Individual Consultant - Education Specialist for Updating Gender-Responsive Pedagogy TrainingPackage

OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: Bangkok

Job Family: Education

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 1 to 6 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Duty Station Time) : 05-NOV-2025

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

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

1. BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

This consultancy in Lao PDR falls under the Education Section of the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok and Office for UN Coordination for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCO Bangkok), which supports countries in advancing Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all. In Lao PDR, UNESCO, through the Education for Health and Well-being (EHW) programme and the Capacity Development for Education (CapED) programme, has been working closely with the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) to strengthen the capacity of the education system to deliver gender-transformative education by empowering and enhancing the teacher workforce.

Building the skills of teachers and teacher educators in gender-responsive pedagogy is a powerful strategy for achieving quality education that is gender-equitable and transformative. Gender Responsive Pedagogy (GRP) refers to teaching and learning processes that encourage equal participation and involvement of students of all genders (girls, boys and gender-diverse), and which takes into account their respective, specific interests, learning styles and needs. As gender overlaps with other aspects and vulnerability such as race/ethnicity/sexual orientation/disability in creating social hierarchies, GRP is part of ensuring inclusive learning environments, where all students feel respected and valued.

In this context, UNESCO Bangkok, in collaboration with the Lao PDR Department of Teacher Education (DTE) and participating local Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs), is supporting the integration in TEIs of a GRP teacher training package that has been customized for, and pilot tested in the Lao PDR context.

To provide expert technical guidance to, and lead capacity-development training of DTE and participating TEIs in preparation for this GRP content integration, UNESCO Bangkok seeks the services of a suitably experienced and qualified individual specialist.

2. PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The Individual Specialist will: (1) update the existing localized GRP training package to include additional content identified through the pilot process; (2) design and facilitate an orientation workshop for heads of TEIs, TEI-designated mentors, and selected MoES gender focal points to support the mainstreaming of gender equality and GRP in their institutions; (3) and develop a new, stand-alone module on GRP for integration into Year 1 teacher education programmes, to be delivered to student-teachers in targeted TEIs.

Key technical outputs of the consultancy will include: (1) an updated, localized GRP training package, including expanded contents, a revised training workshop agenda and aligned, supportive training materials; (2) the agenda and materials for the orientation workshop; and (3) a stand-alone course module on GRP, designed for integration into existing year 1 teacher education syllabi in targeted TEIs.

3. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Individual Specialist will serve as a senior-level advisor, expert trainer, and module writer in support of preparatory activities for the GRP content integration into TEIs in Lao PDR. The assignment entails providing strategic direction to DTE in implementing the recommendations emerging from the pilot testing of the existing localized GRP training package. In carrying out these duties and responsibilities, the Individual Specialist will work closely with UNESCO Bangkok, and a Core Team convened by DTE and composed of DTE and TEI representatives, along with 1-2 in-service teachers.

Specifically, the Individual Specialist will perform the following tasks – some of which will take place in parallel, taking into account the sequencing and overlap required for interlinked activities and outputs.

1.1 Revise the localized GRP training package by incorporating recommendations from the training package’s pilot testing to:
i. Update the GRP training content related to gender equity, school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV) and human rights to incorporate:
a. Core terminology and concepts on gender, equality, gender equity and SRGBV;
b. Clear guidance for teacher educators and student teachers on how to appropriately respond to incidents of SRGBV;
c. Clarifications of the distinctions between discipline and punishment;
ii. Update the GRP training workshop agenda to include sessions on human rights from the localized GRP training manual;
iii. Develop original training workshop materials, including presentations and handouts in English, to be added to the localized GRP training package, for supporting the delivery of human rights content in future training workshops;
iv. Draft original, concise guidance/practical tips for teacher educators on how to adapt GRP learning activities for specific contexts, such as small class sizes or gender-imbalanced classrooms;
v. Refine and finalize the updated GRP training package, incorporating the new content, updated training workshop agenda and supporting training materials, in close collaboration with DTE and the Core Team.

1.2 Develop a stand-alone, Year 1 TEI module for training student teachers on GRP
i. Draft the outline of the stand-alone GRP module for Year 1 student teachers. The content of the module should be substantively excerpted from the existing localized GRP training package. The module should complement the GRP training content that has been identified for integration into existing TEI curricula, based on the findings of a TEI curriculum audit commissioned by UNESCO and coordinated by DTE. Share the draft outline with UNESCO and DTE for review and feedback, and carry out a first round of revisions;
ii. Present the first revised draft module outline to participants of the orientation workshop (See Task 1.3), for their feedback and validation, and make final revisions as needed;
iii. Draft the full text of the GRP module in English and submit it to UNESCO and DTE for review and feedback by mid March 2026 (date TBC);
iv. Revise and finalize the full text of the GRP module, incorporating inputs from UNESCO and DTE.

