UNICEF Myanmar: Terms of Reference (TOR) for Individual Consultant to
Develop School Based In-service Teacher Education (SITE) units 1 June till 31 August
Heading: Development of SITE units and support materials
Section in Charge: Education
How does the consultancy relate to work plan: this activity comes under output 3 activity 3.4 in
the 2015 annual work plan. Development of SITE modules and support materials linked with the Inservice Accreditation Framework
Outcome reference: 105 - Basic Education and Gender Equality
Output reference: 003- Education Quality and Management - Improved quality teaching and
learning practices in basic education in targeted townships in government and monastic schools
and in both mono-grade and multi-grade schools
1. Background:
As part of the Quality Basic Education Programme (QBEP), UNICEF and its Multi-Donor Education
Fund (MDEF) partners have designed and implemented a number of in-service teacher training
programs focused on strengthening teacher performance and increasing student learning.
Among these training programs is application of a School-based In-service Teacher Education
(SITE) model. SITE is a framework for in-service teacher education which uses a blended learning
approach combining headteacher led school-based sessions, reading and reflection by teachers,
and experiential learning. Additionally the SITE model supports robust monitoring through
engagement of headteachers, cluster schools, subnational level education offices and education
colleges. SITE builds on the more traditional workshop delivery modality by providing extensive
coaching and mentoring; reduced cost of delivery; and reduced loss of teacher classroom time to
attend extended training events. It pulls from extensive research on in-service teacher education
which shows the following (from Gaible and Burns, 2006)




Bring people together to address local issues and needs over a period of time
Encourage individual initiative and collaborative approaches to problems
Allow more flexible, sustained and intensive teacher professional development (TPD)
Provide ongoing opportunities for professional learning among a single set of teachers
Currently QBEP is implementing the use of a 10 unit course book “Effective Teaching and
Learning” over a period of 6 months delivery in 13 townships for about 5,600 participants.
Accumulatively, QBEP has delivered SITE training to approximately 7,300 teachers and
headteachers throughout 17 townships with plans for an additional 5,700 teachers to be covered in
2015. While the current materials are well positioned, it is increasingly apparent that teachers will
need increasing professional development beyond the current offerings. At request of the Myanmar
Ministry of Education, and based upon Work Plan activities, it is proposed to develop additional
materials that link to teacher professional development frameworks1 and may eventually lead to
teacher credentialization2.
2.
Objectives of the consultancy:
The core purpose of this consultancy is to develop training materials to extend the current SITE
units entitled “Effective Teaching and Learning”.
Key Objectives:
● Needs assessment - conduct an brief analysis of the current situation in Myanmar with regard
to available in-service training opportunities for teachers (available programs, materials,
organizations delivering similar training, etc…) Conduct a analysis through comparison of
current modules offered under SITE, the draft Teacher Competencies, and Education College
1
Extensive work has been done in Myanmar to ensure teacher training is linked to conflict sensitivity training
UNICEF/QBEP has contributed widely to that effort especially evident though development of teacher
competency frameworks which have explicitly embedded conflict sensitive teacher education as a key
direction.
2
By the time of the consultancy there may be further clarity on the potentiality to use SITE based modules to
enable delivery of in-service based teacher credentialization.
1
●
●
●
●
3.
curriculum. The result of which will help MoE to develop a framework or guide under which the
proposed additional units to be developed in the consultancy can be prepared.
Design - create a clear outline/structure for proposed units taking into account best practices
in instructional design and feedback for revised timings for unit delivery. Design the framework
of a new SITE units (scope, content, duration, assessments, etc.) for basic education teachers
(with a national consultant and the team assigned by the MoE) Unit will ensure conflictsensitivity/Do No Harm principles, gender in the module design/approach
Develop – additional units to complement existing “Effective Teaching and Learning” program
using competency based training methods3 where each unit should be attained in a standard
amount of time (~2 weeks per unit) using internationally acceptable instructional modalities
which are properly normed across each module.
Implementation – to ensue readiness for field testing, ensure key focal points for SITE
delivery within MoE are kept up to date of progress on the modules. Conduct workshop with
trainers4 to thoroughly go through all units and associated materials ensuring key details and
information for facilitators are included and are easy to understand.
Monitoring/Reporting – work with SITE team to advise on sufficient monitoring tools that
could be initiated to build proper system of feedback on the training modules and their delivery.
Provide final report on experiences of the consultancy (issues, challenges, opportunities,
recommendations)
Geographic Area: national
4.
Duration (including potential extension): 1 June till 31 August 2015
5.
Supervisor: John Timothy Denny
6.
Type of Supervision/support required from UNICEF: The successful bidder will report
to the supervisor, while working with the UNICEF education team, MOE, and other partners
concerned with teacher education. Periodic reporting as agreed upon will be submitted in digital
form. At least one senior national expert who is familiar with teacher education will also be hired by
UNICEF to support the consultant throughout the duration of the contract.
7.
Description of assignment
Tasks
Compose/conduct needs
assessment and inception
report


