Consultant - Learning designer

JOB DETAILS

Type of contract : Consultant Contract

Level :  Level 2 - Middle

Hiring Unit : International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP)

Duty Station : Dakar

Work location : Remote

Duration of contract : 7 months

Hiring open to : External candidates

Application deadline (Midnight UTC±0 (UTC) Time) : 13/07/2026

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

OVERVIEW

CONTEXT

For the training “Foundations of  Disability-Inclusive Education Sector Planning” within the programme “Planning for inclusive education. Regional programme in West Africa”, which is delivered in three languages (English, French and Portuguese), the IIPE-UNESCO in Africa office looks for a learning designer with proven ability to create innovative and accessible learning pathways based on interactive multimedia resources, highly motivated and able to work in a multicultural team and to manage hybrids training targeting low-income countries participants. 

ASSIGNMENTS

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES AND DELIVERABLES

Under the authority of the Head of IIEP-UNESCO in Africa, under the Project officer’s supervision, with the guidance of the course co-coordinator, and in collaboration with the course tutor and the consultant in charge of supporting enrolment and participants with disabilities’ participation, the consultant will be in charge of the following tasks and responsibilities, and related deliverables:

1)    Implementation assistance of Cohort 3
•    Review onboarding materials provided by the course team.
•    Translate some ad-hoc course materials into 3 languages using DeepL and oversee their review with the support of the current Learning Designer and with the communications officer.
•    Conduct platform testing and ensure quality control.
•    Support the team in the adaptation of course materials to meet language requirements (translation) and accessibility standards (captions, transcripts, alt text, screen-reader compatibility).
•    Join and record live sessions, uploading the recordings in 3 languages to the Course YouTube Account.
•    Create documents for accessibility including live sessions (generated by Sonix Ai). transcripts of the course’s animated presentations. and closed captions files for upload to Youtube.
•    Create a workplan for Cohort 3 with proposed deadlines, including any suggestions for improvements in workflow.

Deliverable: A detailed workplan for cohort 3 with proposed deadlines. 

Long Description

2)    Technical assistance and support
2.1    Finalize platform for Cohort 3

• Update or create ad-hoc course materials, if needed, based on pedagogical/ accessibility concerns raised by the team or by participants in Cohort 2 and adjust any resources/activities as needed.
• Translate ad-hoc course materials into course languages using DeepL and oversee the language review process with the support of the course tutor and the communications officer.
• Update course information on the platform including titles, dates, and live sessions links.
• Create forum threads or liaise with course team to post threads based on previous cohort existing threads in the previous course
• Update the User Tour and Level Up! Tools for the new course space on the platform, with the input from the Learning designer or liaising with the IIEP Paris Global Campus team.
• Consolidate student-generated content produced previously in the course and implement insights into Cohort 3, and particularly, with the help of AI, gather and organize information and data from the micromodules on leadership and OPDs as a basis for the production of materials that can be shared with participants.

2.2 Team Coordination and implementation for Cohort 3

• Regularly meet with the course team to ensure a smooth coordination
• Assist in the smooth coordination of all members involved in the course implementation.
• Maintain the shared work plan and task list (including timelines and deadlines).
• Liaise with the Module Coordinators with reminders of their upcoming tasks.
• Liaise with the communications officer and video editor to finalize videos, upload them to YouTube and embed them on the platform.
• Translate and coordinate the translation and quality control of course documents in English, French, and Portuguese, liaising with the Dakar communications officer to produce final documents and platform text.
• Liaise with I.T. colleagues in Paris, and the course team to solve any technical issues with the platform.

Long Description

2.3 Live sessions support

• Oversee the organization of all course live sessions, including sharing email invites to the relevant team members and external collaborators.
  • Coordinate tests for live sessions with Interpreters and course instructors as needed.
  • Create and share a list of responsibilities for live session recording, screen sharing, question-taking, and simultaneous text translation, etc.
  • Create multilingual materials/instructions on the effective use of Zoom, and specifically the interpretation settings and presentation viewing settings.
• Update course files on pdkbox and sharepoint
• Update the Blueprint and recalculating course hours based on C2 and C3 changes
• Update and share the webinar sessions’ outlines and PowerPoint presentations with the course team, module coordinators, external collaborators and interpreters.
• Create activities like polls, word clouds and Mentimeter slides.
• Deliver “housekeeping” notes at the beginning of the live sessions.
• Deliver a short introduction of the online learning platform in the welcome webinar and help facilitate a short help session following the Welcome Webinar.
• Co-organize 1 global coordinators meeting and 3 Group Coordinator meetings (one for each language group).
• Co-organize 9 office hour sessions and provide information to course participants on the use of the platform and course tools.
• Provide technical assistance to participants and team members during the live sessions.
• Record sessions in English and/or another language as needed for all live sessions.
• Ensure recordings are stored in the box, edited (if needed), captioned, and uploaded to YouTube and the LMS.
• Produce transcripts for formal live sessions in 3 languages using Sonix AI, notifying the Project Officer whenever Sonix is used. 

