Senior Consultant

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Senior Consultant - Climate Resilience and School Safety

JOB DETAILS

Type of contract : Consultant Contract

Level : Level 3 - Senior

Hiring Unit : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station : Paris

Work location : Remote

Duration of contract : 11 months

Hiring open to : External candidates

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

OVERVIEW

As the United Nations’ specialized agency for education and lead agency for Sustainable Development Goal 4, UNESCO holds the global mandate to ensure inclusive, equitable and quality education, and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Within this mandate, UNESCO supports strengthening the resilience and responsiveness of education systems to crises, including those arising from displacement, migration, natural disasters, and conflict.

Considering the contemporary challenges that education systems face, the multiplicity of crises that affect them and their extension over time, preparedness, risk reduction and resilience within the education system has been recognized as a priority by the Migration, Displacement, Emergencies and Education (EME) section at global, regional, and national levels. This is also aligned with the institutional commitments reported in UNESCO’s new Medium-Term Strategy (2022-2030) and its Programme and Budget (2026-2027).

UNESCO seeks the support of an Education in Emergencies (EiE) Technical Consultant specialised in school safety, climate change, learner wellbeing, and resilience in education. The consultant will contribute to strengthening UNESCO’s strategic positioning, normative leadership, and technical delivery in these areas, enhancing the Organization’s capacity to support preparedness, response, and recovery efforts across crisis-affected contexts.

Under the authority of the Assistant Director General for Education, direction of the Director of the Division for Education 2030, and direct supervision of the Chief of Section for Education in Emergencies (ED/E30/EME), the consultant will work within the framework of UNESCO’s statutory documents, and the UNESCO Global Strategic Framework on Migration, Displacement, Emergencies and Education.

In delivery of knowledge products and technical support to Field Offices, the consultant will work in close collaboration with the Education for Sustainable Development and Education for Health and Wellbeing sections, and the Science sector’s Disaster Risk Reduction unit.

Long Description

ASSIGNMENTS

2. Objectives of the consultancy

• Lead the development and piloting of an All-Hazards, All-Risks School Safety Plan Guide, with model templates for planning, drills and review.
• Develop hazard-specific preparedness toolkits (heat, flooding, cyclones, tsunami and other priority hazards as relevant) for dissemination to and by UNESCO Field Offices.
• Strengthen the capacities of UNESCO HQ and Field Office staff on school safety, climate change and resilience, through training, guidance materials and practical tools.
• Provide strategic and technical support to UNESCO Field Offices to enhance preparedness, risk reduction, response and recovery interventions in education systems impacted by crises, including targeted support for resource mobilization.
• Support the Migration, Displacement, Emergencies and Education section to develop a resource mobilization strategy for climate-related funds, and 2 funding proposals.

Long Description

3. Key Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Chief ED/E30/EME the consultant will:

• Lead the development of an All-Hazards, All-Risks School Safety Plan Guide, including model templates for school-level planning, drills and periodic review, ready for field testing in UNESCO Field Offices.
• Develop hazard-specific preparedness toolkits (heat, flooding, cyclones, tsunami and other priority hazards as relevant), outlining practical actions before, during and after a hazard event for use by education authorities and school communities.
• Deliver 4 capacity strengthening sessions for UNESCO Field Offices in the areas of school safety, climate change, learner wellbeing, and resilience in education.
• Provide technical support to UNESCO Field Offices as needed, towards the development of response plans, project proposals, and engagement with Government authorities and partners, in the areas of school safety, climate change, resilience, and learner wellbeing in education.
• Support the Migration, Displacement, Emergencies and Education section’s resource mobilization efforts.
• Participate, as required, in relevant global and re