1.3 Design and deliver an in-person orientation workshop to support gender equality and GRP mainstreaming

i. Develop the agenda for a three-day orientation workshop for approximately 45 participants, including heads of TEIs, TEI-designated mentors in gender equality/GRP, and selected MoES gender focal points. The objectives of the orientation workshop are to strengthen foundational knowledge of key concepts and terminology related to gender equality and gender-transformative education; explore and validate approaches for integrating GRP into TEI curricula, including the use of curriculum audit findings to inform content integration and the development of a stand-alone GRP module for Year 1 student teachers; and review and confirm the roles and responsibilities of key TEI personnel—such as institutional leadership, GRP mentors, and gender equality focal points—in advancing gender-transformative education within their institutions. The orientation workshop is tentatively scheduled to take place in Vientiane Province, in late January 2026 (date TBC);

ii. Submit the draft orientation workshop agenda and materials, including presentations and handouts for UNESCO and DTE’s review and feedback by 15 January 2026;

iii. Lead the preparatory meetings with UNESCO and DTE to ensure smooth delivery of the orientation workshop;

iv. Lead the delivery of the orientation workshop, in alignment with the agreed agenda;

v. Prepare a workshop outcome report (maximum 5 pages, excluding annexes) highlighting strategic outcomes, key insights, participants’ feedback and recommendations to UNESCO and DTE on potential follow-up actions, and the integration of workshop outcomes into broader programme frameworks in Lao PDR on institutionalizing gender-transformative education in initial teacher education.

In line with UNESCO’s overall gender mainstreaming strategy, the Individual Specialist is expected to integrate a gender perspective in all activities and apply gender analysis and mainstreaming concepts whenever feasible.

Anticipated number of days level of effort

Tasks and number of anticipated days (55 days in total)

Tasks

Anticipated Level of Effort (consultancy days)

1.1

15

1.2.

25

1.3.

15

4. TIMETABLE AND DELIVERABLES

The Individual Specialist will be required to work during the period November 2025 to April 2026 (tentatively). The contract shall be concluded by 30 April 2026 at the latest.

The deliverables for this consultancy are outlined below, with provision submission dates. All deliverables must be submitted in English and reflect consolidated feedback from UNESCO and DTE.

An updated, localized GRP training package, including expanded content, a revised training workshop agenda and aligned, supporting training materials

5. LOCATION AND TRAVEL

The Individual Specialist will be home-based and work remotely from any location. They must be available for virtual meetings with the UNESCO Bangkok team during official working hours in Bangkok, Thailand (UTC+7).

The Individual Specialist will be required to undertake official travel in relation to project implementation during the assignment period. All travel must be in economy class, and the Individual Specialist will receive a Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) at the standard UN rate. This rate may be reduced, as necessary, if the number of days exceeds the limits stipulated in the ICSC table of rates. DSA is only payable when travel occurs outside the Individual Specialist’s usual place of residence or work.

Expected Travel (tentative):

6. SUPERVISION AND REPORTING

The individual Specialist will work under the overall authority of the Regional Director of UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok (UNESCO Bangkok), and the overall guidance of the Deputy Director and Chief of Education Section, and the direct supervision of the Regional Advisor on Education for Health and Well-being. Day-to-day technical coordination will be conducted in close consultation with the Regional Advisor and members of the Education for Health and Well-being (EHW) programme, as well as the Programme Coordinator for the Capacity Development for Education (CapED) programme.

The Individual Specialist will maintain regular communication with the UNESCO EHW and CapED programmes through email correspondence and virtual meetings to ensure smooth coordination, progress monitoring, and alignment with programme priorities.

At the start of the assignment, the Individual Specialist will participate in an initial online meeting with UNESCO Bangkok to reconfirm the scope and parameters of the consultancy. This meeting will also serve to review and, if necessary, adjust the consultancy work plan and timeline. It will also define the specific sub-tasks and interim deliverables to be carried out by the Individual Specialist, as well as clarify the support and inputs expected from UNESCO Bangkok and collaborating partners for the effective implementation of the activities.

7. COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial) Accountability (C)Communication (C)Innovation (C)Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)Results focus (C)Teamwork (C)Building partnerships (M)Driving and managing change (M)Leading and empowering others (M)Making quality decisions (M)Managing performance (M)Strategic thinking (M)Planning and organizing (C)

- For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

8. REQUIRED AND DESIRE QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications: