Consultant in Education Sector

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 workforce of over 2,000 employees, UNESCO operates in more than 190 countries, focusing on building peace in the minds of men and women through education, science, culture, and communication. The organization is dedicated to fostering sustainable development and promoting cultural diversity, ensuring that all individuals have access to quality education and opportunities for lifelong learning.

Job Overview:
The Consultant in the Education Sector will play a pivotal role in supporting UNESCO's initiatives in education policy and planning. This position is integral to the Education Management Information System (EMIS) portfolio, where the consultant will provide technical support for a Global Partnership for Education (GPE) funded project aimed at enhancing e-governance in education within Ukraine. The consultant will also contribute to the revitalization of a community of practice focused on EMIS and data systems in education, develop a competency framework for EMIS, and prepare terms of reference for auditing the StatEduc EMIS solution in Africa. Additionally, the consultant will engage with the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) portfolio, analyzing submissions, mobilizing contributions, and updating an online compendium with new country cases. The role requires a commitment to delivering high-quality outputs and reports that reflect the progress and challenges encountered during the consultancy.

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

• Providing technical backstopping for the implementation of the GPE funded project on e-governance in education in Ukraine.
• Contributing to the revitalization of a community of practice on EMIS and data systems in education.
• Developing a competency framework on EMIS, including clear competency descriptions and proficiency levels.
• Preparing terms of reference for conducting an audit of the StatEduc EMIS solution and its implementation in Africa.
• Analyzing new submissions and mobilizing country contributions for the ECCE portfolio.
• Supporting the pilot testing of the ECCE-PATT in one country.
• Analyzing the integration of ECCE into Education Sector Plans in six Latin American countries.
• Submitting deliverables and technical reports to the ED/PLS/EDP, including progress reports, challenges faced, and lessons learned.
• Attending and reporting on community of practice meetings. 1
• Preparing analytical syntheses of ECCE integration across the specified countries.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in fields such as education, public policy, public administration, governance, international development, data science, statistics, or related disciplines. Additionally, candidates should have at least one year of relevant experience in education planning, policy development, monitoring, and evaluation. Proven expertise in developing education frameworks and methodologies is essential, along with proficiency in English. Candidates should demonstrate strong analytical skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a multicultural environment.

Educational Background:
The position requires an advanced university degree, specifically a Master's degree or its equivalent, in relevant fields such as education, public policy, public administration, governance, international development, data science, or statistics. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of education systems and policies, as well as for developing effective frameworks and methodologies that can be applied in various educational contexts.

Experience:
The consultant should have a minimum of one year of relevant experience in the fields of education planning, policy development, monitoring, and evaluation. This experience should ideally include work with educational frameworks and methodologies, demonstrating the ability to analyze and contribute to educational policies and practices effectively. Experience in international development contexts or with organizations similar to UNESCO would be advantageous.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is mandatory for this position. While not explicitly stated, knowledge of additional languages, particularly French or Spanish, would be considered an asset, given the international nature of the work and the regions involved in the projects.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is a non-staff position with a contract duration ranging from one to six months, specifically for a six-month assignment. The consultant is expected to report to the UNESCO HQ Office in Paris at least three days a week, specifically on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM, including a lunch break. Only candidates who are legally entitled to work in France may apply for this position. The consultancy does not involve any official travel on behalf of UNESCO. The organization emphasizes its commitment to diversity and encourages applications from candidates of various backgrounds, including those from under-represented Member States, minority groups, indigenous groups, and persons with disabilities. All applications will be treated confidentially, and UNESCO does not charge any fees during the recruitment process.