Consultant - Transformative Education
OVERVIEW
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Regional Office in Bangkok and Office for Coordination for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCO Bangkok) oversees UNESCO’s programmes in education, natural sciences, ocean sciences, social and human sciences, culture, and communication and information across seven countries: Afghanistan, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam. UNESCO Bangkok also leads SDG4 coordination across Asia and the Pacific.
This consultancy supports the Education Section, in particular the Transformative Education portfolio, including the implementation of the Climate Smart Education Systems Initiative (CSESI) and Global Citizenship Education (GCED) activities under the SDG 4.7 framework.
UNESCO Bangkok is implementing the Climate Smart Education Systems Initiative (CSESI) in Lao PDR. Within the framework of CSESI—launched in November 2024 by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) in partnership with Save the Children and UNESCO—the UNESCO Bangkok office provides technical support for the integration of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), Climate Change Education (CCE), and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) into education sector planning, curriculum, pedagogy, and teacher development in Lao PDR.
In addition, to advance learner agency, UNESCO Bangkok supports Global Citizenship Education (GCED) through its coordination and Secretariat role of the Asia-Pacific GCED Network, in collaboration with the Asia-Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding (APCEIU), Republic of Korea, to support Member States in implementing the 2023 Recommendation on Education for Peace, Human Rights and Sustainable Development through regional dialogue, capacity development, knowledge-sharing, and collaboration to empower learners to become proactive citizens.
Within the framework of enabling learners to become agents of change and to address local and global issues, including the climate crisis, conflict, and rapid technological transformation, this consultancy focuses on developing operational guidance materials, knowledge products, and communication-related deliverables related to Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), Climate Change Education (CCE), Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), and Global Citizenship Education (GCED).
PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
The consultant will contribute to the preparation of technical, analytical, operational, and communications-related deliverables to support the implementation of the Climate Smart Education Systems Initiative (CSESI) in Lao PDR and selected Global Citizenship Education (GCED) activities in the Asia-Pacific region.
Under the CSESI component on curriculum and pedagogy in Lao PDR, the consultant will contribute to the integration of Climate Change Education, Education for Sustainable Development, and Disaster Risk Reduction into pedagogy and teacher training. This includes contributing to the preparation of operational guidance materials and learning resources with a focus on teachers’ professional development, as well as capacity-building and pilot activities on integrating ESD, CCE, and DRR into teaching and learning.
Under GCED, the consultant will support the preparation technical, communications, and knowledge-sharing materials related to the activities of the GCED Network coordinated by UNESCO Bangkok such as regional GCED webinars and the annual GCED Network meeting.
ASSIGNMENTS
Under the overall authority of the Regional Director of UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok and Office for Coordination for Asia and the Pacific, the guidance of the Deputy Director, and the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist in Transformative Education, the consultant will support the preparation of technical and knowledge products related to Climate Smart Education Systems Initiative (CSESI) and Global Citizenship Education (GCED) activities under the SDG 4.7 framework.
Specifically, the consultant will perform the following tasks:
CSESI Tasks
- Review the draft curriculum and learning materials review report and prepare a concise analytical synthesis note identifying findings relevant to teachers’ professional development guidelines, including key implications and priority considerations.
- Consolidate and synthesize outputs from the June 2026 stakeholder consultation and prepare an analytical report summarizing key decisions, priorities, and recommendations.
- Prepare a monthly progress monitoring plan, including timelines, deliverables, and tracking arrangements.
- Provide technical inputs to strengthen the relevance and usability of draft teachers’ professional development guidance materials and learning resources.
- Contribute technical inputs to the assessment of capacity development and implementation readiness related to teachers’ professional development to integrate CCE, DRR, and ESD into teaching and learning.
- Review draft operational guidance materials and learning resources to ensure alignment with UNESCO frameworks on ESD, CCE, and DRR, and support contextual relevance and scalability.
- Prepare pilot testing plan for operational guidance materials and learning resources.
- Prepare technical documentation for pilot activities.
- Support facilitation of pilot activities and preparation of related technical documentation including focus group discussion design and follow-up communication framework.
