Country: Georgia
Closing date: 19 Jun 2016
International Experts for Two (2) Round Tables and Possible Follow-Up Advice on Mother Tongue Based Multilingual Education and National Language Development Through Education in Abkhazia, Georgia.
1. Background
The 1992-1993 war in Abkhazia, Georgia and the international blockade that followed had immensely downgraded the overall economic and social system in Abkhazia, Georgia. After 25 years, the conflict remains unresolved, slowing down the development of the region. Apart from the physical destruction, the war and international isolation has severely reduced the quality of education services. The overwhelming majority of schools in Abkhazia, Georgia are in very poor conditions and there is a constant lack of modern teaching resources, as well as skilled teachers. The limited financial resources of Abkhazia, Georgia do not allow for adequate support to the schools. The funds available are distributed among very few schools, predominately in the cities and town, which leads to a further degradation of schools in rural areas.
Even after the hardships of the last 25 years, Abkhazia, Georgia remains highly ethnically diverse in its population, with three main ethnic groups: Abkhaz, Armenian and Georgian. Abkhaz and Armenians are dispersed in various areas of Abkhazia, Georgia, while the Georgian population is predominantly living in the districts of Gal/i and Tkvarchal/Tkvarcheli, resulting in the marginalization and segregation of the Georgian inhabited areas from the rest of Abkhazia, Georgia. At the same time, the frustrations deriving from the protracted conflict with Georgia and related socio-economic hardships easily become politicized in Abkhazia, Georgia and the ethnic Georgian population is often portrayed as a disloyal group to be blamed.
Children of different ethno-linguistic communities in Abkhazia, Georgia today have very different chances to study in their mother tongue and children of each ethnic community face specific challenges. Whereas children of the Abkhaz and Armenian communities receive education in their mother tongue in school grades 1-4 before switching to Russian as language of instruction, children of the Georgian community have only limited opportunities to receive mother tongue education. 20 of those 31 schools in Abkhazia, Georgia with mainly ethnic Georgian children have been turned into Russian schools where Georgian is taught only as a subject or not at all. In the remaining 11 schools Russian was introduced as language of instruction in grades 1-4 since September 2015. Such a deprivation from learning in the child's mother tongue creates further dissatisfaction among the Georgian population, which, unless addressed urgently, might fuel resentment and hostilities between the divided communities.
At the same time, the position of the Abkhaz language and the quality of education in Abkhaz is a source of resentment. Due to a number of historic reasons, Abkhaz is the most vulnerable language among the four main languages in Abkhazia, Georgia (Abkhaz, Armenian, Georgian and Russian). This fuels resentment among the Abkhaz community and also makes decision makers hesitating to develop MLE, as the latter is seen to potentially further undermine the development of the Abkhaz language. There is thus a significant need to develop education in Abkhaz language including through the development of methodologies in teaching Abkhaz to Abkhaz and Non-Abkhaz speakers, as well as the elaboration of teaching materials in Abkhaz language.
In the course of 2015, UNICEF has carried out an Assessment of General Education in Abkhazia, Georgia in cooperation with the de facto MoE and elaborated recommendations on specific priority areas. To address one of the major problems identified in the Assessment, UNICEF also started a training programme for teachers on student-centred methodologies in the 4 Eastern districts of Abkhazia, Georgia. These activities and continuous consultations with the de facto MoE allowed UNICEF to establish a good level of understanding and trust with the de facto MoE and district education offices.
At the same time, the political leadership of Abkhazia, Georgia has started to elaborate a strategy for the development of the education sector and to draft a new education law that is supposed to include the framework for some form of bilingual or multilingual education. The de facto Ministry of Education (MoE) and the de facto President's Administration are leading this process. Understanding the complexity and challenges they face in reforming the education system, the de facto MoE and presidential administration, as well as the de facto MFA responsible for relations with international organizations, agreed to UNICEF's proposal on providing them with expertise on international best practices in mother-tongue based multilingual education (MTB MLE) and the development of Abkhaz language education.
For this purpose, UNICEF developed in August 2015 an advocacy paper on the benefits of the introduction of MTB MLE in schools in Abkhazia, Georgia. This paper and other materials were distributed during meetings with all relevant education stakeholders, most of whom had noted the necessity of systematizing the current education policies in Abkhazia, Georgia and developing bilingual or multilingual education. To promote MTB MLE, UNICEF is currently in the process of consulting with a core group of pragmatic decision makers on Abkhazia, Georgia's education policies, including representatives from the de facto ministries of education and foreign affairs, as well as the de facto presidential administration. This core group will be introduced to international best practices in MTB MLE, international experience with the positive impact of MTB MLE on social cohesion and students' learning achievements, as well as to approaches for national language development in the framework of MTB MLE. This knowledge transfer and capacity building will also include consultations and advice on how these international practices and experiences could be applied in practice in Abkhazia, Georgia.
