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OVERVIEW
Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)
Duty Station: Lusaka
Job Family: Education
Type of contract : Affiliated personnel
Duration of contract : From 1 to 6 months
Recruitment open to : External candidates
Application Deadline (Midnight Duty Station Time) : 19/03/2026
UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism
OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST
(Open to National and International Consultants)
1. Background
The Ministry of Education (MoE), with technical and financial support from UNESCO, is committed to strengthening the effective delivery of Life Skills and Health Education (LSHE) in Zambia’s schools. LSHE equips learners with age-appropriate, accurate, and culturally relevant knowledge and skills that promote health, well-being, responsible decision-making, and positive values.
A central component of this strengthening process is the College Hub Model, which focuses on developing teacher capacity at both pre-service and in-service levels. For this model to be effective, teachers require standardized, high-quality training materials that align with Zambia’s national education curriculum.
Recognizing this need, UNESCO and MoE are commissioning the development of a Teacher Training Manual specifically designed for training educators in the delivery of LSHE. This manual will serve as a structured training tool for colleges of education and in-service training programmes.
In line with Zambia’s commitment to inclusive education, the manual will integrate disability inclusion, ensuring that teachers are adequately prepared to deliver LSHE to learners with diverse abilities, including sensory, intellectual, and physical disabilities.
In addition and aligned with Zambia’s ongoing review of scripted lesson plans as a mechanism to improve curriculum delivery and teacher confidence, this assignment will include a Phase II concept for developing scripted lesson plans for classroom use based on the newly developed manual.
2. Purpose of the Consultancy
The purpose of this consultancy is to develop a Teacher Training Manual specifically for use in training teachers (pre-service and in-service) under the College Hub Model. It is not an in-class textbook. Additionally, the consultant will outline the structure for a second-phase output, a set of scripted lesson plans for teachers to use directly in the classroom. This second deliverable will not be fully developed in this assignment but will be included as a recommended next step.
3. Objectives
The consultancy aims to:
• Review existing LSHE curriculum content and teacher support materials.
• Develop a standardized, age-appropriate, user-friendly Teacher Training Manual for LSHE aligned with national policy.
• Integrate disability-inclusive pedagogy and practical strategies for teaching learners with disabilities.
• Enhance teacher competence, methodology, and confidence in LSHE delivery.
• Provide a conceptual framework for developing scripted lesson plans as a subsequent consultancy.
Long Description
4. Scope of Work
The consultant will undertake the following tasks:
a) Desk Review
• Review LSHE syllabi, curriculum documents, teacher guides, and supplementary materials.
• Review disability-inclusive education frameworks and MoE policies.
• Review international frameworks such as UNESCO ITGSE, ESA Commitment, and Regional LSHE training modules.
• Review Zambia’s position on scripted lesson plans to inform recommendations for Phase II.
b) Manual Development
• Draft a comprehensive and modular Teacher Training Manual for LSHE, including: Clear learning objectives for teacher training.
• Training modules aligned with LSHE curriculum topics.
• Sample lesson demonstrations for training purposes (not classroom use).
• Effective pedagogical strategies, including interactive, participatory teaching.
• Guidance on addressing sensitive topics in culturally appropriate ways.
• Strong integration of disability inclusion, such as:
i. adaptations for learners with low vision, blindness, hearing impairments, intellectual disabilities
ii. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) strategies
iii. inclusive assessment tools
• A section outlining the recommended structure for scripted lesson plans for classroom use (Phase II).
c) Consultation with the Ministry of Education
• Present the inception report, draft manual, and proposed structure for scripted lesson plans to CDC and relevant MoE units.
• Gather and incorporate feedback.
d) Revision and Finalization
• Produce the final manual reflecting feedback.
• Prepare both print-ready and digital-ready versions.
5. Deliverables
The consultant will be expected to produce the following deliverables:
I. Inception Report
• Methodology
• Annotated outline of the training manual
• Workplan
• Proposed structure for Phase II (scripted lesson plans)
II. Annotated Draft Teacher Manual
• Full draft with disability-inclusive components
• Teacher training modules only (not classroom materials)
III. Facilitator’s Guide
• For college lecturers and trainers conducting LSHE teacher training.
IV. In Person Validation Workshop Report
• Host an in-person validation workshop (please ensure the associated costs are included in the financial proposal)
V. Final Teacher Manual, professionally edited, formatted, and ready for both print and digital distribution.
• Professionally edited, formatted, and accessible
• Includes disability inclusion strategies
• Print-ready and digital-ready versions
VI. User Orientation Guide, summarizing key features of the manual and how it can be effectively used by teachers and school leadership
Long Description
Duration and Timeframe
• The consultancy will cover a total of 60 working days spread across three (3) months
• A detailed work schedule, including milestones and deadlines, will be finalized during the inception phase.
Timeline
• Inception Report: Submission of a detailed methodology and workplan within one week after contract signing.
• Draft Training Manual: Development of a detailed training manual for both in-service and pre-service training, to be submitted within four weeks.
• Facilitator’s Guide: Preparation and submission of the facilitator’s guide within two weeks.
• Validation Workshop Report: Submission of the report within one day following the validation workshop.
• Finalized Training Manual and User Guide: Incorporation of all comments and finalization of the work within one week.
• Comprehensive Final Training Manual: Submission of the final training manual within one week, marking completion of the assignment.
Management and Supervision
The consultant will report to the Ministry of Education through the Curriculum Development Centre (CDC) under the Ministry of Education and UNESCO. Technical oversight and quality assurance will be provided by CDC and UNESCO. All outputs will be reviewed and jointly approved by CDC and UNESCO.
Payment and Contractual Arrangements
• The consultancy will be fully funded by UNESCO.
• Payments will be disbursed based on satisfactory delivery of agreed-upon outputs and milestones, as outlined in the consultant’s contract and approved by both UNESCO and the Ministry of Education.
Application Process
Interested candidates are requested to follow the steps below:
- Click on “Apply Now.”
- Upload your CV, Cover Letter including a lump-sum financial price offer. Before uploading your CV, please include additional pages/merge the Cover Letter and the Financial Offer into a single PDF document because the system will only allow to upload one single PDF file.
COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)
Professionalism (C)
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For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
The consultant must meet the following criteria:
• Advanced university degree in Education, Curriculum Development, Public Health, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in the development of education materials, particularly in the areas of Life Skills, Health Education, or sexuality education.
• Proven understanding of Zambia’s education system, national curriculum standards, and school-level pedagogical practices.
• Demonstrated familiarity with relevant international frameworks (e.g., ITGSE, ESA Commitment).
• Excellent skills in writing, editing, and instructional design.
• Ability to work independently, deliver high-quality outputs, and meet deadlines.
SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line 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 an 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.
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UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
Please note that UNESCO is a non-smoking Organization.
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