UNDP Jobs - 71315- Expert on Development of the Language Learning Cen

Expert on Development of the Language Learning Centre

Location :

Home based, with one travel mission to Sukhumi (5 working days), GEORGIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

10-Apr-2017

Application Deadline :

27-Mar-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

up to 15 w/days during 2.5 months with 1 mission (5 w/days) to Abkhazia and 10 w/days home based

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

The “Horizons. Strengthening community resilience in Abkhazia” (Horizons) project is aimed to promote the social and economic resilience of local communities, especially youth, through improved access to high quality health and education services in Abkhazia. In doing so, the project aims to increase the space for reconciliation, confidence-building and social cohesion, thus expanding the ‘horizons’ of local communities affected by 1992-1993 conflict. The project is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in cooperation with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The 5-year project intends to achieve its goal through reaching targets within and across three primary objectives of the program:

Improved access to quality health services for vulnerable populations in Abkhazia;
Improved access to quality education, skills development and social participation opportunities for children and youth;
Enhanced dialogue across respective youth and professional groups.

The Horizons project will focus on the following key outputs: improving the healthcare system through expanding HIV/AIDS prevention and providing screening on STIs, Hepatitis B and C, and TB; improving maternal and child health care services; and expanding learning and social participation skills and opportunities for youth in Abkhazia.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Manager, Head of Office in Abkhazia, the Expert will be responsible for conducting a situation analysis of the status of foreign language teaching and learning (mostly English language) in Russian language speaking context. The analysis will include a comprehensive assessment of the existing actor mapping in foreign language teaching specifically, distribution of competences and delegation of decision-making within the education system, including University structure, evaluate quality and relevance of current curricula at school and university level, overview textbooks taught and methodologies applied. With assistance of the project team the Expert will travel to the Duty station to hold a series of meetings with stakeholders at school, university and governmental level. The Expert will be able to collect information through direct communication with teachers, professors, school and university students, and monitor gaps existing between the school and university level of teaching of foreign language, and overall gaps in language training. The analyses of the foreign language teaching and learning sector should come up with key findings and recommendations for all actors engaged to enable UNDP further elaborate strategies in improvement the status of the foreign language teaching and learning in Abkhazia.

The situation analysis will define the ground for elaborating by the Consultant in collaboration with the project team a 4-year concept plan on establishment of the Language Learning Center (LLC) at the University with a focus on learning of foreign languages. Based on existing current global successful achievements in foreign language learning and scientific and technological advancement, including application of a wide range of teaching and learning tools, techniques and methods, the Expert will elaborate a step-by-step scheme for a set-up and functioning of the LLC considering its key users (including direct, indirect, actual, potential, real-time and distance beneficiaries etc.). The plan should focus on areas for improvement and/or professional development of teachers, enhancement of their competences through tailored on-site programmes and online and/or distance learning, self-paced education, collaborative learning, introduction of interactive teaching and other core educational and pedagogical methods applicable.

Summary of Key Functions:

Situation analysis (including key gaps) in the area of foreign language learning and teaching in Abkhazia.
Development of the concept of the Language Learning Center.

Arrangements:

The Expert will work under the supervision of UNDP. UNDP will support with local transportation in Abkhazia.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Teaching skills;
Application of technology in the classroom;
Demonstrated ability to work successfully with students, staff, and community from diverse backgrounds;
Excellent communication skills and ability to function as an effective team member;
Good knowledge and use of Microsoft package.

Functional Competencies:

Strong professional communication and inter-personal skills and ability to transfer knowledge to targeted groups of beneficiaries;
Flexibility and ability to adjust to needs.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s or advanced university degree in Education and Social Science or related field (minimum requirement: Master degree - 14 points; PhD and additional Master’s degree in the relevant area – additional 6 points) .

Experience:

At least 5 year working experience in the area of Education, including technical assistance in foreign languages or relevant courses (minimum requirement: 5 years – 14 points; 5-7 years– additional 3 points; more than 7 years – additional 3 points);
Experience in writing education, foreign language teaching/learning related courses and program curriculum (minimum requirement: 5 years: 7 points; more than 5 years – additional 3 points);
Technical expertise on establishing Language Learning Centre, with specific knowledge in modern teaching methods applicable to foreign language teaching and learning (minimum requirement: 3 years – 14 points; 3-5 years – additional 3 points; over 5 years – additional 3 points);
Written and analytical skills to conduct comprehensive assessments and produce papers, concepts, briefs and reports;
Work experience in countries of the former Soviet Union is an asset; Experience in specificity of instruction of foreign languages in Russian speaking countries is a strong asset; Work experience in education in conflict affected areas is an asset.

Language Requirements:

Excellent English language skills;
Working knowledge of Russian is a strong asset.

Evaluation:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on Cumulative scoring analysis, against combination of technical and financial criteria. Technical evaluation stage encompasses desk review of offers. Offerors not meeting any of minimum technical qualification requirements will be automatically excluded from the list of offerors for further technical evaluation. Maximum obtainable score is 100, out of which the total score for technical criteria equals to 70 points (70%) and for financial criteria 30 (30%). Offerors who pass 70% of maximum obtainable scores as a result of technical evaluation (i.e. 70 x 70% = 49 points) will be considered as short-listed Offerors.

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

p = y (µ/z), where;
p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated;
y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal;
µ = price of the lowest priced proposal;
z = price of the proposal being evaluated.

Financial Proposal:

Short-listed Offerors will be requested to provide financial proposal. The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. The financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, living allowance, etc.). All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. UNDP will not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

Deliverables:

Situation analysis in the area of foreign language learning and teaching in Abkhazia;
Development of the concept of the Language Learning Center.

Description of deliverables, timelines and corresponding percentage of payment due per output:

5 consecutive working days to be spent in Abkhazia for data collection and interviews with stakeholders;
First draft of the situation analysis to be produced in 4 working days after the departure from Abkhazia; final version shared upon incorporating respective feedback of the draft analyses, 1 working day to be allocated for the final version;
First draft of the LLC concept to be produced upon finalization of the situation analyses in 4 working days; final version shared upon respective feedback on the first concept draft is collected, 1 working day to be allocated for the final version.

Method of payment: 100% to be paid upon submission of all deliverables approved by the Programme manager.

The Individual Contractor is expected to complete assigned deliverables through traveling to Abkhazia within the agreed period of 10 April 2017 – 30 June 2017 to conduct the situation analysis and relevant information collection through a number of meetings with partners and key stakeholders to enable development of the LLC.