Consultancy Special Educator

All informations are compiled in the TOR attached. It is MANDATORY to read the full TOR before sending your application. 

1. Background

Mouvement Social (MS) has been working since 1961 towards sustainable development over all the Lebanese soil in a secular and nondiscriminatory approach. It aims to build a fair and humane society, to improve the citizenship and autonomy of the underprivileged through socio-economic development projects and to implicate Lebanese youths in the development and improvement of their society. Mouvement Social works to build social support networks as well as empower individuals to engage in the wider community. MS does not simply intervene on behalf of its beneficiaries to improve their access to their rights; it mainly works to increase societal awareness of social issues and lobbies decision makers (lawmakers) to promote policies that take into consideration the basic rights and needs of the underprivileged. Programs tackles alphabetization and education; youth socioeconomic empowerment; prevention and protection for children, youth and women; as well as support of local develop and citizenship with municipalities. MS action is implemented through 12 centers (Halba, Tripoli, Zahleh, Kfar Zabad, Bourj Hammoud, Sin El Fil, Jnah, Ghobeiry, Nabatiyeh, Saïda, Roumieh prison, Barbar El Khazen prison), working directly with the local communities and local authorities in coordination with the headquarters in Beirut.

In the frame of MS partnership with UNICEF, MS is mobilizing its experience and resources to enhance inclusiveness of its program. MS and UNICEF work together to ensure that children with disabilities are included in formal and non-formal education (3% target). MS seeks to enhance its approach with special needs – physical and mid-intellectual disabilities - beneficiaries focusing on children and youth. The support of a Special Educator will enable MS to enhance education support for children with disability and pursue accessibility in all its programs.

2. Objectives 

Special educator’ main goal is to support MS educators in new methods and approaches to adapt lessons and learning outcomes of various subjects (mainly math, Arabic and Foreign Language) for students with special needs, especially with learning difficulties or for students for mild disabilities. The Special Educator will actively support MS education team to ensure best educational practices toward children with disability and enable systematic individual education plan (IEP).

Duties and responsibilities:

Under the management of the executive responsible, and in close coordination with program manager and inclusion officer, main tasks of the special educator will be the following:

• Provide mentoring, methodological support and guidance to MS educators on specialized education for children with disabilities in learning (identifying special education needs, teaching techniques and teaching strategies for inclusion),
• Assess students’ skills to determine their needs and to develop Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and teaching plan in coordination with educators, social worker, head of center, Inclusion case worker and inclusion officer,

• Enable monitoring of the progress of the learners with special education needs and discusses with teachers and parents; collects data and maintains records of progress and development in coordination with all relevant members of MS team,
• Makes a recommendation on the pathway for the child after completion of training or cycle,
• Contribute to the provision of specialized services for children with disabilities as necessary, in coordination with Inclusion officer, Inclusion case workers, social workers and head of centers.
• Participate in all relevant meetings and trainings proposed by MS and partners
• Provides support and guidance to the families and ensures their engagement in family engagement activities

3. Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in specialized education, or education, or psychology,
• At least two years of relevant work experience in inclusiveness,
• Strong training, mentoring and facilitation skills,
• Strong coordination skills,
• Strong multitasking and organizational skills,
• Demonstrated willingness to be flexible and adaptable to changing priorities,
• Experience in working in a multidisciplinary environment,
• Excellent understanding of Lebanon education ecosystem (knowledge in CP is a plus),
• Good analytical and report writing skills,
• Developed skills with computer applications including word and Excel in particular,
• Advanced communication skills,
• Excellent command of both written and oral Arabic and English or French

4. Conditions of work

The Special Educator will operate under the supervision of executive director and in constant cooperation with project coordinators and inclusion officer.

The consultant will be based in Beirut office, in Badaro and will be required to conduct regular visits in areas of MS learning centers (Akkar, North, Beirut/Mont Lebanon, Bekaa, South and Nabatiyeh).

5. Schedule and deliverables 

The consultant is required to give 8 to 10 workdays in a period of 8 months including monthly visits to centers and remaining days in Badaro.

Working days will include tasks as:

• Visit to centers to train and coach educators,
• Establish a methodology for implementing IEPs according to children needs,
• Direct work with children in classrooms
• Follow up on cases with social workers and families if needed

Deliverables will be done as monthly swift reports of each visit including the team members met, the children assessed, and the recommendation for training and improvements.

A final report will be submitted in December (a first draft in November) including:

• Main achievements for team improvements (trainings, coachings, tools),
• Main impacts on children (description of all IEPs and further recommendation),
• Areas of development for the program in terms of inclusive education.

This report should not exceed 20 pages (excluding annexes) and the structure will be agreed upon with program coordinator.