UNDP Jobs - 56738- Individual Consultant - Expert on Higher Education

Individual Consultant - Expert on Higher Education

Location :

Beirut, LEBANON

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

09-Jun-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Six (6) Months from Contract Signature

Languages Required :

Arabic English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Six (6) Months from Contract Signature

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

UNDP/RBAS and MBRF have partnered since 2007 in the development of a series of Arab Knowledge Reports (AKR) which independently analyzed and monitored trends and issues affecting knowledge in the Arab region. Along the same lines and vision, the Arab Knowledge Index which builds on the three Arab Knowledge Reports (2009, 2010/2011, and 2014), is planned to be produced and launched by the end of the year 2015. The Index will be built using a multi-disciplinary and participatory methodology, and will be launched with the production of a publication that includes an assessment (detailed country profiles), as well as a thorough presentation of the methodology that was followed.

The Arab Knowledge Index will provide an evaluation of Knowledge in the Arab region, using country-based assessment. To this end the Index will be built following seven main thematic areas that were identified as the focal fields for understanding the situation of knowledge, based on the findings of the previous Arab Knowledge Reports. These areas are: Pre-University Education and Literacy, Higher Education, Vocational Education and Training, Research and Innovation and Development, Economy, Knowledge for Development, and Information and CommunicationTechnology.

Two main features are intended in the process, the first being a focus on multidisciplinarity which stems from the nature of the topic at hand. The second feature is the policy angle which requires a concrete approach to the analysis of challenges of opportunities within the research framework.

As aforementioned, one of the main areas of research identified for the Arab Knowledge Index is Higher Education, as one of the sub-areas of education as well as one of the main cross-roads between education, employment and the economic productivity in general. Higher Education will be considered as both a field of outputs as well as inputs in the advancement of knowledge in the Arab region. Suggested angles to assess the situation of knowledge through looking into Higher education include: Systems of Higher Education, Outputs of higher education, Quality of higher education, Higher education and knowledge production, Higher education and knowledge transfer and localisation, and higher education and the labour market.

As such, the AKR project is looking to contracting a number experts and a team leader to form the Arab Knowledge Index Core Team which will work with the AKR Technical Team and report to the Regional Programme Coordinator, and be responsible for the required research, consultations, and drafting of the final publication, as well as all associated processes as per the following sections.

Duties and Responsibilities

While stressing the collective responsibility of the Core Team for the production of the Index, the corresponding Arab countries’ assessment, as well as the production of the final publication, however and for organizational purposes the work load will be distributed among Core Team members. The Core Team member, expert on Higher Education is primarily responsible for this thematic area in terms of generating knowledge, setting and implementing the adequate consultative process in full coordination with the AKR technical team.

Along with that, and working under the direct supervision of the Team Leader, and reporting to the Regional Programme Coordinator, the expert on Higher Education shall be responsible of:

Contributing to the drafting and finalization of the research methodology and conceptual framework, as well as the required action plans through both the production of the components that are related to Higher Education, as well as participating in the consolidation of all the other components as advised by the Core Team leader;
Producing a synopsis of relevant indices in relation to Higher Education that are already available, with a focus on the features and shortcomings of each;
Collecting and soliciting knowledge products and data to produce the Index and build the indicators that are related to Higher Education;
Drafting / co-authoring in Arabic the final publication report covering the methodology (including the selection process of the indicators), and results of the Arab Knowledge Index.

The Index Production and Publication Drafting process shall involve:

Participation in 4 to 6 Core Team meetings at which substantive matters will be discussed;
Planning, preparing and implementing 7-10 consultative meetings with experts and stakeholders from at least four different Arab countries as part of a first round of consultations around measuring knowledge and the adequate indicators related to Higher Education;
Planning, preparing and implementing 3-5 consultative meetings with experts and stakeholders from at least two different non-Arab countries as part of a first round of consultations around measuring knowledge and the adequate indicators related to Higher Education;
Contributing to the planning, preparation and participation in at least 1 thematic workshop discussing the assessment of the situation of Higher Education in the Arab region as part of a second round of consultations which will be based on the first round, but will focus on consolidating results through sessions of group consultations instead of individual ones;
Coordination of data sources and data with the Technical Team in order to ensure consistency;
Substantive management and integration of background papers in accordance to the criteria and process as agreed upon with the Core Team leader and Technical Team;
Delivery of drafts by the timeline and deadlines agreed upon;
Participating in relevant review meetings and events (Advisory Board meeting or Readers Group meeting);
Assisting in the identification of reviewers or Advisory Board members when needed;
Reviewing and proofreading the printer ready version of the final publication.

Stressing the collective responsibility of each of the Core Team members of the full production of the Arab Knowledge Index and the final publication, each Core Team Member shall also:

Assuming responsibility along with the other members of the Core Team for ensuring that the deadline of each phase of the process is met- based on the agreed upon work plan and set timelines;
Maintaining close consultation and coordination with the Core Team leader and the Regional Programme Coordinator on a regular basis to report progress toward deliverables as well as substantive opportunities and challenges;
Consulting with and advise other Core Team members, and the AKR Technical Team on the research methodology to be used; and coordinate with the AKR Technical Team to ensure reliability and consistency of data and data sources;
Reviewing the work presented by other Core Team members, as well as the work produced collectively (Indicators, Index, Methodology, Conceptual Framework, Publication...) and provide feedback, comments and suggestions;
Participating with the AKR Technical Team in organizing and preparing substantively any event or meeting to be conducted in connection with the Arab Knowledge Index.

For detailed information, please Refer to Annex I – Terms of Reference.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Functional Competencies:

Excellent drafting skills with a sound publishing record (both in Arabic and in English;
Strong analytical and synthesis skills;
Ability to work independently and achieve quality results with limited supervision and within tight schedules;
Strong quantitative and qualitative research skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

A PhD degree in a field relevant to Education, with extensive experience within the Higher Education system both in terms of research and practice.

Experience:

10 years minimum experience in Higher Education including relevant experience in designing and implementing research consultations;
Extensive experience in the area of Higher Education, including the following, Applied Education, Higher Education in the Arab Region, Education Systems, Competitiveness and Innovation in Education, Evaluation of Education Systems;
Extensive experience on the Arab region and its knowledge-related challenges and priorities.

Languages:

Fluency in both written and spoken English and Arabic is required.

Kindly refer to the Individual Consultant Procurement Notice and all related Annexes by visiting the below link:

http://www.lb.undp.org/content/lebanon/en/home/operations/procurement/

Please make sure to submit all the requested documents/information; otherwise, your application will be considered incomplete.