Country: Georgia
Closing date: 05 Nov 2017
Terms of Reference: Coding component of “A Bright Future Together” project
1.Program Context
Abkhazia is one of the regions in the South Caucuses where conditions today are worse off than they were 25 years ago. With a total area over 8000 km2 positioned in the south-western flank of the Caucuses, Abkhazia remains largely isolated with its population enduring widespread poverty, unemployment, limited access to the outside world and poor economic and social conditions. With an estimated population of 250,000, the majority of the region’s population survives mainly on subsistence farming, small scale agriculture activities, seasonal work during the summer tourist season and petty trade.
Many of the communities remain fairly homogenous in terms of ethnic composition. They live isolated from each other, with little interaction that creates space for unspoken fears, myths and negative stereotypes that hinder opportunities for dialogue and reconciliation. Public life in Abkhazia is overshadowed by the legacy of the conflict and traditional values favoring seniority. The education system in particular is in urgent need of reform, optimization and investment to address the dilapidated school infrastructure and lack of access to teaching materials, libraries and IT equipment. Youth living in largely mono-ethnic environments have very few opportunities to interact with their peers coming from other communities of Abkhazia and little incentives to get engaged in addressing issues affecting their communities.
Youth in Abkhazia currently lack platforms for development of leadership skills, as well as promoting engagement in societal issues facing the region. Poor youth representation in public reduces the ability of society to generate positive change and overcome the inherent fragility and risk of instability.
To address this need and enable youth in Abkhazia to become agents for positive change, World Vision is proposing the establishment of a Youth Leadership Platform that seeks to achieve a two-pronged objective of developing youth leadership skills as well as introducing youth to computer sciences and to equip them with the knowledge and skills to harness the power of technology to address the challenges facing their communities. To achieve this objective, World Vision will facilitate the introduction of Youth Clubs and establish two Youth computer clubs. This will be implemented in five districts of Abkhazia, reaching in addition to the returnee population in the district of Gali and two adjacent eastern districts, two locations in the western part of Abkhazia. Confidence building will be mainstreamed across all elements of the project contributing to an environment that promotes tolerance and mutual respect among different ethnic communities living in Abkhazia.
2.Consultancy Objectives
Within the previous project entitled “Young Leaders for Peace and Development in Abkhazia” funded by PRM[1], World Vision launched two coding laboratories where target youth studied HTML, CSS and Java Script coding languages. The baseline evaluation revealed that prior to the training, only 10% of IT Lab trainees had basic knowledge of the suggested course of programming, however there has been a high number of course applications, as well as growing youth motivation to participate in the course. Youth recognize the importance of embracing IT skills that further catalyze analytical thinking and real problem solving, encourage innovation and adaptability, collaboration in team situations and communicating effectively.
The two target schools in Gali and Sukhumi which hosted the Coding Laboratories have expressed their interest to keep the laboratories open beyond the project’s end. The school computer teachers who attended the coding classes together with the target youth gained new skills and are now able to incorporate the new learning into their routine computer classes for public school students. This ensures that the target school graduates acquire additional IT related skills that will increase their future employability.
Hour of Code and Youth Computer Clubs
The current project “A Bright Future Together” looks to expand participation in computer science and enable youth to harness the power of technology to address pressing issues, educational tools will be proposed to help the youth to increase access and understanding of computer sciences and to learn computer coding in two districts of Abkhazia, in Gali and Tkuarchal. This initiative will target new youth aged 14-18 years old. An Hour of Code will be introduced to at least 560 students, providing an hour of exposure to computer science for all participating students that will help demystify computer programming and raise interest in computer sciences.
In addition to the introduction of the Hour of Code, World Vision will facilitate the establishment of two Youth Computer Clubs based respectively in Tkuarchal and Gali, providing full time access to computers, internet connection and context appropriate and safe meeting environment. Students will undergo rigorous training following a structured methodology contextualized for use in Abkhazia by recognized IT experts on the basis of the material made freely available within the project.
