National Consultant - Integration of Climate Change into Teacher Training

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 build peace in the minds of men and women. The organization operates in over 190 countries and has a workforce of approximately 2,000 employees. UNESCO's core values include commitment to the organization, integrity, respect for diversity, and professionalism. The organization focuses on various areas including education, natural sciences, social/human sciences, culture, and communication/information.

Job Overview:
The National Consultant will provide technical expertise to support the integration of climate change, environmental sustainability, and disaster risk reduction (DRR) into pre-service and in-service teacher training programmes at the national level, specifically for Punjab province. The consultant will review and map existing teacher training curricula, identify priority themes, competencies, and learning outcomes, and lead the development of a competency-based, gender-responsive teacher training manual. The consultant will also adapt Teaching and Learning Materials (TLMs) for Punjab to facilitate effective integration of climate change and sustainability into teaching practices. This role requires collaboration with various stakeholders including UNESCO, the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, and provincial education departments to ensure the successful implementation of the project.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Review and assess teacher training programmes and resources at the national level, including pre-service and in-service training curricula, manuals, and related resources across all four provinces.
• Conduct a desk review and mapping of relevant TLMs used in Punjab, assessing their integration of climate change, environmental sustainability, and DRR.
• Develop or adapt a teacher training manual for national use, ensuring it includes practical guidance and pedagogical approaches for integrating climate change into teaching.
• Facilitate technical consultations and co-creation processes with relevant stakeholders to gather inputs for the training manual and TLMs.
• Organize and facilitate workshops for validation and endorsement of the developed materials.
• Provide practical recommendations for institutionalization and scaling of the finalized materials within existing teacher professional development systems.

Required Qualifications:
An advanced/master’s degree in education, curriculum development, pedagogy, or a related field is required. A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in the education sector, specifically in teacher professional development and curriculum development, is essential. Strong command of global best practices in learning assessment development is necessary, along with evidence of experience in similar assignments, including developing and revising curricula and TLMs in Pakistan. Familiarity with Punjab's curriculum framework and TLMs is also required.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced/master’s degree in education, curriculum development, pedagogy, or a related field. A PhD in a relevant area is desirable and would enhance the candidate's profile.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in the education sector, particularly in teacher professional development, curriculum development, and institutional capacity development. Experience in competency-based education and assessment frameworks is a strong asset, as is familiarity with the education system in Pakistan.

Languages:
Excellent verbal and written skills in English and Urdu are mandatory. Proficiency in any other local languages spoken in the area is considered an added advantage.

Additional Notes:
The contract duration is six months, and the position is open to external candidates. The consultant will be contracted, supervised, and managed by UNESCO and will report directly to UNESCO throughout the assignment. The application process requires candidates to submit a cover letter, a technical proposal, a financial proposal, and a comprehensive CV. The financial proposal should include consultancy fees and all other costs, excluding workshop logistical costs, translation services, and travel costs, which will be covered by UNESCO. The evaluation of candidates will be based on qualifications, relevant experience, quality of the proposed approach, cost-effectiveness, and references.