Long Description

2.4 Technical support

• Provide technical support to all participants, guests, and members of the course team via the course platform Q&A forum and through the course email account, Plan4Inclusion.
• Liaise with IIEP I.T. team in Paris for any technical issues that may arise on the platform.
• Develop any additional materials/ Instructions on the use of tools and LMS features for both instructors and participants (e.g. Level up, Accredible certificates).
• Assist with the final registration all participants in the course based on the final participant list.

Deliverable:  Course Checklist listing all course materials finalized on the platform and all  technical/pedagogical updates for the new cohort, with corresponding links to the final documents in the Share Point.

3.    Monitoring & Evaluation of Cohort 3

• Collect, analyze, and disseminate LMS data (logins, activity completion, engagement metrics).
• Monitor the effective online Learning of course participants globally and identify any immediate adjustments (e.g. in live sessions, platform tools, materials, etc).
• Draft a summary report of key findings on course effectiveness, participant engagement, and instructor performance, with pedagogic recommendations for future iterations.
• Alongside the course coordinator, ensure that project goals are being met, evaluated and reported for overall AICS Project quality control.

Deliverable: Final report on the effectiveness of the course design and implementation of cohort 3

Long Description

4.    Accessibility Review follow up

• Contribute to develop, in collaboration with the Paris team, and ensure the consolidation and finalization of a policy on accessibility to share with the IIEP-UNESCO staff

Deliverable: A policy on accessibility for the IIEP-UNESCO staff

5.    Ad hoc live events management or co-management on the Zoom platform (including managing interpreters, ensuring recording etc.).

• Ensure the management on Zoom of 2026 events outside the training organized by the regional programme “Planning for inclusive education”, including managing interpreters, ensuring the recording (as needed, on request)
• Coach the Project Assistant on managing Zoom meetings
• Co-manage with the Project Assistant 2027 events organized by the regional programme “Planning for inclusive education”

Deliverable: List of events managed or co-managed on the Zoom platform, with the link to the recording (maximum 6 events)

CONTRACT DURATION

The consultancy will last for seven months and six days, from 24 August 2025 to 31 March 2027.

The consultancy is home-based.

Long Description

PAYMENT MODALITIES 

The consultant will share a monthly work plan indicating clearly the deliverables expected during the following month. Every work plan has to be to be validated by the program coordinator.
Before submitting the invoice, the consultant will share a report, with a link to each deliverable. The report has to be validated by the project officer.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• A Master's degree in Instructional Design, or Learning Design and Technology, or Educational Technology or similar.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Proven experience (over four years) in designing, developing, deploying and evaluating online, blended and face-to-face training courses.
• At least 2 years experience in using, configuring and administering the MOODLE learning platform.
• At least 3 years experience in ensuring the development and implementation of educational projects and awareness-raising initiatives, from their design to their evaluation.

Long Description

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

Technical skills:

• Project management: The capacity to plan, execute, and monitor projects from start to finish.
• Learning models: A deep understanding of learning theories and models to inform the design process.
• E-learning and technology: Proficiency with learning platforms (LMS), particularly with Moodle.
• Content development: Skill in creating engaging learning content, including multimedia, interactive elements, and assessments.
• Live events management on the Zoom platform (including managing interpreters, ensuring recording etc.).

Analytical and critical thinking skills:

• Data analysis:  collect, interpret, and use data to improve learning outcomes.
• Needs analysis: The ability to gather and analyze information about the target audience and their learning needs.
• Critical thinking: The capacity to analyze problems and develop creative solutions.

Interpersonal and communication skills:

• Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills for presenting ideas and interacting with stakeholders.
• Multilingual communication in French and in English (both written and spoken).
• Capacity to work well with diverse teams including IT, communications, editors, interpreters and course facilitators, and to keep everyone aligned and informed.

Others:

• Adaptability and flexibility
• Strong organizational skills
• Attention to detail
• Diplomacy, cultural sensitivity and empathy

LANGUAGES

• Proficiency in English and French (both written and spoken).

APPLICATION PROCESS

The deadline for submitting applications is 13/07/2026. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. The consultant may be selected before the date indicated above.

In addition to the mandatory information and documents to be provided on the recruitment platform, a technical proposal and a financial proposal (two different documents) must be submitted by candidates through the platform.

Long Description

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.
• UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the hiring process.