International Consultant: FLE Technical Consultant Development of Syllabus & Teaching-Learning Resources

The Position:

UNFPA is working together with the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development for integration of FLE into school curriculum and has been exploring partnership with the Solomon Island National University to integrate FLE in pre-service teacher training. Through this consultancy, the A&Y unit within UNFPA Pacific Office will support the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development, ADB Supported Curriculum Writers and members of the Education Faculty at the Solomon Island National University for developing the scope and sequence and syllabus for health subject from year 1-12 integrating family life education into it, integrate FLE into pre-service education courses at Solomon Island National University, develop teacher guides and teaching-learning resources for FLE as part of the Transformative Agenda program 2 and MCP7.

The Technical Specialist, Adolescents and Youth, UNFPA PSRO will serve as the direct supervisor for the consultant, while the Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development, Solomon Islands, will provide day-to-day guidance and direction.
 

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

UNFPA has been working in the Pacific region for over 30 years implementing SRH programmes in 14 countries and territories through the Pacific Sub-regional Office (PSRO) in Suva. UNFPA’s overall regional program is articulated in its 7 th Multi-Country Programme (MCP 7) that contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-27 in the Pacific. As a United Nations agency, UNFPA’s fundamental approach is to work with in-country partners, primarily national governments, to expand their capacities and achieve locally sustainable responses to SRHR. With approximately 28% of PICTs’ population between 10 and 24 years, the Pacific is a very young region. The percentage of young people aged 10-24 years is highest in the Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, Kiribati and Nauru where it exceeds 29% of the total population. The lowest is observed in Palau and Niue where it is less than 25% of the total population but still higher than 19%. The Adolescent Birth Rate (number of births in 1,000 girls aged 15 to 19) is a core indicator of quality of life for adolescents and young people. At least ten of the Pacific Island countries and territories have had an alarming level of adolescent births in recent years. The rates are the highest in Vanuatu (81), Solomon Islands (77), Marshall Islands (72), and Kiribati (51). Additionally, in almost half of the 14 PICTs, ten to nineteen percent of girls aged 15-19 are already married. Children and adolescents are often not informed about the challenges of adolescence, making it difficult to break down harmful socio-cultural practices that limit their well-being, including access to services. Adolescent girls who become pregnant often do not complete school, face social and familial exclusion, and are at increased risk of poverty, and sexual and gender-based violence. The concept of youth empowerment and meaningful involvement in decision making at all levels is far from being a norm in the region and young people are often not involved in identifying solutions to their social challenges. As part of the transformative agenda programme 2 for women, adolescents and youth funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trades, Australia, UNFPA is supporting implementation of family life education in nine Pacific Island Countries, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, Republic of Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, and Nauru. UNFPA provides technical and financial assistance to Ministries of Education and other partners to revise and strengthen FLE curricula, ensuring they are age-appropriate, gender-sensitive, and culturally appropriate. A major focus is capacity building, which involves training teachers for in-school programs and community facilitators for Out-of-School (OOS) youth. The FLE programme aims to empower adolescents and youth with knowledge and skills, promote respectful relationships, and improve sexual and reproductive health outcomes.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.
 

Job Purpose:

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical guidance and lead the development of scope and sequence and health syllabus for year 1-12 for integration of family life education in school curriculum and pre-service education curriculum at Solomon Island National University as well as develop teacher guides and teaching-learning resources for Family Life Education (FLE) by working closely with the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development, ADB Supported Curriculum Writers and members of the Education Faculty at the Solomon Island National University.

The consultancy is for 60 days ( 20 Days Remote work and 40 days the consultant will travel to Solomon Islands and will work in the capital, Honiara) 

You would be responsible for:

• Review the current syllabus, identify the gaps and revise the scope and sequence and health syllabus for years 1-12 working together with the team from the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development. 
• Provide expert technical guidance and inputs for integrating comprehensive, evidence-based, culturally sensitive, and age-appropriate FLE into teacher guides from year 10- 12 working with the writers of the ADB contracted company and the team from the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development. 
• Ensure alignment with current national curriculum frameworks/strategic plans and ensure the FLE materials follow standard textbook templates, formats, and language.
• Participate in MEHRD quality assurance and validation workshops. 
• Review the draft FLE guides and materials for year 4-9 and suggest a timeframe and workplan for finalizing them. 
• Provide tailor-made technical assistance for integrating FLE in pre-service education courses at Solomon Island National University focusing on comprehensive integration of FLE in pre-service education courses. 
• Develop and deliver training content for trainers and educators on the effective utilization and delivery of the new FLE curriculum and resources. 
• Develop a handover package, training materials, and capacity-building outputs, including training notes, source files, and a detailed handover report to support local ownership and sustainability. 
• Prepare and submit final report on the progress, challenges, and outcomes of the developing of scope and sequence and syllabus, and integrating FLE into teacher guides for grades 10-12 and pre-service education courses at SINU

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

Master’s degree in education, public health or other related social science discipline with at least 7 years of relevant experience.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Familiar with UNFPA's core mission of advancing sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights and ICPD. 
• Experience in developing comprehensive sexuality education (CSE)/ family life education (FLE) curriculum, teaching and learning materials, facilitator and teacher training and other teaching-learning resources. 
• Demonstrated expertise in FLE/CSE and in-depth knowledge of international frameworks such as the UN International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education (ITGSE). Experience in CSE curriculum implementation, teacher training, and capacity building for educators and youth. 
• Proven experience in engaging with a variety of stakeholders, including government representatives (e.g., Ministry of Education), CSOs, FBOs, and community representatives. Experience in adapting content to be culturally relevant and contextually appropriate for specific regions and different cultural contexts. 
• Strong analytical and research skills, with experience in conducting evaluations, developing M&E tools, and producing analytical reports. 
• Experience working with UN agencies (UNFPA, UNICEF, UNESCO) or other international NGOs would be an asset. 
• Experience in the field of education, youth friendly health services and adolescents, and youth empowerment.
   

Skills

• Good communication and advocacy skills 
• Proactive, good emotional intelligence
•  Excellent written English language skills. A good grasp of pedagogy language will be an asset. 
• Excellent drafting skills and ability to write curriculum, teacher guides, learning resources and reports 
• Ability to organize and plan work following the established timeframes 
• Computer Literacy: Proficiency in the use of standard MS Office packages and the Internet.

Languages: 

• Excellent written and spoken English. Knowledge of the Pacific languages is an asset.

Required Competencies: 

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity, 
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, 
• Embracing cultural diversity, 
• Embracing change
   

Core Competencies: 

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
   

Compensation and Benefits:

UNFPA will pay the consultant based on the deliverable’s submission and approval. The payment installment is as below:

Deliverables % Payment Submission of inception report, scope and sequence and health syllabus for years 1-12  30% Submission of FLE content inputs for teacher guides and student workbooks for health for grade 10-12 aligned with international technical guidance, current national curriculum frameworks/strategic plans and having standard textbook templates, formats and language

 

50%

Submission of inputs and recommendations on finalizing draft FLE guides and materials for year 4-9, FLE integration into pre-service, handover package, training materials, and capacity-building outputs, including training notes, source files, a detailed handover report and final report on the progress, challenges, and outcomes of the  developing of scope and sequence and syllabus, and integrating FLE into teacher guides for grades 10-12 and pre-service education courses at SINU.

 

 

20%

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.