MYANMAR COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION SECTOR REVIEW
Terms of Reference for Consultant for the ECD Cost and Financing Study
Section in Charge: Education
1.
Purpose of Assignment
Background
For Myanmar to recognize that early childhood is a critical period of human development and
an area that requires a national policy attention is a major breakthrough. This is a fairly recent
development which has occurred over the past two years. It is now well understood that
learning begins at birth and the early years are when the foundations for subsequent learning
and adult life are established.
It is also recognized that early childhood is also a time of especial vulnerability for many
children. This is compounded where there is poverty, inadequate nutrition and poor health
services and where parents are lacking preparation for positive parenting. These factors can
be exacerbated by conflicts as well as HIV and other diseases. In these contexts of
deprivation, ECD programmes are essential to promote the rights to survival, development
and early education and to meeting the special needs of vulnerable children.
In response to the abundant research that has demonstrated that preparation for parenthood,
good antenatal education and care, early stimulation for rapid brain development, quality
health and nutrition care, continuous parent and early childhood education services, and the
provision of safe, hygienic and secure home and preschool environments are required for
holistic child development and ensuring children’s readiness to achieve success in school,
the government of Myanmar has decided to develop their first ever national multi-sectoral
early childhood care and development (ECCD) policy under the leadership of the Ministry of
Social Welfare.
UNICEF was requested to provide technical and capacity building support to the development
of the draft ECCD policy. An international expert in policy development worked with the
government’s policy task force and steering committee to develop the draft of the ECCD
policy. It is anticipated that the final ECCD policy will be submitted to the cabinet for approval
in early 2013. The Ministry of Social Welfare had also requested UNICEF to provide technical
support in preparing the strategic plan for the implementation of this national policy.
An extensive Situation Analysis was also conducted to: 1) assess child and family status and
needs; 2) identify ECCD resources, including services, human capacity, training services and
financial investments in ECCD; and 3) analyse policies, plans and legislation related to
ECCD. The results of the Consultation Workshops, high-level interviews and Situation
Analysis have shaped this ECCD Policy. It was developed in a fully participatory manner, and
it represents the knowledge and priorities of dedicated parents, leaders and specialists of
Myanmar.
On parallel, Myanmar is conducting its first comprehensive education sector review
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(CESR) after almost twenty years. This proposed cost and financing study will not only
contribute to the CESR education sector plan process and ,but also will contribute to the
development of the ECCD policy’s strategic plan. As part of the education reform process
that is now taking place, MoE wants to add a one year Kindergarten as the initial level of
the basic education system changing its current system of 5-4-2 to 6-3-3 system.
Purpose
The purpose of this consultancy is to support the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of
Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement (the lead Ministry for ECD) with technical support to
obtain evidence based information on the cost and financing of ECD services for young
children and their families with initial focus on school-based preschool and the proposed
Kindergarten to be added to the national basic education structure of Myanmar . The
consultancy is also aimed at building the capacity of the key government ministries in
developing and using a costing analysis tool to inform them on financial planning for ECD
services for under five children.
The consultant will work in close collaboration with the focal person in the Ministry of
Education and the focal persons from the CESR team. The consultant will also work with the
multisectoral ECCD Task Force members to consult and to the capacity of the members
throughout the process. The consultant may consult other organizations that may be relevant
to accomplish the task given as well.
The consultancy is highly technical, sensitive and need sound economic analysis and
team building experience in addition to prior experience in conducting such cost and
financing analysis in the developing countries.
2.
Major Tasks to be accomplished:
In consultation with the staff from the key ministries involved in ECD including the focal
personforECD from the CESR team, the consultant will carry out the following tasks:
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Conduct a desk review of documents, studies, and related materials (Situation Analysis of
Women and Children, ECD Situation Analysis, ECCD draft policy, Household survey,
MICS), ECD Minimum Quality Standards, draft preschool guidelines, Child Law, and
other available documents). Results of this desk review are to be reflected in the final
report
Develop tools to collect data at the central level and in selected Townships (minimum 4)
to observe the existing school-based ECD services offered by MoE
Conduct meetings & interviews with key government ministries at central and State level
and ECD actors such as Faith-based NGOs, Yinthway Foundation,and Save the
Children.
