Communications Manager on Early Childhood Education and Inclusion at Education Reform Communication Offic

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST ( LEARN-IC-NUS-1.14.1-R - Communications Manager on Early Childhood Education and Inclusion at the Education Reform Communication Office) UKRAINE Lifting Education Access and Resilience in Times of Need in Ukraine Program Grant No. TF0C5794 Assignment Title: Communications Manager on Early Childhood Education and Inclusion at the Education Reform Communication Office Reference No . LEARN-IC-NUS-1.14.1-R The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine is implementing projects financed by the World Bank, including: Lifting Education Access and Resilience in times of Need in Ukraine Program (LEARN) Program and plans to prepare and implement new operations in cooperation with the World Bank (hereinafter referred to as the Operation(s)) LEARN was developed to address critical challenges and provide essential support to the education sector, aligning with the Ministry of Education and Science's (MoES) Strategic Action Plan. Communications Manager on Early Childhood Education and Inclusion will ensure that key messages about ECE and Inclusion reforms, accessibility, and quality improvements are effectively communicated to parents, educators, and policymakers, fostering trust and informed decision-making. The Consultant will be contracted through competitive selection in line with Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, Feb 2025. The detailed Terms of Reference and submission modalities for the assignment are attached to this Request for Expression of Interest. MOES now invites qualified interested persons to submit their expression of interest in Ukrainian and English as provided in the Terms of reference. The deadline for submission of applications is 11:00 am Kyiv time September 03, 2025. TERMS OF REFERENCE for Consulting Services (Individual Consultant) Communications Manager on Early Childhood Education and Inclusion at Education Reform Communication Office Contract No. LEARN-IC-NUS-1.14.1-R Lifting Education Access and Resilience in Times of Need in Ukraine Program URTF Grant No. TF0C5794 BACKGROUND Ukraine and World Bank have signed the agreements for the Program "Lifting Education Access and Resilience in times of Need in Ukraine Program" (hereinafter referred to as the LEARN or Operation). The Operation total financing is US$415 million using a combination of the World Bank's financial instruments: Program-for-Results (PforR) complemented by Investment Project Financing (IPF). The Program-for-Results (PforR) is implemented through a US$235 million credit provided by Bank resources, supported by credit enhancement from the Advancing Needed Credit Enhancement for Ukraine (ADVANCE Ukraine) Trust Fund, which is backed by the Government of Japan. This is formalized under the Financing Agreement between Ukraine and the International Development Association for the Program (CREDIT NUMBER 7626-UA). An additional US$150 million is provided under the Special Program for Ukraine and Moldova Recovery (SPUR) of the International Development Association (IDA) Crisis Facility, as outlined in the Loan Agreement between Ukraine and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for the Program (LOAN NUMBER 9721-UA). Furthermore, US$30 million in Investment Project Financing (IPF) is secured under the Grant Agreement between Ukraine and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Development Association, acting as the administrator of the Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction, and Reform Multi-Donor Trust Fund (URTF GRANT NUMBER TF0C5794). Hereinafter, the portion of the Operation financed through the PforR will be referred to as the Program, and the portion financed through the IPF will be referred to as the Project. LEARN was developed to address critical challenges and provide essential support to the education sector, aligning with the Ministry of Education and Science's (MoES) Strategic Action Plan. For this program, "strategic communication and public engagement" refer to three critical aspects of ensuring the effective implementation of education policies and public trust in reforms: i. Transparency and trust, including timely and clear communication about key initiatives, accessible information for stakeholders, and proactive crisis communication strategies to address concerns and misinformation. ii. Awareness and outreach, especially the development of targeted campaigns, public information materials, and digital engagement strategies to ensure broad understanding and support for educational transformations among educators, parents, students, and policymakers. iii. Capacity building in communication, ensuring that education institutions, regional authorities, and key stakeholders are equipped with the necessary tools, guidelines, and skills to effectively communicate and engage with the public regarding policy changes, funding mechanisms, and international support programs. Effective communication is a key instrument for building trust in education reforms, shaping public perception, and ensuring stakeholder engagement. The Operation of the World Bank is inlined with the Strategic Action Plan and Communications vision of the Ministry. OBJECTIVE The objective of this assignment is to develop and implement communication initiatives that enhance public awareness and stakeholder engagement in early childhood education (ECE) and Inclusion in alignment with the MoES Strategic Action Plan and the Operation of the World Bank. The Communications Manager will ensure that key messages about ECE and Inclusion reforms, accessibility, and quality improvements are effectively communicated to parents, educators, and policymakers, fostering trust and informed decision-making. SCOPE OF SERVICES The Consultant shall provide the following services, including but not limited to: Development and implementation of a communication strategy for the direction of Early Childhood Education (ECE) and