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National Consultant on Education for Sustainable Development

JOB DETAILS

Type of contract : Consultant Contract

Level : Level 3 - Senior

Hiring Unit : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station : Tashkent

Work location : On site

Duration of contract : 8 months

Hiring open to : External candidates

Application deadline (Midnight UTC−5 Time) : 30/10/2026

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

OVERVIEW

In October 2026, the Republic of Uzbekistan endorsed its national commitment document for the ESD 2030 Country Initiative, the National Roadmap for Education for Sustainable Development, led by the Ministry of Preschool and School Education. The Roadmap anticipates the formation of a culture of sustainability through the integration of ESD principles across all levels of education, and is structured around the five priority action areas of the ESD for 2030 framework: advancing policy, transforming learning environments, building capacities of educators, empowering and mobilizing youth, and accelerating local level actions.

The endorsed document assigns coordination of the education dimension to the Ministry of Preschool and School Education and coordination of the sustainable development dimension to the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change, under the overall coordination of the National Commission for UNESCO. Technical support with the implementation of this Roadmap will be launched, requiring sustained liaison among the participating entities, practical guidance on early actions, and regular monitoring of how the national commitments are advancing. To support this work, UNESCO Tashkent Office seeks to engage a national individual consultant.

Long Description

ASSIGNMENTS

The consultant will work under the overall authority of the Head of UNESCO Tashkent Office, the direct supervision of the Education Programme Specialist of the UNESCO Tashkent Office, and in close coordination with the Ministry of Preschool and School Education and the other participating entities listed in the responsibility matrix of the Roadmap, including the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change, the Agency for Youth Affairs, the Republican Scientific-Methodical Centre, the agencies responsible for education quality assurance and for vocational education, as well as ASPnet schools and relevant partners.

The objective of this consultancy is to support UNESCO and national counterparts in advancing implementation of the national commitments set out in the National Roadmap for the ESD 2030 Country Initiative. Specifically, the consultant shall:

Review key national and international reference documents, including the endorsed National Roadmap and its responsibility matrix, relevant UNESCO guidance on greening education, and related national legal acts, and prepare an inception work plan and a simple status-tracking framework;
Conduct liaison and consultations with all participating entities to confirm focal points, verify commitments and identify early actions, and prepare a short implementation priorities note;
Prepare a design package for the "green school" pilot, including a proposed national adaptation of the UNESCO Green School Quality Standard, selection criteria with an indicative shortlist of ASPnet schools, a school self-assessment checklist and an indicative pilot timeline, and provide advisory support to its initial steps;
Provide ongoing guidance and advisory support to the participating entities, contextualizing relevant UNESCO guidance for national use;
Conduct periodic monitoring rounds, maintain the status-tracking framework, and prepare a progress report and a final consolidated report with recommendations on coordination, follow-up and future resource mobilization.

Long Description

CONTRACT DURATION

The contract will be implemented on a part-time basis over a period of eight months, tentatively from mid-November 2026 to 15 July 2027. The total level of effort is 60 working days, scheduled in accordance with a monthly work plan agreed with UNESCO.

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DELIVERABLES

The consultant shall submit three deliverables, in Uzbek with summaries in English, in editable electronic format:

Deliverable 1 — Inception and Implementation Priorities Package (within two months of contract start): inception work plan; status-tracking framework aligned with the responsibility matrix; record of consultations with the participating entities specified in the Roadmap; implementation priorities note setting out a limited set of early actions with first-year steps and responsible institutions.
Deliverable 2 — Green School Pilot Design Package and First Monitoring Report (within five months of contract start): proposed national adaptation of the UNESCO Green School Quality Standard; pilot school selection criteria and indicative shortlist of ASPnet schools; school self-assessment checklist; proposed partner roles and indicative pilot timeline; first progress and monitoring report with updated status-tracking framework.
Deliverable 3 — Final Consolidated Report (by 15 July 2027): final monitoring round covering all blocks of the responsibility matrix; completed status-tracking framework; final consolidated report with lessons learned and recommendations on coordination, follow-up and future resource mobilization; finalized versions of all outputs reflecting comments received.

Payments will be made in three instalments upon satisfactory submission and acceptance of the corresponding deliverable by UNESCO. All materials produced under this consultancy shall remain the property of UNESCO.

Long Description

COMPETENCIES - Core (C) & Managerial (M)

Communication (C)
Accountability (C)
Innovation (C)
Knowlegde sharing and continuous improvement (C)
Planning and organizing (C)
Results focus (C)
Teamwork (C)

For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

Advanced university degree (Masters and/or above) in education, environmental or natural sciences, sustainable development, public policy or a related field.

WORK EXPERIENCE

At least ten years of relevant professional experience in the education sector or in education-related policy, programme coordination or institutional development in Uzbekistan;
Demonstrated experience working with government ministries and agencies, including organizing consultations or inter-agency coordination processes;
Familiarity with Education for Sustainable Development, climate change education, greening education or related agendas; knowledge of the national education reform context;
Prior experience with UNESCO, UN agencies or international organizations is an asset.

Long Description

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

Strong coordination, liaison and stakeholder engagement skills across government and non-government actors;
Strong analytical and drafting skills, with proven ability to produce concise, actionable documents for government use;
Ability to plan and organize work independently, manage competing priorities and meet deadlines with accuracy and attention to detail;
Good IT skills (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).

LANGUAGES

Excellent command of written and spoken Uzbek (working language of the assignment);
Good command of English (reporting and summaries);
Knowledge of Russian is an asset.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should click on "Apply Now" and download and complete the Employment History form (Word document) in 'Employment History Form / My Documents'. Before uploading the document, please insert the extra pages with the following required information in one combined file:

An up-to-date Curriculum Vitae (CV) (maximum 2 pages) stating details of educational qualifications and work experience, including prior experience of similar assignments;
A statement indicating how your qualifications and experience make you suitable for the assignment;
A brief technical note (maximum 2 pages) outlining your proposed approach to the assignment;

UNESCO places great emphasis on ensuring that the objectives of the assignment, as described in the Terms of Reference, are met. Accordingly, in evaluating the proposals, attention will focus first and foremost on the technical elements. From those proposals deemed suitable, UNESCO shall select the proposal that offers the Organization the best value for money.

Applications should be submitted through careers.unesco.org only. In case you are unable to attach the required documents in the system, please inform us at tashkent@unesco.org. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Long Description

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information, by the above deadline.

To apply, please visit the UNESCO Careers website. No modifications can be made to the application once submitted.

The process may include pre-recorded video interviews and/or written assessments, interviews with a Panel, as well as reference checks. In addition, candidates may be requested to provide additional information which may be pertinent to the position’s qualifications.

Please note that all candidates, whether selected or not, will be informed of the outcome of their application in due course.

Short-listed candidates may also be added to Talent Pools; subject to their consent (i.e. Data Privacy Statement).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of personnel 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.
lndividuals 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.
UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the hiring process.

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