OVERVIEW

OVERVIEW OF THE WORK ASSIGNMENT

1.    Introduction

The work of the Section of Education Policy (EDP), Education Sector aims to promote a comprehensive and holistic understanding of education systems, their challenges and enablers for system alignment and transformation. EDP propels education transformation from a system wide and lifelong learning perspective. We support countries to strengthen the resilience, quality and equity of education systems to respond to the evolving purpose of education and learning environments. 

EDP works with a wide range of partners and stakeholders to both offer and leverage the  expertise, data, evidence and resources to address learning challenges. Our contribution is in the form of country support, policy tools and guidelines and knowledge generation. Our audience and direct beneficiaries include policy makers, planners, school leaders, administrators, educators, community leaders and change makers.     

2.    Objectives

The consultant will provide his/her expertise to support communication, outreach and networking of the section’s programme activities and initiatives, focusing in particular on the Learning Assessment programme, the project “An Operational Framework for All-Day Lower Secondary Schools in Cyprus” funded by the EU and the Global Learning House initiative. 

The work will involve close collaboration with the EDP team members, the Global Education Coalition members and the Knowledge Management Services. S/He will work under the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist/Team Lead of the Learning Assessment programme. 

Long Description

3.    Tasks

The Consultant will:

Student learning and learning outcomes related activities  
• Contribute to the design, production and dissemination of often complex knowledge products that are strategic and consistently on message based on the analysis of learning assessment data (e.g. project stories, media packages, brochures, Q&As, PowerPoint presentations, web features, briefing notes, etc.);   
• Make better utilization of digital communication platforms including social media and news media channels to promote results of UNESCO’s work and support policy discussion on relevant topics (e.g. producing multimedia pieces, blog posts, web stories, social media posts);
• Carry out standard editorial tasks in the English versions of draft reports, working papers and other related communication materials, ensuring that the text is in line with the UNESCO style guides, notably with the use of country names;
• Maintain and share the information and knowledge through the relevant Communities of Practice, including through the organization of sessions at events.

An Operational Framework for All-Day Lower Secondary Schools in Cyprus
• Provide editing and proofreading support including checking the references and data sources   where relevant for the project deliverables;
• Provide quality control in the production of project outputs as per the donor’s requirements on communication and visibility.  
 
Global Learning House
• Curate and update the contents of the Global Learning House’s website and related webpages;
• Assist in the promotion and where relevant management of the interactions through social media channels related to the partnerships’ activities;
• Support the development and implementation of the dissemination and outreach strategy, including preparation of materials and organization of events to publicize the work of the Global Learning House;
• Help to develop, execute, and monitor the impact of routine- to medium-profile communications strategies and campaigns.
• Perform any other tasks as deemed necessary by the Section.

The Consultant’s tasks consist of developing and implementing communication strategies; editing and rewriting parts/sections of knowledge and data products; curating, updating and promoting digital content; and outreach and networking. The number and frequency of the knowledge and data products, communication materials and events are estimated below based on the 2024/2025 workplan. These are provided as an indication of the workload to enable applicants to provide an accurate monthly cost proposal over a 11-month period.

Student learning and learning outcomes related activities: 
•    1 policy forum in October and 1 expert meeting in December 2024
•    2 policy papers: 20 pages each 
•    2 blogs: 2-3 pages each
•    2 data dashboards
 
An Operational Framework for All-Day Lower Secondary Schools in Cyprus
•    3 working papers: 20 pages each
•    1 operational plan: 50 pages
•    4 PPTs: 20 slides each
•    3 project reports: 30 pages each

Global Learning House
•    News update: 1 page, at least once a month
•    1 partner meeting in March 2024
•    1 video 
•    Joint meetings/events with partners: every two months
•    Posts on social media channels: every week

Long Description

4.    Deliverables

a)    Draft communication strategy for different projects and activities, drafting of working papers (up to 30 pages)
b)    Communication plan for different projects and activities, drafting of working papers, knowledge and data products (up to 30 pages)
c)    Drafting of working papers, communication products (up to 50 pages)
d)    Written inputs for working papers, project reports (up to 50 pages)
e)    Progress report, communication products (e.g. edited messages, infographics, brochures, video, etc.)
f)    Drafting of working papers, knowledge and data products (up to 30 pages)
g)    Communication products (e.g. edited messages, infographics, brochures, video, etc.)
h)    Written inputs for working papers, knowledge and data products (up to 30 pages)
i)    Drafting of working papers, knowledge and data products (up to 30 pages)
j)    Written inputs for working papers, knowledge and data products (up to 30 pages)
k)    Progress report, communication products 
 

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education
• Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in communication, journalism, marketing, public policy and/or other relevant fields

Work experience
• A minimum of 4 years of progressively responsible and relevant professional experience in the field of development communication or multi-media, with at least one year in an international environment;
• Proven experience of developing and implementing effective communications and outreach strategies.

Skills and competencies 
• Proven analytical and drafting skills with the ability to develop, summarize and edit information on complex issues to build the story line from contributed inputs;
• Proven ability to collect, consolidate, synthesize and analyze information from various sources;
• Good knowledge of education issues and of UNESCO’s work and mandate;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English; proven ability to communicate effectively and persuasively with various audiences at all levels within and outside the organization;
• Ability to manage heavy workloads and to prioritize and juggle multiple, ambiguous tasks within tight deadlines while paying close attention to detail;
• Excellent organization and planning skills, including the ability to organize own work priorities and deadlines;
• Excellent IT skills including those for video editing, social media and digital marketing 

Languages
• Excellent knowledge (written and oral) of English
 

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Education
• Post-graduate degree in the field of digital communication, and/or education policy

Work experience
• Experience in strategic communication or producing high level policy messages for the public    

Skills and competencies 
• Previous experience in organizing policy and communication events. 
• Autonomous, hands-on, and creative

Languages
• Fluency in writing and communicating in Greek 
• Working knowledge of French or another UN language (Arabic, Chinese, or Russian)
 

Long Description

APPLICATIONS

UNESCO is inviting written proposals from Individuals for the work assignment described below.

Your written proposal should comprise:

A Technical Proposal consisting of:
•    an updated curriculum vitae
•    an approach and methodology for the assignment (1‐2 pages)
•    Please also explain how your profile and experience meet our mandatory requirements.
•    Examples of current or past edited publications, digital content, and communications products   

The amount to be charged for the assignment, which should be quoted in US dollars or Euros only for the period: 1st March 2024 – 31 December 2024 as a monthly fee.

Please submit your supporting documents in English.

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 relation to the criteria set forth in the Terms of Reference, UNESCO shall select the proposal that offers the Organization best value for money.

Your proposal should be submitted in one single PDF file by e‐mail no later than close of business (18:00 Paris Time) on 23 February 2024. E‐mail proposals should not exceed 5MB.

The e‐mail should be addressed to Huong Le (h.le-thu@unesco.org) and educationpolicy@unesco.org  

It is the individual’s responsibility to ensure that his/her proposal is received by the deadline.
 

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS