Consultant - Climate Smart Education Systems Initiative (CSESI)

OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Field Office

Duty Station: Bangkok

Job Family: Education

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 1 to 6 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 24-NOV-2025

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

1. BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

In response to the growing demand to enhance climate change education, the Climate Smart Education System Initiative (CSESI) was launched in early 2023 by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) in partnership with Save the Children, UNESCO and UNESCO-IIEP and is implemented in around 20 countries. The initiative seeks to enhance countries’ capacities to mainstream climate change adaptation and environmental sustainability into education sector plans, budgets and strategies as well as to enhance education ministry capacity for cross-sectoral coordination on climate and environment-related policy and programming. This involves developing scalable models for this integration and fostering collaboration across all levels to create an environment conducive to building resilience among children and within the education sector. The initiative aims to strengthen national education systems to respond effectively to climate risks by enhancing policy, coordination, data, and financing capacities, while integrating climate resilience and environmental sustainability into education planning, infrastructure, and curricula. Lao PDR is one of the countries that are part of the global initiative.

Lao PDR has taken important steps to reference climate change in national education policies and strategies, and there is growing momentum to deepen its integration across curricula and teacher training. Climate-related topics are already included in primary and secondary education, particularly in science, environment, geography, and mathematics, and there are opportunities to further enrich this content with practical examples and cross-curricular approaches. Stakeholders have expressed strong interest in updating learning materials, enhancing technical capacity among curriculum developers, and expanding coverage through both pre-service and in-service teacher education. There is a clear readiness to advance this work by building existing efforts, adapting international frameworks, and piloting context-specific modules and pedagogical tools to support quality climate education across the system.

In this context, UNESCO Bangkok will engage a national curriculum expert in Lao PDR, who will support a review and analysis of curriculum, learning materials, teacher training programmes and alignment processes.

UNESCO applies a holistic Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) approach that addresses climate change from economic, social, and environmental dimensions. This approach fosters the knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes learners need to take meaningful action on climate mitigation, adaptation, resilience, and sustainable development.

2. PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The main objectives of the consultancy are to (a) Review and map the alignment between curriculum, pedagogy, and teacher education across all levels (primary, secondary, higher education, TVET, and non-formal) with a view to strengthening climate change education, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Education for Sustainable Development and (b) Coordinate stakeholder consultations to inform and validate the review and analysis.

Drawing on global reference documents produced by UNESCO’s ESD Section and IBE—including the Greening Curriculum Guidance and the 10 Steps for Curriculum Alignment—as well as relevant national and regional resources to be identified in consultation with the Ministry of Education, other education stakeholders, and partners in Lao PDR, the national consultant will work in close coordination with the CSESI project team and the international expert.

3. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting
The consultant shall report to the Education Programme Specialist at UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok and Office for UN Coordination for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCO Bangkok). Under UNESCO guidance, s/he will support the coordination with the Ministry of Education CSESI team to review and validate the technical recommendations in the report. The national consultant will be responsible for regular coordination with the CSESI team at UNESCO Bangkok, the Education Sector at UNESCO Headquarters, and the international expert to ensure alignment, technical accuracy, and timely delivery of inputs.

The consultant shall undertake the following tasks:

Task 1. Desk review
Conduct a desk review of curricular documents, guiding frameworks, learning materials, teacher training guides, and teacher development policies and programmes (including the Teacher Policy Action Plan, CPD framework, and other relevant documents) relevant to Climate Change Education (CCE) in Lao PDR to be completed by 15 January 2026. The review will analyze where CCE competencies are currently embedded and identify gaps and opportunities for strengthening curriculum and enhancing teacher professional development. The national consultant shall collaborate with UNESCO and the international expert to incorporate lessons from such review for CSESI in other countries and ensure methodology of the desk review is robust.

Deliverable: Desk Review Report summarizing key findings, gaps, and opportunities for strengthening CCE, with inputs aligned to the HQ/global framework.

Expected level of effort: 18 days

Task 2. Consultation 1 (current situation mapping)
In coordination with MoES and UNESCO Bangkok, design and implement the first multi-stakeholder consultation meeting to review the current situation. This includes preparing agendas and consultation materials by 15 January 2026. During the consultation, provide technical input, co-facilitate the sessions with UNESCO, and document proceedings. The consultation shall engage approximately 15–20 key informants (curriculum specialists, teachers, education stakeholders, beneficiaries such as teachers and students), with participation extending beyond the education sector. The consultant shall propose the consultation approach and draft guiding questions for UNESCO’s review and clearance. UNESCO will facilitate necessary introductions to stakeholders. The consultation should be structured in dialogue with the international expert to ensure key issues are integrated in the design of the CSESI national level consultation in Lao PDR and be conducted by 25 January 2026.

