Job Description

Type of contract : Consultant Contract

Level : Level 2 - Middle

Hiring Unit : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station : Baghdad

Work location : On site

Duration of contract : 6 months

Hiring open to : External candidates

Application deadline (Midnight UTC+3 Time) : 19/11/2026

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

OVERVIEW

Within the framework of the ITALEEM programme, jointly implemented with UNICEF and funded by EU, UNESCO Office in Iraq will support the Ministry of Education (MOE) to strengthen and implement institutionalized In-Service Training (INSET) for General Education teachers to enhance professional skills and competencies. In recognition of the rapidly changing world, reskilling and upskilling are critical for teachers and school directors to remain relevant and effective, MOE aim to ensure that teachers and school directors have the opportunity of continuous professional development (CPD) through several models and approaches - a balanced approach. This will enable them to upgrade their expertise (knowledge, skills, attitudes, behaviour) and qualifications, and move along their preferred career path, as well as strengthening education quality to align with the SDG 4 targets.

Teachers at all levels and across all subject areas need relevant inputs into their CPD trajectory, on a regular basis. Thus, the in-service teacher training and other forms of CPD in Iraq must be adapted to the range of professional contributions that a teacher is called upon to make in the classroom, for instance:

• Pedagogical practices and skills, including classroom management, participatory and experiential learning, continuous/formative assessment of learning, psycho-social support/Social Emotional Learning, use of digital/ICT/EdTech as an integrated teaching/learning resource.
• Cross-cutting areas, such as climate change and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).
• Up-to-date subject knowledge for teachers whose focus is one or two subjects, mostly at intermediate and preparatory levels.

Long Description

ASSIGNMENTS

Under the overall authority of the Director of UNESCO Iraq Office and the Chief of Education Unit, overall supervision of the ITALEEM Project Officer and day-to-day guidance from the Associate Project Officer (ITALEEM Outcome 3 Lead), the consultant will perform the following duties in close consultation with the TCPD Technical Working group:

• Support the review and development of in-service teacher training packages on the four priority areas: Classroom Management, Climate Change Education, Social Emotional Learning (SEL), and ICT integration in teaching and learning.
• Liaise with relevant stakeholders, plan and manage consultative meetings as well as training package review workshops.
• Plan, organize and coordinate Training of Trainers (ToT) activities related to the in-service teacher training packages, in close collaboration with the Outcome lead, partners, project Assistant and the M&E Officer.
• Plan, organize and coordinate cascade training for teachers, in close collaboration with the Programme Assistant and the M&E Officer, and follow up on the implementation of the training activities.
• Support the preparation and development of Calls for Partnerships (CfPs) to engage Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) as implementing partners for the delivery of Training of Trainers (ToT) and cascade training on the developed in-service teacher training packages.
• Develop the technical Terms of Reference for the CfPs, including the scope of work, expected outputs, implementation arrangements, timelines and technical requirements, in close coordination with the ITALEEM Outcome 3 Lead and relevant stakeholders.
• Provide technical input to UNESCO's evaluation of proposals submitted by prospective implementing partners, including assessments of their technical capacity, proposed training methodologies, and implementation plans. The consultant's role shall be strictly advisory, without voting rights or decision-making authority in the selection process. The consultant shall sign a conflict-of-interest declaration prior to reviewing any proposals.
• Coordinate and follow up with selected implementing partners, the Ministry of Education and relevant stakeholders to ensure the effective planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of ToT and cascade training activities, in line with the approved training packages and project objectives
• Contribute and support the technical committee on TCPD and implementation of ongoing activities related to teacher education and training.
• Work in an integrated manner with ITALEEM team and liaise with the lead on the teacher’s component to collaborate on teacher-related issues within the programme.
• Contribute to the analysis of policies related to teachers, their education, and professional development.
• Prepare progress reports and follow up actions related to the assignment.
• Provide technical and administrative support for the publication process of the training packages according to UNESCO guidelines.

Contribute to the writing of reports, materials, and communication resources

Long Description

Long Description

CONTRACT DURATION

6 months

Long Description

DELIVERABLES

The consultant shall prepare a six-month workplan covering the review and rollout of INSET training packages, preparation of Calls for Partnerships (CfPs), and coordination and monitoring of Training of Trainers (ToT) and cascade training.