For this purpose, UNICEF plans to hold at least two round tables and various follow-up consultations with relevant education stakeholders in Abkhazia, Georgia. To support these round tables and follow-up consultations, UNICEF seeks to recruit several experienced international experts/consultants in the field of MTB MLE
.**2. Objective of the Consultancy**
The objective of the consultancy is to advice relevant education stakeholders in Abkhazia, Georgia on international best practices and experiences in MTB MLE with regard to:
- International legal frameworks, standards and principles of child rights, human and minority rights, especially language and educational rights;
- Variations of MTB MLE practices in other countries and ingredients for success;
- The importance of MTB MLE for the learning achievements of children and for ensuring equal access to quality education for all children;
- The importance of MTB MLE for social cohesion in divided societies;
- Approaches to national language development in the framework of education and especially MTB MLE and experiences from other countries/regions, e.g. Wales/UK, Catalonia and/or Basque Country in Spain.
Depending on the progress in consultations with the relevant education stakeholders in Abkhazia, Georgia, one or several of the consultants might also be asked to carry out one or several follow-up consultancy assignments and visits to Abkhazia, Georgia to provide the de facto authorities and other relevant education stakeholders with additional expertise on specific aspects of MTB MLE and their application in practice in Abkhazia, Georgia.
3. Tasks and deliverables
Task 1. Prepare a presentation on international best practices in mother tongue based multilingual education, national language development.
(For each round table 3 presentations. This task can be carried out by 3-6 consultants depending on their specific expertise.)
Time-line - 01/08-15/08 2016
Work days – 18 (i.e. 3 per expert, per round table)
Comments- From home Deliverable- Good quality presentation
Task 2.** Give the presentation(s), answer questions from participants, actively engage in discussions and advocate for the application of international best practices in MTB MLE and national language development through education during the round table(s).
(This task can be carried out by 3-6 consultants depending on their specific expertise.)
Time-line - 15/08-30/09 2016
Work days –6 ( i.e. 1 per expert, per round table)
Comments- In Abkhazia, Georgia
Deliverable- Presentation held, answers of participants answered, discussion actively supported, application of international best practices of MTB MLE and national language development through education in Abkhazia, Georgia advocated for.
Task 3. Support UNICEF's Sukhumi FO during separate meetings with education specialists and relevant representatives of Abkhaz authorities in advocating for the application of international best practices in MTB MLE and national language development through education in Abkhazia, Georgia.
(This task can be carried out by 3-6 consultants depending on their specific expertise.)
Time-line - 15/08-30/09 2016
Work days –6 ( i.e. 1 per expert, per round table)
Comments- In Abkhazia, Georgia
Deliverable- Support to UNICEF's Sukhumi FO provided in advocating for the application of international best practices in MTB MLE and national language development through education in Abkhazia, Georgia.
Total 30** (depending on the specific expertise of the consultants between 5-10 working days
4. Timeframe and mode of consultancy activities
The consultancy will be carried out during June and July 2016 and involves preparation work from home, as well as one or two visits to Abkhazia, Georgia. During the work from home, the consultants will use email, skype and telephone for regular communication with UNICEF Georgia's Sukhumi Field Office.
Depending on the progress in consultations with the relevant education stakeholders in Abkhazia, Georgia, one or several of the consultants might also be asked to carry out one or several follow-up consultancy assignments and visits to Abkhazia, Georgia during the second half of 2016 or in 2017 to provide the de facto authorities and other relevant education stakeholders with additional expertise on specific aspects of MTB MLE and their application in practice in Abkhazia, Georgia.**5. Supervision**
The consultants will work under the direct supervision of the Chief of UNICEF's Field Office and in close cooperation with UNICEF's international Education Specialist and UNICEF's local Education Assistant in Sukhumi.
6. Required qualifications
- Advanced university degree in Philology, Education, Law or other relevant fields;
- At least 10 years of work experience in one or several of the following areas: mother tongue based multilingual education, national language development, socio-linguistics, minority/language rights, minority/language policy;
- Proven experience of advocacy work and advising public authorities on policy and human/minority rights matters;
- Excellent English language skills;
- Excellent presentation skills;
- Familiarity with UNICEF's work in the area of education.
7. Payment terms and rates
The consultant will be paid at a consultancy fee rate negotiated between the consultant and UNICEF Georgia, based on an initial proposal of the consultant and taking into account the consultant's level of experience and evaluations of his/her earlier work. Payment will be carried out after satisfactory fulfilment of tasks. UNICEF will also cover travel expenses which will be paid in advance of the consultants' travel(s).**8. Financial implications**
The costs for the consultancy will be covered from the EU-funded project "Confidence building and conflict prevention through the promotion of mother tongue based multilingual education in Abkhazia, Georgia". The EU's External Action Service's Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP) has taken a politically binding decision to fund this project starting from 1 February 2016. Although the agreement between the EU and UNICEF Georgia is not yet signed, the EU will reimburse all costs incurred for activities under this project starting from 1 February 2016. Therefore, until the EU funds arrive on UNICEF's account, other available funds of UNICEF's Abkhazia, Georgia Programme will be used for coverage and later reimbursed.
How to apply:
To apply please follow the link below
http://jobs.unicef.org/cw/en/job/495917?lApplicationSubSourceID=