Consultant PT-EN Planning for Inclusive Education. Regional Programme West Africa

JOB DETAILS

Type of contract : Consultant Contract

Level :  Level 3 - Senior

Hiring Unit : International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP)

Duty Station : Dakar

Work location : Remote

Duration of contract : 8 months

Hiring open to : External candidates

Application deadline (Midnight UTC±0 (UTC) Time) : 04/10/2026

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

OVERVIEW

With more than 50 years of experience developing the capacity of member states, IIEP- UNESCO is the only specialized organization with the mandate to support education policy, planning and management in the UN system.

For decades, IIEP-UNESCO has been working with UNESCO Member States to develop more inclusive systems, in particular by helping them to become more responsive to gender issues, crises and conflicts, and climate change. Through a Programme funded by the Italian Cooperation though the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), the IIEP-UNESCO in Africa is strengthening its commitment to supporting countries in making their systems more inclusive for children and young people with disabilities.

Indeed, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and the IIEP-UNESCO in Africa have signed an agreement for the joint development of a programme on inclusive education for children and youth with disabilities in West Africa. This programme, entitled "Planning for inclusive education. Regional Programme in West Africa”, has the following development objective: ’Education systems in West Africa are inclusive, ensuring that girls, boys, young women and young men with disabilities have the same opportunities for access and learning as all other children and young people". It is being implemented in eight (8) West African countries (Cabo Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, Sierra Leone) and consists of four components: Component 1: Hybrid Training; Component 2: Knowledge sharing; Component 3: Evidence generation;  Component 4: Technical support for analysis and planning.

Long Description

To support the programme “Planning for inclusive education. Regional programme in West Africa” implementation, and more specifically its components 3 (Generation of evidence-based data) and component 4 (Technical support for analysis and planning), particularly in Guinea Bissau, the IIPE-UNESCO in Africa office aims to hire a Portuguese and English speaking consultant, with experience in education sector analysis, EMIS strengthening, and disability‑inclusive planning processes.

The consultant will play a key role in supporting the IIEP-UNESCO in Africa technical team in supporting the Governments of Guinea‑Bissau and Sierra Leone in improving the availability, quality, and use of data on children and young people with disabilities, and in strengthening national planning instruments to ensure that inclusive education is fully integrated into sector strategies.

ASSIGNMENTS

Under the authority of the Head of IIEP-UNESCO in Africa, under the supervision of the Education Policy Analyst and Planner ensuring the technical supervision of components 3 and 4 implementation in Guinea Bissau and Sierra Leone, and in collaboration with the regional programme coordinator, the consultant will be in charge of the following tasks and responsibilities, and related deliverables.

The consultant is expected to carry out the assigned technical work with a high degree of autonomy, while working within IIEP-UNESCO’s technical assistance approach and in close collaboration with national stakeholders. Recommendations, prioritization, validation and decisions regarding the adoption of proposed approaches, tools or processes will remain participatory and nationally owned.

1. Support the implementation of component 3, Generation of evidence-based data, for Guinea Bissau and Sierra Leone

• Support the review and assessment of existing education data collection tools, processes, indicators and documentation, including the Education Census/EMIS and other relevant instruments, with attention to disability-inclusive data collection, key gaps, and existing national arrangements.
• Support stakeholder consultations and technical exchanges to complement the diagnostic, document current practices and constraints, and identify information needs and areas for improvement.
• Prepare a diagnostic note summarizing the main findings, identified gaps, information needs, and proposed areas for strengthening.
• Develop technical recommendations and proposed adaptations to strengthen disability-inclusive data collection, in line with national priorities, stakeholder inputs, and relevant international guidance, including the Washington Group approach where applicable.
• Support the revision, testing and finalization of relevant EMIS/data collection tools, indicators, procedures and related guidance, incorporating agreed feedback from the technical review and validation process.
• Support the preparation and delivery of capacity-development activities and materials for Ministry of Education staff on the updated tools and procedures.

Long Description

2. Support the implementation of component 4 Technical support for analysis and planning for Guinea Bissau

• Support the technical review of the Inclusive Education Strategy and related documentation, and provide inputs to strengthen its structure, coherence and alignment with inclusive education priorities.
• Support the organization of the technical work with the national technical team, including inputs on the approach, analytical requirements and priority areas for revision.
• Elaborate the context and challenges chapter, ensuring accuracy, clarity and alignment with available evidence and current sector realities.
• Support the revision of the strategy’s objectives, strategic priorities, proposed interventions and cross cutting considerations, through remote consultations and in country work where relevant.
• Support the formulation and prioritization of activities, as well as the development of the action plan, costing and budgeting, including key assumptions, timelines, responsibilities and resource requirements.
• Contribute to the revision and consolidation of strategy chapters and workshop outputs, ensuring coherence across the strategic framework, action plan, costing, and implementation arrangements.
• Support the preparation of the draft Monitoring and Evaluation framework, including indicators, baselines, targets, responsibilities, institutional arrangements and links with the action plan.
• Support the review and finalization of the overall strategy, action plan, M&E framework and implementation arrangements, incorporating agreed feedback and preparing the documents for national consultation and validation.

