Individual Consultant -- Disability Inclusive CSE Module Writer and Trainer

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 Duty Station Time) : 20-MAY-2025

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

1. BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE

UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok (UNESCO Bangkok), as part of its programme of work on quality, inclusive education has been working towards disability-inclusive comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) by prioritizing teachers’ capacity building and support needs for teaching CSE to learners with disabilities. As follow-up to research recommendations highlighted in its 2022 report, the Assessment of Teacher Needs on Disability-inclusive Comprehensive Sexuality Education in Asia and the Pacific, teachers of learners with disabilities should be provided with training to respond to learners’ CSE needs to ensure that all learners benefit from quality, disability-inclusive CSE teaching and learning that takes place in safe, equitable and enabling learning environments.
 

In this context, the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok (UNESCO Bangkok), in collaboration with the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Secretariat and its specialised centre, the SEAMEO Regional Centre for Special Educational Needs (SEAMEO SEN), will support the development of a CSE training package for teachers of learners with physical, visual and hearing disabilities in the age range 9 to 12 years old. This includes the drafting, pilot implementation, refinement, and finalization of the training package for its official launch at the end of the project in early 2026. The training package will comprise: a training module, training agenda and training workshop materials (PPTs, handouts etc); and methodology and tools for capturing feedback from the teachers and school heads who have been trained using the training package, and the students they have reached, during pilot testing in two countries.

The specific objectives of the partnership with SEAMEO Secretariat and SEAMEO SEN for enhancing educator capacity for disability-inclusive CSE, are to:

•    Develop a specialized Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) module with a focus on enhancing teachers and school administrators' understanding of the rationale, purpose, key concepts, and relevant topic areas of CSE, specifically emphasizing its significance for learners with disabilities;

•     Enhance the understanding of school teachers, school administrators and caregivers in adapting CSE for learners with disabilities through an inclusive and supportive environment within and beyond the school settings;

•    Harmonize key intervention principles, practices and strategies inputs from relevant stakeholders that can be adapted and applied to various situations, educational settings and diverse range of learners, including those with and without disabilities;

•     Assist understanding and encourage support from caregivers through the availability of reference materials.

In-person training workshops using the draft training package will target approximately 30 teachers and school heads of learners with disabilities from each of two pilot implementation countries (the Philippines and Malaysia, TBC). The pilot implementation of the training package will be carried out in these two countries for a minimum duration of three months (provisionally September to November 2025).

To co-create with SEAMEO SEN team for designing this training package on CSE for teachers of learners with disabilities, co-deliver the training workshop and support the pilot test of the training application, UNESCO Bangkok seeks the services of a suitably experienced and qualified individual specialist.

2. PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

To develop a training package on Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) for teachers and school heads of learners with physical disabilities in Southeast Asia; deliver the training package among teachers and school heads in two pilot countries; develop a pilot methodology and tools for assessing the effectiveness of the training; and finalize the training package based on the findings of the country pilots. Key technical outputs of the consultancy will include: (1) A training package for in-person delivery, comprising the training module, training agenda, and workshop materials (e.g. PowerPoint presentations, handouts); and (2) a methodology and tools for gathering feedback from teachers and school heads trained through the package during the pilot phase in two countries.

3. WORK ASSIGNMENT

The Individual Specialist shall collaborate with SEAMEO SEN team to: design a training package on CSE for teachers of learners with disabilities; design and then co-deliver with SEAMEO SEN team a training workshop in each of the pilot test countries among a cohort of teachers and school heads; lead the design of, provide inputs to the monitoring of the pilot test; and revise and finalize the training package after the pilot implementation. The Individual Specialist is required to work closely with the SEAMEO SEN throughout the process. The coordinated tasks and deliverables of the Individual Specialist and SEAMEO SEN can be found in Annex 1.
 

The Individual Specialist, in collaboration with the SEAMEO SEN team, and as coordinated by UNESCO Bangkok in consultation with SEAMEO Secretariat, shall specifically perform the following tasks:
 

1.     Prior to the trainings, pilot testing and associated activities: 

        i.    Review the existing desk review references, draft training module outline and content areas  already developed by SEAMEO SEN team, in order to build upon and integrate these, where appropriate, into a revised module outline. Supplement the desk review with additional reference material, as necessary;
 

       ii.    Participate in an online introductory call with SEAMEO SEN, SEAMEO Secretariat and UNESCO Bangkok to become oriented to the full scope of the project, and reconfirm its objectives and the coordinated tasks of both the Individual Specialist and SEAMEO SEN;

       iii.    Review and revise, as appropriate, an approach to the scope of work for the consultancy and its key technical outputs, based on the outcomes of the supplementary desk review and introductory call;
 

      iv.    Draft an outline of the training module, highlighting the scope and sequence of its contents, the targeted competencies of the module’s trainees, the learning activities and learning support materials (e.g. videos, reading materials, etc.); 

