UNICEF Bhutan seeks proposal from eligible national consultants to institutionalize different connectivity models in Bhutanese schools through development of a nationally endorsed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and Service Level Agreements (SLA), structured stakeholder coordination framework, and to establish sustainable public-private partnerships (PPPs) to support school connectivity and digital literacy implementation.

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For every child, the right to Education

Background:
Bhutan has made good progress in integrating ICT into education through initiatives such as iSherig 1 and 2, the Digital Drukyul Flagship Programme, and reforms under the 13th Five-Year Plan, expanding computer access, curriculum integration, and school connectivity. However, gaps remain in infrastructure, service quality, cybersecurity, and digital literacy, especially in rural schools, SEN institutions, and TVET centres.
In response to these challenges, MoESD and UNICEF Bhutan, with financial support from the European Union, is implementing the action titled “Supporting Inclusive Access to Digitalisation in Education and Skills in Bhutan.” This initiative aims to improve learning outcomes and skills development through investments in digital transformation and focuses on three interconnected pillars: connectivity, digital content, and capacity building.
Under this initiative, a national Connectivity Gap Analysis and Connectivity Models Study was conducted to assess infrastructure, access, service quality, cybersecurity, digital literacy, and governance challenges. The study proposed three-tiered connectivity models—Satellite-Based Network, Hybrid Network, and Smart Campus Network—tailored to diverse school contexts across Bhutan. While the models provide technical specifications, cost estimates, standards, and implementation phases, their successful scale-up requires structured institutional coordination, clearly defined operational procedures (SOP), enforceable service agreements (SLA), and sustainable
partnership mechanisms (PPP).
This consultancy will support the MoESD, in collaboration with GovTech Agency and other stakeholders, to institutionalise and operationalise the connectivity models through development of SOPs and SLAs, structured stakeholder mapping and coordination frameworks, and the establishment of sustainable PPP mechanisms under the EU-UNICEF supported digitalisation initiative.

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:
To institutionalise different connectivity models in Bhutanese schools through development of a nationally endorsed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and Service Level Agreements (SLA), structured stakeholder coordination framework, and establishment of sustainable public-private partnerships (PPPs) to support school connectivity and digital literacy implementation.

Scope of Work:

1. Review and analyse existing policies, frameworks, and implementation documents related to school connectivity and digitalisation in Bhutan.
a. Review relevant national policies, strategic plans, and reports related to school connectivity and digital transformation, including iSherig 2, the Digital Drukyul Flagship Programme, the 13th Five-Year Plan, the National Education Policy, ETF, and relevant GovTech and telecom frameworks.
b. Identify gaps, inconsistencies, or overlaps in governance, coordination mechanisms, service standards, and accountability frameworks that may affect effective implementation of school connectivity models.
c. Engage with key stakeholders within the MoESD, GovTech Agency, BICMA, Bhutan Telecom, TashiCell, Bhutan Power Corporation, and other relevant entities to gather insights on coordination challenges, service delivery issues, and institutional bottlenecks.
d. Develop a structured methodology for stakeholder mapping and coordination analysis, ensuring representation across national, district and thromde levels, and covering different school types (primary, lower secondary, middle secondary, higher secondary, SEN, TVET) and geographic contexts (urban and rural).
2. Develop stakeholder mapping and a coordination framework for school connectivity implementation. 
a. Identify and map all relevant public and private sector stakeholders involved in connectivity infrastructure, service provision, regulation and maintenance, and digital literacy initiatives.
b. Analyse institutional roles, mandates, reporting lines, and areas of overlap or duplication in school connectivity implementation.
c. Facilitate consultations and coordination meetings with stakeholders to validate roles and clarify responsibilities.
d. Develop a risk and mitigation matrix covering technical, operational, financial, and institutional risks related to national scale-up of the connectivity models, along with practical mitigation strategies.
e. Develop a national stakeholder coordination framework, including communication protocols, escalation mechanisms, accountability structures, risk mitigation and monitoring arrangements.
3. Develop a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and Service Level Agreement (SLA) framework for implementation of school connectivity models.
a. Develop a detailed SOP outlining procedures for connectivity model selection, infrastructure deployment, configuration, testing, maintenance, monitoring, and sustainability.
b. Define minimum connectivity standards, including bandwidth benchmarks, campus-wide coverage requirements, vendor-neutral equipment specifications, and cybersecurity safeguards.
c. Develop a structured SLA framework outlining minimum uptime requirements, performance guarantees, fault reporting mechanisms, response and resolution timelines, and service quality monitoring indicators.
d. Align the SOP and SLA framework with national education and ICT policies to ensure institutional ownership and long-term sustainability.
e. Facilitate stakeholder validation workshops to refine and finalise the SOP and SLA documents prior to formal endorsement.
4. Structure and facilitate Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to support sustainable school connectivity and digital literacy initiatives.
a. Identify potential private and public sector partners that can support connectivity expansion, infrastructure upgrades, bandwidth provision, device access, renewable energy solutions, and technical support.
b. Develop a PPP framework outlining partnership models, co-financing arrangements, cost-sharing mechanisms, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) engagement opportunities, and sustainability strategies.
c. Facilitate consultative meetings and negotiation discussions between government agencies and potential partners.
d. Draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) or partnership agreements clearly defining roles, contributions, deliverables, monitoring indicators, and reporting requirements.
e. Support the formalization of at least two strategic partnerships to support connectivity model implementation.
5. Submit and present comprehensive outputs and recommendations for national scale-up.
a. Organise all outputs into structured reports, including an executive summary, background, methodology, stakeholder mapping analysis, SOP framework, SLA framework, PPP framework, and recommendations.
b. Present key findings and frameworks to MoESD, GovTech, and relevant stakeholders through validation workshops and technical briefings.
c. Provide actionable short-term and long-term recommendations to strengthen coordination, enforce service standards, enhance accountability, and ensure sustainability of school connectivity.
d. Submit final endorsed documents to the Ministry of Education & Skills Development and UNICEF Bhutan, including all supporting documentation and annexes in both electronic and required print formats.

