External support develop disseminate an inclusive education

TERMS OF REFERENCE

External Support under AC-5 Project “Facilitate an equitable access to education and work opportunities for persons with disabilities in Palestine”

1st Oct, 2018 – 30th April, 2019

Assignment: Support the development and dissemination of an Inclusive Education (IE) Practical Manual under the IE policy of the MoEHE including review of existing infrastructure and support Program team to implement IE related trainings

CONTEXT & SCOPE

Handicap International (HI), (which runs projects under its operating name, Humanity & Inclusion), is an independent international solidarity organization which works in situations of poverty or exclusion, conflict and natural disasters. Working alongside people with disabilities and people in vulnerable situations, the association takes action and speaks out in order to meet their essential needs and improve their living conditions. Since its creation, this international solidarity organization has set up development programs in over 60 countries and works in various emergency contexts.

HI in Occupied Palestinian Territory:

Since 1996, Handicap International has implemented various actions with local partners in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. In a territory beset by chronic crises, political instability, and a declining economic and social situation since the second intifada in 2000, Handicap International aims to respond to the needs of persons with disabilities and to make structural improvements to their lives.

HI in Middle East including OPT, is pursuing its 2015 – 2019 strategy aiming to promote access to inclusive and adapted services for PwDs and vulnerable groups, with a particular focus on youth and women, through a deep involvement of duty bearers, users and service providers’ representatives.

HI strategy lays on 3 main pillars: (1) promoting the inclusion of the most vulnerable, with a particular focus on PwDs, within the humanitarian response; (2) preventing impairment and disability by enhancing both the quality and the systemic management of existing services as well as by informing populations about ERW risks; and (3) promoting cohesion, resilience and participation of all through dialogue, empowerment, disability mainstreaming in service delivery and social change.

Project Background:

According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) ratified by Palestine in 2014, children with disabilities ought to be treated without discrimination and on equal basis with their peers without disabilities in order to access an inclusive education system at all levels. In Palestine, where more than 50 years of occupation and conflict have accentuated the vulnerability of the population with an unprecedented impact on the psychological wellbeing of children, access to education remains a critical challenge, especially for children with learning difficulties or other special needs. Girls with disabilities are particularly affected as they suffer from double discrimination; first as girls and then as girls with disabilities, which only worsen as they grow up.

In addition, to the latest data of Palestinian Bureau Center for Statistics’ (PBCS, 2017), only one 55.3% of children with disabilities have access to education in Palestine, yet only 25.7% of these children were able to finish their secondary education. While Palestine was able to develop and adopt its National Policy on Inclusive Education in 2015, outlining in this respect its commitments towards UNCRPD and Education for All development goals, implementation remains so far limited.

The AC5 project actions inscribes itself into the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) Education Development Strategic Plan (2014-2019), which was further strengthened by the development of an Inclusive Education Policy in 2015. With a focus on access to education for all, these two documents have among their objectives to raise awareness of the importance of an Inclusive Education process that guarantees the achievement of the child-friendly,  non-discrimination, and diversity principles in education, build the capacity of teachers, support staff and school leadership, expand the services in rehabilitation, psychosocial, educational and social support to increase the percentage of students with disabilities and with special needs to be included in public schools, as well as improving school environment. The project will implement activities to contribute to these objectives. In addition, the intervention inscribes itself in the Operational Plan for Education 2017-2019, which foster as a major step in the development of clear guidelines to achieve inclusive education.

This intervention as well follows the HI Inclusive Education Policy which was announced in 2012, and explains Handicap International's work on inclusive education and offers perspectives for future interventions. Moreover, it provides readers with a deeper understanding and sufficient understanding to undertake concrete, positive actions towards inclusion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REQUIRED SERVICE

Objectives:

To develop Inclusive Education practical manual under the IE policy of the MoEHE through:

Identification of mamual topic:

Development of the IE practical manual:

• SERVICE DURATION AND LOCATION

• EXPECTED DELIVERABLES AND SUBMMISSION

1. Inception report; after the finalization of the desk review step.
2. Assignment Final report
3. Guidelines in Arabic and English; after incorporating agreed on feedback from both MoEHE and HI team.

Note: Translation service of final developed Guidelines from Arabic into English will be financially covered through HI directly.

• COMUNICATION LINES
• Communication and decisions between HI and the contracted services provider will be through the WB Field Coordinator & the AC5 Project Manager.
• Technical field visits and meetings plan is coordinated with the Project Education Technical Officer and the Rehabilitation Technical Officer.
• Occasional interlocution with EDU technical adviser  

QUALIFICATIONS OF CONSULTANT

• Educational degree in social services and experience in Inclusive and special education
• At least 5 years of experience work and study in disability
• Very good communication skills, able to respect confidentiality.
• Excellent English language and Arabic language skills (reading, writing and speaking).
• Good facilitation, social and communication skills, able to respect confidentiality.
• Experience in writing technical report
• Excellent English language and Arabic language skills (reading, writing and speaking).

APPLICATION PROCESS

• Narrative and Financial Proposal according to the terms of reference specifications
• Organization Profile including evidence of recent projects
• Curriculum Vitae of professionals to be involved in the service provision with character reference
• Copies of published / unpublished materials

The applicants are requested to submit the mentioned documents above in PDF format by e-mail to [email protected] (Subject: AC5 - Development of Inclusive Education Guidelines).

Deadline for submission of applications: 27th August 2018, 4:00 p.m.

Applications submitted after the deadline (day or hour) will not be considered. Selected consultants might be invited for a complementary interview.

“Humanity & Inclusion is committed to protecting the rights of the children and opposes to all forms of child exploitation and child abuse. HI contractors must commit to protecting children against exploitation and abuse”.