International Consultant-Capacity Development and Implementation of Teachers CPD framework

OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station:  Home based with expected missions to Iraq

Job Family: Education

Type of contract : Non Staff- Individual Consultancy

Duration of contract : 11 months

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 26.08.2024

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

1. Background 

Within the framework of the Improved Teaching and Learning and Enhanced Education Management (ITALEEM) project funded by EU, UNESCO Office in Iraq is supporting the Ministry of Education (MOE) to develop and implement a Teachers’ Continuous Professional Development (TCPD) framework and guidelines to enhance the professional skills and competencies of teachers. In recognition of the rapidly changing world, reskilling and upskilling are critical for teachers and school directors to remain relevant and effective. Thus, MOE in Iraq will ensure that teachers and school directors have the opportunity of continuous professional development (CPD) through several models and approaches – a balanced approach. This will enable them to upgrade their expertise (knowledge, skills, attitudes, behaviour) and qualifications and move along their preferred career path. 

To date, UNESCO has developed a TCPD framework in collaboration with the MOE in Iraq.  The framework defines the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders using an administrator-provider-recipient model. The draft TCPD framework comprises a set of interlocking functions so that it supports teachers in an effective manner and promotes high-quality professional performance. Furthermore, the participation of teachers in CPD is part of their professional profile and so these activities provide for monitoring (tracking) and recording teachers’ professional development in Education Management Information System (EMIS) and the CPD system should be promoted and supported at the school level by mentors or ‘critical friends’. To complement the TCPD framework, UNESCO developed detailed guidelines and procedures for implementing the CPD framework, including the identification, planning, delivery, and evaluation of CPD activities, with a defined and clear roadmap for career progression linked to CPD participation. The TCPD framework is also accompanied by a monitoring and evaluation guide (CPD Quality Assurance Standards for MoE) to assess the effectiveness and impact of CPD activities including tools and indicators for tracking CPD participation and outcomes as well as the sustainability plan to ensure the long-term implementation and continuous improvement of the TCPD framework.

In view of the above, UNESCO Iraq Office is seeking a technical expert with extensive experience in teacher education, in-service teacher training, teacher professional development as well as development of teacher policies to support the MOE General Directorate of Teacher Preparation, Training and Education Development to pilot and operationalize the recently developed TCPD framework.

Long Description

2. Duties and Responsibilities of Consultant

Under the overall authority of the Head of UNESCO Iraq Office, overall supervision of the Chief of Education Unit and day-to-day guidance of the Programme Manager of ITALEEM, the consultant will perform the following duties and responsibilities in close collaboration with the national experts and General Directorate of Teacher Preparation, Training and Education Development. The consultant is expected to carry out the following responsibilities:

2.1 Developing the tracking and monitoring system required to operationalise the TCPD framework along with a database listing all accredited CPDs, linked to the EMIS component on teachers.

2.1.1 Collaborate with the EMIS expert team to design the structure and content of the CPD dataset.

2.1.2 Ensure the integration of CPD tracking into the EMIS teacher component, including data on participation, facilitator profiles, and CPD content areas.

2.2 Developing training manuals in close collaboration with technical staff at MOE General Directorate of Teacher Preparation, Training and Education Development. 

2.2.1 Develop user guidelines and training materials for EMIS operators and supervisory staff.

2.3 Planning and conducting the pilot of the tracking and monitoring system for the TCPD at school level in five target governorates and in collaboration with TCPD directorate.

2.3.1 Support and provide necessary guidance on the rollout and testing of the system in five targeted governorates.

2.4  Elaborating the Teachers Mentoring System, complementing the ongoing Developer Head Teacher/ Critical Friend Mechanisms (on-site support at school level ).

2.4.1 Draft and refine the national mentoring system framework, including roles, responsibilities, and operational guidelines for Mentors/Critical Friends.

2.4.2 Facilitate national and governorate workshops to validate and finalize the mentoring system framework.

2.4.3 Develop an action plan for integrating mentoring into school governance structures, aligned with the Developing School Model and School-Based Management.

2.4.4 Provide technical support through the development of training manuals and guidelines for the training of mentors, headteachers, and supervisors at school level.

Long Description

3. Deliverables and Timeline:

• Deliverable 1: Draft and final CPD data set structure, linked with activity 2.1.1, should be delivered by 30th September 2025.
• Deliverable 2: Integration plan and technical documentation on tracking and monitoring systems for the TCPD, linked with activity 2.1.2, should be delivered by 15th October 2025.
• Deliverable 3: Training manuals and user guides for the TCPD tracking and monitoring system, linked with activity 2.2.1, should be delivered by 30th November 2025.
• Deliverable 4: Pilot implementation plan, and report and recommendations, linked with activity 2.3.1, should be delivered by 31st January 2026.
• Deliverable 5: A national Teachers Mentoring System framework, linked with activities 2.4.1 and 2.4.2, should be delivered by 31st March 2026.
• Deliverable 6: Implementation action plan to complement developer head teacher/critical friend mechanisms at school level, linked with activity 2.4.3, should be delivered by 30th April 2026.
• Deliverable 7: Mentors training manuals/guidelines, linked with activity 2.4.4, should be delivered by 30th May 2026.
• Deliverable 8: Final overall report highlighting key results/achievements, challenges and lessons learnt, linked with activities 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4, should be delivered by 30th June 2026.

4. Duration of the Assignment:

The assignment is expected to be completed within eleven (11) months from the date of commencement, feasibly on 1st September 2025 to 30th July 2026. 
The consultant will be required to undertake missions to Iraq as required for on-site training and support.

5. Required Qualifications:

Academic Qualifications
 Advanced degree in education or a related field. A PHD degree in education or a related field is an added advantage.

Professional Experience

•  More than 10 years’ relevant professional experience in teacher education and teachers’ professional development.
• A strong understanding of teachers’ continuous professional development models especially in the Arab states is an added advantage

Skills and Competencies

• Excellent analytical and data interpretation skills.
• Strong facilitation and training skills, with the ability to engage and build the capacity of diverse stakeholders.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with government officials and other stakeholders.
• Ability to develop comprehensive training materials and manuals.
• Familiarity with the educational context and challenges in Iraq or similar contexts like Iraq.
• Ability to travel as required for on-site training and support. 

Language

• Excellent knowledge of English (written and spoken)

• Knowledge of the Arabic language is desirable.

6. Application Process:

Interested candidates should click on “Apply Now”, then download and complete the Employment History form (Word file). At the end of the Word file, insert extra pages with the following required information in English:
* Upon completing the Word file with all the requested information above, upload the file at the “My Employment History Form / My Documents” section of the online application form. Only applications with the below requested information will be considered.

An up-to-date Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a statement indicating why your qualifications and experience make you suitable for the assignment.

• A technical proposal (5 pages maximum) outlining relevant experience and approach to the assignment, including a timeline.
• A financial proposal in USD: The consultant should provide the estimates based on the deliverables under section 3 above and should be quoted in US dollars. UNESCO covers Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) and travel expenses in line with the relevant UNESCO rules and regulations. Thus, there is no need to include the DSA and travel expenses in the professional fee estimate.
• Examples of previous work related to pre-service teacher education and in-service teachers’ capacity development.
• Contacts of at least three references.

7. Remuneration:

The remuneration for this consultancy will be proportionate to the qualifications and experience of the consultant and within the UNESCO consultancy rates/monthly fees.

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