United Nations Children S Fund s3

UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN’S FUND

REQUIRES

International Consultancy

For support to Reform of Preschool Education System in Montenegro

Minimum Requirements

·  PhD in Psychology, Medicine or in social sciences;

·  Ten or more years of relevant professional experience;

·  Excellence in international standards of child development;

·  Excellent analytical and writing skills;

·  Previous working experience with UNICEF will be considered as an advantage;

·  Fluency in English;

·  Computer literacy.

Terms of Reference for the position and P11 form can be found on the website www.unicef.org/montenegro or picked up at UNICEF Montenegro office.

If you are a dynamic person who would like to contribute to delivering of long-lasting, positive changes for Montenegro’s children, please apply with a CV, P11 form and cover letter by email, mail or fax quoting position International Consultancyon ECD to:

UNICEF, Vladike Danila 28, 81 000 Podgorica

Fax: +382 20 224 278

Email:

U N I C E F I S A S M O K E F R E E E N V I R O N M E N T

Closing date for applications is February 11, 2010.

Only short listed candidates will be contacted for interview.

Terms of Reference

External Consultant on Special Service Agreement

Early Childhood Development –support to Reform of Preschool Education System in Montenegro

Background

Global experiences have shown that an investment in children at early stage has extraordinary results and revenue. Quality preschool education ensures children’s socialisation, early learning, participation and inclusion and enables them to reach their fullest potentials as well as professional and personal development later in life It contributes to eliminate child poverty and break the inter-generational poverty chain. Early learning in inclusive environment enables both social inclusion and identification of the child strengths, to be fostered throughout the education.

When starting primary education, the children who attend some kind of kindergarten or nursery have an advantage over those who do not. Pre-school can be particularly helpful for children from families and communities that have traditionally been excluded from education and for those who only speak a minority language or whose home circumstances make it hard for them to benefit from early stimulation. Pre-school can also be an excellent opportunity to orient both children and parents and lay the ground for an inclusive inter-cultural school environment, to enable children and parents, to become acquainted with, and learn to understand and appreciate different cultures and to support the child development in close kindergarten- parents’ cooperation

The focus on pre-school learning has also been emphasized by several education stretegies developed at EU level. One of the most recent ones is the Lifelong Learning and in particular of its Comenius programme, which focuses on the first phase of education, from pre-school and primary to secondary schools. It is relevant for all members of the education community: pupils, teachers, local authorities, parents’ associations, non-government organizations, teacher training institutes, universities and all other educational staff

In Montenegro, only 29% of preschool children, or 12,346 divided in 75 institution units within the republic are attending state kindergarten activities. Total number of teachers - professionals who are working in those kindergartens is around 700, mainly coming from the Teaching Faculty (Preschool education department) in Niksic. The figure on graduates is much higher, but they prefer to work in other sectors for better salaries or in private kindergartens, that are registered as NGOs but not under the auspice of the Ministry of education and Science.

Although there is a high interest from parents for enrollment of children usually in September in preschool education, the percentage of children is low because of: limited space, inadequate conditions, social and economic circumstances of family, lack of system support, widespread poor understanding and knowledge on importance of early childhood development. Since preschool education is not obligatory in Montenegro and the prices for accommodation are high for majority of population, (ap. 40 Euro per child) parents usually look for other solution to solve the problem (grand parents, extended family or siblings etc).

According to the law parents who are beneficiaries of MOP (social cases, single mothers, parentless children) have priority when applying for enrollment of children to preschool education and for them the price is reduced for 50% but still is too much, while refugees, IDPs/Roma are not eligible for any allowances.

Current attendance of Roma children in pre-schools in Montenegro is 2% estimate. With an increase of 5% coverage per year for the total population it will take almost 15 years (considering the population increase) until 80% of Roma children are able to attend pre-school. This means that a new generation of children will have lost this crucial opportunity. Studies have noted that lack of access to pre-school is a major factor in the educational failure of Roma across the Western Balkans. The same situation is with children with special needs.

Increasing the participation of all children to preschool education but especially Roma and children with special needs, to prepare them effectively for primary education requires an urgent action and is a fundamental requirement for EU pre accession standards, in line with Copenhagen criteria.. An ambitious target, such as ensuring that 80% of Roma, the poorest children and children with special needs attend pre-school 3 to 5 years from now, should be the key element in an emergency short term strategy for inclusion.

Justification

Within this context, UNICEF has been requested to assist the Ministry of Education and Science in their objective to increase coverage at preschool education level in Montenegro, which is considered a fundamental step in the process of EU integration and a crucial requirement in meeting the Copenhagen criteria. Montenegro is committed to increase its investment to improve the quality of and access to ECD to all children in order to address important issues such as social inclusion and providing a stimulating learning environment for all Montenegrin children who will be citizens of Europe tomorrow.

