In House Non-Formal Education Consultant

Who are we  Concern Worldwide is a non-governmental international humanitarian organisation, and was founded in 1968. Concern Worldwide currently operates in a number of countries across the globe, with its Head Office in Dublin. We work with the poor and vulnerable in the world’s poorest countries to help them bring about long-lasting change in their lives and realise their fundamental human rights; to food, to health, to education, and ultimately to a life of dignity. Together with local and international partners, and with the beneficiaries themselves, we respond to emergencies and undertake long term development work.  We work across the world to promote a better understanding of extreme poverty, and we campaign for local and global action that will help reduce this. BACKGROUND: Concern Worldwide is implementing an integrated Programme with a specific objective of improving access to learning opportunities for vulnerable Children impacted by the Syrian crisis living in Akkar and Tripoli/T5, North Lebanon. This will be achieved through an integrated assistance programme which supports the learning needs of vulnerable children in a protective environment by establishing learning support centres; ensuring case management of protection issues and appropriate referral pathways for protection cases detected during the project cycle; as well as the rehabilitation of shelters and interventions to support security of tenure. Learning support centres will reach the most at-risk children and support their cognitive and social-emotional wellbeing while building the teachers' capacities and empowering the parents through home learning techniques. Academic and psychosocial resilience will be supported through early childhood education, life skills learning, jump start, homework support and language support classes for school retention.   OBJECTIVE OF THE CONSULTANCY The purpose of the consultancy is to support in the start-up and implementation of a non-formal education (NFE) programme in Akkar and T5 districts for Syrian refugees and vulnerable Lebanese children. Concern will implement 4 key NFE courses: Early Childhood Education (ECE), Jump Start Support (JSS), French Support (FS), and Homework Support (HWS) to build children’s core competencies and support their future educational opportunities. The Consultant will provide key inputs into the Education Programme strategies and approaches, including course curriculum, student assessments, teacher skills development and teaching methodology to ensure that the educational programme is delivered with high quality. Staff training will be requested throughout the programme. Part of the assignment can be completed remotely, with the expectation of field visits and training days at the Concern office in Akkar as determined with the Education Programme Manager.     SCOPE OF WORK   Provide input into Concern’s Curriculum Adaptation Strategy for Jumpstart, French Support, and CERD’s curriculum for ECE. Review the ECE curriculum and provide feedback and direct input into adaption strategies, approaches, and modules. Develop French Support Curriculum for 3 different levels in line with the Lebanese curriculum. Develop complementary materials to strengthen existing curriculum for ECE and Jumpstart. Develop Home Learning Techniques modules to be delivered for students’ parents/caregivers. Train the Education Team on the rationale behind what curriculum objectives were adapted/maintained for ECE, Jumpstart and French Support and advise on implementation approaches. Train the programme facilitators along with the field officers on different educational skills to improve the implementation approaches and methodology. Review the final student books and teacher manuals to be implemented and make recommendations for improvement. Contribute to the development of a teachers training manual, including technical inputs into early grade literacy and student centered facilitation.  Contribute to the development of teacher evaluations and student assessments. Provide input and develop a preliminary draft for student placement assessments to ensure that children are placed in the correct NFE course (French or Homework Support). Provide input and develop a preliminary draft for teacher evaluations that give structured and constructive feedback to improve teaching delivery. Train the Education Team on the materials, and advise on implementation approaches. Provide input into student assessments to track the demonstrated learning and competencies building throughout NFE courses. Other tasks as identified throughout the contract. Deliverables:  Initial desk review report at the inception of the consultancy French Support Curriculum Home learning techniques modules Teacher training manual Teacher evaluation forms Student assessment forms End of the consultancy report, providing recommendations and guidance on how to proceed with the project’s/programme’s implementation. Supporting documents: Concern Education Strategy – Lebanon, June 2014 RACE Lebanon Strategy - http://www.mehe.gov.lb/uploads/file/2015/Feb2015/Projects/RACEfinalEngl… UNICEF and ECHO proposals and logframes MEHE’s Unified ECE curriculum for KG 1, 2, and 3 in English, French, and Arabic     Essential Skills, Qualifications, Experience Required  Minimum Master’s Degree in an Education-related field from a reputable university;. Ongoing professional development as evidenced by increased work-related responsibility, continuing education, and/or participation in professional organizations; Minimum 5 years working experience in education, specifically within early grade literacy and numeracy teaching; Demonstrated and practical experience in curriculum design and materials development; Demonstrated and practical experience of training teachers in early grade literacy and numeracy; Demonstrated and practical experience working with student centred methodologies and alternative assessment techniques; Strong understanding of the Lebanese Ministry of Education and Higher Education curriculum; Strong understanding of the education sector within Lebanon, including within the Syrian humanitarian context; Self-motivated in order to keep track of tasks in a time sensitive manner; High self-awareness, ability to receive feedback positively for adjustment to materials, if needed; Fluent in English, Arabic and French; Commitment to Concern equal opportunity and gender practices, Concern’s Programme Participant Protection Policy and Concern’s accountability commitments; Experience working within non-formal education, and education in emergencies a plus. Administrative details Duration: The estimated duration of this assignment is between June 15th, 2017 and September 15th, 2017, with a possibility of extension. Renumeration: Remuneration will be based on experience of the incumbent.  The Consultant is expected to be available through email, phone calls and meetings as required, and respond in a timely manner to tasks with due dates as previously agreed upon. Reporting: The consultant will report to Pierre-Yves Malgorn (Programs Director) Farah El Omar (Education Programme Manager) and Zoran Suto (MEAL Manager). To apply please send a CV and a relevant portfolio for previous work (no less than 3 and no more than 5 pages) in English to Lebanon HR no later than June 4, 2017.