1 Further details on GRALE 6 and its themes are outlined in the concept note available at the following link Description

Assignement and the scope of work

The UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) is seeking an expert consultant to produce a thematic chapter that provides an evidence-informed policy-relevant analysis of the implications of digitalization for ALE. The Consultant may work alone or as part of a team. However the consultancy fee will be paid to a single individual who is responsible for arranging appropriate compensation for any co-contributors. The Consultant and up to two co-contributors will be explicitly acknowledged in the Report as author(s) of the chapter.

Under the leadership of the UIL Director Team Leader of the Quality Learning Ecosystems programme and the GRALE 6 Cluster Lead the Consultant will:

• develop a comprehensive analysis of digitalization and ALE based on international datasets regional policy literature scholarly literature and diverse case studies and draft the thematic chapter on digitalization and ALE;
• apply a gender-sensitive lens throughout specifically analysing inequalities in access participation and outcomes;
• incorporate where possible relevant data from the GRALE 6 survey to enrich the narrative;
• refine the text through multiple rounds of substantive and editorial review in consultation with UIL.

Analytical scope

The chapter should adopt a system-wide perspective examining how digitalization impacts ALE and how ALE systems should respond to rapid technological changes and the opportunities challenges and trade-offs involved. Key areas of analysis should include:

• How fostering critical skills such as media literacy responsible use of digital tools and understanding of emerging technologies including artificial intelligence affect ALE.
• How access to digital tools digital skills and basic literacy and numeracy skills intersect with participation learning and equity issues.
• Who benefits from digitalization and who risks being marginalized based on factors such as gender geography disability language citizenship status and age.
• Focus on the broader cross-cutting GRALE 6 themes of resilience and empowerment as well as progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 4.

The Consultant is encouraged to draw on their expertise and relevant evidence from research studies international datasets and policy literature. The above analytical scope should serve as a guiding structure rather than a rigid template allowing authors to highlight emerging trends and perspectives not yet fully captured in the existing literature.

Deliverables and timeline

The Consultant will produce a manuscript of words. The content must align with the GRALE 6 outline and the analytical framework agreed upon during the inception phase.

The Consultants fee will be paid in instalments linked to the submission and formal approval of the following deliverables:

Because the chapter should be accessible to policymakers practitioners and researchers the Consultant must ensure that the arguments are precise evidence-based and logically structured yet written in clear non-technical language.

Long Description

Location and coordination

The assignment will be carried out remotely. The Consultant may also visit the UIL offices in Hamburg at their own expense. The Consultant should be available to meet with the UIL team (online) during office hours in Hamburg Germany. If any face-to-face meeting is planned by UIL the Consultant will be invited to attend and UIL will make the travel arrangements and bear associated costs.

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 payments may be withheld. UNESCO reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory if work output is incomplete or not delivered or if deadlines are not met.

Additional regulations

UILs guidelines on style and referencing should be followed with especially careful attention paid to grammar spelling punctuation abbreviations and country names. The final drafts and reports should be submitted at a publishable standard.

The writer(s) should prioritise clarity of expression and a style of writing accessible to a broad readership (policymakers researchers practitioners and other stakeholders in the field of ALE). Abbreviations may be used but these should be spelled out when used for the first time and be accompanied by a table of abbreviations. Footnotes should be avoided.

Particular attention is drawn to the following:

1. Consistency of style terminology editing and presentation;
2. Document structure and hierarchy (headings sub-headings numbers);
3. Consistency of bibliography with references in the text; and
4. List of abbreviations
5. Though the Consultants authorship will be acknowledged in the Report their work will remain the intellectual property of UNESCO and may not be shared prior to publication without authorization from UNESCO. UNESCO will be free to adapt and modify reproduce or otherwise use the materials produced by the Consultant in any form or language in the future.

Requirements

• PhD in related subject
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in relevant field

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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APPLICATION PROCESS

Application instructions

Interested candidates should submit one consolidated PDF file which includes the following information (please upload this PDF file in the field of / and instead of the UNESCO employment history form):

• A short CV (max. 3 pages) highlighting relevant publications or comparable analytical writing;
• A one-page note outlining: (i) proposed analytical framing and 23 guiding questions; (ii) evidence strategy (types of sources and examples not a bibliography); (iii) approach across learner educator organizational and policy levels; and (iv) how cross-cutting dimensions such as equity and gender will be addressed;
• One writing sample (25 pages) demonstrating policy-relevant analytical writing (e.g. excerpt from report policy brief or another policy-oriented document);
• A financial proposal stating either a lump-sum fee with a brief breakdown by deliverable or a daily rate with an estimated number of days.

The proposal should not exceed 8 - 10 pages. Proposals missing any of the above will not be considered.

For any questions please contact

Instead of uploading the employment history form applicants should upload the combined PDF.

The complete application shall be submitted on or before 23:59 CET 1 March 2026. Please note that only pre-selected candidates will be contacted.

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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