National Consultant for Material Development and Conducting Trainings on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Sexuality Education and Peer Health Education

Call for Consultancy

National Consultant for Material Development and Conducting Trainings on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Sexuality Education and Peer Health Education

(Position located in Yangon, Myanmar)

Terms of Reference

Date Issued: 16 March 2020

Functional Title: National Consultant for Material Development and Conducting Trainings on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Sexuality Education and Peer Health Education

Organizational unit: UNESCO Myanmar Project Office

Duty Station: Yangon, Myanmar

Duration of the contract: 26 March to 28 October 2020

Type of contract: Individual consultant contract with an Individual Consultant

Application deadline: 22 March 2020

I. Background:

Recognizing the importance of quality of teachers and their pivotal role in improving quality of education, UNESCO is providing technical assistance to the Ministry of Education through the Strengthening Pre-service Teacher Education in Myanmar (STEM) project. The realization of the Education 2030 agenda of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”, will require a teacher workforce who are skillful in facilitating the development of healthy, well-informed, active individuals.

At the Seminar on Strengthening Health Promoting Schools held in Nay Pyi Taw on 12 June 2019, State Counsellor called on Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health and Sports, international organisations, NGOs, civil society and ethnic organizations to cooperate in promoting school healthcare. During the seminar, the State Counsellor mentioned the importance of social skills and comprehensive sexuality education and she also advised that sex education should be taught to promote healthy lifestyle choices..

More recently, the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health and Sports launched a Peer Health Education Programme on 2 March 2020 at Diamond Jubilee. At the ceremony, Minister of Education presented that the Ministry is implementing State Counsellor’s seven priorities on free of drugs; no cigarettes, tobacco or betel quid; combating alcoholism and its negative consequences; lowering traffic accidents; reducing excessive electronic gaming among students; encouraging habits for healthy living and including reproductive health in school teaching. He also encouraged all stakeholders to work together to promote School Healthcare Programme and Peer Health Education Programme in Universities and Colleges.

Through the Strengthening Pre-Service Teacher Education in Myanmar (STEM) Project, UNESCO is supporting the Ministry of Education in developing a new curriculum for the four-year Education College (EC) programme. This work commenced in 2015-2016 with a review of the current curriculum used in Education Colleges (ECs) and the development of a Curriculum Framework for a competency-based curriculum for the programme. UNESCO raises awareness on HIV/AIDS prevention and sexuality education to contribute to achieving the sustainable development goals in Myanmar by ensuring healthy lives and promoting the well-being for all at all ages. To ensure that teachers are equipped with essential 21st century skills to promote well-being of our children, they should be ready to advocate for HIV/AIDS prevention and sexuality education. To address this crucial need, HIV/AIDS awareness and sexuality education are integrated into the 4-year EC curriculum, with a particular focus on Life Skills subject.

The Curriculum Core Team (CCT), appointed by the Ministry of Education (MoE) and consisting of teacher educators from the ECs, the Universities of Education (UoEs) and University for the Development of the National Races (UDNR), is the core group of teacher educators who have been trained to play an essential role in the EC curriculum development. The team is drafting the Year 2 of four-year EC curriculum with technical assistance from the STEM project. It is important for the CCT to have more awareness about specific themes in the curriculum while life skills teacher educators of Education Colleges should also be equipped with advance skills on teaching HIV/AIDS and Sexuality Education as they are the key resource persons for student teachers as well as trainers for basic education teachers. As a holistic approach, the role of student teachers themselves as a peer educator would be critical for sharing knowledge and good practice for a healthy lifestyle.

In the education sector, some universities have already started organizing awareness talks on HIV/AIDS prevention and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) knowledge for students. In 2014-2015, UNESCO supported a programme to build knowledge on SRH/HIV issues among university students, and their capacities to deliver related information on SRH/HIV among their peers. In 2018, UNESCO supported the Ministry of Education in developing a three-day training package for student teachers and facilitator guide for teaching HIV/AIDS and Sexuality Education to fulfill the needs of health awareness in pre-service teacher education. UNESCO conducted a 3-day pilot training with student teachers and life skills teachers at two Education Colleges. In 2019, UNESCO supported the Ministry of Education’s agenda on healthy lifestyles and reproductive health by providing HIV/AIDS and Sexuality Education Trainings to 240 Student Teachers and 48 Life Skills teachers at all 23 education colleges except Lashio EC due to the conflict-related insecurity. The Facilitator Guide for HIV/AIDS and Sexuality Education is now accessible on the E-Library of all 25 Education Colleges and online course for HIV/AIDS and Sexuality Education is under development.

II. Objectives:

This consultancy would involve three main tasks for three target groups. First is to develop a one-day training module to enhance the limited knowledge on HIV/AIDS prevention and sexuality education among Curriculum Core Team members and to train them. Secondly, train Life Skills Teacher Educators of Education Colleges using existing facilitator guide on HIV/AIDS and Sexuality Education developed by Ministry of Education (Teacher Education and Training) and UNESCO in 2019. Finally, to conduct peer health education pilot training with selected student teachers from education colleges who are also prepared to teach HIV/AIDS awareness to basic education students in the future. In addition to that, they will be trained to give peer education to the youth in their communities as well as to their peers in the Education Colleges. The specific aim of the consultancy includes:

· To introduce HIV/AIDS prevention and sexuality education to CCT members and to train them on how to integrate these themes into the new four-year EC curriculum;

· To enhance the HIV/AIDS and Sexuality Education knowledge and skills of Life Skills Teacher Educators from Education Colleges; and

· To conduct Peer Health Education pilot training to student teachers from education colleges for nationwide implementation in all education colleges.

III. Work Assignment:

The National Consultant will perform the tasks under the overall authority of the Director of UNESCO Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education, the direct supervision of Head of Project Office in Myanmar, the day-to-day guidance of the Senior Education Project Officer and in close collaboration with the STEM project team. The National Consultant is sought to complete the following:

1. Conduct a desk review on existing HIV/AIDS and Sexuality Education Facilitator Guide, standard messages for comprehensive sexuality education, life skills subject of four-year degree curriculum of Education Colleges and Basic Education Curriculum and other relevant documents from Ministry of Health;

2. Develop a training design for the one-day training for approval by UNESCO;

3. Develop one-day training module on HIV/AIDS prevention and sexuality education for CCT members so that they are trained on how to integrate these themes into the new four-year EC curriculum. From the module, CCT members are expected to gain a better understanding of HIV/AIDS prevention and sexuality education, and develop competencies to integrate these themes into the new EC curriculum;

4. Prepare handouts and presentation slides for the one-day training for CCT;

5. Deliver one-day training for CCT members in Yangon and produce a training report including an assessment of the CCT members’ capacity on the thematic areas of HIV/AIDS and Sexuality Education, feedback on training and recommendation;

6. Revise the one-day training package based on feedback received from the training;

7. Prepare handouts and presentation slides for two three-day trainings for life skills teachers;

8. Deliver two 3-day trainings on HIV/AIDS and Sexuality Education at two education colleges using the facilitator Guide on HIV/AIDS and Sexuality Education and produce a training report including an assessment of the Life Skills Teacher Educators capacity on thematic areas of HIV/AIDS and Sexuality Education, feedback on the training and recommendations;

9. Prepare handouts and presentation slides for a three-day pilot training on Peer Health Education for student teachers;

10. Deliver a three-day Peer Health Education Training for student teachers by using existing Peer Health Education Facilitator Guide and produce training report on capacity, feedback on training and recommendation for usage of the guidebook and future capacity development; and

11. Communicate with UNESCO on a regular basis to update on the progress of the assignments.

IV. Deliverables and Timeline:

The National Consultant is required to submit the following in editable Word documents or PowerPoint in English / Myanmar by the following deadlines.

