistics

4. Demonstrated experience in business Analysis Techniques, with advanced level of breadth and depth of knowledge and experience in this technical competency area; including eliciting, analysing and communicating requirements.

5. At least ten years of experience in country-level projects and supporting Ministries of Education

6. Advanced spoken and written communication skills in English

7. Ability to travel to Amman and within Amman

Desired

1. Professional experience in the Middle East region, ideally in Jordan

2. Degree in Information Technology, Computer Science/ software engineering or software architecture, including business analysis technical skills

3. Proficiency in Arabic

4. Strong ability to form and lead teams to function effectively

5. Demonstrated experience in building consensus across diverse stakeholder groups

6. Ability to communicate difficult sensitive information tactfully is required.

7. Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills.

8. Ability to interact professionally with a diverse group, executives, managers, and subject matter experts is required

9. Prior experience working with the UN system

10. Familiarity with UNESCO’s mandate in Education**6.** Reporting

The Consultant will report directly to the Chief of Education, UNESCO Amman Office.**7.** Other Information [including information on timelines]

Duration:

One month (12 August – 11 September 2018)

Location:

The consultancy will be a full-time position based in UNESCO Amman Office.

Annex B

An up-to-date curriculum vitae based on P11 form

Annex C

Vendor Information Form

For all annexes please visit the link: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/amman/about-this-office/vacancies/

[1] Queen Rania Center (QRC) is the division of MoE that houses and maintains the OpenEMIS.

UNESCO Amman Office will cover all the travel cost including airline tickets (at economy class), and daily substance allowance covering costs of accommodation, meals and internal transportation according to UNESCO’s established rules and regulations.

Applicant must indicate the estimated cost of airway ticket from home country to Jordan, Amman (round ticket/ economy class).

UNESCO places great emphasis on ensuring that the objectives of the work assignment, as described in the Terms of Reference, are met. Accordingly, in evaluating the proposals for the assignment, attention will focus first and foremost on the technical elements. From those proposals deemed suitable in terms of the criteria in the Terms of Reference, UNESCO shall select the proposal that offers the Organisation best value for money.

NB. UNESCO will evaluate the proposed fee against its standard international consultant rates for similar assignments.

Your proposal should be submitted by e-mail no later than close of business on or before 2 August 2018 (18:00 Amman time) at the following email addresses ONLY:

y.matsuyoshi@unesco.org and copying amman.proc@unesco.org

Email proposals should not exceed 10MB.

To ease the email tracing and facilitate quick processing, kindly use the following script:

“Consultancy to Conduct Evaluation of EMIS Architecture and Streamline Operational and Coordination Structures (ref: JOR/CONS/18/07)” in the email subject.

It is the individual’s responsibility to ensure that his/her proposal is received by the deadline.

Potential experts contacted should not treat this letter in any way as an offer. However, their proposal may form the basis for an eventual contract with UNESCO.

Any expert receiving this letter is requested to acknowledge its receipt and to indicate whether or not s/he will be submitting a proposal. For this purpose, and for any requests for clarification, please contact: Ms. Yukiko Matsuyoshi at y.matsuyoshi@unesco.org.

Submissions will be acknowledged by email upon receipt but ONLY selected expert will receive further notification and correspondences.

Thank you for your eventual interest in this UNESCO assignment. We look forward to receiving your proposal.

On behalf of UNESCO Amman Office:

Jawad ShalanContracting Officer