Title: ToR National Expert Decentralization – Special Consultant

• The decentralization expert position has 3 deliverables, with the final one paid upon acceptance by February 28, 2026.
• Salary Range: $3,000 - $4,000.

Payment Conditions

Payments for the second and third deliverables are contingent on acceptance by I2Q and the project steering committee. Deliverable #2 will form part of the SDSU ECE Project’s Phase 5 submission (expected July 2025, with final approval by August 2025), and Deliverable #3 will be part of the Phase 6 submission (expected January 2026, with final approval anticipated by February 2026).

Compensation: Payment range is $3000-$4000 USD for the three deliverables. Payment for this assignment is negotiable and will be determined based on the selected candidate’s qualifications and experience. 

Terms of Reference (ToR)

Short-Term Consultant (National): Development of a Decentralization Plan

under the ongoing contract №GE-MESCS-212213-CS-QCBS “Improving ECE Institution Management System and Enhancing the Quality of Programs Across the Country”

The salary range for this position is $3,000 - $4,000 depending upon qualifications and is non-negotiable. 

Background

The Government of Georgia (GoG) has signed the Loan Agreement (LA) for financing the implementation of Innovation, Inclusion and Quality Project (Project) with the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) in June 2018. The Project development objectives along with improving other levels of education, is to (i) expand access to preschool education;

The Project consists of five key components and subcomponents. First Component regards to Improving Quality of and Access to Early Childhood Education:

Component 1- Improving Quality of and Access to Early Childhood Education;

The objective of this component is to provide support to facilitate expanded access to quality pre-school education in selected pre-schools.

Subcomponent 1.1. Improving the quality of ECE programs across the country

Subcomponent 1.2 Increasing equitable access to preschool education for successful transition to school

Subcomponent 1.3 Improving infrastructure to support innovative primary education, including preschool

The Activities are being implemented over a 43 months period by the San Diego State University Research Foundation, in sub-consultancy with Center for International Education. All Activities performed during this contract is being overseen by ECE Component Lead of the “Innovation Inclusion and Quality Project – Georgia I2Q (WB).

The Objective of the Assignment

The objective of this assignment is to provide support to SDSU for the purpose of developing recommended detailed strategy and action plan of ECE and SRP institutions’ authorization decentralization plan January 1, 2023, as stipulated in the Chapter VIII, Clause 28, of the Law of Georgia on Early and Preschool Education.

Scope of Work

Under the supervision of the SDSU ECE Project’s Key Expert on QA topics and the project’s local manager, in collaboration of ECE Component Lead of the PMU, the Consultant will be working as the Sort-Term local expert hired by SDSU to conduct works for thorough analysis of ECE and SRP institutions’ authorization standard and associated legal documents and guidelines, as well as Law of Georgia on Early Childhood and Preschool Education. Under this assignment the Consultant will be responsible for:

Ø  Analyze the ECE and SRP institutions authorization standard and associated legal documents and guidelines;

Ø  Analyze the Law of Georgia on Early Childhood and Preschool Education.

Ø  Analyze and align with all existing and/or adopted action plans relevant to the ECE and SRP institutions authorization.

Ø  Based on analysis, prepare comparative analysis on benefits and challenges of decentralized and centralized ECE and SRP institutions’ authorization. The analysis must cover the share of duties and responsibilities considerable for National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement (NCEQE), local municipalities, MESY, MRDI and other stakeholder parties from ECE and SRP sector.

Ø  Develop the action plan of key measures and activities to be implemented by the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement (NCEQE), local municipalities, MESY, MRDI and other stakeholder parties from ECE and SRP sector to assist the ECE institutions in possible authorization process decentralization.

Ø  Identify necessary support activities for stakeholders in the decentralization process, including authorization experts, council members, and municipal representatives, for decentralized authorization implementation beyond 2030.

Ø  Identify priority areas for improvement that relevant government bodies (e.g., Parliament, sectoral ministries, municipalities) will need to address from January 1, 2030.

Ø  After submission of each of the afore-listed Reports (D1 and 2), collect the feedback from the ECE Component Lead of the I2Q Project and SDSU experts and respectively improve and amend the reports

Expected Outputs

Expected outputs of the assignment for Improving ECE Institution Management System and Enhancing the Quality of Programs Across the Country:

Ø  Decentralization Support Measures: Provide a detailed strategy of recommended measures and activities to be undertaken by the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement (NCEQE), MESY, MRDI and other stakeholder parties from ECE and SRP sector to facilitate a smooth transition to a decentralized model for ECE and SRP institutions for the time-period stipulated in the Chapter VIII, Clause 28, of the Law of Georgia on Early and Preschool Education.

Ø  Stakeholder Capacity Building Plan: Design a comprehensive action plan for capacity-building activities tailored to the needs of stakeholders involved in the ECE and SRP institutions authorization decentralization process, including training and resource development for municipal representatives, authorization experts, and council members.

Ø  Actionable Recommendations for System Enhancement: Identify and prioritize specific areas for improvement, offering actionable recommendations for relevant government bodies (e.g., Parliament, MES, sectoral ministries, municipalities) to enhance the decentralized authorization of ECE and SRP settings from January 1, 2030 onwards, ensuring long-term quality and sustainability.

Ø  Comparative analysis on benefits and challenges of decentralized and centralized ECE and SRP institutions’ authorization. The analysis must cover the allocation of duties and responsibilities considerable for National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement (NCEQE), local municipalities, MESY, MRDI and other stakeholder parties from ECE and SRP sector.

Consultant shall collaborate closely with the assigned international and local experts of the GE-MESCS-212213-CS-QCBS contract with SDSU and support to the following:

Ø During the entire consultation, the short-term consultant shall conduct formal working meetings with the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement (NCEQE), local municipalities, MoESY, MRDI and other stakeholder parties from ECE and SRP sector.

Ø For the purpose of establishment of a comparative analysis on benefits and challenges of decentralized and centralized ECE and SRP institutions’ authorization, the short-term consultant must refer to exiting regulations and be in order with the Law of Georgia on Early Childhood and Preschool Education, as well the ECE and SRP institutions’ authorization standard and corresponding regulatory legal documents.

The works shall be planned and implemented under supervision of PMU and assigned SDSU international and local experts.

All documents developed during this assignment are intended for internal use only and shall not be disclosed for the third party/parties during the assignment and at least 1 month after its completion. The Consultant will sign the respective nondisclosure declaration.

Key Deliverables & Timeline

Required Qualifications

·     Education: Bachelor’s degree in fields such as Law, Education Management, or relevant Social and Political Sciences (advanced degree preferred). Advance levels are preferable.

·     ECE Knowledge: Up-to-date knowledge of key issues within the Georgian ECE/pre-school system, including the QA framework.

·     Experience: Prior experience working with the relevant government agencies, educational institutions, NGOs, communities, donors, and international development partners working in ECE sector

·     Communication: Excellent communication and reporting skills.

·     Languages: Fluency in English and Georgian.

·     Technical Skills: Proficiency in MS Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).