National Consultant - Integration of Climate Change into Curriculum

Job Posting Organization:
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations aimed at promoting world peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security through international cooperation in education, the sciences, and culture. Established in 1945, UNESCO has a mission to contribute to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development, and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication, and information. The organization operates in over 190 countries and has a workforce of approximately 2,000 employees. UNESCO is committed to fostering educational opportunities for all, promoting cultural diversity, and ensuring the preservation of heritage. The organization emphasizes the importance of education for sustainable development, particularly in the context of climate change and environmental sustainability, which is reflected in its various initiatives and programs.

Job Overview:
The National Consultant will play a crucial role in providing specialized technical expertise to the School Education and Literacy Department (SE&LD) of the Government of Sindh. The primary function of this position is to systematically integrate climate change, environmental sustainability, and disaster risk reduction (DRR) into the provincial curriculum. This involves reviewing existing subject-level curricula and non-formal education programs, identifying gaps and opportunities, and facilitating consultations with stakeholders to ensure that the proposed content is relevant to Sindh's environmental context. The consultant will also provide hands-on support to embed these priorities into the curriculum during the ongoing review process, ensuring that the content is age-appropriate, locally relevant, and inclusive. The consultant will work closely with SE&LD and other provincial stakeholders while being supervised and managed by UNESCO, reporting directly to the organization.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The National Consultant will be responsible for a variety of tasks, including:

• Conducting a comprehensive review of subject-level curricula and non-formal education programs to assess the current integration of climate change, environmental sustainability, and DRR content.
• Mapping existing curriculum content against UNESCO’s Greening Curriculum Guidance to identify strengths, gaps, and opportunities for integration.
• Analyzing findings through a Sindh-specific lens, considering local environmental challenges and gender equality.
• Developing contextually relevant priority topics and learning outcomes through stakeholder consultations.
• Facilitating multi-stakeholder workshops to validate findings and prioritize climate and DRR issues.
• Collaborating with SE&LD to incorporate agreed priorities into the curriculum during the ongoing review process.
• Providing technical drafting and quality assurance support for the revised curriculum.
• Ensuring that the revised curriculum reflects Sindh’s local context and disaster risks, and supports gender-responsive and inclusive learning.
• Coordinating with various stakeholders, including government counterparts, local communities, and international experts, to promote alignment and knowledge sharing.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced/master’s degree in education, curriculum development, curriculum studies, pedagogy, environmental education, education for sustainable development, or a closely related field. Additionally, a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in the education sector is required, with substantial experience in curriculum review, development, and implementation. Candidates should demonstrate knowledge of competency-based curriculum design and experience integrating cross-cutting themes into curricula. Expertise in climate change, environmental education, and DRR in education is strongly preferred, along with evidence of successful completion of similar assignments in Pakistan, particularly involving provincial curriculum authorities.

Educational Background:
The position requires an advanced/master’s degree in relevant fields such as education, curriculum development, or environmental education. A PhD in a related field is considered a desirable qualification, indicating a higher level of expertise and research capability in the area of curriculum development and education for sustainable development.

Experience:
The consultant should have at least 10 years of experience in the education sector, with a focus on curriculum review and development. Experience in integrating climate change and environmental sustainability into educational frameworks is essential. A proven track record of working with provincial curriculum authorities and conducting multi-stakeholder consultations is highly valued. Candidates with 15 years of experience and demonstrated expertise in curriculum policy and institutional capacity development will be preferred.

Languages:
Excellent verbal and written skills in English and Urdu are mandatory. Proficiency in Sindhi or another language used in Sindh is considered an added advantage, enhancing communication with local stakeholders and communities.

Additional Notes:
The contract duration is six months, and the consultant will be expected to work on-site in Islamabad. The position is open to external candidates, and the consultant will be compensated based on a results-based individual consultant arrangement. Payments will be made in installments upon satisfactory completion of deliverables. The consultant is expected to follow a detailed workplan and submit reports in English, with all curriculum materials prepared in the required language(s) for SE&LD. The consultancy will involve collaboration with various stakeholders, including government departments, local communities, and international partners, to ensure the successful integration of climate change and environmental education into the curriculum.