Based on the information obtained above, develop methodologies for costing of selected
school-based preschools and do projections for the proposed Kindergartens to be added
to the national system. Projection should include all cost and financial aspects: number of
kindergarten teachers needed, teacher training needs, infrastructure cost, supplies and
materials, development of a national curriculum, quality standards (teacher child ratio,
etc.). Annual cost by MoE should be estimate with proposed financing mechanisms
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Based on the main objective of the ECCD policy (increasing access of young
children and their families to quality ECD services), create scenarios that will
demonstrate how school-based preschools and proposed Kindergartens can be
expanded within the primary schools in Myanmar with an estimation of their cost
and identification of sources/modalities of funding (fully by government, cost
sharing with private sector and communities, etc.).
Build capacity of key ministries: Finance, Education, and Social Welfare at each step
including planning and projection based on information on costing and financing of
school-base preschools and Kindergarten.
Hold orientation/sensitization session with key senior officials for their buy-in as part of
capacity building.
Prepare a draft report and presentation on costing and financing of ECD services in
Myanmar with recommendations on next steps to the government counterparts and other
ECD stakeholders for feedback. This could also include sharing of best practices on costeffective approaches in other countries.
Finalization of the report based on feedback received.
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3.
End product(s) and delivery dates and details (how the work must be delivered,
i.e. electronic submission, hard copy, on what computer programme etc.)
The consultant is expected to deliver the following:
1.
Completion of mapping & costing exercise of selected existing school-based
preschools and some community based preschools for comparison, development
of methodology and data collection (by Day 10)
2.
Submission of draft report consisting of analysis of mapping of school-based
preschools and 1 year kindergarten, different scenarios for expansion of these
services with estimated costs and financing options, and recommendations in hard
and soft copy.(By Day 30)
A suggested outline of the report (35-50 pages) will cover the following:
- Executive summary
- Background
- Objectives of the Study
- Methodology
- Key Findings: Mapping & costing of selected existing school-based preschools in
Myanmar costing for 3 possible scenarios of expanding Kindergarten abd schoolbased preschool (high, medium and low cost) at national level with especial focus on
prioritising initially to target the poor, disadvantaged and rural populations and possible
financing options with a financial plan for implementing the different scenarios.
- Conclusions
- Recommendations to improve the financing of school-based and Kindergarten
services in a most equitable manner
3. Presentation and feedback meeting with key stakeholders (government & NGOs by
Day 32). This could be done through telecommunication systems.
4. First draft report submitted to UNICEF by Day 35
5. Final draft report with comments of all stakeholders incorporated submitted to UNICEF by Day
40
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All products should be an electronic submission.
4. Contract Supervisor and frequency of performance reviews:
Chief of Education Section
5.
Estimated duration of contract: 40 working days (30 days in-country)
and 10 from own base spread between July to September 2013
6. Official Travel involved, if any:
If the travel permit is granted by the Government, the consultant will visit some ECD
project sites in selected townships.
7.
Payment schedule & Fee
1st Payment: Upon delivery of the methodology (25%) by day 10
2nd Payment: Upon delivery of the first draft report (35%) by day 35
3rd Payment: Upon delivery of final report (45%) by day by day 40
8.
Qualification or Specialized Knowledge/Experience Required:
The consultant must have following criteria to be eligible to apply for the assignment
1. Minimum of a masters degree in economics/public financing systems;
2. Extensive expertise in carrying out financial feasibility studies in the field of
ECD/education in developing countries;
3. Strong research writing and analytical skills;
4. Good communication, including oral and report writing
5. Teamwork abilities;
6. Familiarity with new development aid modalities(Paris Declaration & One UN) and
socio-economic reforms
7. Experience of dealing with Ministries in other developing countries on similar issues
8. Knowledge of UNICEF priorities would be an asset
9. Minimum 10 years experience in relevant field
13. Confidentiality:
The documents produced during the period of this consultancy will be treated strictly
confidential and the rights of distribution and/or publication solely resides with UNICEF.
14.
Recourse:
UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is
unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines.
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