Junior National Consultant

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Position Title: Junior National Consultant
Location: Sri Lanka
Country: Sri Lanka
Deadline Date: Not specified

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established over 50 years ago, operates in 190 countries and territories, focusing on the rights and welfare of children. The organization aims to protect the rights of every child in Sri Lanka, ensuring they survive, thrive, and fulfill their potential. UNICEF's mission is to create a better world for children, providing them with shelter, nutrition, protection, and education. The organization has a vast network of partners and has made significant strides in raising health, education, and protection standards for children in Sri Lanka, including achieving Universal Child Immunization and establishing the National Child Protection Authority.

Job Overview:
The Junior National Consultant will play a crucial role in supporting the evaluation of UNICEF's contributions to teacher development and improved learning outcomes in Sri Lanka. This position involves collaborating with international evaluation consultants to conduct in-depth data collection and analysis, ensuring that the methodology aligns with the global evaluation framework. The consultant will be responsible for preparing, coordinating, and executing the evaluation mission, which is scheduled to take place between October 2024 and May 202

• The consultant's local knowledge and experience are vital for the success of the evaluation, as they will assist in engaging with key stakeholders and facilitating focus group discussions with teachers.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Preparation of Mission: Support the preparation of the evaluation mission by reviewing documentation in the local language, scheduling key informant interviews (KIIs), and organizing logistics. (3 days)
• Stakeholder Engagement: Assist during interviews with key stakeholders, including Ministry of Education officials, local government officials, and implementing partners. (3 days)
• Focus Group Discussions (FGDs): Facilitate FGDs with teachers, providing interpretation if necessary, and documenting notes and reflections for the team leader. (1 day)
• Debriefing and Reporting: Participate in debriefing sessions with international evaluation consultants, providing notes and comments on the briefing report. (1 day)
• Additional Activities: Support the organization of orientation sessions with the Ministry of Education and UNICEF evaluation team, and assist in scheduling and logistics for KIIs and FGDs. (10 days)
• Ethical Considerations: Ensure adherence to ethical standards throughout the evaluation process, including maintaining impartiality and independence, and securing ethical clearance for primary data collection involving beneficiaries or adolescents.

Required Qualifications:

• Education: A university degree, preferably a master’s in education, social sciences, economics, development studies, evaluation, or related fields, with demonstrated research experience.
• Experience: At least 3 years of experience in education, political science, sociology, or related fields, with previous experience in teacher development. Familiarity with UNICEF programming and management systems is an asset. Proven experience in evaluation and program reviews is an added advantage. Strong experience in writing reports and documentation to convey programming efforts is essential. Knowledge of ethical safeguards in evidence generation is also required.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a university degree, ideally a master’s degree in relevant fields such as education, social sciences, economics, development studies, or evaluation. Demonstrated research experience is crucial for this role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in fields such as education, political science, sociology, or related areas. Previous experience in teacher development is essential, along with familiarity with UNICEF's programming and management systems. Experience in evaluation and program reviews is highly desirable, as is strong report writing and documentation skills.

Languages:
High proficiency in Sinhala, Tamil, and English is mandatory. Knowledge of other local languages is considered an asset. Strong communication and writing skills are essential for effective stakeholder engagement and reporting.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is home-based in Sri Lanka and is expected to last from February to April, totaling 18 days of work. Candidates are required to submit their availability and fee/rate in LKR for the consultancy. UNICEF emphasizes diversity and inclusion, encouraging applications from all backgrounds, including persons with disabilities. The organization offers flexible working arrangements and has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with its aims and objectives. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and must confirm their fully-vaccinated status against COVID-19, unless working remotely.