[Hiring] International Consultancy: Technical Support to the Lao PDR GPE Partnership Compact Mid-Term Review @AGORA

Role Description

The Global Partnership Education (GPE) Partnership Compact provides a shared framework for the Government of Lao PDR and education development partners to accelerate education system transformation, with improved foundational learning at the centre of the reform agenda. The Compact focuses on:

• Improving learning outcomes for all children, particularly those most disadvantaged.
• Strengthening progression through the education system from early childhood to lower secondary education.
• Addressing access to quality early childhood education and school readiness.
• Enhancing foundational learning and the quality of teaching and learning in primary education.
• Facilitating transition to, participation in, and retention in lower secondary education.
• Improving teacher proficiency, deployment, and workforce management.

The Compact serves as a common reform framework for aligning Government action, GPE-supported programmes, and wider development partner investments around the priority reform and its intended results.

Supporting GPE Compact MTR is part of the ongoing GPE System Capacity Grant (SCG) programme, with UNICEF as the Grant Agent (GA). UNICEF seeks an international consultant to provide:

• Time-bound technical, analytical, facilitation, and drafting support to MoES, the ESSWG, and its relevant technical structures.
• Support for a government-led review that triangulates the Partnership Compact, the 10th ESSSDP, and available implementation, results, and financing evidence.
• Completion of the country information, dialogue, and documentation required under current GPE MTR arrangements.

Qualifications

• Advanced university degree (Master's or higher) in education, education policy/planning, economics, public policy, international development, social sciences, or another relevant field.
• At least 8 years of progressively responsible professional experience in education sector planning, policy analysis, programme review/evaluation, sector monitoring, or education systems strengthening.
• Demonstrated experience supporting complex, multi-stakeholder reviews involving government, development partners, and civil society.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
• Demonstrated experience with GPE, including Partnership Compacts, Compact MTRs, results frameworks, enabling factors, GPE grants, Joint Sector Reviews, or comparable sector review processes.
• Strong analytical experience in foundational learning, equity and inclusion, teacher policy/management, education financing, sector coordination, and/or education data.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize quantitative and qualitative evidence and translate findings into concise, strategic, and actionable recommendations.
• Excellent facilitation, report-writing, and presentation skills.

Requirements

• Experience with GPE Partnership Compacts and current MTR guidance and processes is highly desirable.
• Previous experience in Lao PDR or the East Asia and Pacific region is an added advantage.

Benefits

• UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do.
• UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere.
• UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities.
• Reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities is offered throughout the recruitment process.