Consultant – Tutor for the Course “Foundations of Disability-Inclusive Education Sector Planning” (Dakar, Senegal) contract

Type of contract : Consultant Contract

Level :  Level 2 – Middle

Hiring Unit : International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP)

Duty Station : Dakar

Work location : Remote

Duration of contract : 4 months

Hiring open to : External candidates

Application deadline (Midnight UTC±0 (UTC) Time) : 18/03/2026

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

BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE FOR THE CONSULTANCY

With more than 50 years of experience developing the capacity of member states, IIEP- UNESCO is the only specialized organization with the mandate to support education policy, planning and management in the UN system. 

For decades, IIEP-UNESCO has been working with UNESCO Member States to develop more inclusive systems, in particular by helping them to become more responsive to gender issues, crises and conflicts, and climate change. Through a Programme funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), IIEP-UNESCO in Africa is strengthening its commitment to supporting countries in making their education systems more inclusive for children and young people with disabilities.

Indeed, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and the IIEP-UNESCO in Africa have signed an agreement for the joint development of a programme on inclusive education for children and youth with disabilities in West Africa. This programme, entitled “Planning for inclusive education. Regional Programme in West Africa”, has the following development objective: ’Education systems in West Africa are inclusive, ensuring that girls, boys, young women and young men with disabilities have the same opportunities for access and learning as all other children and young people”. It is being implemented in eight (8) West African countries (Cabo Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, Sierra Leone) and consists of four components:

• Component 1: Capacity building
• Component 2: Community of Practice
• Component 3: Evidence generation
• Component 4: Technical support for analysis and planning.

Within the component 1, a course on “Foundations of  Disability-Inclusive Education Sector Planning” course is offered in three languages (English, French and Portuguese) through the platform My IIEP. The course targets policy planners, statisticians, officers from Ministries in charge of Education and TVET, and members of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and Civil Society Organizations, from the eight countries targeted within the programme. The first cohort of training took place between October 2025 and January 2026, the second cohort will start on March, 18 and will end on June, 28, 2026. A third cohort is planned for the last four months of 2026.  

The delivery of the Foundations of Disability-Inclusive Education Sector Planning course requires a dedicated tutor to ensure the smooth functioning of its technical, pedagogical, and organizational components. This role is essential to guarantee that live sessions, multilingual communications, participant monitoring, and disability-inclusive support mechanisms are consistently managed in line with IIEP-UNESCO ’s standards. The tutor will serve as the central point of coordination between participants and the course team, ensuring that announcements, assessments, and technical assistance are delivered on time and in three languages. By maintaining accurate records, supporting accessibility, and facilitating interaction across diverse groups, the tutor will uphold the institutional commitment to quality and inclusiveness in training delivery.

Indeed, the complexity of this international, multilingual, and disability-inclusive course requires specialized oversight, particularly to ensure that participants remain engaged, deadlines are respected, and equitable access is guaranteed for all learners, including those with disabilities. 

Under the authority of the Head of the IIEP-UNESCO in Africa office, under the project officer’s supervision, with the guidance of the two course co-coordinators, and in collaboration with the learning designer and the consultant in charge of supporting enrolment and participants with disabilities’ participation, the consultant will be in charge of the following tasks and responsibilities within the cohort 2 of the course  “Foundations of Disability-Inclusive Education Sector Planning”:

1)    Evaluation of participation within cohort 1
Elaborate a post-course evaluation report on participant engagement, accommodations provided, effectiveness of communications strategy and any other aspects covered in the IIEP-UNESCO end of course evaluation questionnaire. 

Deliverable: Course evaluation report for cohort 1, based on the structure and content of IIEP-UNESCOs final course evaluation surveys (deadline: end March 2026)

2)Technical assistance and support for cohort 2

2.1 Live sessions

• Timely upload of the announcements document on SharePoint for review, including detailed posting schedule, draft messages in three languages (EN, FR, PT) for all announcements including module launch and closing information with key information about activities to be completed and related submission deadlines, invitations and reminders to LIVE events, polls , thematic webinars, office hours and stakeholder roundtables, final course announcements, and any other communication based on suggestions from the course team;
• Make sure that the announcements document is updated weekly with all messages sent for stakeholders and participants;
• Ensure that terminology in Portuguese follows the African Portuguese vocabulary;
• Provide support to the technical cooperation team for the organization of Module 2 workshop webinar;
• Provide technical assistance for all live sessions, including answering doubts of participants in three languages (EN, FR, PT) and translating all questions and comments for the facilitator and co-host in a Google Doc file and if relevant, in the meeting chat;
• If needed, record sessions and share promptly with the learning designer for posting on the course platform;
• Provide Portuguese, English and French language assistance to participants, if needed;
• Co-facilitate 3 Portuguese office hour sessions;
• Provide Portuguese, English and French language and technical assistance for the two stakeholder roundtables at the end of the course.
• Prepare and facilitate by 10/04/2026 an interactive coaching session per language (EN, PT, FR) to introduce the learning platform to the course participants (45 mn per session)