Work Assignment Overview: 

Under the supervision of Education Officer, UNICEF Bhutan, Consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs:  

Sl. No. Work Assignment Deliverables/Outputs Estimated No. of Days
1
Inception and review of relevant policies and
documents.
Inception report submitted (including detailed methodology, review of relevant documents, stakeholder engagement plan, and workplan)
 8
2
Stakeholder mapping and coordination
analysis including risk matrix.
Submitted draft stakeholder mapping report and proposed national coordination framework including risk and mitigation matrix.
 12
3
Development of SOP and SLA framework for
connectivity model implementation.
Submitted draft SOP and SLA framework (including technical standards, service benchmarks, monitoring mechanisms, and
sustainability provisions).
 12
4
Public-Private Partnership (PPP)
Structuring
Developed and submitted draft PPP
framework and at least two draft  MoU/partnership agreements.
 10
5
Validation and Finalization
Conducted validation workshops and
submitted final SOP, SLA framework,
stakeholder mapping report, and PPP
agreements.
 8

Duration of Contract: 50 working days spread over 8 months

Travel: International travel is not foreseen for this assignment. However, local travel within the country to relevant stakeholders and districts/schools with different connectivity models for the consultation data will be required. The travel cost should be incorporated in the financial proposal. 

Payment terms and conditions:
The consultant’s payment terms and conditions are specified below upon certification by UNICEF's Education Officer that all deliverables have been satisfactorily submitted and the feedback and comments incorporated. The final payment to the consultant will be made after successful completion of all deliverables and submission of consultancy performance appraisal.
• 50% upon completing deliverables 1-2 (submission and acceptance of Inception Report upon submission
of Stakeholder Mapping Report)
• 50% upon completing deliverables 3-5 (submission of draft SOP, SLA and PPP Framework and final stakeholder mapping, SOP, SLA framework, PPP framework and evidence of at least two partnership agreements after validating with MoESD, GovTech and relevant stakeholders).

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

Minimum Requirements: 

1. Education Qualification: 

  • Master’s degree in a relevant field (Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Network Engineering, Digital Transformation, Education Technology, Engineering), combined with demonstrated experience in connectivity systems, institutional coordination, and operational framework development.

2. Work experience/Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required

  • Minimum of 5 years of experience in ICT infrastructure, connectivity projects, or digital transformation initiatives, preferably within the education or public sector.
  • Experience in developing operational frameworks such as SOPs, SLAs, governance, or coordination mechanisms related to ICT systems.
  • Demonstrated experience in stakeholder coordination and facilitating multi-sector consultations, including government and private sector partners.
  • Experience in supporting or structuring public-private partnerships (PPPs) and drafting MoUs or service agreements.
  • Strong knowledge of connectivity technologies (fibre, satellite, LTE/4G/5G, wireless networks) and their application in institutional
    settings.
  • Strong analytical and report writing skills. Experience with UN or development partner projects is an asset.

Submission of Proposals and Evaluation Criteria

Proposal should include the following:

  1. Motivation Letter.
  2. Consultant’s full Curriculum Vitae.
  3. Proposed approach and methodology that will be followed in executing the assignment.
  4. A lump sum fee structure, indicating a breakdown of professional fee for the anticipated number of working days, including travel.
  5. Name(s) of collaborator(s) (if applicable) with their full curriculum vitae.
  6. Reference to similar work (final products or links to previous work can be shared along with the proposal)

Selection will be done by UNICEF Bhutan as follows:

1. Technical Evaluation (75 points)

  • Educational Background - 15 points
  • Relevant work experience - 30 points
  • Technical proposal - 30 points

2. Financial Evaluation (25 points)

Procedures and Logistics

  1. The consultant is expected to use his/her computer and work from his/her own workstation and arrange his/her own logistics for the travel.
  2. The consultant will report the progress periodically to the UNICEF's Education Officer who will monitor the progress, provide further directives and endorse the report.

Remarks: 

  1. The candidates must submit the financial proposal along with the technical proposals. 
  2. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

[add the 8th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role]. 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. 

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:  

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable [Insert candidates from targeted underrepresented groups] are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

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