[Hiring] International Consultant for Education Planning, Research, Monitoring and Data @UNESCO

Role Description

UNESCO requires a Mid-Level Consultant – Education Planning, Research, Monitoring and Data to provide technical support in key activities related to education sector development in Afghanistan.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide technical review to GPE SCG activities and related UNESCO education programme priorities.
• Support implementation, monitoring, review and operationalization of the AESSP.
• Contribute to education sector analysis, scenario-based planning, and programme prioritization.
• Lead the development of gender preparedness and recovery plan.
• Review technical inputs, briefing notes, presentations, and analytical materials.
• Lead the design, implementation and finalization of the 2026 Education Situation Report.
• Review research concepts, methodologies, and data-collection instruments.
• Provide technical review and quality assurance of research products.
• Provide technical support and review for monitoring, evaluation and learning arrangements.
• Provide technical guidance for joint monitoring field visits and evidence-generation activities.
• Provide technical guidance on systematic collection, consolidation, validation and analysis of education data.
• Provide technical support to GPE SCG periodic reporting and project closure processes.
• Review and finalize capacity-development plan based on identified needs.
• Participate in relevant technical meetings, consultations and working groups.
• Prepare technical documentation, meeting materials, presentations and follow-up notes.

Qualifications

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in relevant fields.
• At least five years of progressively responsible professional experience in education sector planning, programme implementation, research, monitoring and evaluation.
• Demonstrated experience supporting education sector planning and analysis.
• Experience in the design or implementation of monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks.
• Experience conducting or managing quantitative and qualitative research.
• Experience in education data collection, quality assurance, analysis, reporting and visualization.
• Experience preparing high-quality technical reports and presentations.
• Previous professional experience in Afghanistan education sector.
• Experience working with multi-stakeholder education programmes.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

• Experience working in fragile, conflict-affected or emergency contexts.
• Experience with GPE-funded programmes or comparable donor-funded education programmes.
• Knowledge of the education context, institutional arrangements and operational environment in Afghanistan.

Skills

• Strong knowledge of education sector planning and results-based management.
• Strong analytical and research skills.
• Strong monitoring, evaluation and learning competencies.
• Strong education data management and analysis skills.
• Ability to translate complex evidence into clear recommendations.
• Strong technical writing and reporting skills.
• Ability to design practical monitoring and data-collection methodologies.
• Strong planning, organization and prioritization skills.
• Ability to work independently and deliver high-quality outputs.
• Strong communication, teamwork and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Excellent written and spoken English.

Competencies

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

Deliverables and Timelines

• Monthly cumulated technical progress reports.
• Beta-tested Integrated Education Dashboards by 30 Sept. 2026.
• Roll-out of the Integrated Education Dashboards & Finalized 2026 Afghanistan Education Situation Report by 31 Oct. 2026.
• Finalized and disseminated NGO capacity development plan by 30 Nov. 2026.
• Draft report on the impact and costs of restrictions on girls’ secondary and higher education by 31 Dec. 2026.
• Finalized report on the impact and costs of restrictions on girls’ secondary and higher education by 28 Feb. 2027.
• Finalized gender response and recovery plan by 31 March 2027.
• A concept note for the upcoming GPE SCG project cycle by 30 April 2027.

Selection and Recruitment Process

Interested individual consultants are invited to submit an application package to UNESCO, including an up-to-date CV, technical proposal, and financial proposal.