Non-Staff Consultant

Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: Paris

Job Family: Programme Coordination

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 1 to 6 months

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 15/05/2021

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

Background and rationale for the survey

The COVID-19 pandemic has made profound negative impacts on education, including youth and adult literacy provision. Since March 2020, several surveys have been conducted with countries to monitor the impact of the COVID-19 crisis, mostly targeting younger populations. In this context, UNESCO is conducting a survey on ‘national policies, programmes and governance for youth and adult literacy: lessons learnt from the COVID-19 crisis to write the future’ (provisional title) with UNESCO Member States to enhance an evidence base for ensuring strategic responses to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on youth and adult literacy.

More specifically, the survey aims:    

• To collect empirical data on the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on youth and adult literacy and measures taken by Member States through the proposed survey and produce a report based on the survey key findings, the results of the August 2020 survey focused on the programme-level impact and a literature review.
• To provide policy-makers, partners and practitioners with recommendations, guidance and a policy brief for effective and efficient responses to the COVID-19 crisis in youth and adult literacy.
• To advocate for youth and adult literacy as an integral part of lifelong learning for greater support and funding.   

Rationale for the proposed survey

Main tasks of a Consultant

• Preparing a draft outline of the report, a theoretical framework for data analysis and a draft survey package, including a practical guide, survey questions, and a digital survey platform (in collaboration with UNESCO staff).   
• Conducting a literature review on the relevant topic.
• Compiling the survey results, preparing summary tables for analysis, and conducting analysis. 
• Analyzing data from the August 2020 survey on the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on literacy programmes (49 programmes responded)  
• Preparing the draft report, synthesizing the main empirical information from the two surveys, supplemented by findings of the literature review based on the outline developed earlier.
• Preparing an executive summary of the report. 
• Drafting a policy brief, highlighting key findings, good practices and recommendations and finalizing the draft considering comments which may be received from UNESCO by 15 October.    

Objectives:

To contribute to ensuring strategic and practical national responses to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on youth and adult literacy during the crisis and beyond. Specifically:

• To collect empirical data on the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on youth and adult literacy and measures taken by Member States through the proposed survey and produce a report based on the survey key findings, the results of the August 2020 survey focused on the programme-level impact and a literature review.
• To provide policy-makers, partners and practitioners with recommendations, guidance and a policy brief for effective and efficient responses to the COVID-19 crisis in youth and adult literacy based on the needs, effective practices, and areas of future intervention, as well as innovative methodologies and tools identified.  
• To advocate for youth and adult literacy as an integral part of lifelong learning for greater support and funding. 

• Advanced post-graduate degree (Master’s or higher) in education, social sciences, international development, and other related fields.
• Extensive professional knowledge of topics relevant to the posting, and at least 10 years’ experience.
• Proven record of research, projects and publications in one or more of the fields of youth and adult literacy, lifelong learning, monitoring and evaluation in education, and other related fields.
• Experience in collecting and/or analyzing and triangulating complex data sources, managing both quantitative and qualitive data. 
• Professional experiences in conducting survey studies.

Language:

• Strong command of the English language and excellent writing skills.  

• Demonstrated ability to organize and coordinate multiple tasks and deliver the result within specified timelines.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Proven interpersonal and communication skills.
• The ability to effectively work within a complex and multicultural environment.
• Prior relevant experience of working with UN organizations.

Language:

• Knowledge of another official UN language.

This is an extension of advertisement.

All applications should be submitted in English to literacy@unesco.org by 15 May 2021 COB in GMT. (No need to register and apply in this system.)  Please label the subject line ‘Consultancy work for the survey’. 

Interested candidates are kindly requested to submit the following documents in their applications:
•    CV and a cover letter indicating the relevance of the qualification and experiences of the candidates to this consultancy work;  
•    List of publications and projects for last 5 years; 
•    A proposed analytical framework (one page);   
•    Estimated fee / resource requirements.  

For any inquires and additional information, please contact: literacy@unesco.org.  

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UNESCO is committed to achieve and sustain 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. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities, as well as nationals from non-and under-represented Member States (last update here) 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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