Deliverable: Live event attendance record (for each LIVE event) in Excel 

2.2 Communication in three languages (EN, FR, PT) (Course tutor)

• Draft announcements in three languages (EN, FR, PT) with key reminders, upcoming deadlines, and live session reminders in 3 languages (EN, FR, PT) etc., and place them in the announcement log on the SharePoint for review and obtaining approval from the course co-coordinator(s) before sending weekly updates through the platform and other communications channels ;
• Administer the channels for announcements on Moodle and external messaging platforms;
• Monitor the email created ad hoc for the training, including responding to participant questions, delegating tasks to other members of the course team, providing technical support to group coordinators and classify already answered emails in the appropriate folder;
• Support instructors and course team by relaying discussion summaries, participant concerns or questions and ensuring responses are addressed;
• Assist in moderating discussion forums and encourage interaction across groups.

Deliverable:

• Detailed announcement schedule to be prepared in three languages (ENG/FR/PT) during the intro phase (former course schedule to be adapted as needed)
• Detailed messaging platform schedule in three languages (ENG/FR/PT) aligned with past announcements to be prepared during intro phase – short messages to alert participants of the announcements on the platform and LIVE events 

2.3 Participants Follow-up

• Manage all sections of the assessment grid based on the LMS and in line with the course blueprint and participant guide tracking and updating participant activity completion and grades of all compulsory and graded activities weekly;
• Highlight at-risk participants, sharing relevant and weekly updates with the course team on completion status with course coordinators, module facilitators, group coordinators and individual participants as required;
• Monitor, update and calculate final individual grades, triangulating information from the course platform with the course assessment grid and module instructors reflecting all graded and compulsory activities based on the course blueprint and participant guide;
• Verify, establish and share final list of participant grades with course team;
• Send regular reminders to participants who are falling behind, liaising both with course coordinator(s) and group coordinators;
• Ensure the follow-up is captured in the assessment grid.
• Support, organize and follow-up on the review and grading of participant work with instructors to ensure timely and correct completion of the task;  
• Ensure timely support of all participants to ensure access to the course platform and provide assistance as needed;
• With the approval of the course coordinators, and in close coordination with the consultant responsible for supporting participants with disabilities, develop a comprehensive support plan accompanied by concrete mechanisms to ensure that participants with disabilities receive the necessary assistance from the very beginning of the course and enjoy equitable access to all course activities.

Deliverables:

• Weekly status report of activity completion (regular updates on participation in course activities- to prepare and share on a Monday since participants tend to complete activities during the weekend) (ENG).
• Assessment grid (to follow individual participant progression throughout the course)- regular updates on a google sheet for access by all team members (ENG only)
• Final list of participant grades in excel.
• A comprehensive support plan for participants with disabilities, accompanied by concrete mechanisms of implementation

3)    Monitoring and evaluation

• Present weekly reports to the IIEP course team, including the assessment grid, compositions of participants, module completion status, poll results, live events participation;
• Draft post-course evaluation report on participant engagement, specific support and accommodations provided, effectiveness of communications strategy including external messaging tool and any other aspects covered in the IIEP-UNESCO course evaluation questionnaire;
• Administer a survey regarding the effectiveness of the use of the external messaging tool and include results in the post-course evaluation report. 

a)    Create and Maintain Master List

• Develop a shared Google Excel file with relevant filters, listing participants and observers from all eight countries. Ensure the course team has access via Google Drive.
• Align the initial version of the list with country files on SharePoint, ensuring all OPDs are included as part of the country teams.
• Monitor participant and observer status weekly and flag any inconsistencies to the course coordinators and the consultant in charge of updating Moodle registration status.  

b)    Regular Updates and Monitoring

• Maintain and update weekly the Master List based on participant status changes. Systematically add the date when the list was updated.  
• Ensure participants that are being moved to observer status are clearly labelled with the date of the move indicated on the master list.  
• Use the list to track course completion in alignment with the assessment grid and list with final grades.   

c)    Participant Status Management

• After sustained follow-up with those participants identified as displaying limited platform activity by the first week of Module 2, coordinate their move to “observer” status in coordination with the consultant in charge of supporting the enrolment process.
• Ensure close collaboration with the consultant in charge of supporting the enrolment process to keep the platform and Excel sheet aligned. 

d)    Reporting and Decision Support

Provide status updates during team meetings to inform team decisions on participant progression, status updates and discrepancies between the Master list and the platform.

