CHARITY JOBS IN AFRICA

Organization: UN Children's Fund
Country: Zimbabwe
Closing date: 17 Oct 2014

Please note that UNICEF does not charge a fee or require personal banking details at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, traveling, processing, training or any other fees).

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 60 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS.

Background

Zimbabwe has made significant strides in increasing access to education for all children. The country’s education system earned a reputation by the late 1980s as one of the best in Africa. By 1990, Zimbabwe had achieved near-universal access to basic education while simultaneously maintaining high levels of quality and equity. The country reported the highest adult literacy rates in Africa well into this decade. However, between 2000 and 2008, the country went through a precipitous economic decline that depleted the financial, physical and human capacity of the education sector, with serious threats to access, quality and equity. A report on the progress made towards the achievement of Education For All (EFA) goals indicates that in 2006, only 70% of pupils managed to complete the primary school cycle (MoESAC, 2006). Recent statistics estimate that between 10% and 15% of children in Zimbabwe have never attended primary school (MOESAC Draft Strategic Plan 2010). In addition, a significant number of children, including those in extremely remote communities, those from indigent households as well as orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) either fail to make the transition from primary into secondary school or drop out. Many are now too old to be reincorporated into the schooling system. To add to the challenge, thousands of adolescents who have left school or who have failed to enrol in secondary schools have few, if any opportunities to improve their knowledge or practical skills. In the Education Medium Term Plan of 2011-2015, the Government prioritized reducing the number of children of school going age and young people who are out of school due to a variety of complex challenges.

Objective

The overall objective of this assessment is to determine the magnitude of the problem of out of school children and provide a holistic understanding of the broad and complex reasons for dropping out, how this takes place and the different situational contexts of out of school children and young people. Specific objectives are to:

a) Determine the number of out of school children and young people and those who at the risk of dropping out of school;

b) Profile the children and young people who are out of school; who are they, where are they, why are they out of school?

c) Identify education opportunities out of school children and young people are accessing;

d) Identify and profile government, civic society and commercial organisations and individuals offering out of school non formal education programmes; and

e) Make recommendations that will guide the design of policy and programmes interventions that more adequately respond to the diverse needs of out-of-school children and young people.

Methodology & Expected Output

The assessment will draw on a range of approaches that look at identifying, quantifying and profiling school children and young people of school going age who are out of school. The assessment will be two-pronged and follow a phased approach- outputs at each phase must be reviewed by the committee, before the subsequent phase starts. The work will consist of the following parts:

a) An in-depth review and analysis of literature related to Out of School Children and where possible, secondary data analysis of existing data sets to identify, establish and explain emerging trends and provide disaggregated data on the distribution of out-of-school children, vulnerability profiles, access to education, livelihood activities and other relevant characteristics.

b) A Qualitative Assessment of the children and profile institutions offering education programmes for out of school children and youth. The assessment should expound on issues emerging from the desk review and the broad and complex reasons for dropping out, how dropping out takes place, who drops out, and the challenges in utilizing opportunities for formal and non-formal education.

Specific outputs from this consultancy will be as follows:

a) A Report of the literature review and a secondary analysis of existing quantitative data sets and qualitative assessment.

b) A Report of the Qualitative Assessment profiling the reasons who children drop out of school.

c) A compilation of record of programmes and courses offered by government, Religious Organizations, NGOs and Commercial enterprises for out of school youth;

d) Report highlighting innovative practices and making recommendations to the MoPSE; and

e) Feedback at a workshop organized by UNICEF in conjunction with the MoPSE.

Consultancy Requirements

a) Minimum Master’s Degree for the team leader, with a focus on continuing education; a PHD is an added advantage;

b) At least 5 years’ experience in alternative education and /vocational training;

c) Local Language competencies and strong communication skills;

d) Strong participatory research methodology and publishing experience;

e) Technical competence in statistical data analysis and technical expertise will be required in areas such as qualitative research, technical and vocational education management, education financing and community development

f) Proven record of administering large scale commissioned research and experience in programme designing.

g) extensive experience in similar study programmes, preferably in African countries

How to apply:

Applications

If you have experience of working in a similar capacity, meet the above profile and want to make an active and lasting contribution to build a better world for children, send , (either via email or by dropping in person ) your proposal including the financials ,together with curriculum vitae quoting consultancy name and number to the following address:

Human Resources Manager

(Consultancy Announcement No. Zim/2014:12)

UNICEF, 6 Fairbridge Avenue,

Belgravia, Harare

or email:hararevacancies@unicef.org

**Applications should be received by 17 October 2014 .Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted*. UNICEF is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staff. Well qualified candidates, particularly women are especially encouraged to apply.***