Long Description

DELIVERABLES

1. Support the implementation of component 3, Generation of evidence-based data, for Guinea Bissau and Sierra Leone

• Diagnostic and technical recommendations report:
  A concise report summarizing the review of existing education data collection tools, processes, indicators and documentation, including relevant national arrangements, key data gaps, identified information needs, and main findings on disability inclusive data collection. The report should also present technical recommendations for strengthening disability inclusive data collection, in line with national priorities and relevant international guidance.
• Proposed adaptations to Education Census tools and procedures:
  A technical document outlining proposed revisions to Education Census tools, indicators, data collection procedures and related guidance, for discussion and prioritization with national stakeholders.
• Updated EMIS Tools and Technical Guidance:
  Draft and final versions of the revised tools, indicators, procedures and related guidance, incorporating agreed feedback from review, validation and testing, as applicable.
• Capacity Development and Consultation Materials: Support the adaptation of the training materials and presentations used for capacity development. Additionally, discussion notes, guidance notes and other supporting documentation required for consultations, technical exchanges, validation processes and capacity development activities.

Long Description

2. Support the implementation of component 4 Technical support for analysis and planning for Guinea Bissau:

• Technical review note on the Inclusive Education Strategy: A concise note summarizing the main proposed revisions to strengthen the structure, coherence and alignment of the strategy with inclusive education priorities.
• Updated Context and Challenges Chapter: Revised chapter reflecting updated evidence, analysis and sector challenges.
• Draft strategic priorities and activities chapter: draft chapter presenting the revised priorities, activities, intervention logic and implementation considerations.
• action plan, programming and costing matrix: Structured matrix detailing activities, responsibilities, timelines, costing assumptions, resource requirements and preliminary budget estimates, all based on the work to be implemented with the national technical team.
• Draft of the Inclusive Education Strategy: Consolidated draft integrating the revised context, objectives, strategic orientations, priorities, activities, action plan, implementation arrangements and M&E framework.
• Final version of the Inclusive Education Strategy: Consolidated version incorporating agreed technical revisions.
• Consultation and technical workshop materials: Presentations, technical notes, discussion materials and other supporting documentation required to facilitate consultations, technical workshops and validation processes.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Advanced university degree, Master’s degree or equivalent, in education, statistics, economics, public policy, social sciences, development studies, or another relevant field combined with relevant experience.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in education sector analysis and planning, including the development or revision of education policies, strategies, plans, or related analytical products .
• At least 5 years of experience working with education data systems, EMIS, or administrative data, including the review, development, adaptation, or use of data collection tools, indicators, procedures and guidance.
• At least 5 years of demonstrated experience in inclusive education and disability inclusive education data, including the collection, analysis or use of data on children with disabilities or functional difficulties.

Long Description

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Strong analytical and drafting skills, with demonstrated ability to produce high quality technical reports, strategies, tools, guidance materials and presentations with a high degree of autonomy.

LANGUAGES

• Excellent command of Portuguese and English, both written and spoken, given the consultancy’s work across Guinea Bissau and Sierra Leone.

Desirable qualifications

• Knowledge of the Washington Group question sets, including approaches for collecting disability and child functioning data.
• Experience supporting the integration of disability related data into education data systems, tools, indicators, strategies or planning processes.
• Experience preparing and facilitating technical consultations, workshops and capacity development activities.
• Demonstrated experience providing technical assistance to ministries of education or other public institutions, including collaboration with national technical teams and facilitation of participatory technical processes.
• Experience in the costing, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation of education strategies or plans.
• Previous professional experience in West Africa, particularly Guinea Bissau and/or Sierra Leone.
• Familiarity with UNESCO or IIEP approaches to education sector planning, technical assistance, capacity development and nationally owned planning processes.
• Commitment to equity and inclusion.

CONTRACT DURATION

The consultancy will last for seven months, from November 1st  2026 to 30th June 2027.

Long Description

PAYMENT MODALITIES

The payment of fees will be made in instalments, upon submission and approval by UNESCO of the deliverables. Each payment will be conditional on the satisfactory completion of the corresponding deliverables, in line with the expected quality standards, technical requirements and agreed orientations and in a timely manner, according to the dates agreed at the beginning of the contract, unless otherwise agreed with the technical supervisor.

Fees will be discussed between the successful candidate and the IIEP-UNESCO in Africa and will be determined on the basis of the candidate's experience, in accordance with the UNESCO consultant remuneration scale.

WORK CONDITIONS

To allow the selected consultant to carry out this work, IIEP-UNESCO in Africa will provide him/her all available documentation related to the consultancy. IIEP-UNESCO in Africa will intervene as necessary to facilitate contacts with the institutions/individuals that he/she wishes to meet in the context of this service, as well as other logistical aspects. IIEP-UNESCO in Africa will provide guidance and technical support throughout the period of the consultancy.

The consultant will work on a home-based basis. If the consultant is required to go on mission, he/she will be notified in advance, and the travel costs will be covered accordingly. The consultant will be responsible for any necessary visa/residence permit procedures in destination countries during the consultancy period. IIEP- UNESCO in Africa will facilitate contact with the relevant national authorities for these procedures.

APPLICATION PROCESS

The deadline for submitting applications is October 4th 2026.

In addition to the mandatory information and documents to be provided on the recruitment platform (diplomas, certifications and other supporting documentation), interested candidates must submit through the platform, as attached documents, the following documents:

1. An up-to-date curriculum vitae, highlighting relevant experiences, the dates when they were carried out (month and year of beginning and end) and their duration (in months).
2. A technical offer (5 pages maximum), outlining the understanding of the assignment, appreciation of the project, its scope and the challenges for its implementation, highlighting the relevant experience linked to the ToRs.
3. A financial offer, presenting a proposed remuneration for the work (total fees for the expected deliverables within the 7 months consultancy – no other costs will be eligible). NB: the consultant may need to undertake travel as part of the consultancy, TBC; travel and associated subsistence costs will be supported by IIEP and amendments to the contract will be made to incorporate these if the mission is confirmed.

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.