UN Children's Fund Consultancy for technical support Jobs in Uganda

UN Children's Fund Consultancy for technical support Jobs in Uganda

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, a fair chance

Uganda is one of the over 190 countries and territories around the world where we work to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease, and discrimination place in a child’s path.

Together with the Government of Uganda and partners we work towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, the objectives of the Uganda National Development Plan, and the planned outcomes of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework.

Visit this link for more information on Uganda Country Office https://www.unicef.org/uganda/

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of Education Specialist, Quality Education, UNICEF and the Commissioner, TIET department of the MoES, the Consultant will to provide technical support to the Ministry of Education and Sports and Teacher Instructor Education and Training to implement the Teacher Incentive framework and ensure quality assurance and sustainable mechanism are considered in the process of implementation.

Provision of incentives and opportunities for recognition to teachers will enhance professionalism, competence, motivated, and ethical teachers which will contribute towards improvement of the quality of teaching and learning in institutions.

Background

Teachers are believed to be the most critical group of Professionals necessary for building a nation ‘s future. Lack of motivation among teachers affects performance of learners who are the future generation of the country.

There is a strong link between teachers' motivation, performance, and education quality. Generally, motivated teachers are more likely to practice, adapt and innovate better learning methods to ensure that every learner achieves their full potential.

Indeed, the Government White Paper on Education (1992) states that “No Education system can be better than its Teachers”.

Teacher motivation is a critical issue in the Ugandan education system since it impacts significantly on teacher effectiveness and learner outcomes.

Providing effective teaching requires clear building blocks within the educational sector at various levels of teaching.

Most required building blocks however include coordinated policies, systems and structures that ensure attracting the right individuals into the teaching profession; providing good training programmes, ensuring an adequate supply of well trained teachers; providing the teachers with required tools and conducive environment to teach, ensuring there are systems and structures for inspection and support supervision that lead to high-quality performance by teachers.

Government has put in place a career path for teachers and the teachers scheme of service is in existence though it’s not being implemented. Some level of hardship allowances are given to teachers in hard to reach and hard to stay districts and Teacher recognition and prestige are evident but on a small scale.

However, there are no guidelines to be followed for objectivity in the selection process of the best teachers. Additionally, there are National Teachers Unions which are supportive of Teachers in both government and private primary school level.

The Ministry of Education and Sports with support from UNICEF developed a Teacher Incentive Framework (2017) for Uganda. The framework highlights issues that need to be addressed in the long term and short term including Pay level, Pay and career structures, Qualification for upgrading, Caretaker school managers, PTA fees, Payroll management, Professional value system, Personality tests for teaching profession, Capacity building for PTCs /NTCs, Representation in decision making, Management of public offices, Teachers union utilization, Teacher recognition and prestige, Teacher exhibition and benchmarking, Work-load management, Teacher deployment, Flexible teaching schedule, Licensing and professionalization, Feedback to teachers, Teacher identification system, Length of probation and Retired teachers welfare among others.

This framework was launched by the First Lady and Hon. Minister for Education in 2018 during the National Teachers Conference, leading up to the International Day of the Teacher.

It’s hoped that its implementation will improve the level of teacher effectiveness, professional growth and wellbeing.

The Department of Teacher Instructor Education and Training - MoES has requested UNICEF for support to facilitate a consultant (for eight (8) months period who will provide the necessary technical support to the sector to kick start implementation of some of the recommendations of the framework mainly focusing on National and 34 target districts.

It’s against this background that UNICEF has offered to recruit an National individual consultant to support the MoES in achieving this goal.

Key Tasks:

Finalize the Inception report and the implementation guidelines and work plan for teacher incentive framework in the focus sector.

Support the sector to strengthen the coordination mechanism of the inter-ministerial and accountability committee for the Payroll Management including organizing seminars for the key line ministries and other relevant stakeholders.

Develop an abridged version for the Teacher Incentive Framework.

Support the sector to develop guidelines for provision of incentives and rewards.

Support Ministry to document good practices on provision of incentives and rewards conducted by the Teacher Training colleges, Districts, Schools, Parents and the Communities.

Coordinate with other partners to identify exceptional and improved teachers (including Tutors and lecturers) to be presented at National Level for recognition.

Support MoES to prepare reports on progress in implementation of the framework to different stakeholders.

Design an intervention linking Communication for Development (C4D) interventions with the Education System and Community engagement.

To qualify asan advocate for every child you will have…

It is a national individual consultancy.
The consultant is required to have master’s degree in Education or related field.

The consultant is expected to have wide local experience of not less than 5 years in educational work and Teacher management with understanding of the Country’s Pay roll management issues.

The consultant should demonstrate thorough understanding of the context of teacher management, development, pay roll management and motivation in Uganda or in similar context.

The person should be able to demonstrate understanding of the local and international educational systems at the various levels.

Demonstrated experience in networking with key stakeholders in education.

He/she will be required to possess expertise in education, management, institutional development and ICT basic skills for effective communication with a strong track record of undertaking similar assignments in education.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The competencies required for this post are….

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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

How to Apply:
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization.

To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=520370