International Consultancy: Digital Learning Specialist, ESARO, Nairobi at UNICEF

Goal and objective:

Under the supervision of the Regional Technology for Development Business Analyst, the consultant will –

• Coordinate and provide technical support to ESAR countries to advance the Digital Education agenda in the region, including strengthening programme design, mentoring, and monitoring of the programme implementation.
• Ensure that the offices in the region maintain their momentum for implementing the digital learning priorities in the remaining time period of the partnership with Airtel Africa
• Support and expand the implementation of systems-oriented investments in digital education throughout the region, together with partners such as GIGA and Edtech Hub;
• Create documentation of best practices, develop knowledge products on digital learning, organize workshops, webinars, learning sessions and disseminate within UNICEF across stakeholders.
• Participate in regular meetings and contribute to providing updates and share insights and reflections from country coordination and implementations.

Activities and Tasks:

The following activities are expected to be undertaken under this assignment -

1. Analyze and provide written suggestions to CO workplans to identify opportunities for integration of UNICEF's Edtech priorities based on new global digital education strategy, including connectivity lessons-learned from Airtel and GIGA and the use of the SuperStar Teacher Toolbox and Pathways Framework for increasing the digital capacity of teachers
2. Guide the design of the final Pathways Framework package for dissemination and support launch
3. Provide quarterly analysis of implementation of the Airtel partnership activities in 7 countries, including the use of zero-rated platforms, utilization of in-kind data donation, and technical assistance provided
4. Review End-of-Year reporting from 21 country offices and consistently update a comprehensive Powerpoint deck of the status of digital learning in the region
5. Provide technical support to the development of additional topics for the Superstar Teacher Toolbox - such as the pedagogical approaches on the use of shared devices in a classroom and inclusive education – including support to adaptation of contents into online courses to be uploaded on the global Learning Passport library and other national platforms
6. Provide organizing support to the Year 5 Airtel Convention partnership meeting
7. Provide technical support to 3-4 countries in the region to utilize the Pathways Framework and Superstar Teacher Toolbox for teacher digital capacity development plans
8. Provide support to the creation of a regional Long-Term Agreement for digital education content development and support the analysis of LTA proposals
9. Document feedback and key M&E learnings from the first set of 3-4 countries using the Pathways Framework to be integrated into the next version
10. Travel to provide on-site technical assistance to ESAR countries as needed during the contract period
11. Provide support to the finalization process for the UNICEF ESARO – Airtel Africa 5-year partnership report

Desired competencies, technical background and experience

1. Education: Advanced university degree or equivalent experience in Education, Education Technology, ICT or related field of study. *A first University Degree in a relevant field, combined with 7 additional years of professional experience, may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
2. At least 8 years of proven experience in the implementation of technology programmes;
3. Solid experience in the design and implementation of education programming at scale;
4. Excellent writing skills, planning and coordination skills, with proven ability to work independently;
5. Previous work with UNICEF (HQ or RO) is an added advantage;
6. Previous work experience in advising or implementing digital education initiatives in developing contexts, especially Africa, is an added advantage
7. Indicate the length of relevant work experience that is required in the technical area for this consultancy