ThaiNGO

Save the Children International is looking for a Senior Consultant: Education Research & Training Development

JOB TITLE:  Senior Consultant: Education Research & Training Development

TEAM/PROGRAMME: Education program in Thailand    

LOCATION: Bangkok Thailand

Background

Save the Children is expanding our education program in Thailand to reach the most deprived children to ensure they can access a good quality education and learn to their full potential. In 2016, our program will expand to work across 4 key populations:

• OOSC Migrant Children: There are hundreds of thousands of children of migrant workers in Thailand, and yet it is estimated that less than half of them attend school. Through our ACCESS project, we work with community organizations and the government to promote migrant children’s access to education and strategies to promote their learning. We also aim to play a strong capacity building and advocacy role in migrant education sector, raising the profile of this issue at the national level. As part of that agenda, we aim to contribute some important research on migrant OOSC in one target district.
• Refugee Children along the Thai-Myanmar Border: With our BEST and PREPs projects, we are supporting the provision of basic education for over 25,000 refugee children in 9 Karen and Karenni refugee camps along the Thai-Myanmar border. Save the Children supports infrastructure, school materials, teacher stipends, teacher development, as well as advocacy and education convergence planning with a view to potential repatriation in the coming years.
• Displaced and Stateless Children in the Andaman Sea Crisis: Save the Children is working with the Thai government shelters to promote the provision of education in emergencies services for children and young people displaced and trafficked from Rakhine state and Bangladesh and arriving in Thailand over sea. Through the MAPS project, Save the Children supports curriculum development and training with a focus on basic skills, language, and social and emotional learning.
• Ethnic Minority Children in the South of Thailand: Beginning in 2016, Save the Children will be beginning a three year First Read project in one of the three Southern Provinces of Thailand. In these regions, children are often denied the right to education in their mother tongue, which hampers their learning and development. This project will aim to promote children’s early development between the ages of 3-6, through supporting parents and communities to promote children’s development in mother tongue, and increasing access to good quality children’s books.

1. The purpose of this consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide leadership and support in a number of research and capacity building initiatives across our different education programs.  This will involve:

• Working on the First Read program to support the finalization of a Situation Analysis report and leading a technical working group in the development of the holistic home-based ECCD curriculum and guide for a series of Parent Education Sessions (PES),
• Working on the ACCESS program to support research on language and OOSC
• Working on the Andaman sea project to provide periodic support to the field team and shelter staff.
• There may be other support required across the education program on a needs basis and depending on the time available under the consultancy.

2. Consultant’s responsibilities 

First Read Program 

1. In conjunction with local partners, lead on the finalization of the situation analysis, KAP surveys, & possibly additional consultation around ECCD in the three Southern provinces.
2. In conjunction with SC specialists and University partner, support the design of the baseline ECCD assessment (questions and TOR, assessment tools, work plan, enumerator training etc.).

• In liaison with the SC project team and specialists, and in conjunction with partners lead on the development and adaptation of the parent training manuals.

1. Support the adaptation of tools for the review of children’s books as part of book inventory.
2. Other technical support to the project as required and feasible within the consultancy timeline.

ACCESS Program 

1. In collaboration with the education assistant and SC specialists, lead on the analysis and report writing of research on language needs of migrant children and comparative analysis of the benefits of different strategies for addressing them, followed by a capacity-building workshop with partners based on results. (research analysis, reports, and capacity-building training etc.)
2. In collaboration with the education assistant and SC specialists, support the design and implementation of education finance research linking with the most cost-effective mechanisms of support to address the language needs of migrant children and comparative analysis of different approaches and case studies.

• In collaboration with research partner, provide guidance, support, and review on research (surveys) into numbers of OOSC migrant children in target districts.

1. Provide support on the development of policy briefings as requested

Andaman Project 

1. Provide technical support in the development of relevant parent training initiatives, as well as other curriculum and/or student workbooks as agreed with the project team.
2. During field trips provide capacity building training to field/shelter staff as agreed with project team.

Other 

1. Provide other technical support to the education program as required and agreed with the senior education specialist, within the feasible consultancy timeline.

3. Deliverables 

1. Consultancy work plan for each program

FIRST READ

2. Situation Analysis- Including:

Inputs- Review of data collected by the Field Team, support and guidance to gender advisor and research partner in additional gathering of key information (gender analysis, ECCD health for 0 to 3, etc.)

Final Output- Situation Analysis Report

3. Baseline& KAP Surveys - Including:

Inputs- Technical support and review of baseline and KAP plans developed by Save the Children and partner university

Final output- Review and edits of baseline report.

4. PES – including:

Inputs – guidance to field team in finalizing partnership agreements (MoU with agreed schedule), review of existing parenting programs, facilitation of PES working group sessions, liaison with SC specialists, writing of parenting program and curriculum,  and incorporation of relevant national policy, plans, and existing parenting guides.

Final output – PES curriculum and guides inclusive of training, home visits and playgroups

ACCESS

5. Research into language needs and approaches for migrant children- Including:

Inputs- Support to education assistant in roll-out of research with schools and communities; review and analysis of research data, liasing and receiving input from SC  budgeting expert for budget analysis, report writing.

Final Output- Report on language needs and approaches, case studies and cost-effectiveness.

6. OOSC surveys:

Inputs- Review of tools, work plan. Meeting notes with consultant/researcher

Outputs- Edited report, policy briefing.

Andaman Project

7. Field Monitoring Reports, lessons, parent sessions, student workbook
8. Training plans and reports.

 OTHER

9. TBC between consultant and education specialist based on needs and time availability.

4. Timeframe

The consultancy will be over 3 months, approximately 20 days per month.

5. Consultant qualifications and profile

• At least bachelor’s degree in education, research, social sciences or other related field
• Expertise in issues related to migrant education, parent training or early childhood education
• Excellent working knowledge of EFA policy
• Excellent understanding of government structures and experience working with MoE, OBEC, MoPH, or Thai Health Promotion Foundation officials
• Thai language fluency desirable
• English language proficiency desirable
• Demonstrated experience in leading successful advocacy initiatives with the government

6. Management of consultancy

• The consultant will report to the SCI Senior Education Specialist/Communications and Advocacy Advisor, whilst also working in close coordination with the project coordinators of the IMPACT and ACCESS projects
• Save the Children should approve all plans and documents developed by the consultant
• Where possible, meetings with the government should be held jointly between the consultant and Save the Children, with prior agreement on how to communicate the advocacy messages and who will deliver them.
• The consultant will also work in close coordination with other migrant education stakeholders including UNESCO, MWG and World Education

7. Consultancy Budget

The consultant should submit a proposed consultancy fee calculated based on 3 months, approximately 20 days per month.

8. Submissions for the consultancy

The submission must address the terms of reference and include:

• Name and contact details of tenderer
• Resume of the consultant
• A cover letter outlining the relevant experience and expertise of the consultant

Close date for submissions:  10th October 2016

Submissions should be addressed to: jaem.prachoommark@savethechildren.org, tim.murray@savethechildren.org,

“We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.”