Parent Sector:Education Sector (ED)
Duty Station:UIL Hamburg
Classification of duty station:
Standard Duration of Assignment:
Job Family:Education
Type of contract:Non Staff
Duration of contract:From 7 to 11 months
Recruitment open to:External candidates
Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time):06/02/2026
UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization Integrity Respect for Diversity Professionalism
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development serves as a comprehensive guide for United Nations member states to advance in five crucial dimensions: people prosperity planet partnership and peace with quality education (SDG 4) highlighted as a key goal to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Lifelong learning central to sustainable education policies integrates learning and living across all ages and contexts requiring a trained active and committed teaching workforce. Teachers play a crucial role in providing transformative learning experiences that help learners achieve their full potential and develop lifelong learning capabilities while continuously reflecting on their practices and adapting to evolving societal changes.
Against this background the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) and Shanghai Normal University (SHNU) have launched a project titled Teachers as Lifelong Learners: International Research Policy and Practice on Lifelong Learning for Teacher Education (2023-2026). This initiative aims to generate evidence-based insights into policies and practices that promote the development of teachers as lifelong learners and facilitators of lifelong learning. The Phase 1 research outputs included: a literature review six national case studies and two thematic Phase 2 based on the research findings three key resourcescurriculum guidelines policy recommendations and monitoring framework and toolswill be developed. Four countries will be invited to participate in the online workshops on policy reviews and improvement teacher education curriculum guidelines and monitoring tools to promote teachers lifelong learning and their role as facilitators of students lifelong learning. These workshops will be hosted on UILs Learning Hub platform.
In this regard UIL seeks a consultant to provide support to the Team Leader and research consultants in the coordination of the activities in 2026. Contract period: Mid-February - end of December 2026.
Under the supervision of the Team Leader (TL) of the Quality Learning Ecosystems programme UIL the consultant will support the implementation of the following activities. Detailed tasks and responsibilities include:
Finalisation of Phase 1 research outputs:
Support for the coordination of the development of Phase 2 documents:
General Project Coordination and Participation:
Deliverables
27 February 2026:
31 March 2026
30 April 2026
29 May 2026
30 June 2026
31 July 2026
31 August 2026
30 September 2026
30 October 2026
30 November 2026
29 December 2026
The consultant will be supervised by the Team Leader Quality Learning Ecosystems programme and work closely with relevant programme specialists a group of consultants and other UIL units (Publications and Communications) when required.
The consultancy assignment will primarily be home-based in any location and can be done by working remotely. The consultant can also visit the UIL office in Hamburg at her/his own cost if s/he is based outside Hamburg. The Consultant should be available to meet with the UIL team (online) during office hours of Hamburg Germany.
Nature of penalty clause in contract
If the documents are not submitted or confirmed by UIL staff according to the deliverables and timeframe stated in this TOR the payments will be withheld.
UNESCO reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory if work/output is incomplete not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines.
The UIL Style and Referencing Guide shall be applied precisely with careful attention to grammar spelling punctuation abbreviations referencing and country names. The final drafts and reports should be submitted to a publishable standard.
The English language of the work shall be mother-tongue level; the style shall target an audience of national and international experts working in the field of teacher education. Acronyms can be used but these should be spelled out when used for the first time and be accompanied by a table of acronyms. Footnotes should generally be avoided.
Particular attention should be given to the following.
All materials developed will remain copyright of UNESCO and UNESCO will be free to adapt and modify reproduce or otherwise use them in whatsoever form or language in the future.
Required qualifications:
Competencies
UIL will provide feedback to each deliverable submitted and hold regular meetings to ensure the progress and quality of the consultants work.
The contractor should ensure that all visibility materials are produced in line with UNESCOs branding guidelines. Please refer to the UNESCO Style Manual for citation style terminology and spelling abbreviations references etc.
In line with UNESCOs overall gender mainstreaming strategy the contractor is expected to integrate a gender perspective in all activities and apply gender analysis and mainstreaming concepts whenever feasible.
The documents produced will be the property of UIL.
Procedure
Interested candidates will need to submit one consolidated PDF document (please upload this pdf instead of the employment history form) which includes the following information:
The full proposal should not exceed 5 pages. Proposals missing any of the above will not be considered.
The complete application shall be submitted on or before 23:59 CET 6 February 2026. Please note that only pre-selected candidates will be contacted.
For any questions please contact:
Selection process
A shortlist of the three most suitable applicants will be drawn up and the selected candidates will be contacted by the Heads of either the Learning Ecosystems Team. The successful candidate will be selected and offered a contract based on the application review.
Please note that all candidates must complete an online application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.
The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice and may include tests and/or assessments as well as a competency-based interview.
UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference e-mail correspondence etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.
Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.
UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of staff members 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. UNESCO is committed to achieving and sustaining equitable and diverse geographical distribution as well as gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. Furthermore UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender nationality and culture. Candidates from non- and under-represented Member States (last update here) are particularly welcome and strongly encouraged to apply. Individuals 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. Worldwide mobility is required for staff members appointed to international posts.
UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
Required Experience:
Contract
UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It seeks to build peace through international cooperation in Education, the Sciences and Culture. UNESCO's programmes contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in Agenda 20 ... View more