Education in Emergencies (EiE) Technical Consultant

OVERVIEW

As the United Nations’ specialized agency for education and lead agency for Sustainable Development Goal 4, UNESCO holds the global mandate to ensure inclusive, equitable and quality education, and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Within this mandate, UNESCO supports strengthening the resilience and responsiveness of education systems to crises, including those arising from displacement, migration, natural disasters, and conflict.

Considering the contemporary challenges that education systems face, the multiplicity of crises that affect them and their extension over time, preparedness, risk reduction and resilience within the education system has been recognized as a priority by the Migration, Displacement, Emergencies and Education (EME) section at global, regional, and national levels. This is also aligned with the institutional commitments reported in UNESCO’s new Medium-Term Strategy (2022-2030) and its Programme and Budget (2026-2027).

UNESCO seeks the support of an Education in Emergencies (EiE) Technical Consultant specialised in school safety, climate change, learner wellbeing, and resilience in education. The consultant will contribute to strengthening UNESCO’s strategic positioning, normative leadership, and technical delivery in these areas, enhancing the Organization’s capacity to support preparedness, response, and recovery efforts across crisis-affected contexts.

Under the authority of the Assistant Director General for Education, direction of the Director of the Division for Education - 2030, and direct supervision of the Chief of Section for Education in Emergencies (ED/E30/EME), the consultant will work within the framework of UNESCO’s statutory documents, and the UNESCO Global Strategic Framework on Migration, Displacement, Emergencies and Education.

In delivery of knowledge products and technical support to Field Offices, the consultant will work in close collaboration with the Education for Sustainable Development and Education for Health and Wellbeing sections, and the Science sector’s Disaster Risk Reduction unit.

ASSIGNMENTS

2. Objectives of the consultancy

• Lead the development and piloting of an All-Hazards, All-Risks School Safety Plan Guide, with model templates for planning, drills and review.
• Develop hazard-specific preparedness toolkits (heat, flooding, cyclones, tsunami and other priority hazards as relevant) for dissemination to and by UNESCO Field Offices.
• Strengthen the capacities of UNESCO HQ and Field Office staff on school safety, climate change and resilience, through training, guidance materials and practical tools.
• Provide strategic and technical support to UNESCO Field Offices to enhance preparedness, risk reduction, response and recovery interventions in education systems impacted by crises, including targeted support for resource mobilization.
• Support the Migration, Displacement, Emergencies and Education section to develop a resource mobilization strategy for climate-related funds, and 2 funding proposals.

CONTRACT DURATION

11 months

DELIVERABLES

Within 11 months the consultant will be expected to deliver:

• An All-Hazards, All-Risks School Safety Plan Guide, inclusive of model templates for school-level planning, drills and periodic review, pilot tested by 3 UNESCO Field Offices
• Hazard-specific preparedness toolkits (heat, flooding, cyclones, tsunami) covering actions before, during and after crises, ready for validation by key partners.
• 4 training sessions for UNESCO Field Office Education staff, to strengthen capacities on hazard preparedness, school safety, and climate resilience.
• A resource mobilisation strategy and 2 draft funding proposals.

Reporting

The consultant will report directly to the Chief of Section for Education in Emergencies.

Travel

The assignment is remote. For any travel undertaken during the assignment, the consultant will be expected to comply with the following provisions: (i) Amount referred to in the Contract to cover the travel cost is made on a budgetary basis and will be paid based on actual cost. (ii) Prior to undertaking any missions, the Individual Specialist/Consultant should seek written approval for the mission by the manager concerned of the contract. A signed Travel Order will be required as well. (iii) Missions are limited to inter-country or international travel only. Travel within city is NOT counted as a business mission. (iv) The Individual Specialist/consultant shall be reimbursed travel against a signed claim supported with submission of copies of invoices and receipts of payments presenting the effective cost of travel including payment of daily subsistence allowances and actual cost of airline tickets for the authorized travel, in accordance with UNESCO’s prevailing travel provisions and policies (v) Booking of airline ticket should be based on three price quotations with considering the lowest price for the most direct and most economical itinerary.

COMPETENCIES - Core (C) & Managerial (M)

• Communication (C)
• Accountability (C)
• Innovation (C)
• Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)
• Planning and organizing (C)
• Results focus (C)
• Teamwork (C)

For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Advanced degree (master’s or equivalent) in education, social sciences or a related field.

• WORK EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of 10 years of relevant international professional experience, including operational experience in the field and providing technical support in country and regional level.

• Familiarity/working directly with UN/multilateral organizations and professional networks related to DRR, climate change and education.

• SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Strong interpersonal, organizational and communication skills including the ability to interact with a variety of actors, and to work effectively in a multicultural environment.

• LANGUAGES

• Fluency in English required, knowledge of another UN official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and/or Spanish) desirable.

• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of personnel shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity.

• UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment.

• Individuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.