Senior Financial and Cost-effective Analysist – Short Term Consultancy

Senior Financial and Cost-effective Analysist – Short Term Consultancy

for the Quality Instruction towards Access and Basic Education Improvement” QITABI Program

Background  

QITABI is a five-year $46.2 million USAID-funded project, that will improve both access to education and learning outcomes in primary schools, in addition to supporting institutional effectiveness across MEHE (Ministry of Education and Higher Education) in Lebanon. QITABI aims to improve outcomes in reading at the primary level, under the assumption that increased literacy directly correlates to increased academic and professional achievement. Improved facilities, services, and teaching – along with more effectively engaged communities and school councils – will not only improve learning outcomes, but also increase the chances of youth remaining in the formal education system. The project has three components:

• Component 1: Improving reading outcomes for primary level public school students
• Component 2: Expanding access to safe and relevant education for vulnerable public-school students
• Component 3: Strengthening management (resilience) in the education system to better direct and monitor education

World Learning, under its QITABI project, has an immediate vacancy for a short-term consultant “Financial and Cost Analysis Specialist – Short Term Consultancy” for 15-day. This position is open for a person who has extensive previous experience in this field and Lebanon’s public sector.

 To apply: Please send your resume to recruitment@qitabi.org with the post title on the subject line along with a cover letter (in English) explaining why you are best qualified for this position. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. Qualified candidates should apply as soon as possible.

Scope and Responsibilities

As part of its implementation philosophy, QITABI aims to draw on the lessons learnt during the lifetime of the programme to guide future interventions. Towards this end, the programme, QITABI is a cooperation programme implemented the World Learning (WL), based on a bilateral agreement

The purpose of this assignment is to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of two interventions that were taken over by QITABI programme, namely:

• Supplying selected public schools with ICT equipment to support traditional learning methods.
• Facilitating transportations to schools through the provisions of school buses for public schools.

The consultant will provide compelling arguments for decision and policy makers on the importance of such interventions and their effectiveness in contributing to achieving the broader education sector goals, mainly in improving access to education and quality of learning. More specifically, he will:

1. Develop an annotated outline detailing the different steps that will be followed to perform the cost-effectiveness analysis.
2. Consult with available international literature regarding the theoretical impact that these interventions might have, mainly in terms of improving access to education and enhancing quality of learning.
3. Analyse and quantify the benefits, costs and overall impact of the interventions, if possible on the different affected groups (students, teachers, parents, community, MEHE, etc).
4. Develop a comprehensive cost-effective model for the above-mentioned interventions detailing the different cost factors and highlighting the quantitative and qualitative benefits generated by these interventions.
5. Develop compelling arguments for the cost effectiveness of these interventions highlighting the lost opportunity of not putting similar interventions in place,
6. Produce a report with clear and compelling cost effectiveness financial arguments supporting the roll-out of such interventions.
7. Conduct consultation meetings with the implementation team.

Expected deliverables

1. A detailed outline of the steps to be conducted in the cost-effectiveness analysis.
2. A report of the cost-effectiveness analysis supported with the necessary arguments and evidence.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in economics, financial and/or education, or a relevant field
• A minimum of ten years of demonstrated relevant experience
• Technical expertise in cost effective analysis and institutional strengthening
• Extensive experience/knowledge of the Lebanese public sector
• Demonstrated experience working on donor funded projects with similar scopes of work
• Demonstrated knowledge of USAID rules, regulations, and reporting requirements desired
• Full professional proficiency in spoken and written English and Arabic is required
• Commitment to inclusive programming

 “World Learning is an equal employment opportunity committed to increasing the diversity of its workforce.”