Early Childhood Education (Ece) Consultant

1)        Rationale The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is in the process of designing and launching a new Early Childhood Education (ECE) pilot for marginalized Syrian refugee children in Lebanon. The first stage of this design process will be a thorough desk review of ECE materials and approaches already finalized and being utilized in the Lebanon-context. This national-level desk review will also include a review of IRC’s globally-developed Preschool Healing Classrooms materials. The purpose of this consultancy is, therefore, to recruit a short term (15 days) technical consultant for the desk review of existing ECE materials. 2)        Objective       (i)       To lead in the desk review of ECE materials                 (1)  Complete a full desk review of existing ECE materials from international and national NGOs established in Lebanon, as well as the Government of Lebanon’s existing KG materials, private school ECE materials and IRC’s existing Preschools Healing Classrooms materials (teacher and student guides/scope and sequences)                 (2)  Identify and analyze gaps in existing packages, as well as areas of technical overlap. Analyze overall technical design in targeting Lebanon KG-standard learning objectives and programming                 (3)  Deliver full written desk review with recommendations intended to guide new ECE design for IRC                 (4)  Provide a presentation (in person and on powerpoint) on major comment themes / trends, gaps, recommendations, and proposed ways forward for IRC’s ECE project design and pilot program. 3)    Methodology       a)  Review, collect, and collate materials as well as provide an initial desk review of existing ECE materials, including:            i)      International NGO ECE packages/programs (minimum 3)            ii)     National NGO ECE packages/programs (minimum 2)            iii)    MEHE Official Lebanese Curriculum KG 1/2/3 curriculum             iv)   Private school ECE packages/programs (minimum 3)         b)    Overlap and gap analysis of existing materials, based upon agreed-upon competencies and objectives       c)   Drafting of desk review findings, including:             i)      Overall description of each package/program’s                      (1)  Learning outcomes and objectives                      (2)  Target population                      (3)  Implementation details                      (4)  Learning objectives                      (5)  Activities                      (6)  Modalities                      (7)  Scope and Sequence overview                      (8)  Duration                      (9)  Advantages and Disadvantages              ii)     Gaps in existing materials              iii)    Recommendations for design work of new package, including:                     (1)  Duration/Structure                     (2)  Learning Outcomes                     (3)  Materials sourcing                     (4)  Preschool Healing Classrooms integration and adaptation       d)Revision of draft desk review based on IRC inputs and feedback       e)Delivery of an oral presentation with accompanying powerpoint presentation and written finalized comprehensive desk review.       f) Final sign off approval by IRC 4)    Main Duties and Responsibilities       a)   Conducting a desk review of existing packages       b)    Delivery of oral presentation and powerpoint on summary of the finalized desk review       c)    Delivery of written finalized desk review that provides recommendations and findings  on the best recommended structure and framework for new ECE program 5)        Qualifications Required       a)     Masters in Education with specific and specialized experience in Early Childhood curriculum development and/or design (3 years experience minimum)       b)    Experience working with CERD and/or MEHE/MOSA in technical capacity (focusing on ECE)       c)    NGO experience with educational materials development/and or design (specifically for the Syrian refugee student/child population)       d)    Fluency in English and Arabic 6)        Deliverables       a)  A full desk review of existing ECE materials and packages (based on 3a)       b)  Recommendations on the most appropriate structure and framework for new ECE program, including:            i)      Duration/Structure            ii)     Materials sourcing            iii)    Learning outcomes            iv)    Preschool Healing Classrooms integration and adaptation      c) Oral presentation and PowerPoint summary of finalized desk review. 7)    Reporting line Reports to the IRC Education Coordinator   8)    Work location(s) She/he will be housed at the IRC Beirut offices and/or offsite, as needed 9)    Schedule : Short-term contract (with deliverables as of January 2016)