The Asia Foundation is a nonprofit international development organization committed to improving lives across a dynamic and developing Asia. Working through our offices in 18 countries and informed by deep local expertise and six decades of experience, we address the critical issues affecting Asia in the 21st century by strengthening governance, expanding economic opportunity, increasing environmental resilience, empowering women, and promoting international cooperation.

Job Category:         INGO
Job level:                Consultant
Employment type:  Fixed duration – 20 days
Location:                  Kathmandu, Nepal
Salary:                       Non-negotiable

Background:

Inclusive education is critical for providing students with physical and neurodevelopmental disabilities, as well as those from marginalized communities, with fair opportunity and quality education. It is critical to analyze current policies and practices to identify opportunities for advancement to further strengthen and promote inclusion in Nepal’s education sector. While some progress has already been made in this regard, the challenges of implementing inclusive policies persist. There also remains a significant gap in accessibility, especially in terms of physical infrastructure and learning materials. The engagement and involvement of parents in decision making is also limited making it challenging to execute inclusive plans, policies and programs. 

The Foundation has consistently invested in inclusive education, mostly through its Education Support Program and the Civil Society Media Program by offering alternate learning materials and arranging community outreach activities to reach children from marginalized groups and those with disabilities. In addition, our Books for Asia Program has engaged with numerous communities to assess and identify the obstacles faced by minority language education and education for children with disabilities. Besides, Gender Equality, Disability, and Inclusion (GEDSI) are central to The Foundation's principles and are interwoven into all our program operations for inclusive impact and effective outcomes. 

The Asia Foundation (the Foundation) is seeking applications from candidates interested in supporting the Foundation's Covid-19 Emergency Response Education Support Program, funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). 

Objective:

The specific objectives of the assignment are as follows:

• Review and analyze the prevailing policies, guidelines, and legal frameworks related to inclusive education with a focus on neurodevelopmental disabilities, particularly for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Nepal.
• Analysis of existing programs, initiatives, and projects aimed at promoting inclusive education. 
• Examination of the availability and accessibility of inclusive education services for children with ASD.
• Identification of challenges and barriers faced by children, parents, teachers, and schools in implementing inclusive education.
• Explore national and international best practices and successful models of inclusive education for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities, especially those with ASD.
• Provide evidence-based recommendations for relevant stakeholders to enhance the inclusivity and quality of education for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities with a particular focus on those with ASD in Nepal. 
• Deliverables: 
• An inception report outlining the proposed research methodology, data collection tools, and work plan within the first 7 days of contract commencement.
• A draft report highlighting the findings, analysis, and recommendations within 15 days of contract commencement.
• A final report of 5-7 pages incorporating feedback and comments provided by the project team within 20 days of contract commencement.
• A presentation to share the assessment finding with the project and DFAT. 

Confidentiality

• All information collected during the assessment should be treated with strict confidentiality and used solely for the purpose of this assessment.

Ethical Considerations

• The assessment should adhere to ethical principles, including informed consent, privacy protection, and the well-being of participants.

Timeframe and duration:

• The duration of the contract will be 20 days from the date of contract commencement. The expert is expected to complete all tasks and deliver the final report within this timeframe. 

Qualifications and expertise:

• Masters in education, Social Sciences or related field with more than 5 years of experience in research, analysis and engagement in the education sector. 
• A strong background in inclusive education with special focus on children with neurodevelopmental disabilities (eg. ASD).
• In-depth knowledge of the prevailing policies, legal frameworks, and practices related to inclusive education in Nepal with special focus on children with neurodevelopmental disabilities such as ASD.  
• Excellent analytical and report writing skills. 
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to engage with stakeholders effectively. 

How to apply:

Please submit your application along with your CV and a previously written report on inclusive education or education policies to [email protected] with the subject: Application for Education Expert, no later than 5:00 pm on July 26, 2023. Please also send an active contract sharing your approved rate with any other organization.