ThaiNGO

Save the Children International is looking for an Education and Language Consultant for the Andaman Sea Crisis Humanitarian Response

1. Background

The Rohingya from Myanmar and Bangladesh are members of a stateless minority from the Rakhine state in Burma. As such, they have suffered persecution for decades, and thousands have been forced to flee to neighbouring countries, including Thailand, because of increasing violence. As a result, numerous Rohingya Refugees and migrants from Myanmar, along with many Bengalis in search of better economic prospects, leave their countries to reach neighbouring countries. These departures can be voluntary as well as forced, and there have been reports of people smuggled out of Bangladesh and Myanmar for ransom and against their will.
Although the issue is not new, the situation has worsened in the last few months. It is estimated that about 25,000 migrants left Myanmar and Bangladesh in the first three months of 2015. The issue made the headlines in the past few weeks with an estimate of 6,000 to 8,000 migrants, refugees and trafficking victims stranded at sea on abandoned boats, and denied entry to Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia by national authorities. Malaysia and Indonesia have recently accepted to take on boat people for up to one year, but Thai authorities are still refusing to let boats land in Thailand.
Save the Children International (SCI) will be supporting four temporary shelters in the south of Thailand to provide child protection and education services for the children of migrants being held there. The education activities will focus on providing a safe space for children and young people to continue their emotional and cognitive development, as well as giving them a chance to develop basic foundational and language skills such as reading. The educational context is highly complex as there are a variety of languages spoken by the Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants, added to the fact that there is no widely used script for the Rohingya language.
Save the Children is currently seeking an education officer to work on a consultancy contract to lead on the design of the education programme and its materials, and to prepare and support the field staff and local stakeholders to deliver the programme. This will be a temporary consultancy contract for 10-12 weeks but with the possibility of extension to a long term position in 2016.
The project operates in 4 temporary shelters in Songkla, Satun, and Phang Nga provinces and will require working in these areas for a significant proportion of the time.

2. Main objectives of the consultancy
The purposes of this consultancy are to:
i) Develop the approach,  curriculum framework and schedule for the education programme
ii) Develop and/or identify materials in different languages for the delivery of the programme
iii) Develop and implement a capacity building plan to prepare the community members, field staff, and shelter staff to run the Education programme
iv) Provide other support to the education programme as required

3. Main components of the programme
The specific components of the programme are subject to the detailed diagnostic and to be confirmed in the design phase of the project along with SCI, but the components currently outlined are:
- Rohingya language and script development and reading programme
- Reading clubs and story time (in mother tongue and languages spoken by community)
- Second language programmes (English and Thai).
- Healing and Education Through the Arts Programme (already developed)
- Math clubs
Others: Life skills programme for youth
SCI has some materials for these programmes and the consultant will be expected to develop or identify further materials and develop these into a coherent package and plan.

4. Consultants responsibilities

In conjunction with the SCI team, shelters and community, the consultant will lead the development of the education programme and supports its implementation. Some of the activities involved in role will include, but be limited to:

• Analyze needs assessment and gather further information as required
• Carry out consultation with SCI team and project stakeholders to gather input on education programme as required
• Lead on the design of the curriculum framework and schedule for the education programme
• Develop and/or identity the materials for the delivery of the education programme
(e.g. teaching materials and guides, and involve the community and children in the development of materials as appropriate
• Develop and implement a capacity building plan and materials to prepare the community members, field staff, and shelter staff to run the Education programme
• Based on the capacity building plan, implement training with field staff, community members and shelter staff to prepare them to deliver the education programme
• Provide ongoing support and mentoring to field staff, community members and shelter staff in the implementation of the education programme
• In conjunction with SCI team, develop a monitoring and evaluation framework and tools for the education programme and support their implementation
• Contribute to reports on the implementation and results of the education programme as required
• Support other activities related to the education programme as required
• Attend internal and external meetings as the lead on the education programme
• Fulfill administrative and financial tasks related to the work as required

5. Deliverables
• Work plan outlining timeline for deliverables by December 2015
• Document outlining the components and approach of the education programme
• Curriculum framework and schedule for the education programme
• Materials for delivery of the education programme (teaching materials and guides)
• A capacity building plan and materials (training guides) to prepare the community members, field staff, and shelter staff to run the Education programme
• Monitoring and evaluation framework and tools for the education programme
• Reports on the implementation and results of the programme

Recognizing that the timeframe is ambitious, the deliverables can be subject to negotiation during the course of the contract if necessary. 

6. Timeframe: This will be a full time consultancy running from mid-September until mid-December (estimated 12 weeks)

7. Consultant’s Qualifications and Profile
Essential
• Background in education programming including curriculum development for different populations
• Background in teaching language and reading
• Bachelor’s degree in education, research, social sciences or other related field
• Strong English skills
• Ability to work closely with community based organizations
Desirable
• Thai language skills highly desirable
• Experience in other areas of education highly desirable- early grade math, life skills.
• Experience in education in emergencies or education for vulnerable groups highly desirable
• Master’s degree education, research, social sciences or other related field preferred
• Knowledge and experience of the Rohingya Andaman sea crisis desirable

8. Management
• Save the Children senior education specialist will monitor, support and approve all the outputs of the consultant
• The education officer will work closely with the Save the Children Andaman response team
• The education officer will work with shelter staff, local authorities, donors and communities as required

9. Travel: The project operates in 4 temporary shelters in Songkla, Satun, and Phang Nga provinces and will require working in these areas for a significant proportion of the time.

10. Consultancy Fee: Candidates should submit a proposed consultancy fee which will be considered as part of the application. Save the Children will cover all project related costs, travel, and materials for the work.

Submissions for the consultancy

The submission must address the terms of reference and include:

• Name and contact details of the candidate
• CV and cover letter outlining your interest and suitability
• Quotation for the consultancy fee whole assignment

Close date for submissions:

Please send your CV, cover letter with a quotation by 21 September 2015, to our HR & Admin Manager at jaem.prachoommark@savethechildren.org and tim.murray@savethechildren.org
 “We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.”