The assignment covers four INSET areas: Classroom Management, Climate Change Education, Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and ICT in teaching and learning. As the packages are at different stages, the consultant shall coordinate their review and rollout progressively, in close collaboration with the technical experts, Ministry of Education (MoE), UNESCO and relevant stakeholders.

Deliverables:

D1 – End of Month 1 – 10%

Inception report and six-month workplan, including the status of the four INSET packages, activities, timelines and milestones for their review and rollout, CfP preparation, and ToT and cascade training.

D2 – End of Month 2 – 20%

Technical Terms of Reference for the CfPs to engage implementing partners for ToT and cascade training, including scope of work, outputs, implementation arrangements, timelines and technical requirements.

D3 – End of Month 3 – 15%

Package review coordination report documenting consultations and technical review workshops with the experts, MoE and stakeholders for packages available up to Month 3, with consolidated feedback, agreed recommendations and follow-up actions.

D4 – End of Month 4 – 20%

ToT planning and coordination package for packages ready for rollout, including training arrangements, schedules, coordination with MoE and stakeholders, monitoring requirements, and documentation of additional package reviews in Month 4.

D5 – End of Month 5 – 20%

ToT and cascade training coordination and monitoring package, including implementation arrangements, coordination with MoE and implementing partners, monitoring tools, documentation of trainings held, and feedback and follow-up actions from additional package reviews in Month 5.

D6 – End of Month 6 – 15%

Final technical report covering package review coordination, CfP preparation, ToT and cascade training implementation and monitoring, completed outputs, achievements, outstanding activities, lessons learned and recommendations.

Acceptance of deliverables:

All deliverables shall be submitted in English to the ITALEEM Project Officer. UNESCO will review each deliverable within 10 working days and either accept it in writing or send comments. The consultant shall address comments within 5 working days. Payment will be released only after written acceptance by UNESCO.

Long Description

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

Master’s degree or equivalent in Education, Pedagogy, Sociology, Anthropology, Economics, Social Sciences, Public Policy, or another related field.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• At least 5 years of experience in education programme/project coordination, including planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting
• Experience or knowledge about the situation of teaching personnel in Iraq.
• At least 3 years of experience in teacher training, in-service teacher training (INSET), teacher professional development or Training of Trainers (ToT).
• Experience working with or coordinating implementing partners (NGOs/CSOs) and government counterparts in the education sector.

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience working with the Ministry of Education in Iraq, UN agencies or international organizations.
• Experience in EU-funded or donor-funded education projects.
• Experience in the review or development of teacher training materials.

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SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Strong skills in teamwork and interpersonal relationships.
• Excellent skills in clear and effective communication (written and oral).
• Strong facilitation and presentation skills for various stakeholders.
• Strong organization and planning skills.

LANGUAGES

• Excellent knowledge of English & Arabic Languages (written and spoken) is required

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should click on “Apply Now”, then download and complete the Employment History form (Word file). At the end of the Employment History Form Word file, insert extra pages with the following required information below (1 and 2) in English:

• Upon completing the Word file with all the requested information above, upload the file at the “My Employment History Form / My Documents” section of the online application form. Only applications with the requested information will be considered.

1- A Technical Written proposal (2-3 Pages Maximum, excluding the CV, examples of work and references) consisting of:

• Comments on the Terms of Reference, if any (in brief);
• An up-to-date curriculum vitae (CV).
• A cover letter with a statement indicating how your qualifications and experience make you suitable for the assignment.
• A description of your proposed approach and methodology for undertaking the assignment.
• Examples of previous work related to in- service teachers’ capacity development
• A work plan with detailed milestones and key deliverables/activities as per the terms of reference.
• Contacts of THREE (03) professional references (name, title, organization, e-mail and telephone).

2- A Financial proposal in US dollars. Travel and subsistence costs are covered by UNESCO and should not be included. Please design the payment scheme against a clear and specific set of deliverables and milestones as reflected in the work plan.

The financial proposal shall indicate an overall lump sum fee in USD, linked to the deliverables and payment schedule specified in the ToR. Costs related to travel to governorates are covered by UNESCO and should not be included in the financial proposal.

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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.