PAL Network | PAL Network Projects

PAL NETWORK PROJECTS

Using their knowledge and expertise, fellows will be responsible for designing, managing and executing one of the advertised projects. Project-Based Fellows will be fully integrated into the PAL Network Secretariat team for the duration of the fellowship program, working closely with the team for support and guidance on their chosen project.

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APPLICATION CLOSED

Interested applicants are expected to select one of the six advertised projects outlined below, taking care to select a project that is best aligned to their specific expertise, enthusiasm and skillsets. These projects have been drawn directly from the 2018 Annual Plan and contribute to the PAL Network Strategy 2017-19. The PAL Network will not consider applications to work on projects which have not been listed below.

RESEARCH PROJECTS

AREA: COMMUNICATIONS AND ADVOCACY

Project: Developing a network-wide Communications and Advocacy strategy

About the Project: Each of the PAL Network member countries develop communication strategies relevant to their local contexts, to inform and engage identified target audiences. Currently, the PAL Network Secretariat profiles and communicates the work of the Network across various digital platforms (website, blogs, newsletter, social media) as well as organizing and/or publicizing PAL members at key education events globally. To date, the majority of the communications work has been reactive rather than proactive. In addition, the majority of this communication has been in English.

The goal of this fellowship project is to work closely with the Assistant Communications Officer at the Secretariat, in addition to the Communications Officers across the network to develop a network-wide communications and advocacy strategy. Once a draft strategy has been created, the fellow will work closely with the Secretariat team to plan a meeting convening all communications officers in the network to plan a 2018/19 workplan for execution. The workshop will take place in September 2018. The communications fellow will be instrumental in organizing and coordinating this meeting.

Skills / Knowledge Required: Communications strategies; Digital Advocacy; Social Media; Monitoring and Evaluation; Communications Training, Storytelling

Contributing to: PAL-411

AREA: FUNDRAISING AND PARTNERSHIPS

Project: Developing a ‘Case for Investment’ and other fundraising materials for citizen-led assessments

About the Project: When the PAL Network was formally established in 2015, time and effort was spent articulating the vision, mission and shared principles of the network members. For example, assessments had to be conducted at frequent intervals (either annually or every other year) and at national scale. Today, accomplishing the shared principles is increasingly challenging for new and established network members alike. Not only are citizen-led assessments diminishing in frequency, but also in scale. For the newly admitted network members, securing funding for conducting national-scale learning assessments remains a challenge. Increasingly, this is also a challenge for the more established network members who have been reporting similar learning outcomes for children year-on-year.

The goal of the fellowship project will be to work closely with the PAL Network Secretariat and the Fundraising and Partnerships Working Group to develop a strong and clear ‘Case for Investment’ in citizen-led assessments. The Case for Investment will clearly articulate the ‘Unique Selling Points’ of the citizen-led assessment model, making specific reference to the unique position of citizen-led assessment data within the global monitoring landscape of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4). The fellow will lead on the adaptation of the Case for Investment into a variety of additional fundraising materials for use across the PAL Network membership.

Skills / Knowledge Required: Fundraising, proposal writing, desk-based research, content development, report writing, communications and advocacy

Contributing to: PAL-433

AREA: MONITORING AND EVALUATION

Project: Research to inform evaluation of network strategy 2017-19

About the Project: At the end of the first PAL Network strategy (2015-16) an external evaluation was commissioned, resulting in a ‘state of the network report’. The report explored the network members’:

understanding of common goals and how to reach them;
confidence in the network to deliver its aims;
involvement in network activities;
understanding of shared principles, membership categories and expansion;
horizontal communication and opportunities to learn more from each other

The goal of this fellowship project is to build on the existing PAL Network monitoring framework to establish a draft framework for evaluating the second network strategy (2017-19). The fellow will use the monitoring framework to assess and reflect upon any impact, as well as progress towards our stated goals. The fellow will be expected to conduct interviews and other qualitative research amongst network members to obtain insights and learnings that can influence the next PAL Network strategy from 2019 onwards. This is an opportune time to begin the groundwork for such an evaluation given that July 2018 marks the halfway point of the current strategy.