Compose an
inception report for
project
Develop a
comparison
framework of the
“Effective Teaching
and Learning
Module” with
relevant portions of
education college
course offerings
and the MOE basic
education teacher
competencies (all
End Product/deliverables
Deliver needs assessment and inception report
documents
Duration
1 week
~15 page document covering: brief rationale
and understanding of the project, course
comparison framework, gap analysis
expected outline of final products, consultants
workplan for remainder of the project, and
tentative travel plan in country
3
Materials take into consideration the following criteria (Norton 1987) Competencies are made public in advance,
assessments are explicitly stated and made public in advance taking into account knowledge and attitudes but
requiring performance review, participants advance at their own pace
4
TOT scale will be decided based on available time and need at the final stages of consultancy.
2
necessary
documents will be
given ahead of
time)
 Show gaps in the
above framework
leading to proposed
additional units to
be composed
during this
consultancy.
Design/Develop units
 Conceptualize and
draft a plan for
participant level
delivery that would
entail a more
flexible and
strategic approach
(timings, units to be
covered, etc...)
 Ensure verification
of plan with key
stakeholders
 Develop an
instructional design
(organization of the
materials,
teaching/learning
methods) for the
new units
 Compose all units
(including all
activities, additional
materials and
assessments)
Implement
Modules completed
 Participant delivery plan to be reviewed and
approved by key stakeholders
 Units instructional design reviewed and
approved
 All units completed and approved
10 weeks
3 day training for key SITE facilitators conducted
1 week
Reports submitted
1 week

Conduct a training
of
trainers
workshop to verify
all
materials
developed
Evaluate and Revise


Contribute to
revision of exiting
SITE monitoring
processes (review
of SITE guidelines)
Compose a final
report of
consultancy


Submit review and recommendations on SITE
monitoring
Submit final consultant report including review
of duties, issues and challenges of the
consultancy and recommendations.
13 weeks
3
8.
9.
Request for Expression of Interest
A. Completed Expression of Interest form (attached)
B. Three-page CV highlighting most relevant experience including three professional
references;
C. Financial bid showing all expected consultant expenses to cover project duration (UNICEF
will separately cover any workshops, meetings and transportation costs to proposed site
visits).
D. Expressions of Interest should be received by 9:00am (Yangon time) on 30 April by
email to thoo@unicef.org
Selection process
This Request for Expression of Interest will be published internally and externally on UNICEF
websites and shared broadly through existing networks and contacts.
The bidder will be identified by based on a competitive selection process, taking into account the
candidate’s experience, the quality of the answers produced, and the financial bid submitted.
If necessary, we may require a telephone interview with shortlisted candidates.
10.
Qualification and specialized knowledge/experience required for the assignment:
The Consultant should have:
A. Advanced university degree in education or any social science field with experience on
teacher education;
B. Deep understanding of competency based education and ability to develop competency
based courses for adults;
C. Experience on adult education covering course development and instructional design;
D. Expertise on reflective teaching, school based teacher education and the local context;
E. Proven ability to conceptualize, innovate, plan and execute ideas;
F. Experience of working in conflict-affected/post-conflict environments
G. Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and
effective working relationships, both within and outside the workplace;
H. Previous working experience with UNICEF education programmes will be an asset.
11. Other conditions:
A. Office equipment provision at UNICEF Yangon office only
a. Desk space - will be provided when required and where possible.
b. Computer - consultant is required to use his/her own laptop and submit all
deliverables in paper and digital form.
c. Printing - will be provided at the UNICF Yangon office.
d. Internet will be provided at UNICEF offices, not beyond.
B. Travel requirements:
This consultancy may include site visits to locations beyond Yangon. UNICEF will arrange
transportation for agreed visits.
C. Life and health insurance
UNICEF does not provide or arrange life or health insurance coverage for consultants and
individual contractors, and consultants and individual contractors are not eligible to participate in
the life or health insurance schemes available to United Nations staff members. Consultants and
individual contractors are fully responsible for arranging, at their own expense, such life, health and
other forms of insurance covering the period of their services as they consider appropriate. The
responsibility of UNICEF is limited solely to the payment of compensation for service-incurred
death, injury or illness as per the provisions detailed below.
D. Insurance for service-incurred death, injury or illness
Consultants and individual contractors who are authorized to travel at UNICEF expense or who are
required under their contract to perform services in a UNICEF or United Nations office shall be
provided with insurance coverage, through a UNICEF-retained third party insurance provider,
4
covering death, injury and illness attributable to the performance of official UNICEF duties.
Compensation in the event of service-incurred death, injury or illness shall be equivalent to
amounts stipulated in the agreement between UNICEF and the insurance provider.
E. Payment
2 equal payments with first instalment pending delivery and verification of needs assessment,
inception report and 4 completed units, final payment made upon completion of all units,
trainings delivered, and final reports submitted and verified..
F. Confidentiality:
The documents produced during the period of this consultancy will be treated as strictly
confidential, and the rights of distribution and/ or publication will reside solely with UNICEF.
G. Visa:
Consultant responsible for arranging his/her own visas (UNICEF will give support through issuance
of a letter of invitation which can be used to arrange a business visa at the nearest Myanmar
embassy)
H. Security clearance:
Consultant will be required to show proof of valid certification Basic and Advance Security in the
Field (website to obtain online certification will be provided upon request).
12. Nature of Penalty Clause to be stipulated in the contract:
UNICEF Myanmar reserves the right not to pay the Contractor or withhold part of the payable
amount if one or more requirements established for this assignment is not met or deadline set for
the accomplishment of the tasks is missed.
5
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
UNICEF Myanmar: Terms of Reference (TOR) for Individual Consultant to:
Develop school based in-service teacher education (SITE) units
1 June till 31 August
Consultant Summary Profile:
Please attach complete Curriculum Vitae
Name
Date of Birth
Email address
Languages
Degrees/qualifications
Experience in carrying out
similar (no. of years and
key clients, including UN)
Attach one sample of
similar work done or refer
to a site that can be
accessed.
List names and emails of
three referees
Q1: Briefly, what methodology will you use to carry out this consultancy?
Q2: Given the duration of the assignment and deliverables what is your offer, inclusive of fees,
per diem and international travel. In country travel, if any, will be calculated on actual basis
and will be incorporated in the contract as an amendment.
6
Q3. The assignment is scheduled to begin 1 June 2015 for total of 66 working days in-country.
Please indicate your earliest availability and ability to work continuously in country for 92
days. Please note, that securing visa for Myanmar is still difficult and may delay the start date.
Q4. If not successful in participating in this round of consultancy, would you be interested to
be considered for possible future similar consultancy?
7