Individual Consultant contract for Individual Consultant/Contract for Services if it is with an Institution/Firm

Call for Consultancy

International Consultant/Institution/Firm

Development of key criteria for teacher promotion policy formulation

Terms of Reference

Date Issued: 7 May 2020

Type of contract: Individual Consultant contract for Individual Consultant/Contract for Services if it is with an Institution/Firm

Duration of the contract: 1 June to 31 August 2020

Application deadline: 18 May 2020

I. Background:

UNESCO, in partnership with the Ministry of Education (MoE), is implementing the Strengthening Pre-Service Teacher Education in Myanmar (STEM) project. Under STEM, UNESCO is supporting the implementation of National Education Strategic Plan (NESP) (2016-2021). Under strategy 1 on strengthening teacher quality assurance and management, Component 1 is about the establishment of a teacher education council; Component 2 is about establishing teacher quality assurance system; and Component 3 is about the design and implementation of an equitable teacher recruitment, promotion and deployment system.

In 2017, MoE and teacher stakeholders agreed to develop a comprehensive teacher policy in Myanmar at a policy seminar and in 2018, an options paper on Reforming the Teacher Promotion Structure in Myanmar was produced as an output of the second seminar. The National Education Policy Commission (NEPC) reviewed the options paper in early 2019 and recommended the implementation of the teacher promotion system reform as soon as possible to align with the new competency-based Education College (EC) degree programme.

To support the establishment of the Teacher Education Council, which will advise and support the formulation and implementation of policies, the MoE also established a Teacher Task Force (TTF) and appointed 27 members in 2019. At the third meeting of TTF in early 2020, the members decided to work on the recommendations from the options paper and NEPC recommendations to support the teacher promotion policy development in line with the basic education and teacher education reforms in Myanmar. UNESCO works with the TTF to advise and support its members in these efforts.

II. Objectives:

The objective of this assignment is to develop a set of key criteria for the following areas. 1) Level and Positions, 2) Appraisal for Promotion and Pay, and 3) Positions and Responsibilities to support the formulation of a teacher promotion policy, which will guide the specialization track arrangements under the new competency-based Education College curriculum in line with international best practices, in ASEAN and Myanmar Context.

III. Work Assignment:

Under the overall supervision of UNESCO Myanmar Head of Office, the Senior Education Project Officer and working closely with STEM Project Team in Myanmar, an Individual Consultant or Institution/Firm is sought to complete the following:

The main work assignments will include but not limited to 1) proposing a set of draft criteria for the TTF to review and revise; 2) supporting the TTF in the process of revising the key criteria; and 3) finalizing the key criteria based on the inputs of the TTF.

1. Develop a work plan and data collection methodology and modalities for the development of key criteria to support the formulation of a promotion policy for basic education teachers to implement the new competency-based Education College (EC) degree programme;

2. Conduct a desk review of key documents including but not limited to 1) Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan; 2) Civil Service Personnel Law, Civil Service Personnel Rules, Civil Service Personnel Code of Conduct from the Union Civil Service Board, Civil Service Promotion Policy; 3) Ministry of Education’s standard operating procedures, as well as rules and regulations related to human Resources (HR) management; 4) Ministry of Education’s strategic plans, laws, rules and regulations, directives related to promotion and teacher promotion; 5) Myanmar Teacher Competency Standards Framework; 6) National Assessment Policy for Basic Education; 7) teacher education and basic education reforms related to teacher career and promotion; and 8) other relevant policy documents related to teacher and teacher promotion; as well as international best practices in teacher promotion policies and practices.

3. Conduct scoping interviews using virtual communication modes to consult key stakeholders and to collect data and information about current practices on teachers’ promotion and promotion for civil servants in general in Myanmar;

4. Produce a draft report of 10 to 15 pages (excluding annexes) on the findings from the desk review, stakeholders interview and research on international best practices with recommendations for areas of improvement in teacher promotion policy to support implementation of the updated competency-based EC degree programme in line with options paper’s recommendations and NEPC’s recommendations;

5. Conduct consultation with UNESCO, MoE, ECs and relevant stakeholders to finalize the report and support the TTF to review and revise the draft key criteria for levels and positions, appraisal for promotion and pay, positions and responsibilities to support implementation of the updated competency-based EC degree programme and submit the final versions to UNESCO;

6. Provide relevant documents, proposing guiding questions to collect specific feedback from TTF and guidelines to TTF to review the draft key criteria for teacher promotion policy in line with the options paper’s recommendations and NEPC’s recommendations;

7. Prepare handouts and presentation slides to present the draft report and draft key criteria for teacher promotion policy to get inputs and revision of the criteria;

8. Develop a survey questionnaire for teachers using purposeful sampling to get teachers’ opinions on the key criteria for level and positions, appraisal for promotion and pay, positions and responsibilities and to integrate the survey results in the finalization of the criteria;

9. Undertake missions for presentations, consultation meetings in Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon, which may be subject to the situations of COVID-19 in Myanmar; and

10. Communicate with UNESCO on a regular basis to update on the progress of the assignment.

IV. Deliverables and Timeline:

The International Consultant/ Institution/Firm is required to submit the following in editable Word documents in English by the following deadlines.

