South Sudan: CapEFA Literacy Specialist

Background and purpose

Just 27% of the current adult population can read or write - 15 percent of women and 39 percent of men (South Sudan National Bureau of Statistics 2010). South Sudan has one of the lowest literacy rates in the world, an important backdrop since it means that the vast majority of actual and potential children beginning school are first-generation learners whose parents are poorly equipped to provide support. In addition, the current crisis in the country has displaced over a million people and impacted an already dire education situation. With 1.3 million children out of school and the qualified teacher to pupil ratio at 1:117, South Sudan already had some of the most challenging education indicators in the world. The crisis has created an additional challenge in terms of access on the part of state institutions to effectively prepare for and respond to critical education needs of the communities that have been most affected by the conflict. Public buildings including schools are being used as shelters by affected communities.

With so many now forced to drop-out of learning opportunities and move to displacement camps, the need to keep children, youth and adults learning how to read and write is critical if South Sudan’s literacy rate is not to stagnate or further decline. In addition, many of the children and youth residing in camps have never been to school and are more likely to be allowed to attend literacy and learning activities in the camps as their families are away from social, economic and traditional barriers. Providing them with basic literacy skills is an opportunity to reach out-of-school children and youth and their parents.

UNESCO South Sudan has been working for the past year on a programme to build capacities of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to develop a literacy policy framework and to prioritize and plan activities which will increase South Sudan’s literacy rates. The main components of the programme have been: (i) Advocacy; (ii) Capacity Assessments and (iii) the Formulation of the Capacity Development Action Plan. In light of crisis, an additional component has been added: (iv) The promotion of literacy learning in education in emergencies.

The purpose of this consultancy is to oversee the CapEFA programme and the 4 aspects listed. The role will require project management and technical advisory skills and the candidate will be driven to achieving results in a challenging environment.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Education Programme Specialist and the overall authority of the Head of Office the CapEFA Literacy Specialist will undertake the following tasks:

Technical Advice and Support:

1) Support the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, in particular the Directorate for Alternative Education Systems to direct and implement the CapEFA programme in a way which most usefully meets literacy needs in South Sudan and in light of the current crisis

2) Provide advice and guidance to the Ministry, NGO and CSO partner colleagues on literacy policy framework and national literacy initiatives

3) Represent UNESCO in the National Education Forum – Alternative Education System Technical Working Group

4) Work closely with partners of the Alternative Education system Technical Working Group to ensure UNESCO CapEFA literacy activities are complementary of other partner approaches

5) Provide strategic advice and guidance to UNESCO South Sudan education team on the direction and focus of UNESCO South Sudan’s literacy programmes.

6) Work together with UNESCO South Sudan’s Culture and Communications and Information Specialists to ensure a holistic and multi-sector approach to South Sudan’s literacy needs

Project Management:

1) Manage all aspects of the four main components of the CapEFA programme on Literacy in South Sudan: (i) Advocacy; (ii) Capacity Assessments (iii) the Formulation of the Capacity Development Action Plan (iv) Literacy learning in education in emergencies

2) Manage consultants working on the above components, as required. Ensure progress of consultant inputs and work with administrative team to oversee contractual and payment processes for consultants

3) Liaise with CapEFA coordination team in UNESCO HQ and Literacy Specialists in UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) to seek regular guidance and report on progress made against the CapEFA programme components

4) Provide quarterly reports on CapEFA programme progress and update programme document as necessary

5) Manage all aspects of CapEFA budget

Qualifications and experience

1. An advanced university degree in a relevant field;
2. A minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in the areas of literacy and education policy;
3. Demonstrated expertise and field-based understanding of literacy policy development and teaching and learning literacy and numeracy;
4. Demonstrated expertise and field-based understanding of education needs and responses in crisis-affected contexts;
5. Experience of capacity development with Ministries of Education in the areas of literacy policy formulation; assessments, monitoring and evaluation;
6. Experience managing education projects and ability to meet project deliverables on time;
7. Demonstrated ability to work with diverse groups of stakeholders and to develop consensus and partnerships;
8. Flexibility and adaptability to adjust to contextual challenges and needs accordingly;
9. Excellent oral and written communication skills, an analytical approach and ability to clearly articulate key ideas in simple and accessible language;
10. Fluency in English (verbal and writing);
11. Familiarity with the context of South Sudan an added advantage.

Application Process

Email CV and Cover Letter to edu.unescojuba@gmail.com byWednesday 30 April

Email Subject line should state: ‘CapEFA Literacy Specialist – Application’