United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Vacancy Nº EDU/12/014

Consultancy: Senior International Technical Adviser for

Strategic Educational Planning and Capacity Development (11 months)

Closing Date: 30 August 2012

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1. Objective and Outcomes
The main objective of this assignment is to provide high level technical advice and support to the Department of Planning on policy development, education planning, results-based monitoring and evaluation in relation to the current Education Strategic Plan (ESP) 2009 – 2013 and the future ESP as well as the Strategic Master Plan for Capacity Development 2011 – 2015, taking account of key Government reforms as well as aid effectiveness.
As a result of the consultancy, individual, team and institutional capacity for strategic analysis, planning, monitoring and review will be strengthened within the Department of Planning. Programme formulation under ESP will be facilitated, aid effectiveness enhanced and a systematic approach to planning for capacity development will be established across the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS).
2. Background
The current education reform dates back to 2001 with the development of the ESP 2001 – 2005 in support of the sector-wide approach. The Department of Planning has been playing a key coordination role for formulating and monitoring and evaluating the ESP, including its implementation through the Annual Operational Plan (AOP). It also has the lead responsibility for coordinating, finalising and overseeing the development, implementation and monitoring of the Strategic Master Plan for Capacity Development 2011-2015. The implementation of the Strategic Master Plan will be integrated into the AOP from late 2012 onwards.
The Department of Planning has benefited from technical and financial support from various development partners, in particular Sida/UNICEF, the Capacity Development Partnership Fund (CDPF), the Global Partnership for Education, ADB, UNESCO and JICA. Nevertheless, the Department of Planning’s responsibilities have expanded, diversified and become more complex year by year, creating a continued need to develop capacity. In addition, the education sector needs to respond to a range of wider Government reforms, including Public Financial Management Reform, Decentralisation and Deconcentration reform, and enhanced aid effectiveness. As the main coordinator of the education sector, the Department of Planning requires ongoing support to strengthen its capacity to undertake these tasks successfully, through day-to-day technical support to the teams as well as high level policy advice and mentoring to key individuals.
3. Scope of Work
The consultancy will provide high-level support the Department of Planning in relation to the consolidation of the Mid-Term Review of the ESP, policy development for the next ESP as well as operational planning processes at national and sub-national levels. It will include strategic planning of capacity development through the Strategic Master Plan for Capacity Development 2011-2015 and the AOPs. The consultancy will also promote aid effectiveness through strengthened Government leadership and prioritisation and clear messages on harmonisation for development partners. These are comprehensive Terms of Reference and it is expected that the contract would be extended several times subject performance.
4. Reporting
The overall consultancy will be supervised by His Excellency the Secretary of State who is responsible for Planning. On a day to day basis, the consultant will work with and report to, the Director of the Department of Planning. The consultant will also report formally to the Education Specialist, UNICEF.
5. Responsibilities
In order to achieve the expected outcomes of the consultancy, under the leadership of the Director of the Department, the Senior Technical Adviser’s responsibilities are divided into the five categories below. Since this is an eleven month consultancy, it not expected that all of these tasks will be carried out during the course of the contract. Prioritisation of tasks will be decided by HE the Secretary of State and the Department of Planning in consultation with UNICEF.
i.  Strategic planning and policy development
§  Support the Department of Planning in consolidating the ESP Mid-Term Review process in collaboration with the Education Sector Working Group
§  Support the process for the development of ESPs at sub-national levels
§  Advise HE the Secretary of State and the Department of Planning on priority policies within the next ESP based on an analysis of sector performance, trends in education indicators and the future outlook
§  Strengthen the capacity for education planning within the context of the next ESP, including the formulation of programmes, targets, indicators as well as Core Breakthrough Indicators in line with overall strategic objectives and based on an analysis of statistical trends in the sector
§  Support the Department of Planning to review and expand the structure of the current Programme-Based Budgeting (PB) in order to link with the ESP
§  Support the Department of Planning to develop the Budget Strategic Plan ensuring alignment with the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the AOPs
§  Support the Department of Planning to engage in the preparation of decentralisation and deconcentration reform (led by the Department of Legislation)
ii. Annual planning
§  Strengthen the process for the development of AOPs at national and sub-national levels
§  Support the development of an effective monitoring system for the AOP
iii.  Capacity development planning
§  Support the finalisation of the Strategic Master Plan for Capacity Development (2011 – 2015) with a focus on the budget, the monitoring framework and the clustering of activities
§  Support the roll out of the Strategic Master Plan for Capacity Development amongst Technical Departments, Provincial Offices of Education and District Offices of Education as well as amongst development partners to improve harmonisation and alignment
§  Support the process for identifying priority capacity development activities from the Master Plan by Technical Departments and other relevant institutions within the AOPs at national and provincial levels
iv.  Sector review
§  Support the Department of Planning and MoEYS more broadly to prepare for the Education Congress at national and provincial levels ensuring strategic analysis of EMIS data and making appropriate recommendations
