Job Description

Type of contract : Consultant

Level : Senior

Hiring Unit : Education

Duty Station : Lilongwe

Work location : Lilongwe

Duration of contract : 40 Days

Hiring open to : Externals

Application deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 23/11/26

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

OVERVIEW

Summary

UNESCO seeks the services of a consultant to work with the Malawi Institute of Education (MIE), a government parastatal of the Ministry of Education to develop instructional materials for the Health and Wellbeing Education curriculum for Grade 4 and materials development guidelines for Grades 5 & 6. The consultant will work with the Malawi Institute of Education (MIE) and the materials development panel for primary schools in Malawi.

Background

The Malawi Institute of Education (MIE) is a government parastatal organization that became operational in 1982 under the Ministry of Education. MIE is in the process of reviewing the school and college curricula. According to the Curriculum and Assessment Framework for Schools and Colleges in Malawi the education structure has changed from 8-4-4 to 1-6-6-3. In this regard 1 year denotes P-class, or pre-primary, 6 years for primary level covering 3 years of lower primary and 3 years upper primary. The other 6 years represent secondary education, where 2 years will be for lower secondary, 2 years for upper secondary and 2 years covering advanced level. The last 3 years will be for tertiary, TEVET and other specialized institutions depending on the preferred path for the student.

UNESCO has developed the Health and Wellbeing curriculum for Grades 4, 5, and 6, including a final Grade 4 syllabus and draft syllabi for Grades 5 and 6, which will be refined by 2027. To support the curriculum, UNESCO has created Scripted Lesson Plans (SLPs) as effective instructional materials, which have reportedly boosted teacher confidence in Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in South Africa and Botswana.

Long Description

Rationale for Scripted Lesson Plans for Implementation of Education for Health and Wellbeing

Teachers face challenges in implementing comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) due to sensitive topics. UNESCO emphasizes the importance of Scripted Lesson Plans (SLPs) to aid teachers in delivering structured lessons without extensive preparation. SLPs provide teachers with necessary guidance, making it easier to address uncomfortable subjects confidently while ensuring age-appropriate, accurate, and culturally relevant content. A consultant will help strengthen MIE's capacity to develop and assure the quality of these SLPs for Grades 4, 5, and 6, including a validation process for feedback from teachers and stakeholders.

Health and Wellbeing Topics for Grades 4, 5 & 6

Health and Wellbeing syllabi for Grades 4, 5 & 6, are centred around the same topics and sub-topics but differentiated on specific competencies at each grade level. Development of SLPs will include consensus with MIE and the materials development task team on the number of SLPs to be developed for each topic in Grade 4.

Main Objective

The main objective for this consultancy is to strengthen MIE’s capacity to develop and quality-assure SLPs which are technically sound, age-appropriate, inclusive and practical to support the Health and Wellbeing curriculum in Malawi.

Specific Objectives

The specific objectives for the consultancy are to:

1. Work with MIE to develop draft technically sound, age-appropriate, inclusive and practical SLPs for Grade 4 Health and Wellbeing curriculum in Malawi.
2. Develop SLP Development Guidelines to strengthen MIE’s capacity to develop and quality-assure Health and Wellbeing SLPs for Grades 5 & 6.

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Scope of work

UNESCO seeks the services of a consultant to do the following:

1. Facilitate a meeting with the MIE materials development panel for primary schools to:
2. Present on the rationale for SLPs as instructional materials.
3. Strategize on the process to develop SLPs for Grade 4 which are technically sound, age-appropriate, inclusive and practical.
4. Strategize on the SLP development guidelines to support MIE to develop and quality-assure SLPs independently for Grades 5 and 6.
5. In collaboration with MIE, facilitate a writing workshop with the materials development panel to:
6. Draft the SLPs for Grade 4.
7. Receive input into the SLP development guidelines for MIE.

Long Description

1. In collaboration with MIE, facilitate a validation workshop with relevant stakeholders for the Grade 4 SLPs and the SLP development guidelines.
2. Finalise the Grade 4 SLPs and the SLP development guidelines for submission to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology for approval.
3. Review and revise the draft SLPs for Grade 4.
4. Develop the SLP development guidelines for MIE.
5. In collaboration with MIE, facilitate a second workshop with the materials development team to:
6. Work on the final version of SLPs for Grade 4.
7. Work on the final version of the SLP development guidelines.

CONTRACT DURATION

The consultancy will be implemented over a period of six months covering 40 days. The aim is for the consultancy to be conducted between November and April 2027

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DELIVERABLES

The deliverables for this consultancy are:

1. An inception report for the consultancy.
2. A report on the meeting with MIE materials development panel for consensus and strategy.
3. A report on the writing workshops with the materials development panel to develop the SLPs.
4. Draft SLPs for Grade 4 and SLP development guidelines ready for validation.
5. A report on the validation workshop for the Grade 4 SLPs and SLP development guidelines.
6. Final Grade 4 SLPs and SLP development guidelines to be submitted to MIE for approval of MoEST.

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COMPETENCIES - Core (C) & Managerial (M)

• Communication (C)
• Accountability (C)
• Innovation (C)
• Knowlegde sharing and continuous improvement (C)
• Planning and organizing (C)
• Results focus (C)
• Teamwork (C)

For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE

It is mandatory for the consultant to have the following:

1. Master’s degree in education or higher, specializing in Curriculum Design and Development, Sexuality Education, Public Health or related fields.
2. A minimum of 5 years’ experience in development of instructional materials for Life Skills, Health and Wellbeing Education
3. Demonstrated experience supporting governments in similar assignment(s).
4. Proven writing, communication and facilitation skills.
5. Demonstrated instructional materials writing skills.

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SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

LANGUAGES

APPLICATION PROCESS

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SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information, by the above deadline.

To apply, please visit the UNESCO Careers website. No modifications can be made to the application once submitted.

The process may include pre-recorded video interviews and/or written assessments, interviews with a Panel, as well as reference checks. In addition, candidates may be requested to provide additional information which may be pertinent to the position’s qualifications.

Please note that all candidates, whether selected or not, will be informed of the outcome of their application in due course.

Short-listed candidates may also be added to Talent Pools; subject to their consent (i.e. Data Privacy Statement).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of personnel 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.
• lndividuals 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.
• UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the hiring process.