Call for consultant

Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: remote

Job Family: Education

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 1 to 6 months

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Duty Station Time) : 10.08.2025

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

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Background and Context

The UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) is located in Hamburg, Germany, and is one of UNESCO’s eight education Institutes. UIL supports Member States in the field of lifelong learning with a focus on learning ecosystems, skills for life and work, and inclusive learning. It pays special attention to UNESCO’s Global Priorities Africa and Gender Equality. Within UNESCO’s broad educational mandate, the mission of the Institute is to promote the recognition of and create the conditions for the exercise of the right to education and learning. The Institute undertakes research, capacity-building, networking and publication on lifelong learning. UIL responds to the concerns of all UNESCO Member States, giving priority to least developed countries. Key areas of UIL’s work that are of particular relevance to the consultancy are highlighted below:

Capacity-building workshops for national and local lifelong learning advancement

UIL collaborates with partners globally to build national and local capacities for policy design and implementation. A key element of this work are hybrid capacity-building workshops for “Strengthening education systems from a lifelong learning perspective” and “Empowering learning cities to become key players of lifelong learning advancement”, both developed in partnership with Shanghai Open University (SOU). The next edition of these workshops, taking place between October and November 2025, will support national policy-makers from seven countries in advancing lifelong learning policy and practice. In addition, city-level representatives from two countries will be invited to enhance their learning city strategies and support implementation. The workshops will combine virtual sessions and an in-person component hosted in Shanghai, with a focus on national lifelong learning policy, learning cities, recognition of prior learning and flexible pathways.

UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC)

In a context of rapid urban growth and increasing challenges related to social inclusion, sustainability, and economic development, UIL established the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) to support local governments in harnessing lifelong learning as a strategic tool for inclusive and sustainable urban development. The GNLC, coordinated by UIL, is an international, policy-oriented network that provides inspiration, know-how, and examples of best practice. Its mission is to support and accelerate the practice of lifelong learning in cities worldwide by promoting policy dialogue and peer learning among member cities, forging links and fostering partnerships, building capacities for lifelong learning, and developing tools to encourage and recognize progress in building learning cities. To further expand the capacity-building offer to its member cities, the UNESCO GNLC is designing the GNLC Academy as a dedicated platform for capacity-building and peer learning. The GNLC Academy will cover a broad range of subjects, including an online course on “Lifelong Learning for Health and Well-Being”, designed and offered in collaboration by the GNLC Academy and the WHO Academy.

The benefits of lifelong learning for older adults

In response to global demographic shifts and ageing populations, UIL is advancing research on lifelong learning for older adults. Recognizing the need for inclusive education systems that support active ageing, UIL collaborates with Shanghai Open University (SOU) on a multi-year initiative (2023–2025) to explore how LLL enhances older adults’ well-being, autonomy, and societal participation. This work involves three thematic studies: reskilling and upskilling for changing labour markets, intergenerational learning to foster social cohesion, and digital learning to improve access and inclusion. The research aims to inform policy and practice, contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 4 by promoting equitable, lifelong learning opportunities for all age groups.

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Purpose of the consultancy

To this end, UIL is seeking a junior consultant to support the Skills Throughout Life Team in a) contributing to the development and implementation of hybrid capacity-building workshops for lifelong learning policy and strategy advancement at national and local levels; b) supporting the development and implementation of an online capacity-building module on LLL for health and well-being, offered in collaboration by the GNLC Academy and the WHO Academy, c) supporting UIL’s research on LLL for older adults, in particular contributing to the development of learning modules based on the three thematic studies, and d) supporting the organization of the international conference on digitalisation in lifelong learning.

Main duties and responsibilities

Under the overall authority of the Director of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, and under the direct supervision of the team leader of the Skills Throughout Life Programme and GNLC Coordinator, the individual consultant will undertake the following main responsibilities:

Main duties and responsibilities 

Assignment 1: Supporting the development of training modules on the thematic study on upskilling and reskilling for older adults and coordinate the development of training modules on the thematic study of intergenerational learning and digital learning for older adults

Based on the thematic study on upskilling/reskilling for older adults, the consultant will support the development of one training module on the theme. The consultant will assist in drafting content, ensuring pedagogical coherence, and aligning the modules with the project’s objectives. Tasks include reviewing study findings, contributing to the instructional design, and coordinating inputs from relevant stakeholders. The module should be practical, inclusive, and adaptable for use by diverse lifelong learning providers. In addition, the consultant will coordinate the development of training two other modules related to the thematic study on intergenerational learning and digital learning for older adults, ensuring that the modules maintain a consistent style and are appropriately tailored to the target audience.

Assignment 2: Supporting the capacity building workshop on “Strengthening education systems from a LLL perspective”

As part of UIL’s capacity-building efforts, a hybrid workshop on “Strengthening education systems from a lifelong learning perspective” will be held in Sept/Oct 2025. The consultant will support the organization of the workshop, in particular the “learning cities track”. A key task will be assisting in the setup and management of the UIL Learning Hub to facilitate virtual engagement and resource sharing throughout the workshop.

