Consultancy for Special Education Needs Assessment , Djibouti

Lutheran World Federation/Department for World Service Kenya-Djibouti Programme is seeking consultancy services preferably from a registered recognized Special Needs Education and Inclusive education for 1 month (September/ October 2012) to undertake a Special Needs Educational needs assessment, in the Djibouti Refugee camps. The project is expected to commence in the second half of September 2012.

Background:

This assessment should focus on the current situation, the preparedness of the community to support the children with special needs / disabilities and recommend the feasible immediate and future programming options with reference to camp setting, the existing capacities and expertise and other resources required for the establishment of Special needs educational support programme. The assessment and the recommendations thereafter should bear in mind the project’s approach to education which is that it is not only a right but a tool for protection and community development and as such harness the community’s attitudes and practices to improve on participation and safe learning environment. The consultant (team) will report directly to the Kenya – Djibouti Country Representative, while working closely on a daily basis with the Djibouti based Sub Program Manager or his/her designate.

Responsibilities:

- Develop an assessment strategy and tools to conduct the assessment on children with special needs / disabilities and the resources in the Ali Addeh & Hol Hol Refugee camps
- Collaborate with the relevant educational authorities, regional partners and UN agencies and other sectors to assure legal acceptance and adaptability, maximise the quality, comprehensiveness and usefulness of assessment and to improve the accountability of humanitarian stakeholders by encouraging the sharing of information.
- Assess and identify if need be with medical professionals the different types and cases of disability in the refugee camps; classifying them into educable or otherwise
- Review the current primary educational practice with reference to the provision of education to the children with special needs/disabilities; teaching and learning, teachers and other professional staff, access and learning environment, educational policy, coordination and community participation in the context of Djibouti
- Assess the existing, community and family capacities, resources, structures, material aids / learning aids / mobility aids and assistive aids; and the human resources available in Djibouti in to facilitate the program while establishing linkages with the services available for the children with special needs such as Occupational therapy, physiotherapy, counseling on the ground in the camps, the hospital or any other institutions within Djibouti
- Identify the challenges experienced by the community in handling CWD’s and learn from their coping mechanisms and the community’s recommendations for possible interventions while assessing how attitudes and practices of the community impact on children with special needs / disabilities
- Recommend suitable staff capacity building for the educational staff and
- Conduct a 1 week introductory course for educational staff on dealing with children with special needs/disabilities
- Recommend suitable teaching and learning materials and equipment for the identified special needs cases
- Produce a report with a summary of all the findings for dissemination with partners that should conclude with clear recommendations on the immediate and progressive way forward for the special needs educational programming.

Requirements:

- The lead consultant must have a Masters or equivalent in the Special Education Needs with additional Inclusive education training
- The potential consultancy team should have educational training and work experience relevant to the assessment, establishment and implementation of special education needs programs in diverse set ups
- Several years work experience with the Ministries of education in East Africa and Horn Africa and the UN agencies especially in the assessment, development of systems and structures in the establishment of special education needs programs
- Be familiar with key documents on the right to education for all children and other related documents for education in emergencies i.e. international Education conventions, policies and other related documents
- Ability to synthesize and analyze data using the statistical programs
- Working knowledge of French and Somali language required as well as the willingness to work in a refugee camp

Timeline & Start Date:

Start Date; Mid September 2012 End date; Mid October 2012 Assignement duration: 1 month

Application Procedure:

Application letters, updated CV or organizational profile, proposed work plan and budget for the consultancy, contact emails and phone numbers of 3 professional referees/ clients, one of whom is your current or immediate former employer/client to be send by close of business on Wednesday the 22nd of August 2012 to the following email address: lwfjobs@gmail.com Only short-listed candidates (individuals or organizations) will be contacted. “LWF/DWS is an equal opportunity employer, irrespective of gender, race or religious affiliation. LWF/DWS is a signatory to the Code of Conduct for humanitarian agencies. Our recruitment and selection procedures reflect the organization’s commitment to the prevention of abuse and exploitation of beneficiaries.”