National Consultant for Continuous Professional Learning (CPL)

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, is a United Nations agency that works in over 190 countries and territories to promote the rights and well-being of every child. The organization focuses on reaching the most disadvantaged children, ensuring their survival, development, and protection. UNICEF's mission is to advocate for children's rights and to help them fulfill their potential, emphasizing equity and inclusion in all its programs and operations. With a workforce of thousands of employees, UNICEF operates globally, implementing various initiatives aimed at improving education, health, and protection for children.

Job Overview:
The National Consultant for Continuous Professional Learning (CPL) will play a crucial role in supporting the Ministry of Education and Science (MoES) in Tajikistan to develop and institutionalize a framework for Continuous Professional Learning for teachers. This position is vital for enhancing the quality of education by ensuring that teachers receive ongoing professional development tailored to their needs. The consultant will work closely with various stakeholders to create a structured approach to teacher learning, addressing the challenges of fragmented systems and lack of coordination. The overarching goal is to establish a sustainable framework that promotes lifelong learning among educators, aligns with national educational standards, and empowers teachers to take charge of their professional growth. The consultant will be responsible for developing a comprehensive restructuring plan for agencies involved in teacher learning, creating a costing plan for CPL institutionalization, and developing a database to track teacher development activities.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will undertake several key tasks, including:

• Restructuring Plan for CPL Agencies: Review the current structure of agencies involved in teacher professional learning, identify gaps, and develop a comprehensive restructuring plan to enhance coordination and effectiveness.
• Costing of CPL Institutionalization: Analyze current spending on teacher professional development, develop a detailed cost estimate for CPL institutionalization, and propose financial models for sustaining CPL programs.
• Development of Teacher Learning Database: Design and implement a database system to track teachers' participation in professional development activities and ensure data accuracy for decision-making.
• Development and Revision of Regulatory Frameworks and Policies: Review existing policies governing CPL, collaborate with stakeholders to revise these policies, and draft new documents that integrate the restructured roles of agencies and the financial models for sustainability.
• Collaborate with various stakeholders, including education ministries, teacher unions, and training institutions, to ensure the successful implementation of the CPL framework.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a university degree in education, pedagogy, or a related field, with a focus on teacher preparation and professional development. They should have at least 8 years of relevant professional experience in education and system reform, particularly in Continuous Professional Education (CBE) and teacher professional development. Proven experience in restructuring educational agencies and institutions is essential. Candidates should also demonstrate strong knowledge of education policy reform, educational finance, budgeting, and costing, as well as experience with data systems and education technology.

Educational Background:
A university degree in fields related to education, pedagogy, system reform, or another relevant area is required. Candidates with advanced degrees or specialized training in teacher preparation, professional development, or educational technology will be preferred.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in the field of education, particularly in areas related to system reform and teacher professional development. Experience in restructuring educational agencies and institutions is crucial, along with a strong background in educational finance and policy analysis.

Languages:
Proficiency in Tajik and Russian is mandatory, while knowledge of English is considered an asset. Candidates should be able to communicate effectively in these languages to collaborate with diverse stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is expected to last for 225 working days between June 2025 and April 202

• The consultant will work under the supervision of the Education Specialist at UNICEF Tajikistan. Applications must include a CV, a technical proposal outlining the approach to achieve the tasks, a financial proposal in TJS, and at least two previous papers or concept notes developed by the candidate. The deadline for applications is 3 June 202
• UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion and encourages all qualified candidates to apply.