National Consultant on Digital Transformation in Education (Phnom Penh, Cambodia) contract Full Time

Parent Sector : Education Unit, UNESCO Phnom Penh Office

Duty Station: Phnom Penh, Cambodia

 Type of contract : Non-staff

Duration of contract : 11 months, tentatively December 2024 to November 2025

Recruitment open to : Cambodian National

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 4 December 2024

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

I.    BACKGROUND
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) in Cambodia, together with its partners, is committed to providing inclusive, quality education and lifelong learning for all, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4). This, in turn, supports the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC)’s development agenda, the Pentagonal Strategy – Phase I, which was launched in August 2023 as the country’s long-term socioeconomic strategy, to be implemented in phases over the next 25 years. 
Building on the success of the Strengthening Teacher Education Programmes in Cambodia (STEPCam), UNESCO and the MoEYS are implementing the second phase of STEPCam (STEPCam Phase II) from 2024 to 2026, financed by the $12.62 million System Transformation Grant (STG) from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE).

STEPCam Phase II aims to improve student learning outcomes in Cambodia by improving the quality of education through support for robust systems of initial and continuous teacher education and mentoring for classroom teachers and the advancement of digital strategies for teaching, learning, and education management. The programme focuses on a set of interventions across four components:
•    Component 1 supports the national reform of the pre-service teacher education system, including the shift to a 12+4 system, to ensure new teachers enter the profession qualified and well-trained
•    Component 2 strengthens and expands the CPD system and its connections to the Teacher Career Pathway (TCP), supporting and incentivising teachers to upgrade their knowledge and competencies leading to career advancement
•    Component 3 supports the training and mentoring of classroom teachers in early grade learning (EGL), including strengthening systems of formative assessments and student tracking to better monitor learning and support all students
•    Component 4 promotes a uniform approach to digital transformation in Cambodia’s education system and the effective use of digital tools for quality teaching, learning, and education management.

II.    SCOPE OF THE ASSIGNEMNT
Under the overall authority of the UNESCO Representative in Cambodia, the supervision of the Chief of Education Unit and direct supervision of the STEPCam Programme Manager, the Consultant will provide technical support to the STEPCam programme in the following areas of work:
1.    Act as the focal point for Component 4 of the programme and lead the technical support to MoEYS departments in managing, planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of STEPCam Phase II’s Component 4: Digital Transformation in Education – Preparing for the effective adoption of digital strategies for education delivery activities to achieve the component’s expected outcomes and outputs. Specific tasks include:
a.    Work closely with relevant MoEYS technical departments and education institutions (e.g., Directorate General of Teacher Education and Development, Department of Digital Transformation and Teacher Education Institutions) to implement Component 4’s annual workplans, including liaising and coordinating between departments as necessary, facilitating communications between international and/or national specialists and other national counterparts
b.    Regularly monitor and oversee the implementation of Component 4’s activities against the approved workplans and budget, liaising closely with relevant technical departments, including leading and participating in monitoring missions at the sub-national level and preparing inputs into the overall STEPCam M&E framework
 

e.    Provide support for the coordination and quality assurance of the rapid assessment of teacher ICT competencies and the development and finalisation of Cambodia’s ICT Competency Framework for Teachers
f.    Provide technical support and oversight for the establishment and operationalisation of the EdTech Innovation Hub, including the recruitment and capacity building of management and technical teams, assessing and overseeing the procurement and installation of necessary infrastructure, and assisting the MoEYS in enhancing the Hub’s visibility and reputation through partnership development, campaigns and events

2.    Support the Senior National Programme Officer to plan and manage the expansion and national rollout of the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) system under Component 2 of STEPCam Phase II:
a.    Provide technical support for the development of blended CPD offerings to build professional capacity of the target groups of primary school teachers according to their identified needs
b.    Provide quality assurance for the implementation of the blended CPD offerings, focusing on the self-learning components using the MoEYS’ Learning Management System
c.    Work with Master Trainers to ensure that the target groups of teachers receive the necessary ICT-related support for successful completion of the self-learning tasks of the blended CPD offerings 
d.    Provide technical support for the preparation, management, and evaluation of a national teacher conference
e.    Provide technical input for expansion of the CPD system to include self-directed CPD, particularly that which involves the use of digital technologies for teaching and learning

3.    Provide technical assistance and support for UNESCO’s role as a strategic partner in Cambodia’s education sector, including its engagement with education policy discussions and sector coordination mechanisms with government entities and development partners:
a.    Take a leading role to ensure UNESCO’s engagement in the areas of education technology and digital transformation in education
b.    Support any upcoming new tasks or initiatives in the areas of education technology, CPD, teacher education and digital transformation in education        

4.    Carry out any other tasks assigned by the STEPCam Programme Manager to facilitate the implementation of programme activities

III.    CONTRACT DURATION

The duration of the contract will be for a period of 11 months, tentatively from December 2024 to November 2025, with the possibility of extension subject to satisfactory performance and the availability of funds. The Consultant is expected to work full-time and will be physically based at the UNESCO Phnom Penh Office. It is expected that the Consultant will closely liaise with relevant MoEYS technical departments. The Consultant may be required to undertake missions, which will be organised in close consultation with MoEYS technical departments and UNESCO. The UNESCO Phnom Penh Office will provide support for the arrangements of missions as required.

IV.    DELIVERABLES
The National Consultant shall submit monthly progress reports to their supervisor(s) before each monthly payment on the tasks undertaken and accomplished in line with the above-mentioned responsibilities.

V.    REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education
•    Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in education, pedagogy, information technology, education technology, or other relevant fields.

Professional experience
•    At least 5 years of professional experience in the field of education, teacher education, education technology or other relevant fields
•    Demonstrated experience in the planning, management, implementation and monitoring of programmes in the education sector in Cambodia
•    Proven capacity to build and maintain effective partnerships inside and outside of an organization
•    Proven conceptual and analytical skills, including the demonstrated ability to provide advice and technical support on education, teacher education and professional development, ICT in education, SDG4-Education 2030
•    Demonstrated experience in engaging with senior government officials
 

Skills and competencies
•    Excellent coordination and interpersonal skills
•    Good knowledge and understanding of government functioning
•    Solid understanding of the education and teacher development context in Cambodia, its key challenges and possible solutions
•    Ability to take initiative, establish priorities and capacity to work efficiently under pressure
•    Comfortable with working in a multicultural workplace, ability to work in a team to achieve shared objectives

Language Skills
•    Excellent proficiency in (written and spoken) English and Khmer

VI.    DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
•    Work experience: At least 7-10 years of professional experience in the field of education, teacher education, education technology or other relevant fields in Cambodia
•    Experience working with the UN, and knowledge of UN regulations and guidelines
•    Good understanding of UNESCO’s mandate, procedures and policies