In this regard, the main purpose of the consultancy is to support establishing Youth Computer Clubs, developing relevant training program and running a capacity building process for the target Youth Club Facilitators, IT teachers and the project team.
3.Key Outputs and Methodologies
- The consultant will develop a full course curriculum as well as ToT training methodology. The Computer Science curricula developed for use in the Computer Clubs will run for eight months (two-hour sessions twice a week) and consist of the following:
a) Training on Hour of Code for target IT teachers from 6 target schools, including provision of materials for Hour of Code presentation to students.
b) Support selection of students for a comprehensive 8-month IT course through development of tests and application forms considering both technical and WV selection criteria.
c) Provision of professional training and mentoring to 2 local IT professionals who will run the Computer Clubs
d) Introduction to Computer Science (Students will be introduced to the basic concepts of computer science, basics of programming and algorithms, study of computer components and the operating systems; introduction to digital design; basics of technical design, mobile robotics systems as well as self-development of applications in amateur robotics; 3D printing; visual programming environment and toolkits used when making games, animated stories, and interactive art).
e) Support the IT Club Facilitators and Youth with development and implementation of joint community service mini-projects, on themes such as Disability, Child Protection, and Environmental Protection (Youth Club participants (from another project component) will work on the ideas for social project design and the youth from the Computer Clubs will suggest technologically innovative approaches for the joint projects and support their implementation).
The consultant will train and provide ongoing supportive supervision to two locally hired IT professionals who will serve as student coaches for both clubs throughout the duration of the action.
Provision of 2 stations for 3D printing and robotics and all necessary supplies enough to reach the project goals.
4.Qualifications and Experience required
Strong technical experience in Computer Sciences including computer coding, robotics, 3D modelling and printing, digital and technical design
Strong experience in conducting training including the ToT component
Relevant university degree in computer sciences
Ability to work independently with little direction
Strong English and Russian communication (oral and written)
Cross-cultural sensitivity, flexible world view and emotional maturity
Willingness and ability to travel to Abkhazia, interact with staff, community and primary/secondary stakeholders
Relevant skills necessary to execute well-designed, professional documents and reports
Timeframe:
The consultancy is expected to be conducted within the period of November 2017 – September 2018
Development a full course curriculum as well as ToT training methodology on computer sciences -
7 days - November’17 - Home based
ToT on Coding, basics of 3D printing and robotics as well as Hour of Code for Computer Club Facilitators - 5 days - November’17 - In country
Providing online supportive supervision support to the Youth Computer Club Facilitators -
4 hours per month throughout consultancy duration - November’17 -September’18 - Home based
Technical support visit to provide supportive supervision to the target facilitators - 3 days - May’18 - In country
Providing on-job support when developing final social projects - 4 days - August-September’18 - In country
Final assignment report - 1 day – September - Home based
TOTAL DAYS HOME BASED
8 days + online consultancy period
TOTAL DAYS IN-COUNTRY
12 days
TOTAL CONSULTANCY PERIOD November 2017 – September 2018
Costs covered by World Vision International
The consultancy has a lump sum budget and any incurring expenses should be covered by it. The consultant is responsible for budget breakdown for particular activities within the submitted offer. Abkhazia Program Team will provide only logistical support and transportation for field work within Abkhazia.
How to apply:
Required Documents for Bid:
· Legal registration/certification (if available)
· CV (Curriculum Vita)with Business questionnaire (attached)
· Proposed budget Breakdown with Work Timeline
Submission Guidelines:
· All costs should be input in USD
· Bid Submission is due by 5 November 2017
· Questions should be emailed directly to: Khanifa_Otyrba@wvi.org, Micheline_ekmekjian@@wvi.org,
· Final submission should be emailed directly to: Khanifa_Otyrba@wvi.org, Micheline_ekmekjian@@wvi.org,