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Assignment 3: Supporting the capacity building workshop on “Empowering cities to become key players of lifelong learning advancement”

As part of UIL’s capacity-building programme, a hybrid workshop on “Empowering cities to become key players of lifelong learning advancement” will be held in late 2025. The consultant will support the organization and delivery of the workshop, including participant communication, session design and facilitation, and setup of the UIL Learning Hub. Additional tasks include supporting the review of output documents and assisting in the evaluation of the course and its outcomes.

Assignment 4: Supporting the development of a training module on LLL for health and well-being in cities

As part of a joint initiative to promote lifelong learning for health and well-being in cities, a training module is being developed, based on the Yeonsu Declaration and the Enactment Guide for Learning Cities to promote Health and Well-Being, in collaboration with the WHO Academy. The consultant will support the module’s development and implementation by ensuring alignment with the needs of Learning Cities and assisting with piloting and refinement for diverse urban contexts.

Assignment 5: Supporting the organization of the international conference on digitalisation in lifelong learning

The consultant will support the organization of two thematic panels at the international conference on digitalisation in lifelong learning: one focusing on the recognition, validation, and accreditation of prior learning (RVA), and the other on learning in ageing societies. This will involve drafting speaker and moderator guidelines, sending and following up on invitations, coordinating with the host institution, and supporting UIL’s participation in the sessions. In addition to these panels, the consultant will also assist in coordinating two keynote speeches during the plenary session, including communication with keynote speakers and the preparation of speaker guidelines.

Deliverables and timeline

The consultant must submit editable versions of all deliverables in English within the contract period, based on the deadlines indicated above.

By 15 September 2025, the consultant will:

• Deliver a draft outline and content structure for the training module on upskilling and reskilling for older adults.
• Provide a finalized session plan for the city-level workshop on “Empowering cities to become key player for LLL”
• Set up the UIL Learning Hub structure for both workshops, including initial content upload and user access setup.
• Deliver speaker and moderator guidelines and send out invitations for the international conference

By 15 October 2025, the consultant will:

• Deliver a near-final draft of the module content on reskilling and upskilling for older adults, incorporating expert input.
• Facilitate the online phase of the city-level capacity-building workshops, including session activities, participant communication and materials.
• Finalize preparations for the in-person phase of the city-level capacity-building workshops, including participant communication and materials.
• Prepare for the implementation of the online training module on LLL for health and well-being in cities.

By 15 November 2025, the consultant will:

• Oversee the development and ensure alignment of two modules on intergenerational learning/digital learning of older adults with the module on upskilling and reskilling of older adults.
• Support the implementation of the in-person city-level workshop phase, including facilitation, technical support, and participant engagement.
• Provide a summary report of workshop proceedings, including participant feedback and key outcomes.
• Finalize preparations for the implementation of the online training module on LLL for health and well-being in cities.

By 15 December 2025, the consultant will:

• Submit final version of the training module on reskilling and upskilling for older adults.
• Collect and provide feedback to city-level workshop output documents.
• Deliver a final evaluation report for the city-level workshop, including analysis of participant feedback and recommendations.
• Support the implementation of the online training module on LLL for health and well-being in cities.

UIL will provide feedback to each deliverable submitted and hold regular meetings to ensure the progress and quality of the consultant’s work.

The contractor should ensure that all visibility materials are produced in line with UNESCO’s branding guidelines. Please refer to the UNESCO Style Manual for citation style, terminology and spelling, abbreviations, references, etc.

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

The documents produced will be the property of UIL.

Long Description

Logistic arrangements and travels

The consultancy can be done by working remotely.

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UIL will provide feedback to each deliverable submitted and hold regular meetings to ensure the progress and quality of the consultant’s work.

The contractor should ensure that all visibility materials are produced in line with UNESCO’s branding guidelines. Please refer to the UNESCO Style Manual for citation style, terminology and spelling, abbreviations, references, etc.

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

The documents produced will be the property of UIL.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Master’s degree in education, political sciences, international relations, social sciences, development studies or any other related fields.

Work experience

• At least one year of relevant work experience in project coordination or management, ideally within the field of education, lifelong learning, or international cooperation.
• Experience in facilitating and coordinating international workshops and capacity-building activities with diverse stakeholder groups in the field of lifelong learning, including the design of workshop activities.
• Experience supporting cities and communities to develop local learning strategies.
• Familiarity with the concept of lifelong learning and learning city development in UNESCO Member States.
• Experience in contributing to international research projects in the field of education, in particular writing and/or revising research reports.

Skills

• Excellent skills in workshop facilitation.
• Excellent academic writing and intercultural communication skills.
• Excellent analytical skills, including the ability to collect, structure, and summarize data to inform decision-making.
• Competent computer skills for MS Office package processing, presentation, online collaboration and data visualization.
• Excellent organizational skills and independent working skills.

Language

• Fluency in English.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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Application process

Content of the application

Interested candidates will need to submit one consolidated PDF document which includes the following information:

• A short description, one page only, explaining the approach proposed for completing the project assignments.
• A financial proposal, one page only, for delivering the activities described in the call;
• A short CV, focusing on previous relevant working experience, consultancy assignments and deliverables and relevant expertise to this project.

The proposal should not exceed 5 pages. Proposals missing any of the above will not be considered.

Selection process

A shortlist of the three most suitable applicants will be drawn up, and the selected candidates will be contacted by the team leader of the Skills Throughout Life Programme. The successful candidate will be selected and offered a contract based on the application review.

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