     v.    Draft the full narrative content of the CSE training manual  to equip teachers and school administrators of learners with physical disabilities with the knowledge and resources to deliver sexuality education understanding that is sensitive, inclusive and age-appropriate. The draft training module should propose options for delivering its essential content with training workshop agendas of differing durations. The learning activities of the draft training module should articulate with, and ensure integration of any agreed audio-visual learning support materials being developed by SEAMEO SEN.  Make any revisions on the basis of feedback provided on the draft by UNESCO Bangkok, SEAMEO Secretariat and members of an Expert Reference Group that is co-chaired by these two organizations to provide technical inputs to the module-development process;
     

      vi.    Draft the pilot testing methodology and feedback/data-collection pre-and post-training tools for testing the efficacy of the training and training materials and capturing feedback from trainees on their post-training experiences of delivering CSE for learners with physical, visual and hearing disabilities. Make any revisions on the basis of feedback provided on the draft by UNESCO Bangkok, SEAMEO Secretariat and the module-development Expert Reference Group;

    vii.  Design a training agenda (estimated at 5 days) for co-facilitating together with the SEAMEO SEN team, an in-person workshop in each of the two pilot countries for an estimated 30 teachers and school heads/administrators who will participate in the pilot testing. The training workshops will take place in late August 2025 (provisional; TBC) with the objectives of (i) training the pilot implementers with the draft training module (estimated 4 days) and (ii) preparing them to participate in the pilot testing by orienting them to the pilot testing methodology and feedback/data collection tools (estimated 1 day);

     viii.   Prepare training workshop materials, such as presentations, activity/assignment sheets, and workshop evaluation form, as necessary; indicate to UNESCO Bangkok any digital and non-digital requirements for enabling efficient workshop delivery;

     ix.    Lead the online and in-person preparatory meetings with the workshops’ facilitation team – including SEAMEO SEN Master Trainers and special education needs focal points in the two pilot countries,  to ensure smooth delivery of the training workshops.

2.    During the trainings, pilot testing and any associated activities:
 

      i. The training:

       o    Co-deliver with the SEAMEO SEN team, the agreed training agenda and package —including activities, handouts, and supporting materials—during a four-day in-person training workshop in late August 2025 (tentative). The training will enable implementers to engage directly with the module and practice its application to ensure readiness for classroom use;
 

       o    Co-deliver with the SEAMEO SEN team, the agreed one-day pilot orientation session. This orientation aims to provide school leaders and teachers with an understanding of what is expected of them as part of the pilot. This includes familiarizing participants with feedback instruments and schedule, and other relevant processes.

      ii. The pilot test:

       o    During the three-month pilot, liaise with SEAMEO SEN team during their backstopping support to pilot implementers in the two countries  to clarify any queries on the implementation of the pilot methodology and feedback/data-collection tools.

3.  After the training workshops and pilot implementation :

     i.    Liaise with SEAMEO SEN team on their analysis of feedback and other data collected from implementers during the pilot test. Draft written recommendations for the revision and future roll-out of the training package, based on the findings and analysis of the pilot implementation that have been synthesized by SEAMEO SEN. Make any revisions on the basis of feedback provided on the draft by UNESCO Bangkok, SEAMEO Secretariat and the module-development Expert Reference Group;
 

    ii.    Draft the agenda for a half-day, hybrid validation meeting in late January 2026 (tentative) and prepare any necessary materials to facilitate the meeting. The validation meeting will involve the project team of UNESCO Bangkok, SEAMEO Secretariat, SEAMEO SEN, implementers in the two pilot countries and members of the Expert Reference Group;


    iii.    Co-facilitate with the SEAMEO SEN team the hybrid validation meeting, the objectives of which will be to (i) present and discuss key findings of the pilot test; and, (ii) review and react to the draft recommendations for the revision and future roll-out of the training package;


   iv.    Revise and finalize the revised training package according to the feedback received and recommendations endorsed during the hybrid validation meeting. The final revised version will serve as a resource for educators and caregivers of learners with disabilities in Southeast Asia region.

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

Anticipated number of days level of effort
 

Tasks and number of anticipated days (83 days in total)

Long Description

3. TIMETABLE AND DELIVERABLES

The Individual Specialist will be required to work during the period June 2025 to March 2026 (tentatively). The contract shall be concluded by 31 March 2026 at the latest.
 

All deliverables shall be submitted to UNESCO Bangkok in English. Consolidated feedback from UNESCO Bangkok will be provided to the Individual Specialist within two weeks from the submission date of each deliverable. To the extent possible, the Individual Specialist shall reflect comments and suggested modifications.

Long Description

Location and Travel:

The Individual Specialist will be home based in any location, working remotely. The Specialist will 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.

5. SUPERVISION AND REPORTING

Under the overall authority of the Director of UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok (UNESCO Bangkok), the overall guidance of the Chief of Education, and the direct supervision of the Regional Advisor on Education for Health and Well-being, the Individual Specialist will be directly report to the Regional Advisor on Education for Health and Well-being, UNESCO Bangkok, in coordination with the Project Coordinator responsible for the SEAMEO Secretariat. In addition to the submission of contract deliverables, the Individual Specialist will routinely engage with the Regional Advisor and members of the Education for Health and Well-being team and the SEAMEO Secretariat team through emails and virtual meetings.
 

Upon commencing the consultancy, the Individual Specialist will participate in an initial online meeting with UNESCO Bangkok to reconfirm the parameters of the consultancy and to update, as needed, the consultancy approach to work and timeline, to define required sub-tasks and interim outputs to be carried out as Individual Specialist and the supportive inputs required from UNESCO Bangkok and collaborating partners on the respective country-level activities.

UNESCO will provide the Individual Specialist with:

• Current module outline and desk review developed by SEAMEO SEN
• Disability-inclusive CSE training materials or other evidence-based operational guidance on disability-inclusive CSE;
• Timely guidance and feedback in relation to relevant tasks as needed;
• Coordination, liaison and communication support, where needed, with SEAMEO SEN.

6. ELIGIBILITY

The consultancy is open to suitably qualified individuals.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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7. REQUIRED AND DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications:

Education

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in fields such as: general education, teacher education, disability-inclusive education, gender-transformative education, gender equality, sexuality education,  sexual and reproductive health and rights or other relevant fields.

Work Experience

• A minimum of ten (10) years of extensive professional expertise, practical involvement and field experience in any of the pertinent technical domains mentioned above. Submission of a minimum two (2) references from projects in the field showcasing proficiency in these subject areas is mandatory.
• Experience in the development of training content and materials for adult learners.
• Experience in designing and facilitating training sessions for educators or education stakeholders, ideally in the Southeast Asia region

Long Description

Skills/Competencies

• Excellent analytical, oral and written communication skills, including the production of written content for both specialist and generalist audiences.
• Skilled in participatory workshop design, facilitation and evaluation (in-person and remote modalities)
• Demonstrated experience working independently while maintaining effective coordination with multi-stakeholder teams.
• Track record of integrating gender-sensitive approaches and inclusive education principles into programme design, implementation, and training development.
• IT infrastructure, software and devices to support remote meetings, communication and online/digital data collection, as appropriate.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office suite or similar common applications.

Languages

• Fluency in spoken and written English.

Desirable Qualifications

  Work Experience

• Strong understanding of UNESCO’s mandate and programme in comprehensive sexuality education
• Experience working in the Southeast Asia context and demonstrated cultural sensitivity and understanding of gender-transformative curricula, teaching and learning
• Experience in designing, implementing, or supporting programmes focused on disability-inclusive education.
• Prior experience of working with teachers, education administrators or teacher training institutions
• Prior experience with the SEAMEO Secretariat.
• Previous experience working with the UN and/or other multilateral, bilateral and civil society development partners.
• Previous exposure to diverse linguistic and cultural contexts across multiple countries, involving coordination with partners in this operational setting.

8. APPLICATION PROCESS

Submission of Application 
Interested individuals are invited to submit the application and requirements through the UNESCO Careers website at https://careers.unesco.org/careersection/2/joblist.ftl
 
Interested candidates should click on “Apply Now” and download and complete the Employment History form (Word document) in ‘Employment History Form / My Documents’. Before uploading the document, at the end of the Word document, please insert the extra pages with the following required information:

• An updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience make you suitable for the assignment.
   
• Short Approach to work (maximum 3, A4 pages) identifying the specific components of these TORs and how the intended objectives/outputs/delivery shall be addressed, and including specific references to relevant examples of successfully undertaking equivalent or comparable assignments.
   
• The proposed daily or monthly rates or the amount/budget to be charged in consultancy fees for the assignment, which should be quoted in USD. The total consultancy fees should be broken down according to level of effort, time-on-task, or per output. Travel expenses should be drawn up separately.

UNESCO places great emphasis on ensuring that the objectives of the work assignment, as described in the Terms of Reference, are met. Accordingly, in evaluating the proposals for the assignment, attention will focus first and foremost on the technical elements. From those proposals deemed suitable in terms of the criteria in the Terms of Reference, UNESCO shall select the proposal that offers the Organization the best value for money.  

The complete application shall be submitted on or before 20 May 2025 (Midnight Paris time). Please note that only pre-selected candidates will be contacted.
 

Additional Information 
 
•    Travel costs should be included in the financial proposal. 
•    This contract is for a period of 10 months, with the possibility of extension. Estimated start month is: June 2025  
 
Assessment 
•    Only applications providing the information requested in the application procedure will be considered. 
•    Evaluation of qualified applicants may include an assessment exercise and a competency-based interview. 
 
Notes:   
•    Due to the large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidate(s) about the outcome or status of the selection process. 
•    Please submit your application through SuccessFactors. Only if you are unable to attach requirements in the system, please inform us at ed.bgk@unesco.org 
•    Queries of a technical nature about these TORS may be directed to: ed.bgk@unesco.org

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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