- Undertake a 3-day official mission to Vientiane to facilitate the pilot testing of the teachers’ professional development guidelines with Ministry of Education and partners.
- Document pilot feedback, technical observations, lessons learned, and recommendations.
- Consolidate pilot activity outputs to prepare a Piloting Phase Outcome Report.
- Revise operational guidance materials, tools, and learning resources.
- Prepare communications article for UNESCO website.
- Integrate peer review feedback and conduct quality review of revised operational guidance materials, tools, and learning resources.
- Prepare near-final draft operational guidance materials incorporating technical revisions and peer review feedback.
- Finalize operational guidance materials and learning resources following final quality review.
- Contribute technical inputs for the consolidated draft project report synthesizing CSESI implementation progress and results.
- Contribute technical inputs and supporting materials for the final CSESI project report synthesizing implementation progress and results.
- Prepare consolidated knowledge and presentation materials related to CSESI and ESD activities.
- Prepare draft dissemination and communications materials related to operational guidance materials and ESD outputs.
- Prepare dissemination materials for CSESI and ESD knowledge products.
- Support technical editing, formatting, and quality review of outputs.
- Consolidate final lessons learned, results, and good practices from CSESI activities.
GCED Tasks
- Prepare concept note, agenda, communications materials, and announcement article for GCED Annual Meeting.
- Prepare concept notes, agendas, communications materials, and webinar materials for two GCED network webinars.
- Prepare presentation materials for GCED network activities.
- Prepare technical, presentation, and communications materials for GCED Network Annual Meeting.
- Compile inputs for GCED Annual Report.
- Consolidate presentation materials highlighting network experiences, achievements, and lessons learned.
- Draft GCED Annual Meeting summary articles.
- Prepare inputs related to GCED activities for the consolidated draft project report.
- Compile and prepare inputs for the evaluation summary report of GCED network activities.
- Prepare inputs for the GCED Network 2027 proposal package.
- Consolidate lessons learned, good practices, and recommendations to support consultation with GCED Network members to identify priority themes and strategic directions for 2027 programming.
- Prepare GCED consultation materials including concept note, agenda, and webinar materials.
- Prepare dissemination and communications materials related to GCED outputs and regional knowledge-sharing activities.
- Prepare final knowledge-sharing products related to GCED activities.
- Consolidate lessons learned, good practices, and analytical synthesis materials highlighting GCED network experiences, achievements, and regional collaboration outcomes.
- Prepare final consolidated GCED knowledge products and communications materials package for dissemination purposes.
COMPETENCIES
- Communication
- Accountability
- Innovation
- Knowlegde sharing and continuous improvement
- Planning and organizing
- Results focus
- Teamwork
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION
- Advanced University Degree (Master's or equivalent) in the field of education, social sciences, communication, journalism, or related areas to international development.
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Minimum 2 years of relevant professional experience in education, policy, planning, projects, teaching, or teachers’ professional development.
- Experience in developing and managing innovative programmes, networks, and partnerships
- Experience working on Sustainable Development, Greening Education, Global Citizenship Education (GCED) or related topics
SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES
- Excellent technical drafting skills
- Excellent analytical synthesis skills
- Excellent IT skills with proficiency in the use of MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
- Good interpersonal, networking and communication skills
- Ability to take initiatives and to provide quality and timely support and services
- Ability to work under pressure and flexibility to adjust work schedules and priorities
- Ability to organize work effectively and manage multiple deliverables within agreed timelines
- Willingness to contribute and work as part of a team in a multicultural environment
- Capacity for accuracy and attention to detail in preparation of correspondence;
- Motivated to contribute towards peace and development and to serve others
- Respect for diversity and adaptability to other cultures, environments and living conditions.
LANGUAGES
- Excellent knowledge of spoken and written English.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
- Previous experience with international organization, preferably the United Nations, would be highly regarded. Experience supporting development of education-related programmes, teacher training materials, and knowledge products in areas related to SDG 4.7 particularly climate change education and global citizenship education will be considered an asset.
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