§  Support the Department of Planning to analyse education statistics identifying positive trends as well as trends showing areas requiring additional support
§  Support the organisation of a study visit by the Department of Planning to another country to learn from a joint education sector review and about planning and budgeting
v. Aid effectiveness
§  Support HE the Secretary of State and the Department of Planning to respond to policy issues raised in the Joint Technical Working Group meetings
§  Support the preparation and be the facilitator for the Joint Technical Working Group Annual Retreat
§  Support the preparation and be the facilitator for the development partner Annual retreat, if applicable
§  Support the Department of Planning to monitor and report on the indicators of the Partnership Principles for the education sector
§  Support the Office of Programme Management and Monitoring to analyse data in the Public Investment Programme, reviewing progress
vi.  Other tasks
§  Coordinate and oversee the work of the other international and national technical advisers recruited under CDPF playing a quality assurance role
§  Support the Department of Planning to implement and report on progress in achieving the indicators in relation to the joint results framework for the EU Education Sector Policy Support Programme
§  Support the Department of Planning to implement its PB activities and those supported by CDPF in a timely way
§  Be responsive to emerging priorities within the Ministry and the CDPF and support the Department of Planning in these
§  Provide ongoing advice to the Department of Planning team and more in-depth mentoring to key identified individuals
6. Deliverables Linked to Payment of Fees
§  Inception report
§  Final Strategic Master Plan on Capacity Development (2011 – 2015)
§  Progress report for months 1 and 2 / 15 percent
§  Report with key findings and recommendations from ESP Mid Term Review
§  Report with a suggested monitoring system for the AOP
§  Progress report for months 3 and 4 / 15 percent
§  Agenda for the Joint Technical Working Group Annual Retreat
§  Draft AOP 2013
§  Progress report for months 5 and 6 / 20 percent
§  Roadmap for developing the next ESP with recommendations regarding policy priorities and Core Breakthrough Indicators
§  Progress report for months 7 and 8 / 20 percent
§  Draft of the new ESP
§  Progress report for months 9 and 10
§  Analytical Education Congress Report (on the academic year 2011/2012)
§  Final report / 30 percent
The dates for the deliverables will be discussed and agreed upon during the inception period and finalised in the Inception Report.
7. Duration
The assignment is expected to run for eleven months from September 2012 to August 2013 but may be extended based on performance in order to provide continuous, high level, strategic support to the Department of Planning.
8. Approach to Work
The Technical Adviser is contracted under the CDPF and will be required to work in such a way as to maximise the impact and sustainability of the input by taking an approach that actively supports capacity development and ownership on the part of the lead department. In particular, the technical adviser is required to:
§  Work in close communication with the designated MoEYS manager, following the reporting lines
§  Take a mentoring approach that supports identified counterparts to progressively take the lead on key tasks
§  Work in close communication with the Technical Advisers for EMIS and Finance, as well as others appointed under the CDPF, in order to ensure coherence
9. Administrative Arrangements and Official Travel
The Senior Technical Adviser will be based in the Department of Planning, MoEYS, Phnom Penh. The consultant will use his / her own laptop. It is expected that the Adviser will undertake travel to the provinces at least twice during the consultancy in order to understand the sub-national level processes for planning, monitoring and reporting.
10. Qualifications or Specialised Knowledge/Experience Required
§  Advanced University degree (Master’s degree or equivalent, or PhD) in education, policy development, management, or similar field
§  Fifteen years professional experience related to education, with at least 5 years supporting education planning, capacity development, monitoring and evaluation, preferably including support to government ministries in the context of a sector wide approach
§  Proficient in analysing education statistics and making policy recommendations
§  Sound knowledge of the economics of education
§  Recent and relevant experience of national, sub-national, and school-level education sector issues in Cambodia or the region
§  Extensive experience of sectoral planning and reporting arrangements, including working in professional teams and use of results frameworks, logical frameworks and work planning arrangements
§  Excellent interpersonal, mentoring, facilitation and communication skills
§  Fluency in English language is required. Knowledge of Khmer is an asset
§  Computer literacy and presentation skills
11. Nature of ‘Penalty Clause’ to be Stipulated in Contract
Standard UNICEF penalty clause applies.
Unsatisfactory performance: In case of unsatisfactory performance the contract will be terminated by notification letter sent 5 days prior to the termination date. In the meantime, UNICEF will initiate another selection in order to identify appropriate candidate.
Performance indicators: Consultants’ performance will be evaluated against the following criteria: timeliness, quality, quality of facilitation, and relevance/feasibility of recommendations for Cambodia.
12. Remuneration Level

Given the high level at which the Senior Technical Adviser will be operating, in relation to strategic policy development and the Adviser’s potential impact on the sector as a whole in strengthening approaches to planning, results-based monitoring and capacity development, the fee for the consultancy has been established at the P5 level within the United Nations Salary Scale for the Professional and higher Categories. The fee range is between USD 100,000 and USD 120,000, depending on experience and qualifications.

Payment of the fee instalments will be made following the submission of deliverables to a satisfactory level, certified by the Education Specialist.

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