Expert to support Arab region ESD

OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: Beirut

Classification of duty station: [[filter12]]

Standard Duration of Assignement : [[filter13]]

Job Family: Education

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 7 to 11 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 10-FEB-2025

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

As part of the Education for Sustainable Development Network (ESD-NET) UNESCO aims to support the Arab Member States of the ESD-NET through facilitating effective coordination, reinforcing capacities of the Arab member states to develop or implement their ESD country initiatives (build on this a bit using UNESCO terminology etc.)  
 

Long Description

Objective of assignment

UNESCO is seeking to hire an expert to support in the implementation of its initiative focusing on enhanced coordination among Arab Member States with the ESD-NET and strengthening their capacities to advance their work on ESD and implement or develop their country initiatives. 
The EiE Expert will work under the guidance of UNESCO and in close partnership with Arab Member States to ensure the successful implementation of activities aligned with the following outcomes:
i.    Outcome 1: Strengthened coordination among ESD-NET Arab Member States.
ii.    Outcome 2: Enhanced capacities for the development and advancement of ESD country initiatives.
 

Long Description

Scope of Work

The expert will be responsible for supporting UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Offices in Beirut and Doha in the implementation of the following activities:

1.    Development and Endorsement of ESD-NET Arab Member States Sub-group Terms of Reference (TOR) and Action Plan

i.    Develop the Sub-group TOR: Based on the outcomes of the ESD Tokyo meeting (2023) and the country-specific ESD roadmaps, the consultant will support the development of the TOR for the ESD-NET Arab Member States Sub-group through a consultative process with key stakeholders. The TOR will outline the subgroup’s purpose, objectives, structure, and operational mechanisms to advance Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) initiatives in the region.

ii.    Draft an Actionable Roadmap: Collaborate with stakeholders to draft an actionable roadmap for the Arab Member States ESD-NET Sub-group. The roadmap should include specific objectives aligned with the Tokyo meeting outcomes and regional ESD priorities, detailed timelines and measurable indicators, a budget framework to support implementation.

2.    Organization of a Regional Workshop

i.    Draft Event Documents: Develop the concept note and agenda for the regional (in-person) workshop in coordination with UNESCO.

ii.    Facilitate the Workshop including but not limited to the following:
a.    Present the finalized TOR and action plan for the ESD-NET Arab Member States Sub-group.
b.    Provide technical guidance on enhancing collaboration among Member States.
c.    Facilitate collaborative drafting of country-specific ESD initiatives
d.    Present practical tools and templates during the workshop to assist Arab Member States in developing and implementing their ESD country initiatives.

iii.    Identify Capacity Needs: Allocate a session to assess and identify the capacity reinforcement needs of the Arab Member States to inform the design of planned capacity-building webinars and workshops.

3.    Capacity Building through Online Webinars and Workshops

i.    Develop the webinar’s concept notes, agendas and materials: Based on the capacity needs identified during the regional workshop, develop detailed agendas, concept notes, and tailored materials for at least six (6) online webinars and workshops. Ensure the webinar materials address the specific needs of the Arab Member States and leverage existing UNESCO knowledge products to enhance the content development.

ii.    Deliver the Webinars and workshops: Lead and facilitate the online sessions as per the developed materials, with a focus on peer learning and exchange of best practices, and coordination successes and opportunities for regional collaboration. 
 

Long Description

Deliverables

Detailed deliverables with the tentative submission deadlines are as follows:
1.    ESD-NET subgroup TOR document and endorsed action plan
Submission date: March 2025

2.    Regional workshop report including outcomes, challenges and recommendations, in addition to all relevant materials used during workshop. Submission date: May 2025

3.    Report on the webinars delivered including the outcomes, recommendations and challenges, including all relevant materials and presentations.
Submission date: November 2025

 Timeline

The assignment is scheduled to commence in February 2025 and will continue through November 2025, with a total duration of 11 months.
 

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

I.    Education: An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Education, Social Sciences, Sustainable Development, International Development, or a related field.
II.    Experience:
-    At least 7 years of proven experience in education program development, project management, or capacity building, preferably related to Education for Sustainable Development (ESD);
-    Strong experience in facilitating multi-stakeholder workshops, webinars, and capacity-building sessions at the regional or international level;
-    Demonstrated expertise in developing actionable plans, terms of reference, or roadmaps in collaboration with diverse stakeholders;
III.    Knowledge and Skills:
-    Excellent analytical, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
-    Comprehensive understanding of ESD principles, frameworks, and regional priorities in the Arab world.
-    Strong skills in designing tools, templates, and materials to support education initiatives.
IV.    Languages:
-    Excellent command of English (oral and written).
V.    Competencies:
-    Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders.
-    Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks under tight deadlines.
-    Proven ability to deliver high-quality outputs in a remote and in-person setting.
 

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

-    Familiarity with UNESCO's work or similar international organizations is highly desirable.

- Proficiency in Arabic is highly desirable.

-    Proven ability to utilize existing knowledge products and adapt them to local and regional contexts.

 APPLICATION PROCESS 

Interested candidates should submit:
•    A detailed proposal outlining the approach to the assignment, including key methodologies and timeline.
•    An up to date curriculum vitae.
•    A budget proposal specifying the daily or monthly rate for the assignment.

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be assessed based on the following:
•    Relevant experience and qualifications.
•    The quality, feasibility and alignment of the proposed methodology and workplan of the assignment.
•    Cost-effectiveness.

BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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