National Institutional Capacity Assessment Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, is a United Nations agency that works in over 190 countries and territories to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child and offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development. UNICEF has a strong focus on building careers and fostering a culture of belonging and growth, supported by an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Job Overview:
The consultant will work under the supervision of the Education Specialist to conduct a comprehensive institutional capacity assessment of PETC Bara. This role involves developing actionable recommendations and a capacity development plan aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of PETC Bara in fulfilling its mandate. The consultant will assess the institutional capacity across various domains, including organizational, technical, administrative, and operational aspects. The position requires a thorough examination of PETC's ability to plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate professional development and capacity-building programs, as well as an assessment of the adequacy of organizational structures, staffing, systems, resources, and partnerships. The consultant will also evaluate readiness to support emerging priorities such as inclusive education, foundational learning, multilingual education, digital learning, and education in emergencies, ultimately developing practical recommendations and an institutional capacity development roadmap.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct a comprehensive assessment of the institutional capacity of PETC Bara across organizational, technical, administrative, and operational domains.
• Identify institutional strengths, challenges, capacity gaps, and risks.
• Assess PETC's ability to plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate professional development and capacity-building programs.
• Examine the adequacy of organizational structures, staffing, systems, resources, and partnerships.
• Evaluate readiness to support emerging priorities such as inclusive education, foundational learning, multilingual education, digital learning, and education in emergencies.
• Develop practical recommendations and an institutional capacity development roadmap.
• Conduct stakeholder consultations, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and organizational diagnostics.
• Prepare and present reports detailing findings and recommendations.

Required Qualifications:

• Advanced university degree (Master's level or higher) in Education, Public Administration, Organizational Development, Management, Human Resource Management, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Public Policy, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in institutional assessment, organizational development, capacity assessment, or public sector reform.
• Demonstrated experience conducting institutional capacity assessments for government institutions, preferably in the education sector.
• Proven experience designing and facilitating organizational strengthening and capacity development processes.
• Strong understanding of Nepal's federal education system, including the roles and responsibilities of federal, provincial, and local governments.
• Experience working with education sector institutions such as ministries, teacher training centers, curriculum bodies, assessment agencies, universities, or local governments.
• Experience developing institutional strengthening strategies, operational improvement plans, or capacity development roadmaps.
• Strong report writing, analytical, and presentation skills.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master's level or higher) in relevant fields such as Education, Public Administration, Organizational Development, Management, Human Resource Management, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Public Policy, or a related field. This educational background is essential for understanding the complexities of institutional capacity assessments and organizational development.

Experience:
The position requires at least 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in areas such as institutional assessment, organizational development, capacity assessment, or public sector reform. Candidates should have a proven track record of conducting institutional capacity assessments specifically for government institutions, ideally within the education sector. Experience in designing and facilitating organizational strengthening and capacity development processes is also crucial.

Languages:
Excellent spoken and written skills in both Nepali and English are mandatory for this position. Proficiency in these languages is essential for effective communication and reporting, as well as for conducting stakeholder consultations and interviews. Knowledge of additional languages may be considered an asset but is not explicitly required.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy position is remote with travel requirements. UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. The organization promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment and offers reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and adherence to UNICEF's standards and principles is expected. Candidates are invited to submit an up-to-date TMS profile, CV, cover letter, a separate financial proposal, and a detailed technical proposal outlining their approach, timelines, and expected objectives.