National consultant to provide technical assistance for finalizing the Zanzibar Education Policy and Education Act. at UNICEF | April 2024

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, knowledge.

Education plays a significant role in shaping society. After the Zanzibar revolution in 1964, education was declared to be free for all citizens, irrespective of their race, location, and ethnic inclination. The government of Zanzibar has done several interventions to improve access to quality education. Despite achieving commendable successes such as high adult literacy rate, improved gross enrolment rates especially in preprimary and primary, improved school infrastructure including classrooms, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, still there are challenges remain that need to be addressed. Issues such inadequate promotion of essential literacy and numeracy skills to address foundational learning, teacher incompetency, and a curriculum misaligned with learners’ needs for meaningful contributions to society and the economy are among such challenges.

Addressing these challenges through improved access to quality education for children is crucial for realizing the Zanzibar Development Vision (ZDV 2050), which aims to elevate Zanzibar to lower-middle-income status. Human capital development is a key dimension of this vision. In 2022, the Government of Zanzibar established a Task Force to conduct a nationwide consultation with key stakeholders, seeking recommendations for transforming the education sector in alignment with the Zanzibar Development Vision 2050. The final report has been submitted, and the government has approved eight main reform areas to be implemented by the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training. The current Zanzibar Education Policy (2006) and Education Act (1982) are outdated and do not address emerging needs. One major education reform recommendation is revising both to align with the Zanzibar Development Vision, focusing on human capital development for inclusive economic growth. The Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (MoEVT) has revised the 2006 policy, incorporating Reform recommendations through grassroots stakeholder consultations. The final draft is ready, but further consultation with key stakeholders such as Directors of Planning and Policy, Regional and District Commissioners, Principal Secretaries, House of Representatives members, non-state actors and private sectors, higher learning institutions, and development partners is needed. This aims to ensure alignment with national, regional, and international strategies, along with recently approved Zanzibar Education Reforms. Following policy finalization, the 1982 Education Act is also being revised to match the updated policy.

How can you make a difference? 

The objective of the assignment is to revise the updated Zanzibar Education Policy and Education Act to ensure alignment with Education Reform, facilitating stakeholder consultations, and translation of both the Education Policy and Education Act into English/Kiswahili. Specifically, the assignment has to ensure the following:

• Policy and Reform Alignment: Ensure the proposed education policy addresses the Zanzibar Education Reforms recommendations and alignment with Zanzibar Development Vision 2050 and issues related to climate change. This alignment is crucial for a unified and coherent educational framework.

• Education Act Review: Revise the proposed Education Act and develop regulations to align it with the revised Education Policy for effective implementation.

Consultative Meetings: Facilitate a consultative meeting with key stakeholders including Directors of Planning, Policy and Research, School Committee Members, Regional and District Commissioners, Principal Secretaries, House of Representatives members, non-state actors and private sectors, higher learning institutions, and development partners. These meetings aim to present the revised Education Policy and gather valuable insights and opinions from diverse perspectives.

• Translation Support: Translating both the revised Education Policy into English and the adjusted Education Act into Kiswahili. This step is essential for widespread dissemination and understanding within the local community. The consultant must ensure that the proposed Education Policy incorporates the recommendations of the Zanzibar Education Reforms and aligns effectively with the Zanzibar Development Vision 2050. Additionally, the consultant is tasked in ensuring the alignment of the proposed Education Act and developing regulations to harmonize it with the revised Education Policy.

The assignment is structured to be completed within eight weeks in two months with the following outputs:

i. Facilitate a consultative meeting with the aforementioned stakeholders to present the revised Education Policy and gather input.

ii. Ensure the proposed Education Policy incorporates the recommendations of the Zanzibar Education Reforms and aligns effectively with the Zanzibar Development Vision 2050. iii. Ensure alignment of the proposed Education Act and develop regulations to harmonize it with the revised Education Policy.

iv. The revised Education Policy and the adjusted Education Act is translated into English and Kiswahili for widespread dissemination and understanding.

v. Presentation of the Proposed policy to Inter Ministerial Technical Committee comprised of Principal Secretaries.

vi. Finalized education Policy for submission to government for approval (April 2024).

vii. Finalized Education Act and its Regulations to be tabled to Zanzibar House of Representatives

Work assignment, Deliverables, Delivery date and estimated budget.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE. 
UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/output is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines.

ASSESSMENT / SELECTION PROCESS AND METHODS. 
Evaluations: The applicant should submit financial proposals which clearly stipulate how the work will be conducted. The Financial Proposal should include all costs of this assignment including fee, travel costs, accommodation as UNICEF will not pay any DSA. 

Proposals will be both technically and financially evaluated. The technical part will carry a weight of 75%. The financial part will take 25% showing the proposed budget breakdown of consultancy cost for each deliverable (fees, travel and accommodation) and eventual total consultancy cost. 

LOCATION, DURATION & LOGISTIC 
The consultant will be working remotely and will be required to travel 2 trips to Pemba plus local travels in Unguja which is estimated to be ten during the assignment period.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

• A minimum of bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Education, Public Policy, Education Planning, Education Leadership and Administration, or any related field related to the assignment with at least 15 years of experience.
• At least 15 years’ experience in Education, Public Policy, Educational Leadership and Administration or Education Planning and Management.
• Demonstrate proven track record in education policy formulation in Zanzibar.
• Experience working with the Ministry of Education Zanzibar in policy formulation, sector plans preparations and implementation and education reforms.
• Well conversant of the local context preferably Zanzibari.
• Fluently both written and spoken English and Swahili languages.
• Experience working with UN Agencies is an added advantage.
• Proven experience on similar assignment (evaluated based on enclosed technical experts’ CV).

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).   

To view our competency framework, please visit  here.   

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.  

Remarks:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts. 

This consultancy has been re-advertised to extend the pool of applications. Those who applied to the previous job # 570662, no need to apply again as their applications will be reviewed.