Global Coordination for Connecting Classrooms, an education and communication project

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) - Reference Youth 2011-006

Subject: Connecting Classrooms global implementation

Date of the EOI: 01 August 2011

Closing Date of the EOI: 15 August 2011

Address EOI by e-mail to:  Arturo Romboli; aromboli@unicef.org

SPECIFICATIONS / TERMS OF REFERENCE / STATEMENT OF WORK

UNICEF is seeking expressions of interest (EOI) from qualified, internationally experienced companies for the Global Coordination of the Connecting Classrooms project (see below for more information). This Request for Expression of Interest will lead to a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) and a bidding process that may result in a contractual agreement between the successful agency and UNICEF.

I. BACKGROUND

Since 2008, Connecting Classrooms has brought together online classrooms around the world to create learning opportunities, dialogue and debate around key global issues, helping to shape youth viewpoints on issues like global health, food and agriculture, community health or climate change. The upcoming iteration of Connecting Classrooms will forge cross-cultural interactions for students, helping them to develop their communication skills, define and articulate their position on global issues, and in the process become active global citizens while interacting with students from several other countries. Connecting Classrooms runs on an open-source group-networking platform called Crabgrass. The structure of Crabgrass is particularly suited to collaborative work and to a classroom-situated process of drafting and content improvement. Options for multimedia features such as photos and audio uploads are also possible. A new radio component will be integrated into the program during the academic year 2011-12.

 II. SCOPE OF WORK

The company would be required to carry out the following main tasks:

 -          Curriculum Creation and Design: The company will be in charge of creating and designing new curriculum (that is sequential in nature) for the upcoming 2011-2012, 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 school years. The company will also be responsible for revising and editing previous material.

 -          Project Scaling and Partnership Coordination: The company will be required to maintain current partnerships in addition to reaching out to potential partners from varying sectors (academia, higher-learning institutions, NGOs, etc). The company will also maintain relationships with UNICEF country offices where Connecting Classrooms is operating.

 -          Local coordinators and teachers’ training and follow up: The company will be in charge of training the local in-country coordinators on the use of the platform as well as on their duties as coordinators. The company will also train the teachers on the use of the platform. Additionally, the training duty encompasses the creation of training materials under various formats.

 -          On-going Coordination: The company will act as the Global Coordinator and Project Manager for the project. Coordination activities include monitoring the Connecting Classrooms site, fixing the site as needed, training and coordinating in-country coordinators, assessing teachers and trainers, and help maintain the Crabgrass platform as needed. Coordination will also require the company to be the lead on knowledge management, preparing monthly and final reports. UNICEF HQ (Youth Section, Division of Communication) will support with the Connecting Classrooms coordinator.

-          Monitoring and Evaluation: Carrying out a monitoring and evaluation plan throughout the project cycle and creating a finished report at the end of the project.

-          Additional Outputs: The company will be required to create several project documents that will enable the project to be replicated easily in the future. Examples include: protocol for selecting schools to participate; and creating strategies for engaging local Ministries/Stakeholders.

 III. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Firms which satisfy the following minimum requirements will be considered as potential contractors:

• Extensive experience authoring explicit instructional materials for high school teachers, in addition to intimate familiarity with innovations in e-learning development
• International experience (Africa specifically)
• Detail-oriented, with proven ability to develop high-quality, research-based curriculum
• A reflective practitioner, able to incorporate and provide constructive feedback
• 7-10 years of experience in educational publishing or curriculum development
• Knowledge of grade level appropriate texts, developmental levels of students
• A portfolio of authored and published curriculum
• Knowledge of current and effective teaching strategies
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with UNICEF staff and consultants
• Comfortable in a fast-paced, results-oriented, entrepreneurial environment

SUBMISSION OF EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI)

Interested suppliers/service providers are encouraged to complete and submit below EOI form.

EOIs should be sent to Mr. Arturo Romboli, e-mail: aromboli@unicef.org, not later than 5pm EST on Monday 15 August 2011. Please quote “EOI Youth 2011-006” as subject in your correspondence.

This EOI does not constitute a solicitation. We do not require bids or proposals at this stage; we merely seek your expression of interest in participating in the tender.

A response to this Request for Expression of Interest does not automatically ensure that you will be selected to participate in the tender.

UNICEF reserves the right to change or cancel the requirement at any time during the EOI and/or solicitation process. UNICEF also reserves the right to require compliance with additional conditions as and when issuing the final tender document.

If you have any additional question about this EOI, please contact Mr. Arturo Romboli, e-mail: aromboli@unicef.org.

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FORM (EOI form) – EOI - DOC - Youth 2011-006

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GENERAL INFORMATION

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