Request for Bidding Proposals

Application Date: 29 March 2011
BID Reference # HR/2011/05
Lead Facilitator for CFS International Workshop

Background and Context

In the course of UNICEF’s work with countries over the past decade, Child-Friendly School (CFS) models have emerged as a “package solution” and a holistic instrument for pulling together a comprehensive range of quality interventions in education. As such CFS models are now the major means through which UNICEF advocates for and promotes quality in education.

Based on promising success with the CFS model in over sixty countries, UNICEF now seeks to mainstream Child Friendly Schools or similar models throughout the education systems in all 154 countries in which it operates. CFS models offer a comprehensive approach that is highly effective and efficient for improving quality of education. UNICEF advocates for this approach in preference to the current tendencies of investing sequentially in single factors like teacher training or textbooks provision as determinants of quality.

Successful uptake and implementation of such models by countries requires understanding and skills that need to be cultivated. UNICEF Education Section in New York has therefore prepared a capacity cultivation programme on CFS models, which will support countries in designing and implementing these models as may be most appropriate for their circumstances. It will also enable countries to incorporate CFS standards into their plans and priorities for education, so that the cost of achieving quality basic education for all through this approach can be realistically estimated with adequate attention to national standards. Through this capacity development programme UNICEF hopes to address the current problem of fragmented information on CFS by identifying key principles, outlining common practices, as well as highlighting effective approaches, compiling lessons learned and documenting successful practices.

The five major components of the Global CFS Capacity Development programme are: CFS Reference Manual for Decision Makers, Planners and Practitioners (published in English, French, Spanish and Russian, soon to become available in Arabic and Portuguese); a distance learning / self-learning E-learning package based on the CFS Manual (to become available in 2010); a collection of CFS case studies from selected countries; resource packs on climate change and environmental education; life skills based education; water, sanitation and hygiene; financial literacy; and the strategic Roll-Out of these tools into countries and regions through capacity development workshops.

The target audience includes UNICEF programme officers, national educators, teachers, policy makers, civil society organizations and academic institutions.

This consultancy is sought to support the design, organization and facilitation of the Roll-out Workshop for UNICEF staff and partners to take place in 2011.

Justification

In light of the above background, a lead facilitator is required to conduct the sessions during the period 11 – 14 April 2011. Additionally the facilitator is required to prepare various presentations, guides the other facilitators and produces a summary report of the conference.

Purpose and Objective

A four-day face to face workshop will be organized after UNICEF staff and partners have received the CFS Reference Manual and have familiarized themselves with its content. It will offer a practical and comprehensive framework for understanding the concept of CFS and practical guidance on how to programme and advocate for the approach as well as offer tools for mainstreaming of the approach in the national education policies and reform processes.

The initial workshops will include UNICEF Country Office representatives as well as their government and NGO partners. The UNICEF CO staff is expected to take the learning tools to their respective offices and prepare follow up workshops for the larger number of country staff and partners.

The workshop will provide a unique opportunity to learn from the experiences of a wide range of resources persons as well as the staff and practitioners from other countries in the region.

Methodology and Technical Approach

The work will follow and implement an alternative and social media strategy, which inherently is evolving by nature, due to the rapid rate of change of the medium. The consultant will map out the social media landscape in Mozambique through desk and online research and interact with providers, such as mCel or Vodacom as needed, in order to take advantage of mass dissemination capabilities that already exist. Furthermore, the consultant will use existing design technologies, such as Facebook and Twitter, to enhance the online presence of UNICEF Mozambique.

Activities and Tasks

Under the guidance of UNICEF HQ Education Section and in consultation with the Mozambique Country Office, the consultant will:

• Participate in planning team meetings to design and organize the 4 day meeting.
• Based on the CFS Workshop Facilitators Guidelines coordinate preparations for the workshop and co-lead the team of all resources persons involved.
• Make presentations of the identified sessions at the workshop.
• Prepare sets of these materials relevant to particular sessions.
• Prepare other resource persons for their presentations.
• Prepare summary report from the Workshop – to be submitted two weeks after the workshop.
• Based on the workshop experience, modify the Facilitators Guidelines accordingly.

Deliverables and Timeframe

Deliverables: Quality services to be delivered as described in point # 5 within the period requested.

Timeframe: The agreement will be for 10 working days from 8 – 22 April 2011.

Management, Organization and Schedule

Management/Organisation – The contractor will be responsible for facilitating agreed upon sessions and guide and facilitate the other co-facilitators. The lead facilitator will be supervised by the UNICEF HQ Education team and will report directly to the Chief of Education Mozambique.

Budget and Remuneration

The lead facilitator will be paid a lump sum on successful completion of services outlined in point # 5.

Qualifications and Specialized Knowledge

• Qualifications in social development and/or education area.
• Experience in design and facilitation of training workshops.
• Knowledge and skills for planning and facilitating effective meetings.
• Good skills for synthesizing information.
• Strong knowledge and familiarity with the UNICEF global Education Strategy and in particular, the Child Friendly Concept.
• Excellent writing skills to document recommendations of the participants with the other details of the workshop report.
• Facilitate and document the meeting sessions.
• Working knowledge of English and Portuguese.

Conditions of Work

The consultant will work on the preparations for the workshop and the final report from home.
The consultant will travel to Maputo, Mozambique, April 2011 for the Lusophone countries workshop.

How to apply

Applications must contain the following documentation:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Letter of Motivation
• Financial Proposal

Interested candidates are invited to send their applications to: mmorelli@unicef.org by 29 March 2011.
Please indicate in the subject: BID Reference # # HR/2011/05 Lead Facilitator for CFS International Workshop.