Higher Education Project: Consultant/Lead Expert review

Tajikistan - P148291 - Higher Education Project - MOES/HEP/IC/2020-16-1

Country: Tajikistan

Project Id: P148291

Project Name: Higher Education Project

Loan/Credit/TF Info.: IDA-D0820

Notice Version No.: 0

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REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

Republic of Tajikistan

Higher Education Project

Consulting services

Contract No MOES/HEP/IC/2020-16-1

Grant No. TF 019284

Expression of interest

The Republic of Tajikistan has received a grant from the International Development Association (IDA) for implementation of the Higher Education Project (HEP) financed by the World Bank, to develop mechanisms that improve and monitor the quality and labor-market relevance of higher education. Implementing Agency of the project is Ministry of Education and Science (MOES) of Tajikistan

Mentioned grant also helps strengthen mechanisms that encourage female students’ enrollment and completion of higher education and their transition into the labor market. Furthermore, the project provides grants to eligible education institutions to develop and deliver short-term courses to job seekers, including returning migrants and secondary education graduates, to strengthen skills and competencies in immediate demand in the labor market.

The purpose of this assignment is to support the peer review which will assess how effective Competitive Grants Program sub-projects were in meeting their objectives, namely improving quality and relevance of the targeted program. The peer review is expected to be conducted by selected international and local experts in higher education. The assessment will be guided by the predefined criteria in the Competitive Grants Program Operational Manual which will be further elaborated in an assessment methodology by the Lead Expert for the peer review and agreed with the MOES/ HEP.

The objectives of the Assignment are to:

1. Develop a peer review methodology, survey tools (questionnaire and checklist), peer review plan, and other data enumeration formats to collect the necessary information to complete the task. The peer review methodology and other documents are subject to approval by HEP/MOES.
2. Develop and conduct an online seminar for international and local consultants on informing about assessment mechanisms and methodology, data collection, analysis methods, organizing surveys, filling out forms and templates, report content, etc.
3. In consultation with HEP team, develop a plan for the implementation of the peer review, including assignment of sub-projects, pairing with local consultants, desk and field review visits/meetings with HEIs, and any other implementation documents.
4. Review and adjust the methodology and assessment tools in the course of peer review process, if needed.
5. Provide overall guidance to the peer reviewers groups; review and comment draft reports of peer reviewers in terms of consistency with the methodology and overall quality.
6. Prepare a consolidated report on the assessment of the CGP based on individual reports on the assessment of sub-projects and a general review of the CGP for submission to the MOES. At the same time, in the report, give an overall assessment of the relevance, effectiveness, results, achievements, and impact of CGP. Also, identify lessons learned, in particular in terms of organization, budgeting, implementation process, outcomes and achievements in order to facilitate the accumulation and transfer of knowledge and best practices, and provide recommendations, both strategic and operational, to improve implementation and the ability to transfer to other contexts.
   

Duration

It is expected that this task will be carried out from the moment of signing the contract until September 30, 2021, and the number of working days will be approximately 60 days The consultant should be prepared to make up to two trips to Tajikistan, if possible and necessary.

Ministry of Education and Science of Republic of Tajikistan now invites eligible consultants (Individual consultant) to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (CV, copy of documents evidencing appropriate qualifications and skills, experience and competence related to the task, description of similar tasks performed, references, etc). A consultant will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants by World Bank Borrowers  dated January 2011, revised on July 2014. The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraphs 1.9 and 1.11 of the World Bank’s Guidelines setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest and eligibility. 

Requirements to the consultant

• Completion of a higher education degree (Master’s level or higher) in the field of education or social sciences, as well as public administration, economics or other relevant fields;
• At least 10 years of experience in evaluation of programs, projects or policies in and higher education in Europe and internationally.
• Previous demonstrated experience in drafting evaluation and assessment methodologies for similar tasks, guidelines and report writing;
• Good knowledge of and experience in higher education, in Europe and internationally.
• An excellent command of spoken and written English, including proven experience of report writing.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills (oral, written and visual);

• Experience and skills in project management (organizational, coordination, etc.)
• Knowledge of Russian or other local language, is an advantage

Interested application are invited to express their interest for the assignment by submitting the expression of interest, CV and other supporting documents to the following Project emails: moert.he@maorif.tj  Alternatively, a hard copy can be submitted to Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan, 1st floor, room No. 102, Nissormuhammad Ave. 13A, Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan Tel/Fax: (+992 37) 2274502.

Interested consultants may obtain further information at the address below during office hours from 08 00 to 17 00.

Expressions of interest must be delivered to the address below by August 25, 2020

Further information can be obtained by writing to:

Mr. Samardin Avganov, PhD

HEP Project Coordinator

Ministry of Education and Science of Republic of Tajikistan

Email address: azatullon@gmail.com

Phone number:

Tel.(+992 37) 2274502