Strategic Objective

·  To ensure equal chances for early childhood development and school readiness for all children, with particular focus on the most marginalised national minorities (such as Roma children), children from poor families, children living in remote rural areas and children living with disabilities

Specific Objectives

The overall objective of the consultancy will be achieved through three separate specific objectives

1.  Assessment of the ECD status:

a.  To analyze the quality, access and sustainability of currently available early childhood and preschool education and identify the most needed area of intervention;

2.  Strengthening of intersectoral cooperation in ECD:

a.  By increasing Government awareness on the importance of an integrated approach to early childhood and through:

b.  the establishment of an intersectoral working group;

3.  To provide technical support to the Ministry of Education in its efforts to develop a national ECD and preschool education strategy,

a.  Through the submission of national guideline identifying the needs for quality improvement of ECD and preschool education programme and analyzing the existing structural gaps and potential of national/community resource mobilization;

Methodology and technical approach

Three international consultants will be required for the delivery of the above mentioned specific objectives

Assessment of the ECD status

·  Conduct a comprehensive desk review on existing documentation and submit related report;

·  Conduct rapid assessment on the state of preschool education in Montenegro, covering both state kindergartens and NGOs play room activities. Assessment should systematically analyze weaknesses and strengths of both state and NGO programme, in terms of access, quality of services, inclusiveness, human resource capacity, physical facilities and financial resource mobilization.

Strengthening of intersectoral cooperation in ECD

The consultant/s will work for UNICEF an overall period of 3 months. Each consultant will develop detailed workplan, with deadlines and clear outcome to be achieved in cooperation with Programme Specialist. Consultant's progress will be evaluated in line with the agreed workplan.

Deliverables

Assessment of the ECD status

Desk review draft report submitted;

Strengthening of intersectoral cooperation in ECD

Working Group established with clear ToR and WP developed;

Training and awareness raising workshops successfully conducted;

To provide technical support to the Ministry of Education in its efforts to develop a national ECD and preschool education strategy

Guidelines for national strategy on ECD and preschool education developed - shared with national Working Group and submitted to the Ministry of Education;

Draft strategy on early childhood and preschool education presented

Timeframe

Desk Review and drafting of report / 10 days / end of February 2010
Selection of members, establishment and training of intersectoral working group / 1 month / End February- end
March, 2010
Development of guidelines with WG on national strategy and presentation to counterparts / 20 days / Mid April, 2010
Preparation and facilitation of roundtable discussion / 2 weeks / End April, 2010
Finalisation and presentation of draft document to the Government counterparts / 3 days / May, 2010, 2010

Management and Organization

The consultants will be supervised by Branka Kovacevic, Programme Specialist in close cooperation with the Representative. UNICEF CO will be responsible for organizing the meeting with national working group and participatory workshop.

P11 FORM

INSTRUCTIONS
Please answer each question
clearly and completely. Type
or print in ink. Read carefully
and follow all directions. / / Do not Write in this Space
1. Family name / First name / Other names / Maiden name
2. Date of birth / 3. Place of birth / 4. Nationality at birth / 5. Present nationality / 6. Sex
7. Height / 8. Weight / 9. Marital status
Single [ ] / Married [ ] / Separated [ ] / Widow(er) [ ] / Divorced [ ]
10. Entry into United Nations service might entail assignment and travel to any area of the world in which the United Nations might have responsibilities. Have you any disabilities which might limit your prospective field of work or you ability to engage in air travel?
YES [ ] NO [ ] If "yes", please describe.
11. Permanent address / 12. Present address / 13. Permanent telephone no
14. Present telephone no
15. Have you any dependants?
YES [ ] NO [ ] If the answer is "yes", give the following information:
NAME / Age / Relationship / NAME / Age / Relationship
16. Have you taken up legal permanent residence in any country other than that of your nationality ? YES [ ] NO [ ]
If answer is "yes", which country ?
17. Have you taken any legal steps towards changing your nationality ? YES [ ] NO [ ]
If answer is "yes", explain fully :
18. Are any of your relatives employed by a public international organization ? YES [ ] NO [ ]
If answer is "yes", give the following information ?
NAME / Relationship / Name of international organization
19. What is your preferred field of work ?
20. Would you accept employment for less
than six months ? YES [ ] NO [ ] / 21. Have you previously submitted an application for employment with U.N. ? If so, when ?
22. KNOWLEDGE OF LANGUAGES. What is your mother tongue ?
READ / WRITE / SPEAK / UNDERSTAND
OTHER LANGUAGES / Easily / Not easily / Easily / Not easily / Fluently / Not
fluently / Easily / Not easily
23. For clerical grades only
Indicate speed in words per minute / List any office machines or equipment you can use
Other languages
English / French
Typing
Shorthand

