Early Childhood Development Inclusion Consultant - Beirut - National Candidates Only

Background of the project 

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.

In response to the influx of Syrian refugees to Lebanon in mid-2012, IRC opened a country office and launched humanitarian assistance programming. IRC operates throughout Lebanon, with the main office in Beirut and field offices in Qobayat, Zahle, Tripoli and Mount Lebanon. IRC’s programs assist Syrian refugees and vulnerable Lebanese in host communities across multiple sectors: education, livelihoods, protection, women's protection and empowerment child protection and early childhood development in close coordination with a national partner, the Lebanese Government and broader humanitarian community.

High-quality Early Childhood Development (ECD) programs provide the foundation for children’s future academic success, health, prosperity, and wellbeing. A large body of scientific evidence emphasizes the need for increased investment in early childhood, particularly for children experiencing conflict, crisis, and displacement; these children are extremely vulnerable to the long-lasting effects that prolonged stress has on the developing brain.

In December 2017, Sesame Workshop and the IRC were awarded the MacArthur Foundation’s inaugural 100&Change grant to make real progress toward solving a critical problem of our time. With the extraordinary investment of $100 million, our partnership will transform the language, early reading, math, and social-emotional skills of a generation of children ages 0-8. Focusing on children in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria over the next five years, the plan combines the depth of in-person services, reaching 1.5 million children, with the breadth of mass media, reaching 9.4 million children. For more information, please visit: http://refugee.sesameinternational.org/.

Scope of work

The ECD Lebanon program is aiming to develop a resource guide and a training package on inclusion with ECD focus covering the Nurturing Care Framework components. As Ahlan Simsim has a particular focus on inclusion of children and/or caregivers with disabilities sensitivity of different gender, the ECD Inclusion consultant will provide a holistic inclusion work that covers the following tasks/ themes integrated into the developing materials:  

• Actively read all relevant Ahlan Simsim inclusion material to familiarize herself/himself with Ahlan Simsim approach.
• Actively read all relevant Nurturing Care Framework material (handbook and practice guide) to familiarize herself/himself with the NCF approach.
• Attend weekly one-hour check-ins with the Senior Technical Quality Manager.
• Develop an outline of the content for the different materials (Resource guide, Training. Manual) and map the existing resources/content that will be included in each section.
• Actively review a previously developed resource guide on responsive caregiving, provide technical input, suggest adaptations, and apply needed changes.
• Integrate the content on early learning opportunities into the newly developed resource guide and training manual.
• Produce new content including:  
  • Resource guide on early learning opportunities, responsive caregiving, health and nutrition interventions, and safety and security interventions for children with disabilities.  
  • Training guide on early learning opportunities, responsive caregiving, health and nutrition interventions, and safety and security interventions for children with disabilities.  
• Build capacities of ECD IRC teams through developing training plan agenda, and training the team on all developed content.
• Ensure that inclusion content adheres to best practices, professional global standards, and principles.
• All material to be submitted in the English Language.

Deliverables:

Deliverable

Delivery Date

1. 1- Outline of content (Resource guide and training guide)

March 17, 2022

2. 2- First Section of the Resource Guide (Introduction- Defining Disabilities- Early Learning Opportunities- Responsive Caregiving)

March 25, 2022

3- Second Section of the Resource Guide  (Health and Nutrition Interventions- Safety and Security Interventions- Conclusion- Appendices- References)

April 8, 2022

4- Reviewing the Resource Guide based on received feedback and applying all needed changes

April 29, 2022

5- Developing the Training Manual

May 10, 2022

6- Reviewing the Training Manual based on received feedback and applying all needed changes

May 31, 2022

7- Developing the training material (training presentation- training activities)

June 17, 2022

8- Training MoSA personnel and ECD Lebanon team on the developed content (3 days of training- 4 hours per day)

July 5, 2022

July 6, 2022

July 7, 2022

9- Training MoPH personnel and ECD Lebanon team on the developed content (3 days of training- 4 hours per day)

July 13, 2022

July 14, 2022

July 15, 2022

Payment Rate and Schedule:

Three payments upon submitting the following deliverables:

Deliverables 1-2-3-4:  35% of Total Payment

Deliverables 5-6:          35% of Total Payment

Deliverable 7-8-9:         30% of Total Payment

Requirements:                          

• Master’s degree or equivalent experience, in Special Education, Educational Psychology or related field. 
• Experience guiding the inclusion of children with disabilities. 
• Experience developing curricula and/or training materials. 
• Knowledge of the Middle Eastern context, Lebanon Context is an asset.  
• Experience in early childhood development.  
• Previous knowledge of the Nurturing Care Framework.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.