1. Produce a training design in English Language by 30 March 2020;

2. Produce a draft one-day module on HIV/AIDS prevention and sexuality education for CCT members in Myanmar and English languages by 1^st April 2020;

3. Agenda, pre-test and post-test questionnaires, and teaching aid materials by 2^nd April 2020;

4. Conduct one-day training for CCT members in Yangon tentatively on 4^th April 2020;

5. Produce training report on HIV/AIDS prevention and sexuality education for CCT members including an assessment of their capacity to integrate the topic in relevant subject areas, feedback on the training and recommendation by 20 April 2020;

6. Final one-day module on HIV/AIDS prevention and sexuality education for CCT members in Myanmar and English Languages by 20 April 2020;

7. Agenda, pre-test and post-test questionnaires, and teaching aid materials for trainings with Life Skills Teacher Educators by 15 May 2020;

8. Conduct two three -day trainings for Life Skills Teacher Educations in at least two Education Colleges tentatively on 2-4 June and on 1-3 July 2020;

9. Produce training report on HIV/AIDS prevention and sexuality education for Life Skills Teacher Educators including an assessment of their capacity to deliver the topic, feedback and recommendation by 31 July 2020;

10. Submit all support documents from travel (mission 1 & 2) such as original boarding passes and original visa fees receipts of official travel undertaken for reimbursement by 31 July 2020;

11. Agenda, pre-test and post-test questionnaires, and teaching aid materials for peer health education training for student teachers by 11 September 2020;

12. Conduct a three-day peer health education training for student teachers tentatively on 5-7 October 2020;

13. Submit a training report on piloting of peer health training including recommendation on additional module to the target group if necessary by 20 October 2020; and

14. Submit all support documents from travel (mission 3) such as original boarding passes and original visa fees receipts of official travel undertaken for reimbursement by 20 October 2020.

V. Location and travel:

Home-based to work remotely with three missions to Pye, Kying Ton and Katha tentatively.

· A domestic mission to Pye tentatively on 2-4 June 2020 to conduct HIV/AIDS prevention and Sexuality Education training to Life Skills Teacher Educators.

· A domestic mission to Kying Tong tentatively on 1-3 July 2020 to conduct HIV/AIDS prevention and Sexuality Education training to Life Skills Teacher Educators.

· A domestic mission to Katha Education College tentatively on 5-7 October 2020 to conduct a pilot training on Peer Health Education.

VI. Fees:

· The lump sum is established on the basis of a daily rate or monthly rate based on UNESCO rules and regulations on Level of Assignment and Remuneration; and depending on qualifications; and

· Travel costs for missions undertaken within the context of the assignment will be reimbursed as per UNESCO rules and regulations.

VII. Qualifications and experience:

For an international consultant:

It is mandatory to have:

· Advanced University Degree in Public Health, Social Sciences or a related filed;

· Minimum of 10 years of working experience related to Youth Development Programme specialization in youth life skills, gender and sexuality, sex education, HIV/AIDS and reproductive health. Experience collaborating with a range of government officials, educational institutions, development partners, international organizations and academic institutions will be an advantage.

· At least five-year experience on module development related to Youth Health Life, HIV/AIDS and Sexuality Education;

· At least 5 years of experience in conducting trainings and facilitation with youth;

· Strong analytical skills and excellent written and oral communication and report writing skills in English and Myanmar; and

· Strong understanding on the context of Myanmar in sexuality education and School Health.

It is desirable to have:

· Good understanding and knowledge on the life skills curriculum of Basic Education and/or Teacher Education;

· Working experience with teacher education institutions and school health programme; and

· Experience in working with Ministry of Education, a range of government officials, educational institutions, development partners, International Organizations and academic institutions in Myanmar.

How to apply:

Interested individuals are invited to apply to the UNESCO Project Office in Myanmar with:

1. A cover letter (in English), clearly referencing “STEM Consultancy: Material Development and Conducting Trainings on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Sexuality Education and Peer Health Education”, indicating how your qualifications/institution and experience make you suitable for the position;

1. An up-to-date CV, with a minimum of two verifiable professional references;

2. A Sample work on training package in the area of HIV/AIDS for youth healthy life or Reproductive Health in English/Myanmar; and

3. Expected consultancy fee.

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/applications for the assignment, attention will focus first and foremost on the technical elements. From those proposals deemed suitable in terms of the criteria set out in the Terms of Reference, UNESCO shall select the proposal that offers the Organization best value for money.

Your application should reach yangon@unesco.org no later than 17:00 Hours (Yangon time) on Sunday 22 March 2020. Please note that the size of the email should not exceed 8MB. For large files, please use file-sharing options like Dropbox or Google Drive.

*Only short- listed candidates will be contacted.