OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: remote

Classification of duty station: 

Standard Duration of Assignment: 

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-JAN-2026

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

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Background 

The UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) is preparing the sixth edition of the Global Report on Adult Learning and Education (GRALE 6), the Institute’s flagship instrument for monitoring progress in adult learning and education (ALE). Produced every three to four years, the GRALE assesses Member States’ advancements in implementing international ALE frameworks and provides evidence to support policy dialogue and system strengthening at global, regional and national levels.

GRALE 6, to be launched in 2027 as a key input to the CONFINTEA VII Mid-Term Review, will monitor progress in the implementation of the Marrakech Framework for Action. The report will comprise two main components: a Monitoring Section, based on the global survey completed by UNESCO Member States, and a Thematic section informed by research and expert contributions.

To ensure the analytical coherence, conceptual clarity and editorial quality of the report, UIL will engage an Editor (ideally starting mid of January). Working in close collaboration with the UIL GRALE core team, and thematic authors, the Editor will provide overall guidance for the narrative development of the report, and oversee the integration of contributions into a unified, policy-oriented publication. The Editor will also draft a number of cross-cutting sections of the report, as indicated below.

Under the overall leadership of UIL Director and the direct supervision of the Learning Ecosystem Team leader and the GRALE 6 Cluster Lead, the Editor will undertake the assignments outlined below.

Long Description

Assignments

Overall editorial tasks

• Maintain and oversee the analytical logic, structure, and coherence of the entire report.
• Ensure logical consistency of the Monitoring Section and the Thematic Section.
• Ensure adherence to UNESCO’s editorial, ethical, and language standards.

Methodology guidance

• Contribute to the development of the methodology and conceptual framework for the Thematic Section
• Provide feedback on the Monitoring Section methodology.

Coordination and guidance tasks

• Provide ongoing guidance, together with the UIL GRALE Core Team, to authors of both sections.
• Review and consolidate comments on chapter drafts (first and second rounds).
• Ensure alignment of cross-cutting themes across the report.
• Support UIL in the selection and onboarding of thematic authors (contribute to ToRs development, and selection process).
• Coordinate the work of thematic authors: provide guidance, ensure consistency, and monitor progress.
• Liaise regularly with the UIL GRALE Core Team to ensure coherent progress.

Long Description

Report structure and content development

• Prepare the overarching editorial concept and final outline of GRALE 6.
• Draft parts of the report:
• Draft Executive Summary
• Introductions to the overall report and the thematic part
• Key messages
• Conclusions
• Policy recommendations

Quality assurance and review

• Support in developing review rubric for peer reviewers.
• Integrate comments from the UIL team, peer reviewers/external experts.
• Ensure accuracy, clarity, and consistency in narrative style and data interpretation.

• Ensure compliance with UNESCO editorial and linguistic standards.
• Co-validate final integrated manuscript for publication readiness.

Meetings and reporting

Participate in:

• • Regular working meetings with the authors of the thematic section (self-planned; reporting notes to UIL).
  • Monthly coordination meetings with UIL GRALE Core Team.
  • Strategic meetings with UIL Management (1–2 per year).
  • In person meetings planned in 2026 (The first meeting will be in Spring 2026). 

• Contribute to drafting the agendas of the meetings, as needed.

Deliverables : 

1. Conceptual framework for the editorial work
2. Report’s outline  
3. Final conceptual & methodological framework for the thematic section
4. Consolidated comments on first drafts of both parts
5. Second-round comments + Draft introduction, key messages & recommendations
6. Final manuscript + Draft executive summary

Contractual arrangements and payment schedule

Payments will be disbursed in instalments linked to the satisfactory submission and acceptance of deliverables by UIL. Any revision to deliverables, timelines, or scope must be validated by UIL in advance. All work produced under this contract remains the intellectual property of UNESCO-UIL and cannot be shared or published without prior authorization.

Long Description

Location and travel

The consultancy assignment will primarily be home-based in any location and can be done by working remotely. The consultant can also visit the UIL office in Hamburg at her/his own cost if s/he is based outside Hamburg. The Consultant should be available to meet with the UIL team (online) during office hours of Hamburg, Germany.

Nature of penalty clause in contract

If the documents are not submitted or confirmed by UIL staff according to the deliverables and timeframe stated in this TOR, the payments will be withheld.

UNESCO reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines.

Additional regulations

The UIL Style and Referencing Guide shall be applied precisely with careful attention to grammar, spelling, punctuation, abbreviations, referencing and country names. The final drafts and reports should be submitted at a publishable standard.

The English language of the work shall be mother-tongue level; the style shall target an audience of national and international experts working in the field of teacher education. Acronyms can be used, but these should be spelled out when used for the first time and be accompanied by a table of acronyms. Footnotes should generally be avoided.

Particular attention should be given to the following.

1. Consistency of style, terminology, editing and presentation;

2. Document structure and hierarchy (headings, sub-headings, numbers);

3. Consistency of bibliography with references in the text; and

4. List of acronyms

All materials developed will remain copyright of UNESCO and UNESCO will be free to adapt and modify, reproduce or otherwise use them in whatsoever form or language in the future.

Qualifications

The selected editor must demonstrate the following qualifications:

• Advanced university degree in education, social sciences, public policy, communications, or a related field.

• Proven experience in editing major international publications, preferably UN or UNESCO global reports.

• Excellent writing, editing, and synthesizing skills, with the ability to present complex concepts clearly and coherently for diverse global audiences.

• Strong understanding of lifelong learning and adult learning and education (ALE); familiarity with RALE (2015), the Marrakech Framework for Action (2022), and SDG 4 is an asset.

• Experience working with multi-authored texts and coordinating inputs across teams, ensuring consistency of tone, structure, and messaging.

• Demonstrated ability to work under tight deadlines, manage iterative review processes, and incorporate feedback efficiently and accurately.

• Outstanding command of written English; knowledge of other UN languages is an asset.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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APPLICATION PROCESS

Procedure

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.  

The complete application shall be submitted on or before 23:59 CET, 7 January 2026. Please note that only pre-selected candidates will be contacted.

Any questions may be directed to: grale@unesco.org

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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