Individual Consultant Education Specialist (Inclusion and Diversity in Teacher Education, Lao PDR)

OVERVIEW

Parent Sector:Field Office

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):24-SEP-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 which supports countries in advancing Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for Lao PDR UNESCOthrough the Capacity Development for Education (CapED) Programmehas been working closely with the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) to strengthen national capacities in teacher education curriculum development and the promotion of inclusive and gender-responsive learning environments.

Inclusive education is a national priority for the Government of Lao PDR as outlined in the Inclusive Education Strategy 2030 approved by MoES in 2023. The strategy envisions a more equitable education system in which all learnersregardless of gender disability ethnicity language socioeconomic status or geographic locationcan access participate in and succeed in quality learning environments. Despite strong policy commitments and ongoing efforts many teachers in Lao PDR continue to face challenges in effectively implementing inclusive pedagogical approaches largely due to limited training insufficient practical and relevant engagement and constrained access to appropriate resources.

1. BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

This consultancy is closely aligned with the overarching goals and all seven strategies of the Inclusive Education Strategy 2030. In particular it contributes most directly to Strategy 3 which calls for incorporating inclusive education into both pre-service and in-service teacher training curricula at all levels. UNESCO Bangkok in collaboration with MoES will support the development of a comprehensive teacher training module on inclusion and diversity in education aimed at strengthening the capacity of Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs) to equip future and current teachers with the knowledge skills and attitudes needed to respond effectively to diverse learner needs. The module will be tailored to the Lao context and aligned with national and international frameworks. Designed for integration into pre-service teacher education programmes it will serve as a key resource for advancing inclusive pedagogy. Moreover its development and piloting will model approaches to improve the teacher education system more broadlyensuring it is inclusive relevant and responsive. Inclusion and diversity will not be treated as isolated topics within the module; rather they will be presented as core principles that ideally inform and influence broader aspects of teacher preparation and professional learning over time.

As the next step UNESCO Bangkok is seeking a senior expert Individual Specialist to conceptualize and lead the development and piloting of a comprehensive teacher training module on inclusion and diversity in education tailored to the context and needs of TEIs in Lao PDR. This will involve close collaboration with MoES and include national consultations design and delivery of a capacity development workshop and hands-on technical support for piloting the module in two selected TEIs. The Individual Specialist will also be responsible for finalizing the module and preparing a concise policy guidance note offering strategic recommendations for strengthening inclusion and diversity across the teacher education system. While the module is a central output the overall process is intended to inform broader improvements in teacher education policies curricula and practices advancing a more inclusive equitable and responsive education system in Lao PDR.

2. PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The purpose of this assignment is to provide policy-oriented technical guidance to the MoES in the production of teacher training content on inclusion and diversity in education that specifically responds to the context and needs of Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs) in Lao PDR. Key outputs to be produced by the Individual Specialist include: a comprehensive teacher training module on inclusion and diversity in education and a concise policy guidance note to support strategic country efforts to strengthen inclusion and diversity across the national teacher education system.

The assignment involves the development of the module through close consultations with national education authorities and key stakeholders; the design of pilot implementation methodology and tools; the design and delivery of a capacity development workshop for selected TEIs; and the provision of technical support and strategic guidance to national education authorities throughout and immediately following the pilot phase. The Individual Specialist will also be responsible for revising and finalizing the module based on feedback and findings from the pilot implementation to ensure that it is contextually relevant pedagogically sound informed by evidence aligned with normative frameworks and ready for wider integration into pre-service teacher education addition the Individual Specialist will develop a policy guidance note outlining strategic recommendations to inform broader system-level implementations in inclusive and diversity-responsive teacher education. The overall process is expected to inform the (re)development and strengthening of teacher education programmes in Lao PDR.

Specifically the Individual Specialist will be responsible for:

Designing the structure content and delivery methodology of a teacher training module on inclusion and diversity based on national priorities particularly the Inclusive Education Strategy 2030 and aligned with national and international standards in inclusive pedagogy.
Designing and leading delivery of a national stakeholder consultation workshop to gather inputs from teacher educators education personnel and development partners for the initial drafting of the module in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) and UNESCO Bangkok.
Leading the drafting and iterative development of the module through collaborative consultations with a designated team of teacher educators and education personnel coordinated by the Department of Teacher Education MoES.
Designing a pilot implementation package including methodology training materials and tools to assess the relevance usability and effectiveness of the module during implementation in selected TEIs.
Designing and leading the facilitation of a capacity development workshop for teacher educators and institutional leaders in two pilot TEIs to support the pilot implementation of the training module.
Providing technical and strategic guidance either in-person or remotely to the pilot TEIs throughout the pilot phase to ensure effective implementation and promote reflective practice including the collection of practical feedback from participants.
Collecting and synthesizing findings and lessons learned from the pilot implementation process including stakeholder feedback to inform the revision and enhancement of the module.
Revising and finalizing the training module based on the pilots results to ensure it is contextually relevant pedagogically sound and ready for official adoption and integration into pre-service teacher education programmes with potential for future scale-up.
Developing a concise policy guidance note with strategic recommendations for use by national authorities for strengthening inclusion and diversity across Lao PDRs teacher education system informed by insights gained throughout the module development and pilot process.

3. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Within the framework of the Capacity Development for Education (CapED) Programme in Lao PDR the Individual Specialist will be expected to apply methodological expertise policy planning insight expert-level technical leadership and advisory and advocacy skills to undertake the development and piloting of a teacher training module on inclusion and diversity in education as well as the preparation of a policy guidance note offering strategic recommendations to strengthen the inclusiveness of Lao PDRs teacher education system.

Working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) particularly the Department of Teacher Education and in coordination with UNESCO Bangkok the Individual Specialist will lead and deliver the following key responsibilities.

1. Module Design and Framework Development

(i) Conduct a comprehensive desk review and contextual analysis of key national strategies and policy frameworks including the Inclusive Education Strategy 2030 Lao Teacher Standards existing teacher training materials and international evidence and promising practices in inclusive education.
(ii) Design a conceptual framework for the module including structure key thematic areas targeted teacher competencies learning objectives learning assessment approaches and implementation methodology ensuring alignment with national policies and contextual needs.
(iii) Develop a concept note and annotated outline of the module to guide the full drafting and stakeholder engagement process.

2. Stakeholder Consultation and Technical Engagement

(i) Design and lead delivery of a national stakeholder consultation workshop in collaboration with MoES and UNESCO Bangkok to engage policy-makers curriculum developers teacher educators education personnel and development partners in a participatory review of the modules framework.
(ii) Collect technical inputs and feedback from stakeholders to inform and validate the content and approach of the modules framework.
(iii) Document and synthesize consultation outcomes to inform the drafting of the full module.

3. Drafting and Iterative Development of the Module

(i) Lead the drafting of the teacher training module on inclusion and diversity in education incorporating stakeholder inputs and aligning with inclusive gender-responsive and learner-centred pedagogy.
(ii) Collaborate with the Department of Teacher Education other relevant stakeholders and UNESCO Bangkok to review and iteratively improve the module draft.
(iii) Ensure the module is adaptable for integration into pre-service teacher education programmes and relevant for long-term professional learning.

4. Pilot Design and Capacity Development

(i) Design a comprehensive pilot implementation plan including training materials tools and assessment frameworks to evaluate the modules relevance usability and effectiveness.
(ii) Design and lead the facilitation of a capacity development workshop for teacher educators and institutional leaders from two pilot TEIs providing both technical and strategic preparation to support their effective implementation of the training module.
(iii) Provide ongoing strategic guidance and technical support throughout and immediately following the pilot phase (in-person or remotely) promoting reflective practice and capturing implementation feedback.

5. Module Revision and Finalization

(i) Analyze data and feedback from the pilot implementation including qualitative and quantitative evidence and stakeholder perspectives in the two TEIs.
(ii) Revise and finalize the module based on the pilots findings ensuring pedagogical soundness contextual fit and readiness for official adoption and scale-up.
(iii) Provide strategic recommendations for the sustainable integration of the finalized module into the broader teacher education curriculum including potential alignment with related modules and institutional frameworks.

6. Policy Engagement and System Strengthening

(i) Facilitate high-level consultations with MoES UNESCO Bangkok and development partners to reflect on lessons learned from the module development and piloting process and identify system-wide implications.
(ii) Develop a concise policy guidance note summarizing key insights and offering targeted actionable policy recommendations for strengthening inclusion and diversity across teacher education policies programmes and institutions in Lao PDR.

7. Final Reporting

(i) Prepare a final consultancy report (maximum ten A4 pages excluding annexes) outlining key activities undertaken stakeholder engagement technical support provided outcomes of the pilot implementation and strategic recommendations for further development adaptation and national scale-up of the module and its associated approaches.

4. TIMETABLE AND DELIVERABLES:

The Individual Specialist will be required to work from September 2025 to May 2026. The deliverables for this consultancy are outlined below with provisional submission dates:

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

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 (UTC7).

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 Specialists usual place of residence or work.

The Individual Specialist is expected to arrange their own travel and will be provided with a lump sum to cover travel-related expenses in accordance with UNESCOs rules and regulations. All travel costs (e.g. the cost of tickets terminal fares and DSA) must be agreed upon and fixed in advance between the Individual Specialist and UNESCO.

