Back Individual Consultant - Multilingual Education and Differentiated Learning

OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: Bangkok

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) : 07-MAY-2025

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

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok covers Afghanistan, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Vietnam, Singapore and Thailand. The office represents UNESCO in the United Nations regional architecture, namely the Regional Collaborative Platform for the Asia-Pacific, co-leading the Learning and Education 2030+ network (SDG4).

The Education Section at the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok is dedicated to strengthening the capacities of the Member States to provide equitable, inclusive, and quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all. Through targeted support, UNESCO Bangkok assists Member States in designing, reviewing, and systematically monitoring their education sector policies and plans to develop transformative education systems aligned with SDG4. UNESCO work promotes inclusion and the right to education for all, with special attention to marginalized groups. UNESCO implements programmes on differentiated learning in some pilot countries in the region. Furthermore, UNESCO is co-chair and secretariat of the Asia-Pacific Multilingual Education Working Group, leading the regional coordination of language-inclusive education among diverse stakeholders in the Asia-Pacific region.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The assignment aims to contribute to the UNESCO’s efforts in assisting Member States in improving policies, legislative measures or data systems that promote inclusion and the right to education particularly for marginalized populations and those affected by conflict and natural disasters. The assignment is guided by UNESCO programme and budget for 2024-2025 and UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam.

This consultancy will enhance rights-based approach in improving education systems in Member States.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Supervisory arrangements:

Under the overall authority of the Regional Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok and the guidance of the Chief of Education, the Junior Individual Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist managing the portfolio on inclusive and equitable learning and education. Specifically, the Individual Specialist will perform the following tasks:

Terms of Reference:

Terms of Reference:

1. Addressing students’ learning gaps to ensure quality learning for all children and prevent drop-out in Asia-Pacific Project:

• Support with the implementation and monitoring of the project, including review of regional and national technical tools developed under the project.
• Develop hybrid training module for in-service training on assessment for learning and differentiated learning pedagogies.
• Prepare inputs for project briefings and reports, including for communication materials.

  2. Asia-Pacific Multilingual Education Working Group (MLE WG):

  • Assist in the organization of the MLE WG events, such as WG meetings and webinars.
  • Monitor developments in first language-based multilingual education in the region and provide targeted support to countries under UNESCO Bangkok.
  • Drafting contents of the WG website, including the country profiles.
  • Support in the publication of the ‘Multilingual Education and Digital Transformation in the Asia-Pacific region’ report to be co-published with UNICEF (e.g. reviewing pre-print copies).

    Long Description

    3. Southeast Asian Roadmap on Multilingual Education

    • Support coordination and capacity building for implementation of the Roadmap in partnership with the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Secretariat and SEAMEO Regional Center for the Quality Improvement of Teachers and Education Personnel in Language (SEAQIL)
    • Support dissemination and implementation of the roadmap and support with member states.

      4. Support the coordination and facilitation of capacity development webinars, seminars, workshops, technical consultations, and other events related to inclusive and equitable learning, organized or supported by UNESCO Bangkok.

      5. Support the resource mobilization efforts for inclusive and equitable learning.

      In line with UNESCO’s overall gender mainstreaming strategy, the incumbent is expected to integrate a gender perspective in all activities and apply gender analysis and mainstreaming concepts whenever feasible.

      Travel:

      The Specialist may be required to travel on missions directly related to projects and implementation during the assignment. The Specialist should travel economy class and receive DSA at the standard rate (and which should be reduced, as necessary, when the number of days of DSA exceeds the limits stipulated in the table of rates published by ICSC). DSA is only payable to individuals carrying out assignments away from their usual place of residence or work. The Specialist is expected to make her/his own travel arrangements and should be provided with a lump sum to cover travel-related expenses in accordance with UNESCO rules and regulations. Travel-related expenses (e.g. the cost of tickets, terminal fares and DSA) must be fixed and agreed between the parties. The Individual Specialist is responsible for obtaining UNDSS security clearance prior to each approved mission.

      Expected Deliverables/Outputs:

      TIMETABLE AND DELIVERABLES

      Timeframe

      From: 15 May 2025 to 14 December 2025

      Deliverables Deadline for Submission 1
      • Paper on digitalization and multilingual education
      • Revised regional guide on differentiated learning pedagogies
      • Texts for WG MLE knowledge sharing and communication
      • 6-month progress report on addressing learning gaps project 14 June 2025 2
        • Concept note for development of hybrid training modules for in-service teacher training
        • Monthly progress report on addressing learning gaps project
        • MLE WG Meeting Minutes14 July 2025 3
          • Country profile on multilingual education in Southeast Asia – 1 country
          • Concept note for Southeast Asian Roadmap on Multilingual Education launch event and workplan