International Consultant - Sector-wide Planning, Funding and Reporting Systems Study for NESP 2021-30

Call for Consultancy

International Consultant - Sector-wide Planning, Funding and Reporting Systems Study for NESP 2021-30

Terms of Reference

Date Issued: 16 September 2020

Organizational unit: UNESCO Myanmar Project Office

Duty Station: Home Based

Title: International Consultant

Duration of the contract: 1 October 2020 to 26 November 2020 (8 weeks)

Application deadline: 23 September 2020

I. Introduction

One of the challenges in implementing and measuring the impacts of government-wide and DP funding for NESP 2016-21 has been the lack of aligned planning, funding and reporting systems across Ministries involved in the provision of education in Myanmar. In recent years, this has improved in some sub-sectors, such as university education, with the establishment of the Rectors’ Committee, which is tasked with coordinating all 174 Universities funded by 9 different Ministries. However, cross-Ministry coordination in other sub-sectors, such as early childhood education and TVET, remains weak and this has undermined planning, monitoring and reporting of programs, and ultimately, implementation. A significant amount of government and DP funding under partner Ministries is currently not being documented and measured against NESP outcomes and targets, and therefore, the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar is unable to get a comprehensive, sector-wide understanding of achievements and impacts and coordinate effectively to improve education provision across Ministries.

II. Objectives

• Identify the Ministries involved, and their specific roles, in the planning, funding and reporting in the education sector

• Assess the degree of understanding among educational administration and its stakeholders about each other’s roles and activities

• Examine the existing formal and non-formal, internal and external communication mechanisms, and whether dialogue and coordination structure exist, and their effectiveness

• If relevant, assess the evolution of relationships and coordination structures between Ministries

It is foreseen that this work would inform MOE engagement with partner Ministries to establish an official partnership mechanism for improved coordination.

III. Scope of Work

The study involves a methodological approach to assess the institutional environment of the education sector in Myanmar, based on an institutional analysis framework developed by the UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning (UNESCO-IIEP). It would focus in particular on the identification of challenges and constraints in regards to coordination in planning, funding and reporting in the education sector. Coordination within sectors and across institutions is necessary for effective service delivery. Policies and programs in the education sector often span multiple actors, including within the public sector. These various actors might have different understandings of their respective roles, and the exchange of information and coordination of activities may be weak.

The assessment to be performed would help identify strategies to improve the way in which the education sector in Myanmar reaches its goals through a more conducive and harmonized institutional environment.

The approach will include a combination of methods:

1) Document analysis (e.g. official documents, reports and reviews)

2) Surveys, and

3) Key informant interviews with officials who can provide insights on the opportunities and constraints of coordination in the education sector. Key informants will be identified alongside the Ministry of Education. They could include high-level and mid-level managers of the educational administration, high- level and mid-level managers of other Ministries or public institutions that provide education services or perform activities which are related to the education sector (e.g. health), members of existing coordination structures in the education sector, etc.

IV. Work Assignment

The Individual Consultant’s responsibilities include the following:

1. Develop an inception report, in consultation with UNESCO and UNESCO-IIEP, detailing the scope and methodology of the institutional analysis. The inception report will include the following components:

a. List of official and non-official documents and reports to be requested from the educational administration, other line ministries and stakeholders

b. List of officials from the Ministry of Education and other line ministries involved in the education sector, or perform activities related to the education sector, as well as members of existing coordination structures in the education sector, to conduct key informant interviews

c. Survey design and methodology, including analytical tools and sampling strategy

1. Develop the analysis framework for the study as well as analysis tools (e.g. questionnaires, interviews), informed by the institutional analysis framework developed by UNESCO-IIEP

2. Conduct a documentary analysis (e.g. official documents, reports, reviews) and desk review of other resources relating to planning, funding and reporting systems in the education sector

3. Conduct key informant interviews at the national level, with officials from the Ministry of Education and other line ministries, managers of public institutions that provide education services or perform activities related to the education sector, members of existing coordination structures

4. Conduct a comprehensive diagnosis of the education sector’s planning, funding and reporting systems and produce a final report consisting of the following components:

a. A description of the methods used in the document analysis and provide full reference of the documents reviewed

b. A description of the methodology used to collect data from the officials at the Ministry of Education, other line ministries and stakeholders involved in the education sector, and members of other coordination structures in the education sector

c. A detailed analysis of the education sector’s planning, funding and reporting systems, based on findings from the documentary analysis, surveys, and key informant interviews, indicating challenges that need to be overcome for effective service delivery

d. A set of recommendations, drawn from the findings of the institutional analysis to inform MOE engagement with partner Ministries to establish an official partnership mechanism for improved coordination

V. Deliverables and Timeframe

All deliverables shall be submitted to UNESCO Myanmar Project Office in English. Feedback from UNESCO and the Ministry of Education will be provided to the Consultant according to the timeline below. Overall supervision and technical guidance will be provided by staff of UNESCO Myanmar Project Office and UNESCO-IIEP, through regular online communications (via email, phone, other telecommunication tools). To the extent possible, the Consultant shall reflect comments and suggested modifications.

1. Inception report for Sector-wide Planning, Funding and Reporting System Study

2. First draft of report, with findings and recommendations based on evidence from the document analysis, surveys, and key informant interviews by 26 October 2020

3. Final draft of report, incorporating comments from the Ministry of Education and other key stakeholders by 26 November 2020

V. Qualifications:

• Possess 10 years of professional experience in education and research, including experience working with the UN and at the international level;

• Proven track record in leading institutional or organizational analysis of the education sector and producing high‐quality written analytical reports;

• Strong analytical skills and excellent English proficiency (written and oral);

• Advanced university degree in education, social sciences, public administration, or related fields;

• Strong understanding of educational public administration, and specifically education planning, funding and reporting systems;

• Experience working in Myanmar is desired

How to apply:

VI. How to apply:

Interested individuals are invited to submit an application to the UNESCO Myanmar Project Office with the following:

• An expression of interest to undertake the assignment in the ToR;

• An up-to-date CV stating details of educational qualifications, work experience, including prior experience of similar work;

• A list of past similar work or report/publication written;

• A financial proposal (including travel costs*, which must be shown separately)

*Due to the current travel restrictions brought about by COVID-19, the Consultant may not be able to travel to Myanmar to undertake the assignment as stipulated in the ToR. However, a financial proposal including travel costs should still be included as part of the application.

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.

Your application should reach yangon@unesco.org by email no later than 17:00 Hours (Yangon time) on 23 September 2020.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.