International Consultancy: Technical Support to the Lao PDR GPE Partnership Compact Mid-Term Review (remote with travel for 4 months)

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For every child, the right to education.

How can you make a difference?

The Global Partnership Education (GPE) Partnership Compact provides a shared framework for the Government of Lao PDR and education development partners to accelerate education system transformation, with improved foundational learning at the centre of the reform agenda. The Compact focuses on improving learning outcomes for all children, particularly those most disadvantaged, while strengthening progression through the education system from early childhood to lower secondary education. Its four mutually reinforcing outcomes address access to quality early childhood education and school readiness; foundational learning and the quality of teaching and learning in primary education; transition to, participation in and retention in lower secondary education; and teacher proficiency, deployment and workforce management.

These priorities are supported by attention to the wider barriers and system conditions affecting learning and participation, including gender and other inequalities, the use of data and evidence for planning and monitoring, education financing and resource allocation, and institutional capacity and coordination. The Compact therefore serves as a common reform framework for aligning Government action, GPE-supported programmes and wider development partner investments around the priority reform and its intended results.

The Compact was informed by the ESSDP 2021-2025 Mid-Term Review, the 2023 Joint Sector Review Mission and other sector diagnostics. It is now being implemented within an evolving sector, policy and financing context shaped by the 10th Education, Science and Sports Sector Development Plan (ESSSDP) 2026-2030. The 10th ESSSDP provides the overarching national framework for sector priorities, targets, strategies, financing and implementation during the remaining Compact period. The MTR therefore provides an opportunity to review Compact implementation in relation to the broader sector plan, assess how Government programmes, GPE-supported grants and development partner investments are contributing to the priority reform, and identify practical adjustments needed to strengthen delivery.

Supporting GPE Compact MTR is part of the ongoing GPE System Capacity Grant (SCG) programme, with UNICEF as the Grant Agent (GA). In close coordination with MoES, co-Coordinating Agency (Australia) and the Education Sector and Sports Working Group (ESSWG), UNICEF, as the Grant Agent for SCG, seeks an international consultant to provide time-bound technical, analytical, facilitation and drafting support to MoES, the ESSWG and its relevant technical structures, UNICEF and education sector partners during the MTR process. The consultant will support a government-led review that triangulates the Partnership Compact, the 10th ESSSDP and available implementation, results and financing evidence, while making maximum use of existing sector monitoring and dialogue mechanisms. The consultant will also support completion of the country information, dialogue and documentation required under current GPE MTR arrangements.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  International Consultancy for Technical Support to the Lao PDR GPE Partnership Compact Mid-term review.pdf

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

Minimum requirements: |(Qualifications/Experience/ Knowledge/Expertise/Skills)

• Education: Advanced university degree (Master's or higher) in education, education policy/planning, economics, public policy, international development, social sciences or another relevant field.
• Work Experience: At least 8 years of progressively responsible professional experience in education sector planning, policy analysis, programme review/evaluation, sector monitoring or education systems strengthening. Demonstrated experience supporting complex, multi-stakeholder reviews involving government, development partners and civil society
• Language Requirements: Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
• Knowledge/Expertise/Skills: Demonstrated experience with GPE, including Partnership Compacts, Compact MTRs, results frameworks, enabling factors, GPE grants, Joint Sector Reviews or comparable sector review processes. Strong analytical experience in foundational learning, equity and inclusion, teacher policy/management, education financing, sector coordination and/or education data. Demonstrated ability to synthesize quantitative and qualitative evidence and translate findings into concise, strategic and actionable recommendations. Excellent facilitation, report-writing and presentation skills
• Desirables: Experience with GPE Partnership Compacts and current MTR guidance and processes is highly desirable. Previous experience in Lao PDR or the East Asia and Pacific region is an added advantage
• [Include desirables such as complementary education, additional experience, additional language, specific skills, etc]

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
• Cover letter
• A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template)  Financial proposal for GPE Compact MTR.docx
• A detailed technical proposal: Brief technical proposal describing the proposed approach, methodology and workplan for the assignment