Consultant for Education in Rural Areas

Job Advertisement

Position Title: Consultant for Education in Rural Areas
Location: San Jose
Country: Costa Rica
Deadline Date: 03/04/2025

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, was established in 1945 with the mission to contribute to peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security by promoting international collaboration through educational, scientific, and cultural reforms. With a presence in over 190 countries, UNESCO aims to build peace in the minds of men and women through education, science, culture, and communication. The organization employs thousands of staff members worldwide, working across various sectors to achieve its goals, including education, natural sciences, social and human sciences, culture, and communication and information.

Job Overview:
The position of Consultant for Education in Rural Areas is crucial for addressing the educational disparities faced by rural communities. The consultant will be tasked with creating a comprehensive report on the right to education in rural settings across several Central American countries, including Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. This role will involve analyzing existing policies, educational frameworks, and the unique challenges faced by rural education systems. The consultant will work remotely and is expected to engage in preliminary discussions to guide the report's direction, attend meetings with key stakeholders, and conduct thorough literature reviews and statistical analyses to inform the report's findings. The overarching goal is to enhance the visibility of rural education issues and foster collaboration among countries to tackle common challenges.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for establishing preliminary conversations with stakeholders to define the report's general guidelines. They will attend necessary meetings with counterparts and key actors throughout the report's development process. The consultant will conduct literature reviews of conceptual frameworks and empirical studies related to rural education at both regional and international levels. They will also systematize and analyze statistical data from secondary sources to characterize the state of rural education in the subregion. Additionally, the consultant will analyze existing regulatory frameworks, public policies, and initiatives regarding rural education in the countries involved. Participation in established forums with key actors for review and feedback processes will also be required, ensuring that relevant inputs are incorporated into the report.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a postgraduate degree in fields related to the consultancy, such as social sciences, education, sociology, economics, rural studies, youth studies, public policy, or educational research. A minimum of three years of relevant work experience in educational projects related to the right to education in Central America, Mexico, and Colombia is required. Proven experience in research projects utilizing both qualitative and quantitative techniques on rural education topics is essential. Candidates should have demonstrated expertise in qualitative data analysis techniques and proficiency in statistical software such as R, STATA, or SPSS. Excellent communication skills and the ability to engage with key stakeholders, including government entities, academia, international organizations, and civil society, are crucial. Strong teamwork skills and the ability to create and facilitate presentations are also necessary.

Educational Background:
A postgraduate degree in relevant fields such as social sciences, education, sociology, economics, rural studies, youth studies, public policy, or educational research is required. This educational background should provide the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge to effectively address the complexities of rural education and the associated challenges.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least three years of relevant work experience in educational projects focused on the right to education in Central America, Mexico, and Colombia. Additionally, a desirable qualification includes at least ten years of proven experience in educational research, preferably with international organizations, governments, and civil society, specifically in the area of rural education. Participation in research groups or projects related to rural education is also beneficial.

Languages:
Fluency in Spanish is mandatory, with excellent written and oral communication skills. A very good command of English, both written and spoken, is also required. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset but is not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy will be conducted remotely and is expected to last from April to November 2025, with a total duration of eight months. The position is open to both internal and external candidates. Candidates must submit their applications, including a letter of interest, a CV, a proposed publication index, technical and financial proposals indicating the monthly fee in USD, and contact information for three references. The application deadline is set for midnight on March 4, 202

• The selection process will involve an online application, and candidates may be assessed through tests, interviews, and reference checks. UNESCO emphasizes its commitment to diversity and encourages applications from underrepresented groups.