Early Childhood Development Consultant - Beirut

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities that support them, as well as with those who remain within their homes and communities. At-work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. IRC reaches over a million children annually with education and child protection programs in 25 countries around the world.

Aiming at achieving a sustainable impact on a child's life in a cost-effective way by using easy to replicate activities that are tailored to and integrated in existing early childhood development (ECD) systems across the region; the IRC ECD Lebanon is keen on building a new generation of children who grow to be productive, healthy; kind adults and communities and societies have greater social cohesion and are more peaceful. The IRC ECD Lebanon is collaborating with the Center for Educational Research and Development (CERD) to improve access to ECD quality content through provision of SEL and learning though play resources that complement existing formal education curriculum across Lebanon.

There are currently ten committees within CERD working on developing different modules of the national curriculum. These committees comprise of organizing the competencies approach and evaluation policy, the educational ladder and the organization of the school year, language policy, learning gap and transitional stage, capacity building and development, inclusive education, educational and school administration, non-formal education, relationship between Vocational Training Education (VTE) and higher education and early childhood.

Purpose of Consultancy:

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical support to the ECD committee in the development of a national ECD policy framework, implementation plan, and monitoring and evaluation plan.

 The ECD consultant will specifically engage on the early childhood development committee and will:

• Review existing ECD policies, strategies, and plans in the country and internationally, and identify best practices that can inform the development of a national ECD policy framework.
• Facilitate a consultative process with relevant stakeholders to develop a national ECD policy framework, implementation plan, and monitoring and evaluation plan.
•  Provide technical assistance to the ECD committee in the development of a communication strategy for the dissemination of the national ECD policy framework.
• Actively guide, supervise and steer the ECD content with the committee members to ensure material developed respond to the different areas for development for a child.
• Develop the ECD component within the curriculum with the committee with the support of partners.
• Provide technical input on ECD content based on best practices and evidence.
• Actively read all relevant Nurturing Care Framework material (handbook and practice guide) to familiarize herself/himself with the NCF approach; and ensure the components included on ECD are in-line with the Nurturing Care Framework.
• Actively engage in the curriculum review process and provide technical input.
• Coordinate with the Curriculum Development Experts and Curriculum Development Coordinators in securing the optimal conditions for the ECD/ECE curriculum revision kick-off, namely from content relevant and content design perspectives.
• Develop and implement coordinated and integrated Early Childhood Development/Early Childhood Education Structure and Policy.
• Define Early Childhood Development/Early Childhood Education quality standards.
• Develop Early Childhood Development/Early Childhood Education monitoring framework and system.
• Draw on the latest trends in instructional methods, educational technology in the Early Childhood Development/Early Childhood Education.
• Provide technical support for the development of Early Childhood Development/Early Childhood Education’s staff motivation mechanisms, system and processes;

Expected Deliverables:
The consultant will be expected to produce the following deliverables:

• An inception report outlining the proposed methodology and work plan for the consultancy.
• A review report documenting the findings of the review of existing ECD policies, strategies, and plans.
• A draft of national ECD policy framework, implementation plan, and monitoring and evaluation plan.
• A final national ECD policy framework, implementation plan, and monitoring and evaluation plan incorporating feedback from stakeholders.
• A monitoring and evaluation framework for the implementation of the national ECD policy framework.
• A capacity building plan for the ECD committee and other relevant stakeholders.
• Developing the piloting materials for ECD program and a monitoring framework to monitor the piloting process.

Key Working Relationships:

CERD President and IRC ECD Senior Technical Quality Manager

Educational Background

• PHD in education, special education, or other social paramedical field with special focus on early childhood development, early childhood education and curriculum design.
• Project Management degree or certification is preferred.

Previous Experience

• At least 10 years of « professional » and / or « higher education » experience in early childhood development, early childhood education and curriculum design.
• Proficiency assessing and designing curriculum for early childhood education.
• Published work in academic journals.
• Proven experience with donor-funded projects is strongly preferred;
• Solid Knowledge and experience ECD, including nurturing care framework and care for child development approach;
• Solid knowledge and experience in Preschool Learning Foundations, and Curriculum Frameworks;
• Solid Experience of ECD/ECE programs in national and international context;
• Proven experience with public sector is a plus.
• Proven experience in facilitating consultative processes with diverse stakeholders.
•  Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills.
• Familiarity with the political and institutional context of the country.
• Experience in capacity building and training

​​​​​​​Languages

• Fluency in written and spoken Arabic, English and French.

Behavioral Skills              

• Timeliness and ability to deliver under tight deadlines.
• Ability to cope with pressure and mitigate challenges.
• Ability to convey complex information in a structured manner.
• Proven ability to work with a working team of diversified backgrounds.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.
• Strong analytical and presentation skills.
• Strong interpersonal, teamwork and communication skills.

Technical and computer skills

• Understanding of qualitative and quantitative approaches in educational research.
• Ability to design, implement and evaluate educational projects.
• Digitally savvy with advanced knowledge of MS Office.