Digital Learning Specialist - National Consultant

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Digital Learning Specialist - National Consultant, 216 days, home based (For Ethiopian Nationals Only)

Job no: 578130
Contract type: Consultant
Duty Station: Addis Ababa
Level: Consultancy
Location: Ethiopia
Categories: Education

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. 

For every child, an education! 

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose of Activity/Assignment: Ethiopia has developed a comprehensive "Digital Strategy Ethiopia 2025" as a roadmap for the country's digital transformation, which includes a strong focus on digital education. This strategy was launched in 2018 and lays out Ethiopia's vision to become an inclusive, prosperous, and digitally enabled society by 2025. It highlights the need to invest in digital infrastructure, promote innovation, and build a skilled workforce capable of supporting the envisioned digital economy. The adoption of digital technologies in the education system has expanded rapidly, largely accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the urgent need for remote learning solutions during school closures.

The Federal Ministry of Education reiterated its commitment to leverage technology in education to enhance the quality, relevance, equity, and accessibility of education and improve teaching and enhance learning, by developing the Digital Education Strategy and Implementation Plan (2023-2028) with technical, financial, and operational support from partners led by UNICEF, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Mastercard Foundation, the World Bank, Mobile Network Operators (Safaricom and Ethiotelecom) among other partners.

In alignment with the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia’s (FDRE) aspirations to become a leading manufacturing and trading hub in Africa and to build a strong digital economy, UNICEF is working to support the government in leveraging digital tools as enablers to achieve these national goals.Specifically, UNICEF is contributing to the operationalization of the Digital Education Strategy and Implementation Plan (2023-2028) by focusing on the following mutually reinforcing priorities:

1. Digital technology for teaching, learning, and assessment: Ensuring that digital tools, such as the Learning Passport, are integrated (supported by infrastructure such as connectivity and gadgets) into the education system to enhance the teaching and learning experience and improve educational outcomes.
2. Digital literacy and skills for education, employability, and thriving in the digital economy and society: Preparing students with the digital competencies and skills needed for future employment and active participation in a digitally enabled economy and society.
3. Data-driven educational decision-making and administration: Supporting the use of data to inform educational policies, improve management of the education system, and enable more effective decision-making.
4. EdTech research, knowledge, and innovation: Promoting research and innovation in educational technology to ensure that Ethiopia’s education system stays at the forefront of global EdTech advancements.

Given these priorities particularly on implementing the Learning Passport and jumpstarting the GIGA, UNICEF seeks an Individual Consultant - Digital Learning Specialist, to provide a liaison/coordinating, technical and operational support to the Ministries of Education and Ministry of Innovation & Technology tto operationalize the Learning Passport, rollout GIGA and other relevant Digital Technologies in Ethiopia. The Digital Learning Specialist will serve as a bridge between UNICEF, the Ministries of Education and Ministry of Innovation & Technology, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and other key stakeholders, ensuring effective coordination and collaboration for the successful rollout of the Learning Passport, GIGA initiatives and other relevant Digital Education Technologies across Ethiopia.Scope of Work: Under the supervision of the Education Specialist, the consultant will be responsible for the following:

1. Technical Assistance: Under the Supervision of the Education Manager and the support of the Technology for Development (T4D) team, provide technical and operational support to expand the Learning Passport and jumpstart the GIGA initiative in Ethiopia. This includes assessing the digital education landscape to identify key opportunities, challenges, and gaps in infrastructure, digital literacy, and capacity building. In collaboration with key stakeholders such as the Ministry of Education (MOE), the Ministry of Innovation and Technology (MINT), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the private sector, support the digital learning coalition to drive coordination, secure endorsement of the Learning Passport workplan, secure endorsement for GIGA, and create a roadmap for scaling digital education initiatives aligned with Ethiopia’s goals.
2. Content Development, Curation and Digitization: Oversee the mapping, curation, development, and digitization of high-quality educational content that aligns with Ethiopia’s national curriculum and addresses the diverse needs of teachers, students, and out-of-school children, including those with special needs. This process involves identifying gaps in existing content, ensuring inclusiveness, and adapting or developing new materials as required. Additionally, it will involve the digitization of both newly developed and curated content to ensure it is accessible across various digital platforms. A key focus will be on ensuring accessibility and relevance while building a comprehensive, digitized repository of curated and adapted content, ready for integration into the Learning Passport. Furthermore, develop a Terms of Reference (TOR) to guide the content mapping, development, and digitization efforts, ensuring alignment with educational objectives and technological capacities.
3. Advocacy, Networking and Partnership Building: Facilitate the development of strategic partnerships and engage with key stakeholders, including the Ministries of Education and Innovation and Technology, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), mobile network operators, development agencies, Ed-Tech hubs, and civil society organizations. These partnerships will focus on expanding the reach and sustainability of the Learning Passport, GIGA initiative, and other relevant digital technologies, ensuring alignment with Ethiopia’s digital education goals and fostering collaboration across sectors to drive long-term impact.
4. Coordination: In close collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), facilitate regular coordination and dialogue between key stakeholders, including MOE and MINT, to ensure effective program implementation of digital education initiatives such as the Learning Passport and GIGA. This includes organizing and leading regular meetings to track progress, align strategies, and address any emerging challenges. Additionally, ensure that programmatic updates, key decisions, and action plans are well-documented and that a strategic roadmap is maintained to guide the ongoing implementation and scaling of these initiatives.
5. Innovation, and Knowledge Management and Capacity Building: Facilitate the development and delivery of tailored training programs for teachers and administrators to effectively integrate digital content into their teaching practices. Promote innovative approaches to digital education by equipping stakeholders with the necessary skills and knowledge to utilize platforms like the Learning Passport. This includes creating user-friendly training materials, conducting workshops, and ensuring the continuous improvement of training effectiveness through feedback and evaluation. Additionally, foster a culture of knowledge sharing by documenting and disseminating best practices and lessons learned to enhance future digital education initiatives.
6. Monitoring and Evaluation: Monitor and evaluate the deployment and implementation of the Learning Passport and GIGA initiatives to ensure their effectiveness and alignment with overarching objectives. This includes gathering data, tracking progress, and assessing key outcomes to identify challenges and successes. By providing data-driven insights and documenting lessons learned and best practices, actionable recommendations will be generated to inform future scale and improve ongoing efforts. The evaluation process will culminate in a comprehensive final report, outlining key findings and strategies for scaling and enhancing these initiatives.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in education, information technology, statistics, communication, engineering, or another relevant field. In lieu of a Masters’ degree, relevant experience may be considered to meet this requirement.
• A minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in Digital learning, EdTech, Technology for Development (T4D) and/or information system development, including mobile and web-based applications, with manifested capacity to manage programmes involving many stakeholders. Specific experience on ICT for learning or digital learning is an advantage.
• Experience managing user-driven design and feedback processes for software.
• Experience in digital learning design.
• Proven training and capacity building skills for a range of stakeholders.
• Good technical understanding and familiarity with information management systems.
• Excellent communication abilities, in both written and oral forms.
• Consultant should be at ease in presentations and meetings with D-level (UN) or C-level (private sector) executives.
• Demonstrated ability and experience in coordination, and able to work under pressure is required.

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 committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

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.

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. 

Advertised: 31 Dec 2024 E. Africa Standard Time
Deadline: 14 Jan 2025 E. Africa Standard Time