Skills / Knowledge Required: Monitoring and Evaluation; Qualitative Research; Thematic Analysis; Results Framework; Theory of Change; Report Writing, Strategic Planning

Contributing to: PAL-531

AREA: NETWORK STRENGTHENING

Project: Developing and refining existing content for a digital toolkit on conducting citizen-led assessments

About the Project: The PAL Network receive hundreds of questions every year about citizen-led assessments, ranging from theory to design, execution to communication. Over the last twelve months, the Secretariat has been compiling and drafting content for a digital toolkit that will guide interested individuals and organizations through the key steps in planning and conducting their own citizen-led assessment. The toolkit should be presented in accessible language and supported by illustrations, photographs, short videos, animations, helpful tips and signposts to additional resources.

The goal of this fellowship project will be to develop and refine existing content for the toolkit. The fellow will develop a strategy and workplan for further developing the toolkit content making sure information is presented in a simple, easy-to-understand format in a setp-by-step guide.The fellow will plan, visualize and curate the content, making recommendations where necessary to commission graphic design or animation services to present the information in a unique and accessible format.

Skills / Knowledge Required: Creativity, content development, storytelling, development of learning material, script writing, presenting information in simple and accessible formats

Contributing to: PAL-414

AREA: NETWORK STRENGTHENING

Project: Establishing and supporting PAL Network ‘Regional Hubs’

About the Project: In 2017, the PAL Network Steering Committee endorsed the creation of four ‘Regional Hubs’ of the PAL Network: South Asia; Central and Latin America; West and Central Africa and East and Southern Africa. Each hub is autonomous in appointing their own Chairperson, agreeing and setting their own workplan and annual activities. Where possible, the PAL Network Secretariat support the activities planned and executed by the Regional Hubs.

The goal of this fellowship project will be to help establish, coordinate and undertake work on behalf of one of the PAL Network Regional Hub offices. The fellow will be expected to communicate with the Regional Hub chairperson and members to agree on a workplan and annual activities, and undertake the initial set-up work – including any desk-based research, document and landscape reviews, funding opportunities and forums where Regional Hub members will represent the wider PAL Network. Crucially, the fellow will also maintain contact and connections

across other Regional Hubs to ensure a joined-up approach to shared learning across the PAL Network.

Skills / Knowledge Required: French speaking / Spanish speaking, project management, content development, desk-based research, fundraising, proposal writing

Contributing to: PAL-332

AREA: TEST DEVELOPMENT

Project: Mapping of numeracy test items across the network to provide foundations for common test items

About the Project: Across the PAL Network, assessments are conducted in reading and mathematics, according to the national curricular standards for children in Grade 2/3 in that country. This allows the assessments to be nationally-owned and nationally-relevant to inform both policy and practice. Although citizen-led assessments did not set out to be an internationally comparable metric of learning; there is increasing interest from network members to design shared test items to pilot across multiple countries.

The goal of this fellowship project will be to undertake an initial mapping study of numeracy tests across the network member countries, identifying common test items to be developed into a pilot assessment that is comparable across multiple countries. The fellow will work closely with the Test Development Working Group to design the mapping study and make recommendations for shared test items.

Skills / Knowledge Required: Test development method and theory; mathematics test domains and competencies; comparability of items across countries;

Contributing to: PAL-111

DOWNLOAD PROGRAM

DOWNLOAD PRE-DEPARTURE HANDBOOK

APPLICATION CLOSED

PAL NETWORK PROJECTS

RESEARCH PROJECTS

AREA: COMMUNICATIONS AND ADVOCACY

AREA: FUNDRAISING AND PARTNERSHIPS

AREA: MONITORING AND EVALUATION

AREA: NETWORK STRENGTHENING

AREA: NETWORK STRENGTHENING

AREA: TEST DEVELOPMENT

PAL Network Secretariat

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