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BACKDROUND AND JUSTIFICATION

There is an emerging global consensus that governments should invest in Early Childhood Development (ECD) as a development priority. This consensus is based on the compelling scientific evidence that investment in ECD influences national development particularly in terms of the development of the human capital. Additionally, ECD has benefits that accrue at an individual and household level. Children who have had ECD experience are more likely to have more success in schools and be healthy adults. With the right level of stimulation and nutrition and better attainment of education these children are more likely to grow up as productive adults which will in turn benefit the household level and more likely to break the intergenerational poverty where this exists.

Over the last decade, the Government of Botswana has increased its commitment to Early Childhood Development (ECD). This has been reflected through several national policy initiatives such as the Revised National Policy on Education, the National Health Policy, the Accelerated Child Survival and Development Strategy, the Children’s Act and in successive National Development Plans (NDP) 9,10 and 11. The development of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Policy developed in 2001 was the first attempt for a broader perspective to ECD. The ECD Policy Framework was developed therefore to address the broader perspective of ECD. It was signed in March 2018.

The ECD Policy Framework developed collaboratively by three ministries (Health and Wellness, Basic Education and Local Government and Rural Development), aims to address some of the above-mentioned challenges to the provision of quality ECD. The Framework defines the scope of ECD; outlines the important role that ECD plays in national development; presents Government’s policy intentions for ECD; provides strategies for an integrated approach to ECD, and recognizes the role of caregivers. The goal of the ECD Policy Framework is that: All Young Children in Botswana reach their full potential.

With the ECD Policy Framework signed, there is a need to develop a costed Implementation Plan to operationalise the Policy Framework. The Implementation Plan will be necessary to guide Government’s resource allocation to ECD. Government has requested UNICEF to support the development of the costed ECD Policy Implementation Plan and Common Results Framework through the provision of a consultant who will support the Government in this area. The support from UNICEF will be undertaken in the framework of its 2018 Annual Workplan for Education.

SCOPE OF WORK

Goal and Objective:

The overall goal of the consultancy is to support the development of a five-year costed ECD Implementation Plan. The Implementation Plan will be the operational document for the ECD Policy Framework and will therefore guide implementation and investment in ECD across the three ministries of Basic Education, Health and Wellness and Local Government and Rural Development.

The specific objectives for the assignment are as follows:

• To extract key policy statements from the ECD Policy framework and compile an abridged version of the framework.
• To develop an ECD Policy Implementation Plan and an accompanying M&E framework.
• To cost the ECD Implementation Framework.

Activities and Tasks:

• To address the above-mentioned objectives the consultants will be required to undertake the following specific tasks:
• Review the ECD Policy Framework and identify key policy statements, strategies and compile into an abridged version that is easily accessible. The consultants will review other policy and programme documents as necessary including government budget documents and Medium Term Expenditure Framework.
• Consult with stakeholders to identify policy priorities for the next five years and identify strategies and activities that respond to the identified policy priorities. The consultant will map out existing ECD interventions to inform the development of the ECD Implementation Plan. 
• Undertake stakeholder mapping to identify key stakeholders such as private sector, their roles and responsibilities in ECD.
• Map out existing implementation and coordination structures that can be leveraged in ECD Policy Implementation and recommend an implementation and coordination arrangement that would deliver on the identified ECD policy priorities.
• Develop a timeline for implementation of the activities across a five-year timeline.
• Consult with stakeholders to identify key performance indicators and provide an M&E framework for the Implementation Plan.
• Undertake costing of the ECD Implementation Plan. The ECD Implementation Plan must be realistic in terms of financial feasibility and may include costing scenarios. Costing of the Implementation Plan should include consideration of projected growth in access to ECD amongst the target group, unit cost of inputs required and the projected funding levels from Government including community contribution where necessary.
• The consultant will draw from all the tasks outlined above to develop a five-year costed ECD Implementation Plan that includes a clear articulation of the Goals Objectives; Policy Priorities, Strategies and Activities. The Implementation Plan will also include implementation and coordination arrangements, Key Performance Indicators that will be used to track progress over the implementation period, timelines and costings. 

Work relationships:

The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the UNICEF Education Specialist in close collaboration with the relevant Government counterparts led by Director of Basic Education in the Mistry of Basic Education (MOBE). A Reference Committee comprising of representation from the Ministries of Basic Education, Health and Wellness and Local Government and Rural Development will be established to oversee the development of the costed ECD Implementation Plan and common Results Framework. The Reference Committee will provide guidance to the consultant in terms of Government’s Policy intentions, feasibility of implementation arrangements and projected budgets etc.

Deliverables

Duration

(Estimated # of days)

Timeline/Deadline

Schedule of payment

Desk Review of policy and programme documents and drafting of Inception Report

7

26 June

Presentation of Draft Inception Report to Reference Group

1

28 June

–

Revision of Inception Report and approval of report

2

3 July

20%

Stakeholder consultations, field visits, data gathering and validation of information across three ministries.

25

9 August

–

Presentation of Draft Costed Implementation Plan and Common Results Framework to Reference Group

1

13 August

• Revision of the Draft costed ECD Implementation Plan and Common Results Framework.

  7

  22 August

  Approved draft costed ECD Implementation Plan and Common Results Framework.

  –

  24 August

  30%

  Presentation of final draft costed plan and Common Results Framework to a broader Stakeholder group and comments from stakeholders

  3

  31 August

  Revision of costed ECD Implementation Plan and Common Results Framework to incorporate comments from stakeholders and final submission

  7

  11 September

  Approved Final report

  53

  18 September

  50 %

  The consultancy will be for the duration of 53 working days over the period 18 June to 18 September 2018. The consultancy will follow the schedule in line with the expected deliverable above and timelines will only be negotiated if the delay is due to conditions beyond the control of the consultants.

   

  Payment Schedule

  Payment will be upon satisfactory completion of deliverables as outlined in the table above.

  DESIRED COMPETENCIES, TECHNICAL BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE

• Post graduate degree in Early Childhood, Development, Education, Economics or in any related Social Science field
• A minimum of 5 years practical experience in developing programme implementation plans, programme design or planning
• Traceable experience in preparing quality government policy documents, implementation plans, strategy documents and reports will be an advantage
• Practical experience in costing of national programmes or implementation plans
• Experience with development of Programme Monitoring and Evaluation Frameworks.
• Demonstrable knowledge of Early Childhood Development will be an advantage. 
• Ability to conduct research, synthesize large amount of data, and demonstrate analytical skills.
• Ability to work with various stakeholder groups, facilitating stakeholder meetings and consensus building.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively cooperate with Government and other stakeholders.
• Exhibit strong oral and written communication skills in English

HOW TO APPLY

Interested consultants should click “APPLY” at the bottom of this advert or follow the link below to apply online.

https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=513522

Candidates should attach cover letter, technical and (all inclusive) financial proposals.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.