International Consultant for GPE Enabling Factor Analysis and Partnership Compact in Bangladesh

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. 

Background:

Bangladesh joined the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) in 2015 and since then the country has been a recipient of various GPE grants for implementing different initiatives in the education sector. In 2022, Bangladesh was pre-selected to be part of the Cohort 5 of the countries to commence the rolling out of the GPE 2025 funding model, which include: i) System Capacity Grant (SCG): up to US$ 4.7 million, ii) System Transformation Grant (STG): US$ 97.69 million; and iii) GPE Multiplier Grant: US$ 50 million.

GPE’s 2025 operating model is based on three stages that support countries in moving from assessment and diagnosis to prioritization and alignment, and finally to implementation, learning and adapting.  As a first step to assess and diagnose, the ELCG is expected to review the policy frameworks, sector performance, needs and existing evidence to identify critical barriers and priority reforms for driving the system transformation. As the next step to prioritize and align, it is important to carry out an Enabling Factor Analysis (EFA), and then prepare a Partnership Compact, for which, EFA will serve as the foundation.

The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education (MoPME) and Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of Bangladesh are working closely and in collaboration with other government agencies, development partners, civil society and non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders to align a set of critical commitments to transforming education to reach the SDG 4 targets.  The Government has identified “establishing a smart and inclusive education system for improved learning outcome” as the priority reform to be achieved through education system transformation in the country. The transformation will be done by addressing bottlenecks and working collaboratively with all stakeholders, partners, and other donors.  In the next stage / step, the country and partners implement the agreed programs and reforms using SCG, STG and Multiplier grant, taking into consideration gender transformation.

The process for implementing the SCG has already been started. After a thorough evaluation, the Government and the Local Education Group (known as Education Local Consultative Group [ELCG], with MoPME as the Chair and FCDO as the Coordinating Agency) has selected UNICEF as the Grant Agent (GA) for SCG. As agreed with ELCG, this grant will be implemented in three phases for four-year period. In the first, UNICEF will support the education ministries to carry out different analysis and prepare required documents that are prerequisite for the application of System Transformation Grant.

As a first step, UNICEF will support in carrying out an Enabling Factor Analysis (EFA), followed by preparation of a Partnership Compact. Enabling factor analysis can be defined as a systematic examination aimed at comprehending and delving into the extent to which an education system effectively facilitates the expected transformation. This process entails a thorough exploration of the system’s capacity to support and enable the desired changes, offering insights into its overall suitability for the intended transformation. “Enabling factors,” refers to the four areas identified by GPE, which are key in shaping a sound foundation of an effective education system. Four enabling factors as identified by GPE are: i) data and evidence; ii) gender-responsive sector planning, policy and monitoring; iii) sector coordination; and iv) volume, equity and efficiency of domestic public expenditure on education.

The results of the enabling factor analysis will serve as the foundation for creating a partnership compact. The Partnership Compact serves as a strategic blueprint for transitioning and communicates a nation’s commitment to collaborate with others on a key reform that has the potential to catalyze comprehensive systemic change. The partnership compact should identify how different stakeholders align interests, resources, and capabilities to support priority reforms in the sector with potential for system transformation, including addressing specific bottlenecks and finding solutions to tackle current educational issues. The GPE Board’s decision on allocating a country’s STG as well as Multiplier Grants is made based on a solid and robust Partnership Compact.

The purpose of the consultancy is to support the education ministries in carrying out the EFA and preparing the partnership compact, in accordance with GPE guidelines and strategic directions provided by the ELCG.  In doing so, the consultant will work with MoPME and MoE closely and maintain continuous collaboration with FCDO, being the Coordinating Agency (CA). As a part of the process, the consultant is also expected to work closely with national GPE Technical Committee established by MoPME.  

Purpose of Assignment

The objective of the proposed consultancy is to support the education ministries and ELCG in Bangladesh to:

• Carry out the Enabling Factor Analysis as per the agreed GPE guidelines;
• Prepare the Partnership Compact through intensive consultations with all related stakeholders at national and sub-national levels.

The assignment consists of two interconnected parts:

PART 1: Carry out an Enabling Factors Analysis

• Undertake a desk review of key education strategic documents, drawing on the recent data and evidence available in the education sector in Bangladesh as well as reviewing the EFA done in other countries
• Organize at least 2 consultations/ workshops with key education stakeholders (government, nongovernmental and private-sector counterparts) at the national level and four (7) consultations at Divisional level with sub-national education officials, teachers and educators, to inform the preparation of the Enabling Factors Analysis
• Work closely with ELCG and relevant government counterparts to draft the Enabling Factor Analysis in accordance with GPE guidance, using the prescribed GPE template, covering four (4) factors including as identified by GPE
• Facilitate workshops and review meetings with the ELCG, GPE National Technical Committee and other actors to review the draft Enabling Factor Analysis and incorporate feedback received, before submission to GPE’s Independent Technical Advisory Panel (ITAP)
• Revise the Enabling Factor Analysis to incorporate feedback from ITAP, as appropriate 

PART 2: Develop the Partnership Compact

• Organize a series of at least three consultations with key sector partners – both ELCG members and private sector entities, including preparation of presentations and other materials to clearly communicate the objectives and expected results of these consultations, key questions to guide consultations; a method to capture and confirm partner ideas and financing commitments
• Work closely with ELCG and relevant government counterparts to draft the Partnership Compact base on the ideas and issues raised during stakeholder consultations, in accordance with GPE guidance
• Facilitate the process of reviewing the partnership compact, including arranging workshops and review meetings with the ELCG, GPE National Technical Committee and other actors to review the draft Partnership Compact
• Incorporate the feedback and comments received, before submission to GPE

Please see the TOR for more details:

 ToR_Intl. Consultant_EFA and Partnership Compact_GPE SCG_FINAL.docx

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

•  An advanced university degree (Master’s ) in Education, Policy Studies, Education Planning and Management, Development Studies, Economics, Social Sciences and any other discipline related to education planning and governance.

• At least 10 years of relevant experience in education sector planning and policy formulation.
• Sufficient consultancy experience in undertaking education sector related research and development of compacts, preferably in developing countries.
• Experience in development of policy level documents, including related to financial analysis and costing.
• Experience in preparing GPE-financed plans and programmes.
• Awareness and understanding of the governance system and government’s working culture in Bangladesh.
• Strong analytical and conceptual thinking with excellent writing, communication and presentation skills with stakeholders.
• Excellent track record in capacity development of government counterparts, including facilitation of structured group work and activities.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is must. Speaking Bangla is an asset.

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. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. 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.