OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: Multiple

Classification of duty station: [[filter12]]

Standard Duration of Assignement : [[filter13]]

Job Family: Programme Coordination

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 1 to 6 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 13-11-2024

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Background

Education Management Information Systems (EMIS) are critical for transforming education systems by aligning national policies with classroom practices and supporting evidence-based decision-making. Despite extensive investments in digital systems across the Pacific, the transition from traditional data collection methods to digital platforms and the effective use of data in policy and planning remain challenging. To address these challenges, UNESCO Pacific launched its EMIS Maturity Model in 2024 under the Pacific Regional Education Framework (PacREF) program, offering a holistic diagnostic tool for self-assessment by national education administrations. This tool enables Pacific countries to evaluate their EMIS across four dimensions, identifying areas for improvement in data management, analysis, reporting, and decision-making.

The Pacific Regional Education Framework 2018-2030 (PacREF) guides regional education interventions aimed at helping Pacific countries meet both national and global education goals. The PacREF program, spanning 12 years, involves five implementing agencies (IAs) and is currently in its first phase (2021-2025). In 2024, PacREF IAs introduced the regional WanSolWara mechanism for exchange, learning, and collaboration. Reflecting the concept of “one ocean, one people,” WanSolWara supports shared learning among Pacific countries.

The consultancy’s primary objective is to help UNESCO achieve PacREF’s Regional Good 11, which focuses on strengthening education data management and policy planning to support evidence-based policymaking. The consultant will assess the EMIS maturity in three Pacific countries—FSM, Nauru, and PNG—using the UNESCO EMIS Maturity Model. This model evaluates four key dimensions and 12 sub-dimensions, focusing on the following areas:

• Sustainable technical architecture, including digital services, infrastructure, and connectivity.
• Data quality, availability, and timeliness across various educational and non-educational indicators to ensure accessible and actionable information for policymakers and communities.
• Governance of data ecosystems, promoting multisectoral collaboration, financial sustainability, and robust legal and strategic frameworks to support education reforms.
• Effective data management through well-defined organizational structures, institutional processes, and human resources.

Additionally, the consultant will facilitate the WanSolWara study tour on EMIS in Fiji, bringing together six Pacific countries to share experiences and lessons learned on EMIS strengthening.

Scope of Work (Per Country)

EMIS Assessment

1. Initiation

• Initiate discussions on the assessment framework with each Ministry of Education (MoE) and UNESCO, establish work plans, and collect necessary documents for review.
• Conduct a document review to draft a preliminary assessment report as a foundation for the next stages.

2. EMIS Assessment.

• Conduct a five-day series of technical working sessions with each national assessment team, reviewing all EMIS dimensions.
• Develop a draft analysis in the form of a factsheet or presentation for feedback and discussion with the national teams.

3. Assessment Report and Recommendations

• Analyze and verify findings, preparing a final draft report for review by UNESCO and MoE, and conduct validation sessions with the national assessment teams.

4. Integration into National Planning

• Finalize the recommendations and present an EMIS development plan to MoE leadership.

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WanSolWara Study Tour

• Coordinate and facilitate the design of the study tour, supporting agenda-setting, panel discussions, and summarizing key discussions and recommendations to inform PacREF’s next phase.

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This initiative aims to improve education data management systems across the Pacific, empowering countries to make informed, data-driven decisions aligned with national and global education goals.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Required education:

A Master’s degree in Statistics, Economics or related discipline

Required experience:

• At least two similar assignments conducted demonstrating extensive knowledge of EMIS assessments
• At least 10 years of experience in data management, data analytics for education system strengthening, education statistics and EMIS
• Demonstrated understanding of socio-economic context of Pacific Island Countries, including limited human and institutional capacities for data systems in education.

Required skills/competencies:

• EMIS assessment
• Data analytics
• Data quality assessment
• Policy consultation, review and stakeholder engagement
• Data visualization

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Language Requirement:

Fluency in English is required.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Work Experience

Relevant experience working with UNESCO or other international organizations on similar assignments and knowledge would be an asset.