Afghanistan: Senior Consultant (Curriculum Reform)

Background and context:

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 and SIDA, the MoE has been supported to draft a curriculum framework and life competency framework. Syllabi reform is in process, and work is ongoing to finalise subject syllabi.

This is a technical and support assignment.

The consultant will perform the following responsibilities and duties:

· Increase awareness amongst Ministry of Education staff and curriculum stakeholders of best practices in curriculum reform especially in curriculum framework development and curriculum syllabi development

· In close collaboration with the Ministry of Education, provide technical oversight to quality assure the MOE outputs (curriculum framework, life competency framework, syllabi scope and sequence, in line with the MOE priorities, as identified in NESP III

· Guide stakeholders (MoE staff, technical working groups on making choices leading to a final curriculum framework and life competency framework, and finalised subject syllabi

· Provide technical expertise in resource mobilisation to UNESCO by developing concept notes, proposals and plans for development partners and identified donors.

· Engage with partners and donors to support the MOE to further the curriculum reform process including technical support for instructional materials development, socialisation of core documents to provinces, universities and teacher training colleges and preparing headteachers and teachers to implement the new curriculum and subject syllabi.

· Provide technical advice/presentations to the Curriculum Working Group (comprised of key stakeholders to the process of curriculum reform) throughout the assignment.

· Consult closely with MoE and key stakeholders at each stage of the assignment.

· Manage the UNESCO curriculum reform process internally including preparation of high-level technical meetings workshops with stakeholders and development partners and coordination of international subject specialists.

· Undertake high-level technical meeting with Ministry of Education Deputy Ministers and senior officials with view to finalise approach and process for approval and adoption of Curriculum Framework for General Education, including Afghan Life. Support the Ministry of Education to finalise the Curriculum Framework for General Education, including Afghan Life Competencies Framework.

· Organise and facilitate logistical and administrative arrangements for the High Level Technical Meeting on Curriculum Reform. Co-facilitate and lead High Level Technical Meeting on Curriculum Reform to advance subject syllabi development

· Support the Ministry of Education to develop a plan for the socialisation of core curriculum documents. The plan will include a pilot roadshow in one to two provinces of Afghanistan. Organise and facilitate logistical and administrative arrangements for the High Level Technical Meeting on Learning Resource Development. Co-facilitate and lead High Level Technical Meeting on Learning Resource Development to advance subject syllabi development.

· Develop advocacy content and training materials for pilot roadshow. Co-facilitate and lead high level international delegation of senior Ministry of Education officials regarding international curriculum development best practice.

· Support the Ministry of Education to revise and update the roadshow training and information materials and implementation plan for 2020 based on pilot roadshow experience.

Deliverables:

· Revised draft of Curriculum Framework for General Education, including Afghan Life Competencies Framework, taking into account outcomes from consultations.

· Implementation plan developed for the High Level Technical Meeting on Curriculum Reform.

· High Level Technical Meeting facilitated and delivered; Meeting report.

· Plan for socialisation of core curriculum documents within Afghanistan, including a pilot roadshow in one to two provinces, developed.

· Implementation plan developed for the High Level Technical Meeting on Learning Resource Development.

· High Level Technical Meeting on Learning Resource Development facilitated and delivered; Meeting report.

· Advocacy content and training materials for pilot roadshow developed.

· International mission report including recommendations for how international best practice could be applied within the Afghanistan context.

· Revised and updated training and information materials. Finalised implementation plan for socialisation of core curriculum documents in 2020.

Competencies

A successful candidate will be required to demonstrate the following competencies:

Core Competencies

Accountability

Communication

Teamwork

Innovation

Results focus

Planning and organizing

Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement

For detailed information please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework

Required qualifications:

Education

· Advanced university degree (eg. MEd, MBA)

· Advanced cross-cultural communication skills

· High-level drafting and communication capacity in English

· Previous experience working in Afghanistan is a strong asset

Work experience

· At least 10 years of relevant work experience in education policy, planning and reporting

· At least 10 years’ experience in designing workshops and instructional materials including for Ministry of Education officials and education sector professionals

· Experience in working with senior and high level government officials, especially Ministry of Education

· Experience in developing and implementing communication strategies

· Excellent understanding of school-level curriculum systems, policies, planning and capacity development in Afghanistan and/or other similar contexts

· Excellent facilitation and representation skills at technical working groups and consultation meetings

· Excellent analytical and report writing skills.

Application procedure

Candidates are requested to send their application to the UNESCO Kabul email k.human-resource@unesco.org before midnight on 11 June 2019 (Afghanistan time).

All applications must be submitted by email, including the position title in the email subject line. Applications should include the following:

a) An up-to-date curriculum vitae;

b) A statement indicating how their qualifications and experience make them suitable for the assignment;

c) A financial proposal indicating the overall cost of the assignment. Any travel and subsistence requirements should be indicated separately.