Mid-level research consultants for the Global Education Monitoring Report (multiple positions)
OVERVIEW
Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)
Duty Station: Multiple
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) : 28-FEB-2026
UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism
OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST
IMPORTANT: APPLICATION PROCEDURES
In place of the Employment History Form, please upload required documents. The whole package needs to be uploaded as a single PDF document (CV, Technical and financial proposal):
1) an updated curriculum vitaea
2) a technical proposal including an approach and methodology for the assignment (1-2 pages)
3) a financial proposal: The amount to be charged for the assignment, which should be quoted in US dollars, GBP or Euros as a monthly fee.
The position will be carried out remotely.
Please submit your supporting documents in English.
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 relation to the criteria set forth in the Terms of Reference, UNESCO shall select the proposal that offers the Organization best value for money.
Only complete applications will be considered.
By submitting your application for this vacancy, you consent to the inclusion of your profile in our consultant roster, and you may be contacted in the future for similar types of tasks or opportunities. If you prefer not to be included in the roster, please indicate in your application.
UNESCO is inviting written proposals from Individuals for the work assignment described in Annex A.
ANNEX A
Long Description
1. BACKGROUND
The Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report, established in 2001 as the Education for All Global Monitoring Report (GMR), is an editorially independent, authoritative, and evidence-based annual report that monitors progress in education in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which were adopted as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Its mandate was established in the Incheon Declaration of the World Education Forum in May 2015. The Incheon Declaration of the World Education Forum in May 2015, established the renewed mandate of the GEM Report which consists in “monitoring and reporting on SDG 4 and on education in the other SDGs”; and reporting “on the implementation of national and international strategies to help hold all relevant partners to account for their commitments”.
The GEM Report is funded by a group of governments, multilateral agencies and foundations. It is published by UNESCO to serve the international community. It is widely recognised as an indispensable advocacy and technical tool supporting inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning for all.
Each report has traditionally had two parts: one focusing on monitoring the international education targets and one focusing on a theme, selected jointly with its Advisory Board. Its monitoring part draws on the latest data provided by UIS. Its thematic and policy part draws on the latest data and evidence from a wide array of sources leading to recommendations on how to accelerate progress towards achieving the international education targets. Since 2016 the themes of reports were education and sustainable development (2016), accountability (2017/8), migration and displacement (2019), inclusion (2020), non-state actors (2021/2), technology (2023) and leadership (2024/5). The 2026 and 2027 GEM Report editions, part of the Countdown to 2030 series, will focus on access/equity and learning/quality, respectively.
In addition to the main report, the team also produces thematic editions (on gender, youth, finance, other SDGs), regional editions (e.g. under the 2026 cycle, three regional editions will cover Africa on late enrolment, the Arab States on early childhood education and the Caribbean on gender disparity in secondary education), and online resources (WIDE) on inequality, VIEW on completion and out-of-school rates, SCOPE on interactive narratives and PEER on country profiles).
The Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report is an editorially independent, evidence-based annual report hosted and published by UNESCO. Established in 2002, its current mandate derives from the 2015 World Education Forum and focuses on monitoring education in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the implementation of the strategies outlined in the Education 2030 Framework for Action.
The GEM Report has a recurring need for consultants to carry out high quality research for the global and regional reports and for the PEER country profiles in terms of accuracy, relevance, timeliness, and novelty.
Long Description
2. OBJECTIVES
Under the supervision and guidance of the Chief Education Policy the consultant will contribute to the preparation of the global and regional reports, and the PEER profiles providing research inputs, supporting advocacy and dissemination, contributing to fact-checking and referencing process, drafting country profiles as needed.
The work will involve also close collaboration with the Coordinator of the PEER profile, the Coordinator of the Regional Reports and with the thematic research team and the communication team as needed.
3. TASKS
The Consultant’s tasks consist of contributions to the different research outputs of the GEM Report:
Global report
• Contribute to content development with drafting sections of the report
• Help ensure the coherence and quality of drafted sections, aligning them with the overarching objectives of the reports.
• Conduct thorough research to gather relevant information for drafting sections, incorporating literature reviews, case studies, and data analysis as necessary.
• Collaborate with other team members to refine and finalize drafted sections, ensuring accuracy and clarity of content.
• Participate actively in fact-checking and referencing procedures to maintain accuracy and reliability in the report
Regional reports
• Conduct research for regional reports in a manner similar to how research is done for the global report.
• Assist in promoting regional reports through advocacy and dissemination efforts.
• Take part in checking facts and references as part of the report development process.
PEER
• Drafting, reviewing, and mapping country profiles based on provided templates.
• Participating in PEER team meetings.
• Assisting in preparing and uploading PEER country profiles to the website.
• Supporting internal and external review processes.
Links to the different products are provided below as a reference:
• Global report on leadership in education
• Regional report on East Asia
• PEER country profiles
Specifically, the consultant will be responsible for the following tasks/duties during an 11-month contract. These are provided as an indication of the workload, and to enable applicants to provide an accurate monthly cost proposal:
• 40 country profiles for the PEER website (1000 words each) drafted, checked, revised, mapped and uploaded
• 25 country profiles drafted by other authors revised (3,000 words each)
• 1 case study and 1 section for the gender report drafted (3,000 words)
• 1 country study and 1 case study for the global report drafted (3,000 words)
• One section of the regional report drafted (2,000 words)
• 2 chapters of the global report fact-checked (10,000 words)
• 1 chapter of the regional report fact-checked (5,000 words)
• 1 case study and 1 section for the global Report drafted (3,000 words)
• 1 case study and 1 section for the regional report drafted (3,000 words)
Long Description
4. MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS
Education of expert(s)
Master’s degree or equivalent in Education, Economics or related areas
Work experience
At least 4 years of work experience in research in education or in economics or related areas
COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)
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REQUIRED SKILLS/COMPETENCIES
Excellent drafting skills in English
Attention to detail and ability to follow and adhere to the GEM Report Style Guide
Ability to multitask under pressure while proactively communicating progress and any emerging constraints and maintaining a high level of responsiveness.
Ability to work independently, often within tight timelines, to meet strict deadlines.
Experience working in an international, multi-cultural environment.
Ability to perform independent research using different sources
Good data and research skills for qualitative and quantitative analysis
Experience working on relevant policy research
DESIRABLE SKILLS/COMPETENCIES
Understanding themes key to SDG 4
Understanding of issues and challenges related to theme of the global education monitoring report (e.g. education and technology, leadership) at global and regional level
Understanding of international education development
Research publications in areas keys to SDG 4 and education
Knowledge of statistical and spreadsheet software
LANGUAGES
Fluency in writing and communicating in English required.
Knowledge and good drafting skills in another UN language (French, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Russian) would be an asset.
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.
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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.
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