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AGA KHAN FOUNDATION

(Pakistan)

The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), is a private, non-denominational, international development agency established in 1967. It seeks sustainable solutions to long-term problems of poverty, hunger, illiteracy and ill-health with special emphasis on the needs of rural communities in mountainous and other resource poor regions, primarily in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Its main areas of focus are education, health, rural development, environment and strengthening civil society.

The Aga Khan Foundation (Pakistan) [AKF(P)] is seeking high caliber professional for the following Consultancy of twenty (20) working days spread over two months to be based in Islamabad with field work and extensive visits to Gilgit Baltistan:

  1. Education Development and Improvement Project

The Education Development and Improvement Programme (EDIP) is a five-year project (May 2010 – June 2015) of the Aga Khan Foundation being implemented in the seven districts of Gilgit-Baltistan, including Gilgit, Astore, Ghanche, Skardu, Hunza-Nagar, Diamer, and Ghizer through a grant from the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT formerly AusAID).  The project goal is to enhance access, equity and quality of education with increased gender parity, participation and sustainability of community interventions.

More specifically the project aims to:

  • Improve teaching and learning conditions, infrastructure related issues, safety and security for children and teachers, community mobilization and inclusive education to enable children with disabilities to become part of the mainstream.
  • Support further development of the Gilgit Baltistan Education Strategy (G-BES) to make it viable in the current political and economic scenario of GB.
  • Develop the wherewithal of government to present a time bound Implementation Plan of G-BES with Activity Matrix and Budget to relevant stakeholders.

EDIP is a synthesis of the Whole School Improvement (WSI) approach, successfully tested by AKU-IED PDCN in Northern Pakistan, and a cluster-based professional development approach.

2.        Gilgit Baltistan Education Strategy (GBES)

Pakistan reviewed its long-term education direction, through the lens of Vision 2025 and Vision 2030, and informed by the National Education Policy (2009). Within this framework, and recognizing the unique features of Gilgit-Baltistan, the Directorate of Education decided in 2005 to develop its own education vision and long-term strategy, the main aim being the improvement of quality of education for Gilgit-Baltistan, within the framework of the National Education Policy.

To this end in 2007-08, AKF through extensive public consultations developed the Northern Areas Education Strategy / Gilgit Baltistan Education Strategy (G-BES) which highlights key areas of policy and governance outcomes for the education sector for Gilgit Baltistan, including budgetary and fiscal implications for these outcomes.

The key to the development of the vision and strategy was a public consultation exercise, in which stakeholders from all walks of life throughout Gilgit-Baltistan were consulted to ascertain their views regarding the development of education in the region. This vision and strategy was gradually refined through internal discussions and further consultations with stakeholders, including representatives from the original public consultation exercise, and officials at Gilgit Baltistan and federal level. Through this, Gilgit-Baltistan has a detailed 15 year path laid out which requires the support and attention of all those stakeholders who helped develop it.

As the subject of standards of education and residual functions rests in the region, Gilgit Baltistan needs to legislate to adopt public provision of free and compulsory education from the ages of 5 to 16 as the region’s goal and statutory obligation. That legislature will need to clearly articulate the roadmap and design of discharge of that obligation as the right to education is now a justiciable right of every citizen. As a consequence of the 18th Amendment, the Gilgit Baltistan government will need to put in place arrangements to provide publicly funded education to the citizens of the area, properly governed and managed. The administrative arrangements will ensure quality of education – including standards of quality of content, quality of instruction (including quality of the teacher, pedagogy, and teaching environment) and quality of assessment. The arrangements will also require guaranteed transfer of pre-accepted levels of financial transfers by the federal government. This also entails resource requirements for both access and quality. For example, the definition of free education has implications for financial resources, while accountability mechanisms have to be within the socio-political realities and implementation capacity of the entity.

With the development of a long-term strategy, Gilgit Baltistan will have a clear way forward for quality education, and will be in a strong position to attract both government and donor funding to support it. Thus the Department of Education will be able to prepare coherent annual and long-term plans, and can identify funding gaps and coordinate the inputs of development partners to create a coherent programme. This in turn will pave the way towards establishing a Gilgit Baltistan Sector-Wide Approach, led by the Government and supported by development partners, formulating medium-term and long-term programmes within the framework of the long-term strategy.

3.        Responsibilities

The purpose of this consultancy is to take the 30 year G-BES plan and develop the operational parameters for the first four year cycle and get the document approved by the Government. This includes:

  • Performing a Critical Path Analysis. (4 days)
  • Developing a work plan for the first 4 year cycle, including identifying input distributions, timeframes and targets. (12 days)
  • Review and ratification of the Work Plan with approvals from all relevant stakeholders including the Secretary Education Gilgit Baltistan. (4 days)
  • Reaching these outcomes with the support / participation of all relevant stakeholders including members of the Government and partners involved with the development of the G-BES.

Due to the nature of the consultancy and the deadlines of the programme the consultants will also be required to provide a brief portfolio outlining previous work and work-plan detailing their daily activities and deliverables (within the lose framework stated above).

4.        Required Qualifications and Experience

  • Masters in Public Planning, Policy, Development or related fields with at least Eight (8) years of experience in public policy and planning including work plan development, critical path analysis, governance etc.
  • Demonstrated experience and/or ability in monitoring, establishing networks, liaising, and working with Government officials.
  • Demonstrated experience in and understanding of programmatic operations
  • Demonstrated ability for developing work plans, critical path analysis, and other relevant documents.
  • Ability to work well under pressure and to meet deadlines.
  • A strong internal and external relationship builder that possesses stamina, resilience, and presence required to work productively with multiple stakeholders.
  • Effective and relevant experience working with members of the leadership and organizational teams across a variety of locations and contexts within Pakistan.
  • Demonstrated flexibility and initiative, particularly when faced with challenges.
  • Ability to time-manage and multi-task in a demanding and fast-paced work environment.
  • Positive and professional attitude, and ability to work as a team player both with all levels of management.
  • Strong written and oral communication skills.
  • Willingness to spend extensive time in the field.