P.11

24. EDUCATION. Give full details - N.B. Please give exact name of institution and titles of degrees in original language.
Please do not translate or equate to other degrees.
A. University or equivalent
Years attended
Name , place and country / from / to / Degrees and academic distinctions / Main course of study
B. Schools or other formal training or education from age 14 (e.g. high school, technical school or apprenticeship)
Years attended
Name, place and country / Type / from / to / Certificates or diplomas obtained
25. List professional societies and activities in civic, public or international affairs
26. List any significant publications you have written (Do not attach)
27. EMPLOYMENT RECORD: Starting with your present post, list in reverse order every employment you have had. Use
a separate block for each post. Include also service in the armed forces and note any period during which you were not
gainfully employed. If you need more space, attach additional pages of the same size.
From / To / Salaries per annum / Exact title of your post :
Month/Year / Month/Year / Starting / Final
Name of employer : / Type of business:
Address of employer: / Name of supervisor :
Number and kind of employees
supervised by you : / Reason for leaving:
DESCRIPTION OF YOUR DUTIES
From / To / Salaries per annum / Exact title of your post :
Month/Year / Month/Year / Starting / Final
Name of employer : / Type of business:
Address of employer : / Name of supervisor :
Number and kind of employees
supervised by you : / Reason for leaving:
DESCRIPTION OF YOUR DUTIES
From / To / Salaries per annum / Exact title of your post :
Month/Year / Month/Year / Starting / Final
Name of employer : / Type of business :
Address of Employer : / Name of supervisor :
Number and kind of employees
supervised by you :
/ Reason for leaving:
DESCRIPTION OF YOUR DUTIES
From / To / Salaries per annum / Exact title of your post :
Month/Year / Month/Year / Starting / Final
Name of employer : / Type of business :
Address of employer : / Name of supervisor :
Number and kind of employees
supervised by you : / Reason for leaving:
DESCRIPTION OF YOUR DUTIES
From / To / Salaries per annum / Exact title of your post :
Month/Year / Month/Year / Starting / Final
Name of employer : / Type of business :
Address of employer : / Name of supervisor :
Number and kind of employees
supervised by you : / Reason for leaving:
DESCRIPTION OF YOUR DUTIES
From / To / Salaries per annum / Exact title of your post :
Month/Year / Month/Year / Starting / Final
Name of employer : / Type of business:
Address of employer : / Name of supervisor :
Number and kind of employees
supervised by you : / Reason for leaving:
DESCRIPTION OF YOUR DUTIES
From / To / Salaries per annum / Exact title of your post :
Month/Year / Month/Year / Starting / Final
Name of employer : / Type of business :
Address of Employer : / Name of supervisor :
Number and kind of employees
supervised by you :
/ Reason for leaving:
DESCRIPTION OF YOUR DUTIES
From / To / Salaries per annum / Exact title of your post :
Month/Year / Month/Year / Starting / Final
Name of employer : / Type of business :
Address of employer : / Name of supervisor :
Number and kind of employees
supervised by you : / Reason for leaving:
DESCRIPTION OF YOUR DUTIES
28. Have you any objections to our making inquiries of you present employer ? YES [ ] NO [ ]
29. Are you now, or have you ever been, a permanent civil servant in your government's employ ? YES [ ] NO [ ]
If answer is "yes", when ?
30. REFERENCES : List three persons, not related to you, who are familiar with your character and qualifications.
Do not repeat names of supervisor listed under item 27
FULL NAME / FULL ADDRESS / BUSINESS OR OCCUPATION
1.
2.
3.
31. State any relevant facts. Include information regarding any residence outside the country of your nationality.
32. Have you ever been arrested, indicted, or summoned into court as a defendant in a criminal proceeding, or convicted fined or imprisoned for the violation of any law (excluding minor traffic violations) ?
YES [ ] NO [ ]
If "yes", give full particulars of each case in an attached statement.
33. I certify that the statements made by me in answer to the foregoing questions are true, complete and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief. I understand that any misrepresentation or material omission made on a Personal History form or other document requested by the United Nations renders a staff member of the United Nations liable to termination or
dismissal.
DATE: SIGNATURE :
N.B. You will be requested to supply documentary evidence which supports the statements you have made above. Do not,
however, send any documentary evidence until you have been asked to do by the Organization and, in any event, do not submit the original texts of references or testimonials unless they have been obtained for the sole use of the Organization.