Expression of Interest /Senior Education Consultant Pool- Damascus

- About the Programme The International Rescue Committee, as Grant Agent for the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) System Capacity Grant (SCG), is supporting the Ministry of Education to strengthen its leadership of education sector reform in Syria. The programme focuses on strengthening government capability in education sector analysis, planning, financing, monitoring, and institutional development, supported by targeted technical assistance. To support this work, IRC is establishing a pool of senior consultants who may be engaged on short-term assignments throughout the life of the programme. This Expression of Interest is the first stage of the recruitment process. It is intended to identify qualified consultants who may later be invited to submit a technical and financial proposal for specific assignments. - Consultancy Opportunities Applicants may express interest in one of the following consultancy lots. Lot Consultancy Estimated level of effort 1 Senior Education Sector Analysis Up to 35 days 2 Senior Education Sector Planning Adviser Up to 15 days 3 Senior Education Finance and Public Financial Management Adviser Up to 20 days 4 Senior Monitoring, Evaluation and Results Adviser Up to 15 days 5 Senior Institutional Development and Capacity Assessment Adviser Up to 10 days 6 Senior Technical Advisory Roster (multiple) Call-down assignments throughout the project Assignments are expected to take place between September 2026 and May 2028.

- About the Assignments:

Lot 1: Senior Education Sector Analysis

Support the Ministry of Education to undertake the Education Sector Analysis and the GPE Enabling Factors Analysis, facilitate stakeholder consultations and support the evidence-based identification and prioritisation of sector reforms, and provide the analytical foundation for the Partnership Compact (PC) and the Emergency and Strategic Education Plan (ESEP).

Typical outputs include:

- Education Sector Analysis - GPE Enabling Factors Analysis - Evidence synthesis and options for priority reform - Technical presentations to the Ministry and Local Education Group

Lot 2: Senior Education Sector Planning Adviser

Support preparation of Syria's Emergency and Strategic Education Plan (ESEP), including strategic priorities, implementation arrangements and operational planning and integration of costing and financing inputs developed with the Education Finance and PFM Adviser.

Typical outputs include:

- ESEP framework - Strategic priorities - Implementation roadmap - Operational planning guidance

Lot 3: Senior Education Finance and Public Financial Management Adviser

Support the Ministry of Education to strengthen education financing and public financial management and inform the costing and financing of the ESEP. The assignment will examine how education policy priorities are translated into budgets and how budget decisions inform investment. The assignment may include analysis of the education budget cycle, domestic and external financing flows, recurrent and capital expenditure, institutional roles and decision-making processes, and financing gaps. It will also support the development of medium-term financing scenarios and the costing of the ESEP. - Education financing and PFM analysis - ESEP costing model - Financing gap analysis - Budget scenarios - Education financing chapter / input to the ESEP - Recommendations for strengthening education financing and PFM systems

Lot 4: Senior Monitoring, Evaluation and Results Adviser

Design the ESEP results framework and monitoring and learning arrangements, including mechanisms to support implementation monitoring, evidence-informed decision-making and Joint Annual Reviews.

Typical outputs include:

- ESEP Results framework - Indicator reference sheets - Monitoring and learning framework - Reporting and review arrangements - Joint Annual Review framework/guidance Lot 5 Senior Institutional Development and Capacity Assessment Adviser Support the Ministry to assess institutional capacities and identify practical measures to strengthen organisational systems, functions and technical capabilities. The assignment will build on existing institutional assessments and undertake targeted additional analysis where evidence gaps remain. Typical outputs include: - Synthesis of existing institutional and capacity assessments where they exist - Targeted institutional capacity assessments - Capacity strengthening priorities and recommendations - Capacity strengthening and technical assistance plan

Lot 6: Senior Technical Advisory Roster

IRC is also establishing a roster of senior specialists who may be engaged on short-term assignments to respond to emerging Ministry priorities and strengthen institutional systems and the technical capacity of MoE personnel during implementation of the GPE System Capacity Grant. Assignments may include the following thematic areas: - Assessment and quality assurance - Teacher policy and professional development - Instructional Leadership - TVET - Curriculum - Public administration and institutional development - Governance - Digital transformation - Who We Are Looking For

Applicants should demonstrate:

Essential - Advanced university degree in education, public policy, economics, public administration, statistics, social sciences or another field relevant to the selected lot. - Demonstrated experience delivering comparable assignments for governments or education-sector programmes. - Ability to produce concise, decision-ready analytical and policy products. - Experience working with government institutions and strengthening institutional systems - Willingness and ability to undertake in-person work in Damascus, as required by the specific assignment. - Professional fluency in English is required for Lots 1–5. Arabic/English Language requirements for Lot 6 will depend on the specific assignment. Desirable - Arabic proficiency is strongly desirable and may be required for assignments involving direct facilitation or extensive