TEFIQ Finnish Short Term Expert (Activities 1.1.3.1, 1.1.3.2 & 1.1.3.4)

Business area:
Development Consulting

Country:
Ethiopia , East Africa

Qualifications required:
MA/MEd, (PhD is an asset) in Inclusive Education, Education, Special Needs Education, Curriculum and Instruction, Education Policy Studies or related fields of study.

Professional experience required:
• Experience in preparation of research policy documents, strategies and guidelines for higher learning institutions • Knowledge and skill in research policy documents, advanced research projects, qualitative and quantitative research, publication and conduct research training • Familiarity with international and national research strategies. • Proven track record in virtual facilitation and conducting ToT.

Position length:
>Temporary

Position length:
Finnish STE 1- 21 Days; Finnish STE 2- 47 Days

Commencement:
Review of the strategies, validation and ToT will occur between July-September 2026. However, organizing and supporting research group will start in March 2026

Deadline:
Thursday, March 12, 2026

Apply for position

Terms of Reference (ToR) for Review and Development of Research Strategies, Validation, Deliver ToT on Scientific Research Methods and Support Research Study Group for Colleges of Teacher Education (CTEs) and Kotebe University of Education (KUE) Two (2) Finnish Short-Term Experts (STEs) Introduction The Technical Assistance for Teacher Education for Inclusion and Quality in Ethiopia (TEFIQ) is a bilateral project supported by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MoE), with Regional Education Bureaus (REBs) of Amhara, Oromia and Sidama, selected CTEs, KUE, and selected Inclusive Education Resource Centers (IERCs) and corresponding City Administration Education Departments (CAEDs). The project is implemented by NIRAS Finland Consulting Company. The outcome of the project is that teacher education institutions have enhanced capacity to develop teacher education for inclusion. This will be achieved by providing technical support to the following three outputs: Output 1: Teacher educators integrate aspects of inclusive education in their courses and use inclusive pedagogy in practice. Output 2: Model Inclusive Education Resource Centers are developed to showcase child-friendly supportive environments with inclusive practice for learning of all. Output 3: Capacities are enhanced on inclusive curriculum development and related instructional materials across all levels of education administration and institutions. As part of Output 1 activities, Finnish and national STEs will be procured for the review and development of research strategies of CTEs and KUE to ensure inclusion is embedded in their research policies and practices. The Finnish and national STEs who prepared research strategy for CTEs s will deliver a four-day ToT training on scientific research methods, advanced data analysis, report writing, and publication. In addition, the same Finnish STE will provide virtual support to a research study group to initiate a joint research project with a focus on inclusive teacher education. Whereas one (1) Finnish STE and one (1) national STE will be engaged in development of research strategy for KUE only. Description of the assignment This activity will support the research coordinating entities of KUE and CTEs in developing harmonized research strategies to ensure the integration of inclusive education aspects and practices into their research processes. Two Finnish STEs and two national STEs will be recruited to carry out the task. One Finnish STE will work with the CTEs strategy, and the other with KUE. The Finnish STE who will prepare the research strategy for CTEs will also be responsible to deliver the ToT and support the research group that will be established. The research group will compromise of teacher educators and researchers from CTEs and KUE. It is assumed that the members are between six (6) to eight (8). he research strategy should include theoretical and practical aspects of undertaking research and publication as well as suggested measures to institutionalize a strong research culture in CTEs and KUE. The STEs will review existing research strategies of CTEs and KUE and develop the revised strategy. Following the final stage of the strategies development, one (1) day validation workshop for 30 participants will be conducted. Then after, a four-day ToT will be carried out on scientific research methods, advanced data analysis, report writing, and publication for teacher educators from CTEs and KUE. Customized training material/PPT will be developed for the ToT. Four trainers from the ToT trainees will be selected to cascade the training. Detailed time and consultancy dates are indicated under timeframe section of this ToR. This assignment encourages initiating joint research proposal writing and support publication of findings. Objectives of the Assignment The objective of this assignment is to review and improve existing research strategies of CTEs and KUE to ensure that they effectively embed IE practices within their research activities, to conduct validation of the improved/updated strategy and deliver ToT training on scientific research methods as well as provide online support for the research study group established from CTEs and KUE. Specific Objectives • Review the existing research strategies and develop improved/updated research strategies for CTEs and KUE that promotes the integration of inclusive education. • Deliver ToT on scientific research methods, advanced data analysis, report writing, and publication. • Advocate for a strong research culture within CTEs and KUE. • Search for research collaboration between Finnish and Ethiopia researchers on teacher education. • Initiate joint research proposal writing and support publication of findings. • Prepare detailed ToR for the study team (purpose, scope of work, membership, roles and responsibilities, institutional collaboration, meeting frequency and related issues). Expected Outcomes Upon successful completion of this activity, the following outcomes are anticipated: • A draft report on review of existing research strategies of CTEs and KUE for stakeholders. • Draft research strategies that embed inclusive education. • Enhanced research understanding and skills of ToT participants and study group members. • A study group composed of teacher educators and researchers from three CTEs and KUE established. • Advocate for consolidated partnerships between Finnish and Ethiopian researchers. Responsibilities The Finnish and the national STEs will be responsible for executing the following tasks: • One of the Finnish and national STEs will be engaged only with the preparation of strategy for KUE and one day validation. The other Finnish and national STEs will be engaged in preparation of strategy for CTEs, one day validation and supporting study group. • Conduct review of existing research strategies of CTEs and KUE. • Develop research strategies that embed inclusive education concepts and principles. • Conduct validation workshop to present findings and gather inputs for the strategies • Develop customized training materials/PPT for the ToT. • Plan and deliver ToT. • Identify and outline areas for collaboration between Finnish and Ethiopian researchers. • Remotely support the study group. • Finnish STEs will lead the activities. Methodology The review and development of the strategies will be conducted through: • Review of existing national and regional research strategies prepared by higher education department. • Desk review and assessment of existing research strategies of CTEs and KUE. • Organize consultative meetings with faculty, researchers, and administrators to gather information and insights. • Present draft findings and conduct validation. • Incorporate feedback. • Conduct ToT Deliverables The Consultants are expected to deliver the following outputs; • A review report submitted • Developed institutional research strategies • Validation workshop held • Prepared detailed ToR for the study team (purpose, scope of work, membership, roles and responsibilities, institutional collaboration, meeting frequency and related issues) • Submitted training materials/PPT • ToT report submitted • Study group established Working and Reporting Arrangements • The Finnish STEs, and national STEs will work under the overall supervision of the TEFIQ team and Home Office Coordinator (HoC) of NIRAS. • Draft research strategy, ToT report and study group support report will be submitted to the Chief Technical Advisor, Ms. Marja Matero ([email protected]) and copied to Dr. Ali Sani ([email protected]) and Dr. Ahmed Esmael ([email protected]) Application Process • Finnish STEs: Send resume and necessary document to TEFIQ project Home Office Coordinator (HoC) Ms. Shalvi Sinha via email: [email protected] and copy to Marja Matero, Chief technical Advisor, [email protected]. Timeframe • Finnish STE 1; the maximum consultancy days for the review and development of the strategies and validation is 21 days. This STE will be engaged with the review and development of research strategy and validation for KUE only. • Finnish STE 2; the maximum consultancy days for review and development of the strategy and validation is 21 days, for delivering the ToT is 4 days and for the support to the study group is 22 days. This Finnish STE 2 will have 47 consultancy days.