Consultant
OVERVIEW
Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)
Duty Station: Kabul
Job Family: Education
Type of contract : Affiliated personnel
Duration of contract : 9 months
Recruitment open to : External candidates
Application Deadline (Midnight Duty Station Time) : 07/02/2026
UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism
OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST
UNESCO strives to promote education in Afghanistan as a fundamental human right while aiming to provide access to quality, relevant, and inclusive education for all. UNESCO Afghanistan focuses on ensuring access to and the quality of adult skill development, literacy, and non-formal education. Over the last 10 years, UNESCO has provided basic general literacy and skills-based literacy to over 1 million youth and adults in the country.
UNESCO’s Skills Development and Literacy (SDL) Programme provides integrated literacy, numeracy and skills training for illiterate and semi-literate adolescents, youth and adults with strong emphasis on women and girls. To remain relevant and expand its scope, SDL now requires the development of new packages in additional skill areas of demand.
To support this work UNESCO is seeking to recruit a National Consultant to develop an integrated literacy with mobile phone repairing training package for semi-literate youth and adults. The consultant will also provide capacity building and technical guidance to UNESCO’s SDL curriculum team and its partners. The expert will align the newly developed materials with Afghanistan NOSS, CBC framework and to ensure the instructional materials are evidence based and responsive to the educational and economic skills development needs of vulnerable adolescents, youth, and adults, particularly women and girls in Afghanistan, who face significant barriers to education and skills development.
Objectives:
- To adapt and develop integrated literacy with mobile phone repair training package including curriculum and instructional materials (Learner textbook, teacher guide, and assessment tools) for semi-literate youth and adult.
- To ensure the newly developed mobile repairing skills training package is aligned with Afghanistan NOSS, CBC framework and literacy curriculum framework of UNESCO and are suitable for non-formal training, community-based skills development and recognition/ certification pathways.
Long Description
Under the overall authority of the Officer-in-Charge of the UNESCO Kabul Office, overall supervision of the Head of Education unit, and direct supervision of the SDL unit Project Officer/Team Lead, the consultant shall perform the following duties and responsibilities:
Duties and Resposibilities
- Develop a workplan for the development of curriculum and instructional materials for the mobile phone repair training package (textbook, teacher guide and assessment tools) as well as the capacity training intervenes.
- Review existing instructional materials of UNESCO, non-formal TVET mobile repair training materials, relevant NOSS, and comparable materials of the neighboring countries to identify suitable reference materials for the development of new package.
- Develop and adapt the syllabi and lesson template for the mobile repair training package aligned with the NOSS and SDL materials.
- Adapt, further develop and finalize the mobile repair training package in alignment with Afghanistan NOSS, CBC and SDL materials.
- Integrate the Youth Adult Literacy Basic Education Level 2 (equivalent to grade 1-6 of formal school) instructional materials into the mobile phone repair training’s materials.
- Identify and adapt up-to-date approaches to teaching and learning vocational skills for youth and adult learners embedded within the teacher guide for mobile phone repairing.
- Conduct Technical Working Group (TWG), consultation meetings and validation workshops with relevant technical experts of national and international NGOs to share the developed instructional materials for receiving feedback.
- Update and refine all materials based on the feedback collected from the meetings and share the improved draft with UNESCO for the review, alignment and approval.
- Enhance the capacity of Master Trainers and IPs in the newly developed mobile phone repair training materials to be piloted effectively and efficiently.
- Monitor implementation of mobile phone repairing in selected provinces, ensuring evidence is gathered from learners, facilitators and community stakeholders.
- Revise and refine the mobile phone repairing package and toolkits specification based on the pilot testing.
- Provide a final report detailing the process, outcomes, and recommendations for future enhancements of SDL instructional materials.
- Any other task given by the SDL Project officer related to the SDL training package development.
Long Description
Timeframe:
The consultancy is expected to start as soon as possible and will last for 3 months across 9 months. Upon completion of each delivery the consultant is required to provide a consultancy report demonstrating the work progress against each main duty and responsibility, including results and achievements. The report should also outline challenges encountered, recommendations, and proposed next steps for subsequent technical work.
Deliverables:
The consultant will submit the following deliverables:
- Comprehensive work plan for the consultancy and desk review report including the methodology for development of mobile repairing package by week 1, (22 Feb 2026).
- Curriculum/syllabi and lesson template of the mobile phone repairing training package by week 2 (28 February 2026).
- Draft versions of the mobile phone repairing training package instructional materials (curriculum, learner textbook, teacher guide and assessment tool), including specification of the toolkit and ToR for the instructor by Week 6 (30 March 2026).
- Validation workshop report and revised version of mobile repairing training package, specification of the toolkit and ToT training materials and report by week 8 (15 April 2026).
- Pilot testing report of the field-tested mobile phone repairing training package and finalized training package of mobile phone repairing, toolkit’s specification and ToR for the instructor along with the final consultancy report. Month 8 (30 October 2026).
COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)
-
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
- University degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in Education, Technical and Vocational Training, Curriculum Development, Psychology, Social Science or a related field.
Work experience
- At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in education, formal TVET, Non-formal TVET, including curriculum development, and teacher education.
- At least 3 years of relevant professional experience in mobile repair training materials development.
Skills
- Sensitivity and adaptability (culture, gender, religion, race and nationality);
- Excellent research skills;
- Excellent analytical and writing skills;
- Competent computer skills for word processing, online collaboration, presentation and data analysis; and
- Excellent independent working skills.
Language
- Fluency in Dari or Pashto and English (both written and spoken)
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education
- Master’s degree in education, TVET, Curriculum development, Psychology, Social Sciences or a related field.
Language
- Fluency in both national languages Dari and Pashto.
Work experience
- At least 3 years of relevant professional experience in curriculum development for non-formal education and/or TVET programmes; and
- Previous work experience in education projects with UNESCO in crisis-affected contexts such as Afghanistan.
Conditions of work and Remuneration
- Remuneration
Remuneration will be based on UNESCO rules and regulations. The payments will be processed after the submission and validation of the deliverables. All submitted reports should be drafted in English. The fee is payable in installments upon certification by UNESCO of satisfactory performance by the consultant for the work corresponding to each payment. All payments shall be made by bank transfer.
- Conditions of work
This consultancy is based in Kabul and requires full-time presence in the office at the duty station from 8:00 am till 4:00 pm, five days/week. An office space will be provided for the consultant, including office equipment.
SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.
The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as an interview.
UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.
Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.
Footer
UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of staff members shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity. UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment. UNESCO is committed to achieving and sustaining equitable and diverse geographical distribution, as well as gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Candidates from non- and under-represented Member States (last update here) are particularly welcome and strongly encouraged to apply. Individuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. Worldwide mobility is required for staff members appointed to international posts.
UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
Please note that UNESCO is a non-smoking Organization.