ASSOCIATION FOR HISTORICAL DIALOGUE AND RESEARCH (AHDR)

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI)

Professional Services - Roster of (1) Lesson Plan Developers & (2) Trainers for Visual Arts Education for AHDR’s Art Activities with children

Terms of Reference

Background

The AHDR is a unique multi-communal, non-for-profit, non-governmental organization established in Nicosia in 2003 that envisions a society where dialogue on issues of history, historiography and history teaching and learning is considered a means for the advancement of historical understanding and critical thinking and is welcomed as an integral part of democracy and a culture of peace. The AHDR contributes to the advancement of historical understanding amongst the public and more specifically amongst children, youth, and educators by providing access to learning opportunities for individuals of every ability and every ethnic, religious, cultural, and social background, based on the respect for diversity and the dialogue of ideas. Since its establishment, the AHDR has broadened its mission by promoting peace education in formal and non-formal settings and is currently bringing together school children of all ages from all communities on the island; in this context, the AHDR has received acclaim from the UN Secretary General for its role in promoting contact and cooperation between the future generations of Cyprus.

To support its work, the AHDR requires the services of (1) Lesson Plan Developers and (2) Trainers in the field of Visual Arts Education to help support the current and future project needs of the organization.

Expression of Interest & Roster of Lesson Plan Developers

The overall objective of this expression of interest is to create a roster of (1) Lesson Plan Developers and (2) Trainers in Visual Arts Education. Qualified professionals will be placed in the roster for one year in order to expedite hiring processes. Under the understanding of registering for the (1) Lesson Plan Developers and/or (2) Trainers Roster, the selected candidates will be contacted to see if they are available to develop and/or review lesson plans or deliver workshops when needed, under the supervision of the Art Activities project coordinator, and the AHDR director. The director and the respective project coordinator will advise and guide the implementation of the defined deliverables based on the needs identified by the specific project. The Roster will be maintained for a period of one year and will be reviewed and updated yearly based on performance and needs.

Thematic Areas of Interest

• Visual Arts Education
• Peace Education/ Education for a Culture of Peace (or relevant fields, i.e. Human Rights Education, Intercultural Education, Anti-racism Education, Education for Sustainable Development, Citizenship Education, Holocaust Education, Museum Education, Heritage Studies)

The applicants will be considered for the roster based on their relevant expertise after the completion of the evaluation process.

Professional Support will focus on the areas outlined below. For each Band, a background to the work of the AHDR is provided along with the key areas for which professional support may be required.

• Background to AHDR’s work on Visual Arts and Peace Education/ Education for a Culture of Peace

In the context of AHDR’s efforts to promote a Culture of Peace through education, at a local, national and international level, the organization has also engaged in a series of Peace Education projects and activities. These have showcased the impact of deconstructing stereotypes and increasing contact in creating a paradigm shift in education as a prerequisite for laying the foundations for sustainable peace. The implementation of Peace Education projects derives from the recognition, by the AHDR, of the necessity to respond to the educational needs of teachers, students and the society at large in relation to Education for a Culture of Peace as well as to the urgency to highlight the importance of peace and non-violence and increased inter-communal contact for constructing alternative futures for the generations to come. All the above prescribe the implementation of innovative programs and initiatives. It is imperative for the AHDR to assist educational stakeholders, mainly students and teachers, in redefining the use of terms such as social justice, compassion, solidarity, peace and conflict and deconstruct the friend-enemy logic. In this framework, our work on Peace Education through Visual Arts focuses on:

1. Mono-communal and bi-communal art workshops for students on issues related to a Culture of Peace through the use of visual arts.
2. Design of material on Peace Education through Visual Arts.
3. Organization of exhibitions and festivals.

Scope of Work

The applicant may look into the two Bands indicated above - (1) Lesson Plan Developers; (2) Trainers - and then choose their relevant field as appropriate to submit the application. Individuals may apply for more than one area if they have the required qualifications and professional skills.

Responsibilities

• Lesson Plan Developers
• Design and develop learning resources and activities of an interactive and engaging nature for primary and lower secondary school students, while ensuring that these are based on a strong theoretical background and are relevant to the respective project objectives and contextual conditions (local curricula, international trends etc.);
• Ensure the development of training materials according to AHDR quality standards in a timely manner;
• Review the work of others and offer constructive feedback in the context of multi-authored publications/educational material;
• Incorporate an evaluation component into the envisioned educational material;
• Deliver capacity building sessions for the project’s trainers;
• Consult with the project team during the lesson plan review and development phase.

• Trainers
• Be able to study and receive capacity building on the material and lesson plans provided by the project team;
• Facilitate workshops with primary and lower secondary school students, both in the buffer zone and in both communities;
• Coordinate the logistics of the sessions (room set-up, organization of material, keeping sign-in sheets etc.);
• Carrying out evaluation and monitoring;
• Communicating with parents and offering feedback;
• Participate in team meetings;
• Organize the artistic component of exhibitions and festivals.

Qualifications & Competencies

Successful applications will be placed in one of the 2 bands (or both if they qualify): (1) Lesson Plan Developers and (2) Trainers

• Qualifications:
• Master Degree in the aforementioned or relevant fields with a minimum of two (2) years working experience, or
• Bachelor Degree in the aforementioned or relevant fields with a minimum of three (3) years of working experience.

• Competencies:
• Demonstrated experience in education: formal education, higher education, non-formal, and/or adult education;
• Demonstrated experience in educational material design, implementation, evaluation and monitoring;
• Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to work as part of a team;
• Ability to work independently, as well as under supervision;
• Demonstrated ability to adapt plans, prioritize and deliver tasks on time;
• Proficiency is required in written and spoken Greek or Turkish and English;
• Knowledge of current educational trends;
• Awareness of the political conditions in Cyprus and related challenges;
• Ability to cross checkpoints;
• Knowledge of the language of another community will be considered a plus.

Evaluation & Selection of Applications

Lesson Plan Developers will be selected in accordance with their qualifications and demonstrated level of experience. An evaluation committee will review the expression of interests/ applications received and will shortlist the successful candidates to create the roster of professionals. This Expression of Interest does not entail any commitment on the part of the employer, either financial or otherwise. 

Stage 1: Establishing a Roster

• The Evaluation Committee will initially screen the applicants against the minimum criteria as specified and those meeting the minimum requirements will be long listed.
• Long-listed applicants will be evaluated through a desk review by an evaluation committee against relevant criteria.

Stage 2: Contracting & Rates:

Successful lesson plan developers and trainers will be awarded an Agreement for Professional Services – Lesson Plan Development or Training Services and become part of AHDR’s Roster.

A specific Terms of Reference (ToR) outlining the outputs, deliverables, timeline and detailed arrangement for each assignment shall be provided and a Contract will be issued to the selected professional.

Financial commitments will only be established each time the services are requested within the scope of the contract. The rates will be determined based on the budget provided by the respective grant(s). The payment schedule will be determined under the ToR for each assignment and payment will be made upon submission of an invoice by the Contractor. The rate of the contract is determined by the employer.

Submission Details

Please submit your CV and relevant documentation along with an Expression of Interest letter stating your experience in the field(s).

For further information and to submit your application, please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 7 September 2023.