NATIONAL CONSULTANT (COORDINATION OF GENOCIDE EDUCATION INITIATIVES) (Phnom Penh, Cambodia) contract

Type of contract : Consultant Contract

Hiring Unit : Communication & Information Unit (CI)

Duty Station : Phnom Penh

Work location : Phnom Penh

Duration of contract : 11 months

Hiring open to : External candidates

Application deadline : Midnight – UTC+7 Time (Phnom Penh time): 05/05/2026

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

BACKGROUND

The International Programme on Holocaust and Genocide Education (IPHGE), jointly implemented by UNESCO and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM), has been advancing education on violent pasts, fostering critical thinking, and promoting sustainable peace across diverse national contexts since 2015.

In line with thethe 2023 Recommendation on Education, and the objectivesIPHGE), UNESCO is supporting the Cambodian   Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) and the Ministry of Culture, and Fine Arts in strengthening history education about the Democratic Kampuchea period and related crimes. During the 2021-2025 IPHGE cycle the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport successfully updated the history education textbooks for Grade 9 and 12 and started to expand teacher training in close cooperation with the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (TSGM) under the Ministry of Culture.

In July 2025, UNESCO recognized the historical sites of the former M-13 prison, the former S-21 prison (today: Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum), and Choeung Ek Genocidal Center as UNESCO World Heritage. Their inscription on the World Heritage List signifies international recognition of these sites as possessing Outstanding Universal Value as places of conscience, bearing witness to crimes against humanity. Beyond affirming their historical importance, the designation opens new pathways to strengthen Cambodia’s efforts in education, remembrance, and reconciliation. 

While Cycle I of IPHGE in Cambodia laid a strong foundation for integrating genocide education into the national curriculum, the momentum must be sustained in order to support Cambodia in its commitment to building a sustainable, peaceful and more inclusive society. In support of this, UNESCO, with the financial support of Canada, is launching Cycle II (2025-2027) of the “Strengthening Genocide Education in Cambodia: Advancing Curriculum Practice, Capacity Building, Promoting Peace and Reconciliation”.

Building on the foundations established during Cycle I, the new cycle of IPHGE aims to: 

1.    Enhance the integration of genocide education into curriculum practice by developing a standardized, contextually relevant teaching manual aligned with national policies and Global Citizenship Education (GCED) principles. 
2.    Strengthen institutional and educator capacity through teacher training workshops, equipping teachers and education officials with the skills and resources for effective classroom implementation. 
3.    Promote critical thinking, empathy, and historical understanding among students through a student-centered approach encouraging reflective learning and dialogue. 
4.    Reinforce Cambodia’s commitment to GCED and international education frameworks that support peace, human rights, and responsible civic engagement. 

In parallel to this initiative, and within the framework of the current IPHGE programme cycle, UNESCO seeks to further organize an international training for education policymakers on “Addressing violent pasts through education” with an explicit focus on teacher capacities and teacher training in September 2026 in Phom Penh, to strengthen capacities of policymakers globally to design and implement related policies and programmes, against the backdrop of the three recently inscribed World Heritage Sites of memory in Cambodia.

ASSIGNMENTS
Under the overall authority of the Head of the Phnom Penh office, under the direct supervision of the responsible Project Officer in Phnom Penh and in coordination with the Project Officer at UNESCO HQ, the contractor shall take the role of local project coordinator and undertake the following tasks, in close collaboration with the involved local Ministries:

1.    Support in the Development of the Teaching Manual

•    Coordinate the review, drafting, and validation of the teaching manual.
•    Facilitate national and international consultations and peer review processes with key stakeholders.
•    Support the design of pedagogical content aligned with national curriculum standards and Global Citizenship Education (GCED) principles.
•    Assist with finalization, production, publication, and dissemination of the manual.

2.    Support in Training of Trainers (TOT)
•    Coordinate the design and implementation of teacher training for trainers and history teachers across Cambodia.
•    Develop workshop agendas, guidance notes, and evaluation tools to ensure effective training delivery.
•    Support assessment of training outcomes and provide recommendations to enhance future activities.

3. Support the organization of the International Policy Training
•    Assist in planning and coordination of the international policy training on “Addressing Violent Pasts through Education” in Phnom Penh (September 2026).
•    Manage logistical and procurement requirements, including accommodation, catering, meeting venues, site visits, local transportation, and coordination with national and local stakeholders.
•    Contribute to documentation, reporting, and knowledge sharing related to the policy training.

4. Project Management and Coordination
•    Develop and maintain a detailed workplan and timeline for all IPHGE activities in Cambodia.
•    Monitor and report on project implementation, ensuring alignment with UNESCO standards and donor requirements.
•    Support communication, outreach, and visibility of the project through articles, social media, and other channels.
•    Contribute to the development of a sustainability strategy in collaboration with national authorities.

5. Exit and Sustainability Strategy
•    Draft an exit strategy in collaboration with relevant Ministries and partners, including recommendations for project sustainability.
•    Identify potential fundraising opportunities to support continued genocide education initiatives in Cambodia.

6. Project Proposal, Workplan, and Budget for Project Extension
•    Develop a project proposal, detailed workplan, and budget for a potential project extension based on the exit strategy and findings from project evaluations.
•    Ensure alignment with national priorities, UNESCO standards, and donor requirements.

