Non-Staff Consultant (Windhoek, Namibia) contract

Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: Windhoek

Job Family: Education

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 1 to 6 months

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Namibian Time) : 13-DEC-2024

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

CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

Review of the Existing Digital Content for Basic Education in Namibia
UNESCO Windhoek Office, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture in Namibia, seeks a qualified and experienced consultant to conduct a review of existing digital content for basic education in Namibia. The goal of this consultancy is to analyse existing digital learning resources, identify content gaps, and recommend strategies for developing high-quality, curriculum-aligned digital content.  This work will contribute to enhancing the quality of education in Namibia through inclusive ICT integration.

Terms of Reference

1. Background
The UNESCO-Korean Funds-in-Trust (KFIT) Project, “ICT Transforming Education in Africa – Phase III”, aims to empower schools in beneficiary countries, including Namibia, to provide sustainable and uninterrupted access to quality education through the strategic integration of ICT. This initiative recognizes the potential of technology to enhance teaching and learning practices.
Following the inception of the project in Namibia, a needs assessment was conducted to identify key challenges and opportunities for ICT integration in education. The needs assessment revealed critical gaps, including a shortage of high-quality, curriculum-aligned inclusive digital teaching and learning content. Currently, content gaps exist for specific grade levels and subjects. The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, through the National Institute for Educational Development is leading an initiative to develop teaching and learning digital material for the Senior Primary phase (grades 4-7); however, most of these materials are still under development.  Furthermore, the ministry, in partnership with the Namibian College of Open Learning (NAMCOL), developed digital content for grades 8-12 during the COVID-19 pandemic, this content, available on the Notesmater platform, has limitations such as limited interactivity and a lack of accessibility features.
The assessment further highlighted challenges related to:
•    Content gaps: A shortage of interactive, engaging, and accessible digital content aligned with the curriculum, failing to cater to learners with special learning needs.
•    Quality standards: The absence of national quality standards for digital educational content, including accessibility guidelines.
•    Limited awareness: Lack of awareness among stakeholders about available digital resources.
This consultancy contributes to Outcome 1 of the project, which aims to ensure that teachers and learners have easy access to high-quality, curriculum-aligned digital content, by focusing specifically on the development of a comprehensive collection of open and inclusive digital learning materials. This will involve a thorough review of existing content to identify gaps and prioritize the creation of new digital content that meet the diverse needs of Namibian learners and promote equitable access to quality education.

2. Objectives

The goal of this consultancy is to inform the development of high-quality, inclusive, and curriculum-aligned digital content that meets the diverse learning needs of Namibian students and can be easily accessed by teachers and learners through the national digital platform.

The main objectives of this consultancy are to:

• Conduct a review of existing digital content for basic education in Namibia, assessing its scope, curriculum alignment, quality, and inclusivity.
• Determine gaps in existing curriculum-aligned content and provide recommendations for content development.
• Establish a clear and efficient process for developing high-quality digital content that meets the needs of Namibian teachers and learners.
• Create a clear roadmap for implementing the recommendations for digital content development and dissemination.

3. Scope of Work
Under the authority of the Head of Office of UNESCO Windhoek, and direct supervision of the National Project Officer for ICT in Education, the consultant will undertake the following activities to review the existing curriculum-aligned content to determine gaps for further content development. This will involve:
1.    Developing an assessment tool for evaluating digital content, considering the aspects like scope, curriculum alignment, quality, inclusivity, accessibility, and relevance to the Namibian context.
2.    Collecting and analyzing data on existing digital content using the developed assessment tool and preparing a detailed assessment report identifying gaps and recommendations for further content development.
3.    Developing a workflow plan for digital content creation that outlines the process for creating new digital content, including quality assurance standards and procedures. 
4.    Develop a detailed costed work plan for the development of digital content. 

4. Deliverables
The consultant will deliver the following:
•    Inception Report outlining the proposed assessment methodology and work plan.
•    Assessment tool for evaluating digital content.
•    Assessment report outlining the key findings of the assessment of the existing digital content with recommendations for further content development.
•    A workflow plan for content development that outlines the process for creating new digital content, including quality assurance standards and procedures.
•    Costed work plan for the development of digital content.

5. Duration of the Assignment 
The consultancy is expected to be completed within 35 working days from the date of signing the contract. A detailed work plan with timelines for each deliverable will be developed in consultation with UNESCO upon commencement of the contract.
 

6. Qualifications and Experience

The ideal consultant should possess the following qualifications and experience:
•    An advanced degree (Master’s or equivalent) in education, technology, instructional design, or related field.
•    A minimum of 5 years of demonstrable experience in the field of ICT in education, with a proven track record in developing and implementing digital learning strategies, designing and evaluating digital learning content, and conducting needs assessments and managing educational technology projects.
•    In-depth understanding of current trends and best practices in ICT integration in education.
•    Strong knowledge of curriculum design and development, pedagogical approaches, and assessment strategies.
•    Excellent analytical, reporting, communication, and interpersonal skills.
•    Knowledge of the Namibian education system would be an add