Deliverable: Consultation Report 1 summarizing proceedings, feedback, and initial recommendations/insights, framed to align with global CSESI reporting.

Expected level of effort: 12 days

Task 3. Recommendations / Interim appraisal
Under the guidance of UNESCO and the international expert, the national consultant will synthesize findings from the desk review and the first stakeholder consultation to draft recommendations and practical guidelines for (a) developing locally relevant operational guidance and learning materials to strengthen curriculum, teaching, and assessment for CCE/ESD/DRR integration in Lao PDR, and (b) outlining how to implement follow-up activities, including capacity building and piloting. Recommendations shall be presented in a clear, actionable format, aligned with national priorities and prepared in consultation with the CSESI team at UNESCO by 25 February 2026.

Deliverable: Recommendations / Interim Appraisal Report, presenting draft guidelines and priority actions, aligned with the synthesis framework provided by the International Consultant.

Expected level of effort: 16 days

Task 4. Consultation 2 (validation)
In coordination with MoES, UNESCO Bangkok and the international expert, design and implement a second stakeholder consultation to validate the draft recommendations. This includes preparing agendas and materials, providing technical inputs and facilitation with UNESCO specialists, and documenting proceedings. Approximately 15–20 key informants will be engaged across and beyond the education sector to finalize the key findings and recommendations. The key questions, process and expected outputs should be shared with UNESCO and the international expert for any advice and feedback in advance. As part of the validation process, the consultant in collaboration with UNESCO shall prepare and present the revised recommendations during the consultation session and gather formal endorsement or feedback from relevant ministry officials and key stakeholders to ensure national alignment and ownership. The consultation should be carried out by 5 March 2026.

Deliverable: Consultation Report 2 summarizing proceedings, feedback, and validated recommendations, with cross-reference to the global CSESI framework.

Expected level of effort: 10 days

Task 5. Final consolidation
Integrate the desk review, both consultations, and the validated recommendations into a single, consolidated report providing clear, actionable guidance for strengthening CCE/ESD/DRR in Lao PDR by 30 March 2026. The consultant shall collaborate with UNESCO and the international expert to ensure that the Lao PDR findings are positioned coherently and contribute to cross-country comparability.

Deliverable: Final Consolidated Report integrating all findings, concrete guidelines, and validated recommendations.

Expected level of effort: 16 days

4. TIMETABLE AND DELIVERABLES

Deliverable 1: (a) Desk review report of curricula and teacher training documents with initial stakeholder input. Includes review of competency frameworks, syllabi, assessment frameworks, teaching and learning resources, and extracurricular activities; (b) Consultation report 1 package including (a) Concept note and agenda for the first consultation meeting 15 January 2026 2

Deliverable 2: Consultation Report 1 summarizing proceedings, feedback, and initial recommendations/insights, framed to align with global CSESI reporting

Deliverable 3: Recommendations and Appraisal Report including an updated synthesis of the desk review and appraisal report integrating findings from the desk review and first consultation meeting. This includes draft practical recommendations for integrating CCE/ESD/DRR in curriculum, teaching, and assessment; proceedings and insights from the first consultation; and draft agenda and consultation materials for the validation meeting. 25 February 2026 4

Deliverable 4: Consultation Report 2 summarizing proceedings, feedback, and validated recommendations, with cross-reference to the global CSESI framework.

Deliverable 5: Final Consolidated Report integrating the desk review, both consultations, and recommendations, providing clear guidance for strengthening CCE/ESD/DRR in Lao PDR through curriculum, pedagogy, assessment, and teacher development. 30 March 2026

5. COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial) Accountability (C)Communication (C)Teamwork (C)Innovation (C)Results focus (C)Planning and organizing (C)Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)

- For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

6. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Knowledge and Work Experience:

Skills/Competencies:

Languages:

7. DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

8. APPLICATION PROCESS

Submission of Application:

Interested individuals are invited to submit the application and requirements to the UNESCO Careers website at https://careers.unesco.org/careersection/2/joblist.ftl.

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 completed form, please add the following documents as extra pages at the end of the Word file:

• An updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience make you suitable for the assignment.
• A list of past work or reports/publications written with hyperlinks to access such paper if they are available online or samples of such papers if they are only available offline
• Written technical and financial proposals (in English):

o Approach and methodology for carrying out the assignment (maximum 2, A4 pages), a workplan and comments on the Terms of Reference, in brief, if any, and
o The proposed consultancy fee for the assignment should be quoted in USD, indicating either a daily or monthly rates or a lump sum amount. The total consultancy fees should include a detailed broken down based on level of effort, time-on-task, or per expected deliverable/output.

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 terms of the criteria in the Terms of Reference, UNESCO shall select the proposal that offers the Organisation the best value for money.

Assessment

Note:

9. 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 a competency-based 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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