NOTE: The Master List will be used to confirm name spellings for certificate issuance 

Deliverables:

• Survey/Poll result summaries (of the polls shared at the end of each module) (ENG/FR/PT) following the example shared by the course coordinators
• Course evaluation report based on the structure and content of IIEP-UNESCOs final course evaluation surveys 

At the beginning of the contract, and then at the beginning of all the following months, the consultant will share a monthly work plan indicating clearly the deliverables expected during the following month. Every work plan has to be to be validated by the program coordinator.

At the end of each month, before submitting the invoice, the consultant will share a monthly report, with a link to each deliverable. The monthly report has to be validated by the project officer. The deliverables mentioned in the monthly report must be those identified in the ToR. The payment will be based on the number and quality of deliverables provided.

The consultancy is scheduled to start on 23rd March 2026 and to end on 10th July 2026. An average engagement of 3 days per week is expected during that period.

It is expected that the consultancy will be carried out remotely. 

Payment is conditional on the satisfactory completion of deliverables in a timely manner, according to the anticipated completion dates indicated above unless otherwise agreed with the project leader.

• 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.

EDUCATION

Advanced degree in Education, Social Sciences, International Development, or related field. Specialization in inclusive education is an asset.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 4 years of professional experience in online learning, or capacity development projects.
• Proven track record in managing multilingual communication and participant support in international training programs, including with participants from low- and middle-income countriesProven experience designing, facilitating, or supporting online and blended learning programs.
• Experience working with international organizations (UN agencies, NGOs, or similar).

COMMUNICATION & LANGUAGES

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, French, and Portuguese (mandatory).
• Ability to draft clear, concise, and engaging announcements/messages in three languages (EN, FR, PT).
• Experience moderating online forums and facilitating participant interaction.
• Strong interpersonal skills for liaising with diverse stakeholders (course team, facilitators, interpreters, participants).

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Cultural sensitivity and ability to work with diverse teams across multiple countries.
• Attention to detail and commitment to quality deliverables.

Technical & Organizational

• Strong project coordination and organizational skills.
• Proficiency with LMS platforms (e.g., Moodle) and collaboration tools (Google Drive, SharePoint).
• Ability to manage assessment grids, participant tracking, and grading systems.
• Skilled in preparing structured reports, schedules, and evaluation documents.
• Competence in monitoring and evaluation frameworks.

Technical Support

• Experience providing technical assistance during live online sessions (webinars, office hours, roundtables).
• Familiarity with online conferencing tools (Zoom, Teams, etc.).
• Ability to troubleshoot participant issues quickly and effectively.

Personal Attributes

• Proactive, flexible, and collaborative.
• Strong commitment to inclusion and equity.
• Excellent time management and multitasking ability.

Desirable experience and skills

• Prior involvement in disability-inclusive education projects or sector planning at national or international level.
• Experience supporting participants with disabilities, ensuring equitable access to online learning.
• Work experience with IIEP-UNESCO
• Familiarity with UNESCO frameworks, IIEP methodologies
• Experience conducting post-course evaluations, surveys, and reporting on participant engagement.

The consultancy is scheduled to start on 23rd March 2026 and to end on 10th July 2026. An average engagement of 3 days per week is expected during that period.

It is expected that the consultancy will be carried out remotely. 

Payment is conditional on the satisfactory completion of deliverables in a timely manner, according to the anticipated completion dates indicated above unless otherwise agreed with the project leader.

The deadline for submitting applications is 18/03/2026.  Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. The consultant may be selected before the date indicated above.

In addition to the mandatory information and documents to be provided on the UNESCO recruitment platform, interested candidates must submit and upload the following documents in the recruitment platform: 

1.    An up-to-date curriculum vitae (3 pages maximum), highlighting relevant experiences, the dates when they were carried out (month and year of beginning and end) and their duration (in months).
2.    A technical offer (3 pages maximum), outlining the understanding of the assignment, appreciation of the project, its scope and the challenges for its implementation, highlighting the relevant experience linked to the ToRs, 
3.    A financial offer, presenting a proposed remuneration for the work (total fees for the expected tasks within the timeline of the consultancy– no other costs will be eligible). 

NOTA BENE: Only applications that include all the requested documents will be considered.

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).

• 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.