Expected Travel (tentative):

(i) Trip 1: Travel to Lao PDR to facilitate and provide technical leadership during the national stakeholder consultation workshop on the development of the teacher training module on inclusion and diversity in education tentatively scheduled for October 2025 in Vientiane Capital.

(ii) Trip 2: Travel to Lao PDR to lead the facilitation of the capacity development workshop for teacher educators and institutional leaders from two pilot TEIs and provide strategic guidance and technical support during the early phase of the pilot implementation tentatively scheduled for January 2026 with activities likely taking place in two selected provinces.

ARRANGEMENT

The individual Specialist will work under the overall authority of the Regional Director of UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok and the direct supervision of the Deputy Director and Chief of Education Section. Day-to-day technical coordination will be conducted in close consultation with the Programme Coordinator for the Capacity Development for Education (CapED).

The Individual Specialist will maintain regular communication with the UNESCO CapED team 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.

Short Description

7. COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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8. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in education teacher education inclusive education curriculum development or a related field.

Work Experience

• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible relevant professional experience in inclusive education teacher education or curriculum development.
• Proven experience in designing and developing teacher training materials and content for adult learners.
• Track record of planning and facilitating technical workshops consultations and/or capacity development activities with education stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience in advocacy and technical guidance on inclusion in education with teachers teacher educators and education officials.
• Experience in working in multi-stakeholder and cross-cultural contexts preferably in the Asia-Pacific region.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong analytical research and communication skills with knowledge of educational planning teacher training module development and participatory approaches.
• Proven facilitation skills for high-level multi-stakeholder workshops and capacity development sessions (in-person and online)..
• Ability to synthesize complex inputs and feedback into clear and actionable recommendations.
• Strong interpersonal skills to foster inclusive collaborative and learner-centred processes.
• Proficiency in using digital tools and platforms for remote collaboration communication and data collection.

Languages

• Fluency in spoken and written English.

9. DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• PhD in education inclusive pedagogy curriculum development or a related field.

Work Experience

• Experience in advising Ministries of Education intergovernmental organizations or UN agencies on teacher education reform or inclusive education policy.
• Proven track record of producing policy guidance strategy papers or system-level recommendations for education sector reforms.
• Experience in leading and coordinating regional and multi-country initiatives in teacher education and inclusive education.

Skills and Competencies

• Demonstrated expertise in policy analysis monitoring and evaluation in inclusive education.
• Knowledge of UNESCOs normative frameworks (e.g. SDG 4 Education 2030 UNESCO Gender Equality Strategy).
• Familiarity with capacity development approaches in fragile or resource-constrained contexts.

Languages

• Knowledge of Lao or another Southeast Asian language is an asset.
• Knowledge of another UN official language (Arabic Chinese French Russian and Spanish).

PROCESS

Submission of Application:

Interested individuals are invited to submit the application and requirements to the UNESCO Careers website at candidates should click on Apply Now and download and complete the Employment History form (Word document) in Employment History Form / My Documents. Before uploading the completed form please add the following documents as extra pages at the end of the Word file:

• An updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a cover letter outlining how your qualifications and experience make you suitable for the assignment.
• Written technical and financial proposal (in English):

(i). A concise Approach to Work and methodology for carrying out the assignment (maximum 3 pages A4) detailing how you plan to address the specific components of the work assignment including the intended objectives outputs and deliverables. Please include references to relevant examples of successfully completed assignments of a similar nature or comparable assignments.

(ii). The proposed consultancy fee for the assignment should be quoted in USD indicating either a daily or monthly rates or a lump sum amount. The total consultancy fees should include a detailed broken down based on level of effort time-on-task or per expected deliverable/output.

(iii). Any anticipated travel expenses must be itemized and presented separately from the Individual Specialist fee.

UNESCO places great emphasis on ensuring that the objectives of the work assignment as described in the Terms of Reference are met. Accordingly in evaluating the proposals for the assignment attention will focus first and foremost on the technical elements.

From those proposals deemed suitable in terms of the criteria in the Terms of Reference UNESCO shall select the proposal that offers the Organization best value for money.

Assessment:

• Only applications providing the information requested in the application procedure will be considered.
• Evaluation of qualified applicants will include the review of the curriculum vitae technical proposal proposed consultancy fee and travel-related cost.
• Evaluation of qualified applicants may include an assessment exercise and a competency-based interview.

Note:

• Due to the large number of applications we receive we are able to inform only the successful candidate(s) about the outcome or status of the selection process.
• Please submit your application through SuccessFactors. Only if you are unable to attach requirements in the system please inform us at

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

11. SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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