Individual Consultant - Knowledge Management

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

1. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

UNESCO 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 its Learning and Education 2030+ Networking Group (LE2030+), covering 46 Member States and three Associate Members in the region, and within a network of 14 UNESCO Field Offices.

The Education Section at the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok (UNESCO Bangkok) is dedicated to strengthening the capacities of the Member States to provide equitable, inclusive, and quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all in line with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4).

The Section is responsible for a wide range of programme areas, related to inclusive, equitable, safe and healthy schools; learning and skills for life, work and sustainable development; teachers, teaching and the teaching profession; and digital learning and transformation. To increase communication, advocacy and knowledge sharing, the Section is responsible for different knowledge management platforms as outlined below.

The LE2030+ Networking Group facilitates regional advocacy and technical capacity building; undertakes knowledge-sharing and information exchange; provides support to Member States in all aspects of the implementation and monitoring of SDG4 in the region; coordinates actions between partners; and ensures harmonization between efforts at the global and national levels, to advance the Education 2030 agenda and achieve the SDG4 targets by 2030. UNESCO Bangkok as its Secretariat manages the regional SDG4 knowledge portal, which was launched in October 2019 and includes knowledge management for the LE2030+ regional working groups such as the Asia-Pacific Multilingual Education Working Group; the Disability-Inclusive Education in Asia Pacific Working Group; the Asia-Pacific Interagency Digital Transformation in Learning and Education Thematic Working Group; the School Health Nutrition and Wellbeing Asia-Pacific Technical Working Group; and the Asia-Pacific Thematic Working Group on Adolescent and Youth Education, Learning and Skills Development.

UNESCO Bangkok is also Secretariat of the Asia-Pacific Regional Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education (known as the "Tokyo Convention") and as such supports knowledge management of the Asia Pacific Network of National Information Centers (APNNIC). In its efforts to advance implementation and monitoring of SDG4, UNESCO Bangkok also supports knowledge management of the Learning Big Platform, a multi-language platform developed as part of the UNESCO initiative “Mobile Literacy for Out-of-School Children”. Furthermore, UNESCO Bangkok supports knowledge management of the Equitable Education Hub, as Secretariat of the Equitable Education Alliance (EEA).

2. PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The individual consultant will support the knowledge management of UNESCO Bangkok’s education activities. This includes, but not limited to, knowledge management (KM) of the LE2030+ Networking Group and its thematic working groups, the Learning Big Platform, the Equitable Education Hub Platform and the Asia-Pacific Network of National Information Centres Platform. The consultant will play a key role in developing and promoting advocacy materials, enhancing visibility of key initiatives, and ensuring strategic communication aligned with the ED Section objectives.

3. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the overall authority of the Regional Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok, the guidance of the Chief of Education Section and the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist leading the portfolio on Education Policy and Planning Management/SDG 4 Coordination, and liaising closely with other programme specialists and the Communication and Public Engagement Team, the Consultant will undertake the work assignments as follows:

3.1 Knowledge Management (KM)

3.1.1 Conduct a mapping of the ED Section KM plans and needs for 2025, and develop a compiled workplan;

3.1.2 Conduct a review of knowledge platforms managed by UNESCO Bangkok such as:

• Asia-Pacific SDG4 Knowledge Portal and SDG4 Knowledge Management Hub (including portals such as the Asia-Pacific Multilingual Education Working Group Portal) https://asiapacificmle.net/)
• Learn Big https://learnbig.net/
• Equitable Education Hub https://equity-ed.net
• Asia-Pacific Network of National Information Centres (APNNIC) https://apnnic.net

3.1.3 Manage content of the different platforms (frequency for updates to be define in the workplan after the review exercise and in agreement with UNESCO), coordinate with programme specialists for content and monitor the web analytics (reach: number of visitors and impact: resource(s) downloads); this includes contributing to the LE2030+ Secretariat’s knowledge management by designing and maintaining the database of knowledge existing products from the region and the countries in liaison with its members, UNESCO Education programme units and external partners to gather relevant resources (policy papers, reports, case studies, etc.);

3.1.4 Develop knowledge management products in close collaboration with programme/project teams and relevant UNESCO field offices, including the documentation of best practices, lessons learned, and success stories from the region, as well as other advocacy materials. This includes the development of interactive infographics, graphs, charts, one-pager snapshots, summaries of findings and presentations.

3.1.5 Strategically disseminate these products through a range of channels, such as the SDG 4 regional newsletter, the SDG 4 regional coordination page, and at global, regional, or national levels, as well as via social media and webinars, while also maintaining and enhancing the LE2030+ and sub-working group webpages and Facebook pages.

3.1.6 Lead the coordination and design of the LE2030+ monthly newsletter, ensuring timely delivery according to the set schedule.

3.1.7 Serves as a focal point of UNESCO Bangkok-Education Section responsible for compiling and uploading the latest regional knowledge resources available on SDG 4 on to the UN Asia-Pacific Knowledge management Hub;

3.1.8 Lead the launch the LE2030+ Communications and Advocacy Strategy, coordinate visibility and outreach activities for major events/meetings, webinars, key international days and develop visual assets, templates, and other resources to support ongoing communications and advocacy in collaboration with sub-working groups.

Long Description

3.1.9 Maintain and update the ED internal knowledge repository to enhance information and knowledge sharing and management within the section;

3.1.10 Deliver information sessions for Regional Office (RO) and Field Offices (FOs) colleagues to enhance digital knowledge-sharing skills and promote the utilization of digital workspace for knowledge management;

3.1.11 Provide coordination support for communications and public engagement for UNESCO Bangkok’s education activities by working closely with the Communications and Public Engagement (CPE) Team at UNESCO Bangkok and the Communications team within the Education Sector (ED/COM) specifically on media outreach for knowledge product launches and events, liaising also with the HQ SDG 4 Communications team to ensure alignment of advocacy materials and messages, adapting them to the regional context.

3.2 Coordination of development, production, and dissemination of Education Section publications

3.2.1 Support in overseeing the management of the Education Section publications, including liaison with the HQ Communications Team on the publication plan and

other concerned services.

3.2.2 Work closely with the Communications and Public Engagement (CPE) Team at UNESCO Bangkok in supporting the dissemination of Education Section publications, with input from colleagues in the Section.

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 Consultant may be required to travel on missions directly related to projects and implementation during the assignment. The Consultant 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 Consultant 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 Consultant is responsible for obtaining UNDSS security clearance prior to each approved mission.

4. TIMETABLE AND DELIVERABLES

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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REQUIRED AND DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications 

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in Education, Information/Knowledge Management, Communication, Information Science, or a related discipline.

Work Experience

• Minimum 2 years of relevant professional experience in communication, multi-media, digital content development, etc.
• Experiences in developing and managing online knowledge portals, websites, networking, etc.

Skills and competencies

• Excellent IT skills with proficiency in the use of MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel. PowerPoint, etc.) and Adobe (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator);
• 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 plan strategically and to translate strategies into action;
• 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

• Experience working with or supporting UN agencies, intergovernmental organizations, or regional education networks.
• Familiarity with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4) and education policy or advocacy at regional or national levels.
• Experience preparing analytics reports or monitoring platform performance (e.g., using Google Analytics or similar tools).

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should click on “Apply Now” and upload the following documents as a single PDF document in place of the Employment History Form.

Before uploading the file, please order the documents in following order:

• A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience make you suitable for the assignment.
• Written technical and financial proposals (in English):
  • Approach and methodology for carrying out the assignment (maximum 800 words) and comments on the Terms of Reference, in brief, if any, and
  • The proposed monthly rates or the amount/budget to be charged for the assignment, which should be quoted in USD. Travel expenses should be drawn up separately as part of the financial proposal.
• Employment History Form
• An updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) 

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 Organisation the best value for money.

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.
   

Note:  

• 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

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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