Consultant- Development and enhancement of online teacher training platforms in Iraq

JOB DETAILS

Type of contract : Consultant Contract

Level :  Level 3 - Senior

Hiring Unit : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station : Baghdad

Work location : Remote

Duration of contract : 11 months

Hiring open to : External candidates

Application deadline (Midnight UTC+3 Time) : 16/06/2026

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

OVERVIEW

During the COVID-19 pandemic, education actors in Iraq made significant investments in delivering teaching and learning through distance modalities, including television and digital technologies. These efforts were largely uncoordinated, with content developed and delivered in the absence of an overarching policy framework, resulting in inconsistent quality and reach across the country.

In response, UNESCO and the Federal Ministry of Education worked together to develop an EdTech Action Plan, a shared framework for the integration of digital tools in teaching and learning. This initiative stems from Iraq’s commitments under the Transforming Education Summit Track 4: Learning and Digital Transformation, and UNESCO’s sub-programme on Digital and Distance Education and which falls within the Access and Equity pillar of the Iraq National Education Strategy (INES).

The Ministry of Education in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) has developed and operated E-rahenan, an online teacher training platform since 2021. The platform delivers structured, cohort-based professional development. In this platform teachers form groups, complete self-paced learning content, and submit collaborative tasks. A designated national trainer reviews and approves these tasks before teachers advance to subsequent modules. E-rahenan is available in Kurdish, Sorani and Kurdish Badini and has been in active use since its launch in in early 2020’s.

The Federal Ministry of Education has identified the need to establish a dedicated national platform for Teacher Continuous Professional Development (TCPD) to serve educators across all governorates of Federal Iraq. Such a platform does not currently exist at the federal level. The Federal platform will be delivered fully in Arabic with informational English and Kurdish, informed by E-rahenan’s proven pedagogical model, and will serve as the single authoritative source for teacher professional development and certification in Federal Iraq.

In parallel, the E-rahenan platform requires a technical review and enhancement. Having operated since 2021, the platform’s underlying technology requires modernisation to address accumulated technical debt, security vulnerabilities, and performance limitations. This enhancement will improve E-rahenan’s architecture, security, and long-term maintainability while fully preserving all existing content, user data, and the Kurdish Sorani and Badini interfaces upon which KRI teachers depend.

In view of the above, the assignment addresses both requirements as a single integrated engagement. The two activities share a common audit and assessment foundation, follow the same sequential phases, and are subject to unified governance and acceptance procedures. The two platforms will remain operationally independent. There is no shared infrastructure, no data synchronisation, and no integration layer between them

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ASSIGNMENTS

Within the framework of the EU funded project on ‘Improved teaching and Learning and Enhanced Education Management (ITALEEM), the objectives of this assignment are:

1. Review the E-rahenan source code and current architecture, identify the areas requiring enhancement, and deliver an upgraded version of the platform that maintains all existing content and the complete Kurdish Sorani and Badini interfaces for KRI teachers.
2. Build a National Teacher Professional Development Hub for the Federal Ministry of Education. The hub will be guided by E-rahenan’s pedagogical framework and deliver content in full Arabic with English and Kurdish informational materials, serving as the single authoritative source for teacher professional development in Federal Iraq.
3. Upload and structure five content packages in the Federal platform, confirmed as accessible and correctly organised prior to launch.
4. Deliver training, documentation, and a formal handover to both the Federal MoE and KRI MoE, enabling each ministry to manage and maintain its platform independently after the contract ends.

Long Description

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CONTRACT DURATION

Duration of contract: 11 months.

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DELIVERABLES

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COMPETENCIES - Core (C) & Managerial (M)

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

For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

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SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and system design capabilities
• Ability to translate functional and pedagogical requirements into technical solutions
• Excellent communication, coordination, and reporting skills
• Proven ability to deliver training and capacity-building to technical and non-technical stakeholders
• High level of accountability, professionalism, and ability to work independently

LANGUAGES

• Fluency in English (required).
• Working knowledge of Arabic (highly desirable).
• Knowledge of Kurdish (asset).

APPLICATION 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. Candidates should click on “Apply Now”, then download and complete the Employment History form (Word file). At the end of the Word file, insert extra pages with the following required information in English:

• An up-to-date Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a statement indicating why your qualifications and experience make you suitable for the assignment.
• A technical proposal (5 pages maximum) outlining relevant experience and approach to the assignment, including a timeline.
• A financial proposal in USD: The consultant should provide the estimates based on the deliverables under section 3 above and should be quoted in US dollars. UNESCO covers Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) and travel expenses in line with the relevant UNESCO rules and regulations. Thus, there is no need to include the DSA and travel expenses in the professional fee estimate.
• Examples of previous work related to Edu/tech, and the creation of blended training packages in curriculum.
• Contacts of at least three references.

* Upon completing the Word file with all the requested information above, upload the file at the “My Employment History Form / My Documents” section of the online application form. Only applications with the above requested information will be considered.
 Remuneration:

 The remuneration for this consultancy will be proportionate to the qualifications and experience of the consultant and within the UNESCO consultancy rates/monthly fees.

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SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information, by the above deadline.

To apply, please visit the UNESCO Careers website. No modifications can be made to the application once submitted. 

The process may include pre-recorded video interviews and/or written assessments, interviews with a Panel, as well as reference checks. In addition, candidates may be requested to provide additional information which may be pertinent to the position’s qualifications.  

Please note that all candidates, whether selected or not, will be informed of the outcome of their application in due course. 

Short-listed candidates may also be added to Talent Pools; subject to their consent (i.e. Data Privacy Statement).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of personnel shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity.
• UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment.
• lndividuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.
• All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality.
• The statutory retirement age at UNESCO is 65 years.
• UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the hiring process.