International Consultancy -Study on the Impact of the Decentralization Reforms on Education, East and Southern Africa Regional Office at UNICEF

Scope of Work

Provide details/reference to AWP areas covered:

This assignment will contribute to the Education section outcome of the ROMP and the Output 2: “'Enhanced ESARO evidence generation, advocacy, resource leverage and partnerships to support COs for risk informed programming and financing that ensure that girls and boys, including those marginalized, excluded and with disabilities complete early learning, primary and secondary education with grade level learning outcomes”

Goal and Objectives: 

The main objective of this study is to generate evidence on how decentralization can be strengthened to improve education outcomes at pre-primary and primary levels in ESAR. The study will focus on in Namibia, Somalia, Uganda, South Africa and Tanzania and provide for:

• Assessing the nature and level of decentralization of pre-primary and primary education services, including fiscal decentralization.
• Investigating the extent to which decentralization reforms have contributed to improving the performance of the education sector, with a focus on access to quality and relevant education or learning pathways for all children and adolescents, girls and boys, including children with disabilities, refugees and children in humanitarian situations, as well as on system governance and community participation.
• Examining the robustness of intergovernmental fiscal transfer systems and other financing mechanisms, including by development partners, in contributing to equitable and sustainable financing of education service delivery at the local level.
• Drawing lessons, document good practices and challenges of decentralization to improve efficiency and effectiveness of education systems in Eastern and Southern Africa.

Desired competencies, technical background, and experience

• Advanced degree in Education, and/or Social Sciences, Social Policy, Public Finance, Local Governance with relevant work experience.  
• Minimum 10 years relevant professional experience relating to local governance, local finance and decentralization in developing country contexts.
• Strong experience in research, program management, monitoring and reporting.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and previous experience communicating with partners at different levels.
• Demonstrated ability in work planning and report preparation.
• Demonstrated skills in professional high-quality writing in English.
• Experience working in the Eastern and Southern Africa region highly desirable.
• Excellent communication skills in English.
• Experience working with UNICEF an asset.

Deadline: 13 Nov 2022