1. A work plan and data collection methodology and modalities for the development of key criteria to support the formulation of a promotion policy for basic education teachers to implement the new competency-based EC degree programme by 3 June 2020;

2. Conduct the scoping interviews using virtual communication modalities with key stakeholders on current practices of teachers’ promotion and promotion for civil servants in general and to collect data tentatively from 15 to 19 June 2020;

3. Final report on the findings of the desk review, stakeholders interviews, research on international best practices and recommendations by 28 June 2020;

4. Handouts and presentation slides of the report and guidelines for review and revision of key criteria, reference documents and proposing guiding questions to collect specific feedback from the TTF to consider during the review and revision of key criteria by 1 July 2020;

5. First draft of key criteria for teacher promotion policy formulation by 19 July 2020;

6. A survey questionnaire on teachers’ opinion on the first draft criteria by 22 July 2020;

7. Second draft of key criteria for teacher promotion policy formulation, which integrates the survey result from the stakeholders by 31 July 2020;

8. Handouts and presentation slides of second draft key criteria by 3 August 2020;

9. Final draft of key criteria for teacher promotion policy formulation by 17 August 2020;

10. Submit all supporting documents for travel (mission 1 & 2) such as original boarding passes and original visa fee receipts of official travel undertaken for reimbursement by 17 August 2020.

Note: Due to the fast-evolving COVID-19 situation, a degree of flexibility is needed to allow for amendment of the contract deliverables and requisite payment. It should be noted if a particular activity and/or output cannot be delivered, a substitute activity and/or output may be negotiated and agreed by both parties. If this is not possible, the level of payment may need to be adjusted accordingly. In addition, the proposed missions to Myanmar, tentatively set for 9 - 10 July 2020 and 4 - 7 August, are subject to change, in case travels are not possible owing to COVID-19.

V. Timing and Duration of Contract

Four months’ part-time work over the period starting from 18 May to 31 August 2020. (Actual start date is subject to administrative procedures.)**

VI. Location and travel:

Work remotely with two missions to Yangon and one mission to Nay Pyi Taw (subject to change, in case travels are not possible owing to COVID-19):

Mission (1) present findings and recommendations and support TTF to review and revise the first draft key criteria for level and positions, appraisal for promotion and pay, positions and responsibilities with TTF tentatively from 9 to 10 July 2020 in Yangon; and

Mission (2) present the second draft key criteria for teacher promotion policy formulation with TTF in Yangon from 4 to 5 August 2020 and consult with all key stakeholders for finalization of key criteria and recommendations for formulation tentatively on 6-7 August 2020 in Nay Pyi Taw.

VII. 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.

VIII. Qualifications and experience:

For an international consultant: **

It is mandatory to have:

· Advanced University Degree in Human Resources Management, Education, Public Policy, or a related filed;

· A minimum of ten years of experience in Human Resources Management; and

· Strong analytical skills and excellent written and oral communication skills in English and IT skills on office productivity tools.

It is desirable to have:

· Experience in qualitative techniques in desk research and field work;

· Experience in developing and/or reviewing teacher policy;

· Experience in developing and/or reviewing key criteria for teacher policy or teacher promotion policy;

· Experience in developing and/or reviewing promotion system or teacher promotion system

· Experience in working in the education sector, preferably in higher education or teacher education;

· Experience in developing and/or reviewing policies for inclusive education and institutional approaches to equity; and

· Good knowledge of the Myanmar country context or context similar to Myanmar as is an asset

For an Institution/Firm:

It is mandatory to have:

· A minimum of five years of experience in successfully implementing international projects in educational policy development in developing countries; and

· A minimum of two international projects successfully implemented in the development and/or implementation of Human Resources Management or Teacher Policy projects.

It is desirable to have:

· A minimum of two international projects successfully implemented in the field, which demonstrates experience with development and/or implementation of teacher policies; and

· A minimum of two references from UNESCO and/or the UN System including the World Bank Group.

Any personnel hired by the Institution/Firm needs to have the following qualification/experience:

It is mandatory to have:

· Advanced University Degree in Human Resources Management, Education, Public Policy, or a related field;

· A minimum of ten years of experience in Human Resources Management; and

· Strong analytical skills and excellent written and oral communication skills in English and IT skills on office productivity tools.

It is desirable to have:

· Experience in qualitative techniques in desk research and field work;

· Experience in developing and/or reviewing teacher policy;

· Experience in developing and/or reviewing key criteria for teacher policy or teacher promotion policy;

· Experience in developing and/or reviewing promotion system or teacher promotion system

· Experience in working in the education sector, preferably in higher education or teacher education;

· Experience in developing and/or reviewing policies for inclusive education and institutional approaches to equity; and

· Good knowledge of the Myanmar country context or context similar to Myanmar as an asset

How to apply:

I. How to apply:

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

1. A cover letter (in English), indicating how your qualifications and experience make you suitable for the assignment, the methodologies and approaches to be adopted to carry out the assignment and the expected consultancy fee;

2. An up-to-date CV, with contact details including 1) mobile telephone numbers; 2) email address; and 3) Skype account;

3. Names and contact details of at least three referees; and

4. A writing sample in English related to this assignment.

Interested institutions/firms are invited to apply to the UNESCO Myanmar with:

1. A Technical Proposal, specifically including number of team members and their qualifications and experience, a timeframe for completing the tasks and quality assurance mechanism;

2. A sample work on development and /or implementation of key criteria for teacher promotion policy or human resource management regarding promotion; and

3. A Financial Proposal with breakdown costs.

Applications must be submitted to yangon@unesco.org by 18 May 2020 (23:59 Yangon time). Please include “STEM Project: Development of key criteria for teacher promotion policy formulation” in the subject line. Late submissions will not be considered.

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 Organization best value for money.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.