Project: Senior Secondary Education Improvement Project (ADB-Funded)
Job Title: Gender, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) in Education Specialist (National)*
Location: Honiara, Solomon Islands
Project Background:
The Solomon Islands Senior Secondary Education Improvement Project, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), aims to enhance the quality, relevance, and gender-responsiveness of senior secondary education (Years 10-12) to support a climate-resilient economy. With the Solomon Islands facing growing vulnerability to climate change and natural disasters, the project supports curriculum reform to equip students with practical skills and knowledge for adaptive livelihoods and sustainable development. The project includes the modernization of curricula, improvement of assessment practices, development of teaching and learning materials. MEHRD (Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development) is the implementing agency, working in close partnership with development stakeholders and consulting teams.
Position Summary:
The National Gender, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) in Education Specialist will be instrumental in ensuring that the reformed senior secondary curriculum in the Solomon Islands is equitable, accessible, and inclusive for all learners. This role supports the meaningful integration of gender equality, disability inclusion, and broader social equity themes across curriculum content, teaching and learning materials (TLMs), and classroom practices. By centering the needs and experiences of marginalized learners, the specialist will help ensure that the education system promotes participation, learning, and achievement for every student.
Working closely with the international GEDSI Curriculum Specialist and the broader curriculum team, the national specialist will review curriculum products, advise subject developers, and identify practical strategies for embedding inclusive pedagogies and gender-sensitive content. This includes supporting the representation of diverse voices and experiences in learning materials, recommending adaptations to better serve learners with disabilities, and contributing to the design of teacher training tools that promote inclusive classroom environments. The specialist will also collaborate with MEHRD to ensure alignment with national GEDSI policies and commitments.
As a key national counterpart, the GEDSI Specialist will also facilitate stakeholder engagement with local educators, community leaders, and advocacy organizations to validate proposed approaches and ensure contextual appropriateness. By building awareness and capacity among curriculum writers and education officials, the specialist will support long-term institutional change and promote equity as a core principle of education reform. This role is essential to ensuring that the curriculum reflects and responds to the realities of all Solomon Islands learners, leaving no one behind.
Key Responsibilities:
- Support subject matter experts in developing curriculum TLM titles that promote gender equality, disability inclusion, and social inclusion.
- Review new curriculum resources to ensure gender, disability, and social inclusion perspectives are appropriately integrated into both content and pedagogy.
- Ensure the Business Enterprise subject incorporates content on womenโs participation in business, financial literacy, prevention of financial abuse, and career guidance that encourages diverse career pathways.
- Integrate lessons learned from pilot projects into curriculum development.
- Provide training and technical guidance to curriculum developers and teachers on integrating gender, disability, and social inclusion into teaching materials.
- Develop guidance notes and training materials for professional development initiatives.
- Support the implementation and monitoring of relevant actions and targets outlined in the National Gender and Social Inclusion Action Plan.
- Assist in collecting data and reporting on the integration of gender, disability, and social inclusion in curriculum reforms.
- Work closely with government agencies, education stakeholders, and civil society organizations to promote inclusive education practices.
- Contribute to national and regional discussions on gender, disability, and social inclusion in education.
- Prepare and contribute to monthly and quarterly reports on curriculum development progress.
- Ensure adherence to work plans, implementation schedules, and key deliverables
Required Qualifications:
- Advanced degree in gender studies, disability studies, social inclusion studies, education, development studies, sociology, or a related field.
- At least 6+ years of experience in gender equality, disability, and social inclusion projects.
- Experience working within the national education sector, including familiarity with national curriculum development processes.
- Previous experience working at the secondary school level is highly desirable.
- Knowledge of national policies and frameworks on gender, disability, and social inclusion in education.
* Individuals of ADB member countries who have appropriate authorization to legally reside and work in the country of the assignment but do not hold the nationality of that country may also be considered as national consultants.
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