Project Preparation for Pacific Island Countries Teacher Upgrading and Resourcing for the Early Year

Summary

Request for Expressions of Interest/CV (Consultant Services, Individual) Country: Tuvalu (lead country) with research and engagement covering Tonga, Fiji, Kiribati, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). Project: Preparation Grant for the Pacific Island Countries Teacher Upgrading and Resourcing for the Early Years (PICTURE) Assignment Name: Consultant – Teacher & School Leader PD Needs Study Grant/Credit/Loan : IDA-E5510 Project ID: P182093 Ref#: TV-MEYS-532457-CS-INDV 1. BACKGROUND: The Pacific Island Countries Teacher Upgrading and Resourcing for the Early Years (PICTURE, the “parent project”) is a proposed regional World Bank operation with a total estimated financing envelope of US$110 million from the International Development Association (IDA). The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to improve school readiness of children entering first grade, improve the reading skills of students in primary school, and strengthen regional capacity for evidence-based policymaking in education. The project is structured around three components: (1) Developing a High-Performing, Regionally Mobile Early-Years Workforce. which supports the scale-up of regionally recognized professional development programs and the establishment of island-based hubs for virtual training; (2) Equitable Access to Learning Resources, which covers procurement and distribution of learning materials, parent and community engagement activities, and integration with social protection through cash-plus interventions in Fiji and Tonga; and (3) Building Regional Capacity for Evidence-Based Policy Development, which supports regional assessment and evaluation systems, teacher observation tools, and the establishment of project implementation arrangements. The project will benefit six participating countries — the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Tonga, and Tuvalu. The project is expected to be approved in late 2026. To support the preparation of PICTURE, the World Bank has awarded a Grant Facility for Project Preparation grant (the “preparation grant”) to the Government of Tuvalu, implemented through its Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD). Tuvalu was selected to lead this preparation phase given its proven track record in implementing World Bank-financed education operations, particularly the Tuvalu Learning Project (TuLEP), and its existing institutional familiarity with Bank procedures. While the preparation grant is administered through Tuvalu, the scope of some preparation activities is regional in nature. Under the agreed design of the grant, Tuvalu's MEHRD is engaging consultants to carry out technical work that will inform the design of the parent project for all participating countries. One of the core technical studies under the preparation grant is the regional Teacher and School Leader Professional Development Needs Assessment , which will inform the parent project’s investments in certificate and degree scholarships, in-service professional development (PD), leadership training, micro-qualifications, and pathways for unqualified teachers —including in areas of early childhood workforce development, play-based pedagogy, early grade reading and numeracy, positive behaviour management, inclusive education strategies in mainstream classrooms, and managing multigrade classrooms. The needs assessment is also expected to reflect on mobility opportunities and alignment with national and regional teacher standards. 2. OBJECTIVE The primary objective is to conduct a multi-country research and consultation study which will: Identify and quantify country-specific needs for qualifications and training which could be financed under PICTURE, aligned with regional mobility requirements; Identify and support the design of interventions to strengthen regional and national teacher PD systems, including (i) required investments in the regional micro-qualifications architecture and (ii) investments in national teacher training institutions (TTIs). Detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment is available here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/82luvcdjw31wc8a6uhdsi/Teacher-Assessment-TOR-for-PICTURE-PPG-Final.docx?rlkey=crh6lfbr65p6usph4nvtdcsbb&st=e2o5fwxq&dl=0 The MEHRD now invites eligible individuals (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services (attach curriculum vitae with description of experience in similar assignments, similar conditions, etc.). The mandatory criteria for selecting the Consultant are as follows: Master’s degree in Education, Teacher Development, Human Resources, Education Planning, or related field. 10+ years experience in teacher education, PD systems, or education research. Experience conducting multi-country studies in small island or developing contexts. Strong knowledge of teacher professional standards , accreditation, and career pathways. Demonstrated experience with stakeholder consultations and policy analysis. Excellent analytical and English writing skills. The attention of interested Consultants (including firms) is drawn to paragraph 3.14, 3.16 and 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers February 2025 (“the Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. Expressions of interest must be delivered by April 10, 2026, by email to PMTULEP@MEYSTULEP.onmicrosoft.com and copied to ps.cpmo.nat@moftv.onmicrosoft.com OR po.cpmo.nat@moftv.onmicrosoft.com Bottom of Form