Inclusive Education Consultant

Job Description

Location: Amman, Kosovo<p><br></p>Group/Practice/Unit: Education<p><br></p>Who we are:<p><br></p>At IREX we strive for a more just, prosperous, and inclusive world—where individuals reach their full potential, governments serve their people and communities thrive.<p><br></p>But around the globe, persistent poverty, repression, and injustice prevent too many people from achieving their full potential. To address these problems, we focus on people, not on vaccines, roads, or wells. We support individuals and institutions to create change in their own communities—and to create person to person bridges between nations.<p><br></p>IREX works with partners in more than 100 countries in four areas essential to progress: cultivating leaders, empowering youth, strengthening institutions, and increasing access to quality education and information.<p><br></p>We are doers. Our decades of on-the-ground experience help us create greater impact, practical recommendations, and lasting partnerships.<p><br></p>Summary of Position<p><br></p>IREX seeks a qualified Inclusive Education Consultant for the USAID-funded Early Grade Education Activity (EGEA) in Jordan. The project goal is to advance national efforts to strengthen the caliber of pre- and in-service teacher education and improve Kindergarten through Grade 3 foundational and socioemotional skills across the Kingdom of Jordan. To support in achieving this, the consultant will provide technical assistance related to policy guidelines for inclusive education in Jordan, as well as developing materials, trainings, and presentations, adapting and testing assessment tools and methodologies, and data collection activities. S/he will also be responsible for the development of the Inclusive Education Assessment due on Sept 24, 2023.<p><br></p>Summary of Tasks:<p><br></p>Scope of Work for Consultant will focus on work and support around the following activities:<p><br></p><ul><li>Activity 1: Desk Research </li><li>Conduct a desk review of relevant studies, evidence-based approaches, reports, policy papers/strategies, and programs to better understand country context and key actors/stakeholders. </li><li>Analyze current international best practices that have integrated Inclusive Education within their education system and identify the best strategic areas applicable to Jordan. </li><li>Assess the existing conditions of service provision, capacity, strengths, and weaknesses of educational institutions through a review of documents and other relevant sources. </li><li>Review the availability and quality of existing data around the rights of children in vulnerable groups through documentation of research and evidence. </li><li>Ensure key learnings are extracted for MOE policies and incorporated into inclusive education analysis and regional listening forum content. </li><li>Prepare inception report outlining findings of desk research on gaps and develop list of recommendations on improvements oriented towards educational institutions and other educational stakeholders with regards to implementing inclusive education. </li><li>Activity 2: Regional Listening Forums </li><li>To ensure that applicable data is gathered during regional listening forums, the consultant will develop guiding questions that build on desk research findings and strengthen or refine methodologies to be used within forums. </li><li>Supports the IREX team in coordinating with the project donor and MOE counterparts on technical advisory, forum planning, and information gathering and sharing. </li><li>Contribute to the development of listening forum packages for (3) meetings which will include relevant notes, presentation materials, attendance sign-in sheets, and copies of any evaluation materials, assessment drafts, etc. </li><li>Facilitate regional listening forums, conduct discussions with relevant stakeholders on best practices, lessons learned, and opportunities they identify to improve inclusive education in Jordan. </li><li>Conduct three (3) regional listening forums that includes stakeholders from the government, early grade and higher education institutions, donor and community-based organizations, community members and vulnerable groups. </li><li>Activity 3: Data Analysis </li><li>Provide oversight and technical support of data collection and analysis, ensuring planning and analysis of applicable outcomes that relevant to submission inclusive education analysis. </li><li>Activity 4: Inclusive Education Analysis (2nd – 3rd week of September) </li><li>Based on desk research, and evidence gathered from listening forums, design and create the inclusive education assessment, detailing purpose, methodology, findings, and recommendations. </li><li>Overall Support: </li><li>Engage in relevant meetings, forums, and visits collating outcome data to document educational progress and relevant assessments into analysis. </li><li>Provide technical leadership to support programing in the areas of inclusive education and any other area that hinders access to education services for children, particularly those from vulnerable groups </li></ul><p><br></p><strong>Skills And Qualifications</strong><p><br></p><ul><li>University degree in human sciences, preferably education, pedagogy, psychology, sociology, or other humanities. Advanced degree will be an asset. </li><li>Minimum 5 years of professional experience in education policy in Jordan in the area of inclusive education. </li><li>Excellent knowledge of Jordanian education system and education policies, and experience in working with different public institutions in the area of inclusive education. </li><li>Demonstrated experience in developing and managing capacity development trainings and workshops for local partners, community-based organizations, etc. </li><li>Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving. </li><li>Demonstrated ability to work with host government and cooperating partners in implementing a complex project in the field under challenging circumstances. </li><li>Active interest in current issues in inclusive education topics teaching and learning, including mainstreaming students with disabilities in schools, etc. </li><li>Demonstrate excellence with communication skills, both orally and in writing to make formal and informal presentations and to compose professional and analytic reports and program documents. </li><li>Exceptional collaboration skills and proven track record in working effectively with program teams, government officials, educators, and other relevant stakeholders. </li><li>Evidence of ability to develop innovative practices and approaches that are responsive to educator needs, new knowledge about learning, and new state and education initiatives. </li><li>Strong research design, investigative, source analysis, and writing skills. </li><li>Ability to develop a detailed plan of work and to manage the multiple tasks needed to carry out that plan. </li><li>Ability to synthesize key points from large amounts of information into a digestible report/brief. </li><li>Demonstrate excellence with interpersonal and teamwork skills. </li><li>Superior written and oral communication skills in English. Competency in Arabic preferred. </li></ul><p><br></p>Deliverables<p><br></p>The consultant will submit the following documents and reports as part of the requirement for this consultancy:<p><br></p><ul><li>Inception report which includes descriptions of existing conditions of inclusive education in Jordan, and concept of improvements to address these conditions. </li><li>Written contributions for participating and facilitating regional listening forums. </li><li>Report on data gathering activities, including submission of raw and cleaned data, notes, and other documentation collected during activity. </li><li>Meeting Notes for all meetings, forums, workshops and activities. </li><li>Weekly Progress Reports during consultancy (August – September) </li><li>One (1) draft version of Inclusive Education Analysis by September 11, 2023. </li><li>One (1) Final Program Report by September 24, 2023. </li></ul><p><br></p>Powered by JazzHR<p><br></p>my4wyGk6w1