CONTRACT DURATION
Duration: 11 months

DELIVERABLES
3.1. In line with the national project proposal, establish a work plan for project implementation in cooperation with local partners and include a detailed timeline of activities, strategy for outreach to local stakeholders, and where needed, a strategy for procurement of project support (8-10 pages; 320 words/page, by 30 May 2026);
3.2. Organize a first consultation workshop for key contributors to the teaching manual on Khmer Rouge history, aimed at identifying content structure, pedagogical approaches, curriculum alignment, and the integration of Global Citizenship Education (GCED) principles and submit the final workshop agenda, list of participants and summary of outcomes by 29 June 2026 (10-15 pages; 320 words/page);
3.3.1 Based on the initial consultation workshop, coordinate the development of a detailed concept of the teaching manual on Khmer Rouge history to be approved by relevant national authorities (by 30 July 2026; 10 pages; 320 words/page). The concept will serve as the basis for the first draft of the teaching manual.
3.3.2. Establish a procurement plan for the organization of the international policy training in Phom Penh and request offers for accommodation, catering and local transportation to be submitted by 30 July 2026 (8-10 pages; 320 words/page);
3.4.1 Organize a second consultation workshop for key contributors to the teaching manual on Khmer Rouge history, aimed at revising the first draft, and coordinate the peer review and validation process to finalize the content. Submit the final workshop agenda, participant list and summary outcome report of the consultation as well as the list of peer reviewers by 30 August 2026 (10-15 pages; 320 words/page);
3.4.2. Coordinate the establishment of relevant contracts in support of the international policy training, including the creation of vendor accounts with local contractors for accommodation, catering and local transportation by 30 August 2026 (10 pages; 320 words/page);
3.5.1. Coordinate the finalization of the teaching manual on Khmer Rouge history: this consists in  coordinating the integration of final comments, and overseeing document production (design and layout, including of visual aids for trainers). In coordination with relevant national authorities, establish a dissemination plan, including through formalized teacher training (by 30 September 2026; 10 pages; 320 words/page); 
3.5.2. Support final logistical organization of the international policy training and develop a logistical note for participants in the policy training, including relevant information on their arrival, stay and participation in the training (by 30 September; 5-8 pages; 320 words/page);

3.6.1. Based on the finalized manual and approved dissemination plan, develop with relevant national authorities an agenda for the training of teacher trainers and agree on a schedule of activities (by 30 October, 10 pages; 320 words/page);
3.6.2. Support the implementation of the policy training and summarize key takeaways in an outcome report (by 30 October, 8-10 pages; 3029);
3.7 Coordinate the organization of the training of teacher trainers in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and other relevant authorities and establish a workshop agenda and accompanying guidance note for the implementation of 4 localized teacher training workshops in pedagogical centers across Cambodia (by 30 November; 5 pages; 320 words/page);  
3.8 Coordinate the organization of local teacher training workshops at pedagogical centers and prepare an accompanying evaluation tool to capture immediate and more long-term impact of the training among participating teachers (by 30 December; 10-15 pages; 320 words/page); 
3.9 Continue to support the organization of local teacher training workshops and gather outcomes of the workshop evaluation in a summary report, provide feedback and suggested adaptations to the initial agendas of the training of teacher trainers and the teacher training workshops, if necessary and communicate the results to relevant national authorities (by 30 January 2026; 10-15 pages; 320 words/page);
3.10 Based on the summary report, draft an exit strategy in collaboration with the involved Ministries and identify fundraising opportunities (by 30 February 2027; 10 pages; 320 words/page);
3.11 Based on the exit strategy, and the needs identified in the evaluation phase, develop a project proposal, workplan, and budget for a project extension to further strengthen genocide education across Cambodia (by 26 March 2027; 10 pages; 320 words/page).
All deliverables should be prepared in English. The style should be simple and accessible to non-native English speakers. UNESCO’s Style Manual should be applied: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0014/L001418/141812e.pdf. 
As per article XI.6 of the present contract, the author should provide UNESCO with written evidence of permission for UNESCO to reproduce or otherwise use the materials in the work in whatsoever form or language it is published by using the Permission Consent Form attached to this contract.

COMPETENCIES – Core (C) & Managerial (M)
•    Communication (C)
•    Accountability (C)
•    Innovation (C)
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement (C)
•    Planning and Organizing (C)
For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION
•    Master’s Degree (University – level) in the relevant fields such as Education, Peace and Conflict Studies, Genocide and Holocaust Studies, Human Rights, International Relations, Research Methods in Social Sciences, and public policy or other relevant fields.
WORK EXPERIENCE
•    a minimum of 7 years of experience in peace education, genocide studies, curriculum development, historical education, and global citizenship education, or related fields.
•    A minimum of 3 years of experience in conducting educational assessments, evaluations, and implementing educational programs
•    A minimum of 7 years of experience in researching, documenting, and educating on Cambodian history, with a focus on the Khmer Rouge period
•    Strong analytical abilities to interpret data, identify trends, and provide well-structured reports with clear findings and recommendations.
•    Extensive experience in coordinating and communicating with relevant stakeholders in Peace Education in Cambodia, coupled with a strong understanding of education and pedagogy
•    Fluent in Khmer and English, including ability to draft texts in both languages 

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
•    Academic and/or professional experience working on the history of the Khmer Rouge regime or in history education, more broadly 
•    International work experience, either through working abroad or through working with international bodies in Cambodia 

APPLICATION
Interested candidates should click on “Apply Now”, then download and complete the Employment History form (Word file). At the end of the Word file, insert extra pages with the following documents:
•    A letter of expression of interest
•    An updated Curriculum Vitae (CV)
•    A technical and financial proposal, indicating a monthly rate and daily rate (in US$ and inclusive of income tax or any other tax applicable).

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.
•    The statutory retirement age at UNESCO is 65 years.
•    UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the hiring process.