OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: remote

Classification of duty station:

Standard Duration of Assignement :

Job Family: Education

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 1 to 6 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 01-AUG-2025

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

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Background and justification

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides a global framework for progress across five key pillars—people, prosperity, planet, partnership, and peace—with quality education (SDG 4) at its heart. Lifelong learning is a cornerstone of this vision, calling for a well-prepared, adaptable, and committed teaching workforce capable of delivering transformative learning and responding to evolving societal needs. In alignment with this vision, the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) and Shanghai Normal University (SHNU) launched the project “Teachers as Lifelong Learners: International Research, Policy, and Practice on Lifelong Learning for Teacher Education (2023–2026).” The initiative aims to generate evidence-based insights into how teachers can be empowered as lifelong learners and as facilitators of lifelong learning.

Phase 1 (2023–2024) of this project focused on establishing a strong knowledge foundation. Key outputs included a comprehensive literature review, six national case studies (China, Chile, Finland, Germany, Qatar, and South Africa), and two thematic papers examining lifelong learning for teachers/educators in early childhood care and education (ECCE) and adult education. These efforts will be used to produce a global synthesis report. Building on the Phase 1 publications, Phase 2 (2024–2025) will focus on drafting three documents for consultations and validations —policy recommendations, a monitoring framework, and curriculum guidelines for teacher education—alongside three associated training modules.

To support the successful implementation of this project’s Phase 2 activities, UIL is seeking a junior consultant to provide technical and coordination support to the team leader and other programme specialists in the development of these key project outputs.

Long Description

Scope of work and objectives

The consultant will work under the supervision of the Team Leader (TL) of the Quality Learning Ecosystems (QLE) programme at UIL and in close collaboration with relevant stakeholders to support the successful implementation of Phase 2 of the project.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Support in Three Expert Team Selection and Onboarding

• Assist the TL in finalizing and publishing Terms of Reference (ToRs) for expert teams/external consultants.
• Support the review and selection process of applications.
• Facilitate the onboarding of selected consultants and coordinate literature review processes as assigned.

2. Support in Document Development and Finalization

• Maintain regular communication with lead consultants to ensure timely delivery of outputs and provide TL with regular updates.
• Assist TL in reviewing and providing constructive feedback on three key documents to enhance their quality.
• Support the refinement and finalization of documents to meet UIL’s quality standards.
• Coordinate with the Publications Unit on copy-editing and final production processes.

Long Description

3. Organization of Online Feedback Workshops

• Assist the TL and expert teams in organizing online feedback workshops.
• Communicate with potential expert participants and manage workshop logistics.
• Collect and consolidate expert feedback to inform document revisions.

4. Development of Three Training Modules

• Coordinate with lead consultants to monitor progress and ensure timely submission of deliverables for TL’s review.
• Support the TL in reviewing training module content and providing regular feedback.
• Liaise with the UIL Learning Hub coordinator on instructional design and course platform preparation.

5. Organization of Two Thematic Webinars

• Collaborate with QLE team members to identify and contact potential speakers for webinars scheduled for September and November 2025.
• Prepare guiding questions and discussion prompts for speakers.
• Support the promotion and dissemination of webinars.
• Coordinate logistical and technical arrangements for both events.

6. General Coordination and Administrative Support

• Organize regular coordination meetings with SHNU and UNESCO HQs, including agenda preparation and drafting meeting reports as requested.
• Provide general administrative support related to project implementation and documentation.
• Draft presentations on the project for various events as needed.
• Attend weekly team meetings (every Thursday) and report on project progress.

Deliverables :

Progress Report 1: Selection process of expert teams; preparation of September webinar
Due: 31 August 2025

Progress Report 2: Preparation of three key documents by expert teams
Due: 30 September 2025

Progress Report 3: Continued development of key documents; preparation of November webinar
Due: 31 October 2025

Progress Report 4: Updated drafts of three key outcome documents (policy recommendations, curriculum guidelines, monitoring framework); organization of feedback workshops
Due: 30 November 2025

Progress Report 5: Drafts of three training modules; preparation of course platforms on UIL Learning Hub
Due: 25 December 2025

Long Description

Required qualifications:

• Education: Master’s degree in education, preferably in teacher education, adult education, lifelong learning, education policy, or related fields in social sciences.
• Experience: At least 2 years of relevant work experience in education, preferably one year in an international context.
• Digital skills: Excellent skills in word processing, spreadsheet, presentation programmes; data analysis software programmes, basic coding.
• Language Requirements: Proficiency in English, and the knowledge of other UN languages is an asset.

Supervision

The consultant will be supervised by the Team Leader, Quality Learning Ecosystems programme, and work closely with relevant programme specialists, a group of consultants, and other UIL units (Publications and Communications), when required.

Location and travel

The consultancy can be carried out remotely from any location at the beginning of this contract, but the preference will be given to those who are based in Hamburg, Germany, and can work on-site at the UIL office.

Nature of penalty clause in contract

If the documents are not submitted or confirmed by UIL staff according to the deliverables and timeframe stated in this TOR, the payments will be withheld.

UNESCO reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines.

All materials developed will remain copyright of UNESCO, and UNESCO will be free to adapt and modify, reproduce or otherwise use them in whatsoever form or language in the future.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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APPLICATION PROCESS

Procedure

Interested candidates will need to submit one consolidated PDF document which includes the following information:

• A short description, one page only, explaining the approach proposed for completing the project assignments.

• A financial proposal, one page only, for delivering the activities described in the call;

• A short CV, focusing on previous relevant working experience, consultancy assignments and deliverables and relevant expertise to this project.

The proposal should not exceed 5 pages. Proposals missing any of the above will not be considered.

The complete application shall be submitted on or before 23:59 CET, 1 August 2025. Please note that only pre-selected candidates will be contacted.

Any questions may be directed to: [email protected]

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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