National Consultant: Costing Specialist – Education Sector Analysis

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For every child, Education

The School Education Sector Plan and Roadmap for Sindh (SESP&R) 2019-2024 was developed in 2019 through collaborative efforts by the Reform Support Unit (RSU), School Education and Literacy Department (SELD), Local Education Group (LEG), Finance Department, Planning & Development Department, Development Partners/Donors, other stakeholders, and UNICEF. The development process was grounded in a comprehensive Education Sector Analysis (ESA) that examined the status of basic education in Sindh, identifying key achievements, gaps, challenges, and lessons learned from the implementation of the previous Education Sector Plan (2014-2018). Findings from the ESA led to the development of a robust Education Sector Plan and Roadmap for Sindh 2019-2024 (SESP&R), reflecting the educational vision and priorities of the Government and aiming to achieve SDG-4 targets in Sindh.

As the SESP&R concluded on December 31, 2024, SELD, UNICEF, and partners plan to develop a new School Education Sector Plan for Sindh 2025-2030 (Sindh ESP 2025-30). This plan will serve as a strategic document to provide clear directions towards SDG-4 targets, outlining program priorities, outcomes, outputs, KPIs, costing, strategies, and arrangements to address educational challenges, including out-of-school children, building on past successes and addressing recommendations from the previous review.

The Sindh ESP 2025-30 will be guided by a high-quality ESA and developed according to UNESCO's Guidelines for Education Sector Plan Preparations. Key elements of ESA include:

1. Context analysis of Sindh's education development
2. Access and participation status, including interlinkages with other sub-sectors and sectors
3. Quality of teaching and learning
4. Governance and management
5. Educational financing and efficiency

The plan will be strategic, holistic, evidence-based, achievable, context-sensitive, gender-responsive, and equity-focused. It will include considerations such as:

1. Alignment with global and national commitments
2. Goals and objectives
3. Strategic directions and priorities, including gender and inclusion
4. Costing and financing
5. Implementation and monitoring plans
6. Organizational and evaluation arrangements

In light of the Education Emergency in Pakistan, a Multi-Sector Strategic Roadmap for Out-Of-School Children (OOSC) has been developed and will be integrated into the ESP.

Costing considerations for ESA and ESP include:

• Regular cost estimates and projections using financial simulation models
• Scenario analysis for policy decision-making
• Stakeholder consultations to estimate budgets and resources

Role of the Consultant:

• Collaborate with stakeholders to collect unit costs, perform cost analysis, and develop projections and simulation models
• Provide disaggregated costs for all elements of ESA and ESP
• Deliver detailed reports as specified

Qualifications:

• University Degree in accounting and finance
• At least 2 years of relevant experience in educational financing
• Understanding of educational costs, budgeting, and financial analysis
• Experience with financial modeling tools
• Ability to work under pressure and in diverse contexts
• Excellent communication skills in English

UNICEF values diversity and inclusion, encourages applications from all backgrounds, and offers supportive policies for work-life balance and disability inclusion. All candidates will undergo background checks and verification processes to ensure safety and compliance.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Engagements are contractual, not regular staff employment, and candidates are responsible for visa and health insurance arrangements. Full vaccination against COVID-19 is required for on-site work.