National Consultant on the Implementation of the UNESCO Global Convention on the Recognition of Qual (Tashkent, Uzbekistan) contract

Type of contract : Consultant Contract

Level :  Level 3 – Senior

Hiring Unit : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station : Tashkent

Work location : On site

Duration of contract : 6 months

Hiring open to : External candidates

Application deadline (Midnight UTC−5 Time) : 08/05/2026

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

Uzbekistan ratified the UNESCO Global Convention on the recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education on 3 December 2025. Recognition of foreign educational qualifications in Uzbekistan is currently governed by the Law on Education and the Regulation approved by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 620 of 24 June 2025. At the reginal level, the Tokyo Convention provides the Asia-Pacific cooperation framework for qualifications recognition and is linked to the Asia-Pacific Network of National Information Centers, or APNNIC.

Implementation of the Global Convention requires more than a legal review. It requires a functioning national recognition system with clear mandates, transparent procedures, reliable information, institutional coordination, and a national information center of equivalent arrangements. For Uzbekistan, this means that legal provisions, institutional mandates, administrative practices, and coordination across ministries, agencies, and higher education institutions need to be assessed together.

The objective of this consultancy is to support UNESCO and national counterparts in Uzbekistan to produce an evidence-based, consultative, and actionable draft national roadmap for implementation of the UNESCO Global Convention, while also assessing national preparedness for ratification and implementation of the Tokyo Convention.

This assignment shall generate the following core results:

• a legal, regulatory, policy, procedural, and institutional gap analysis in relation to the UNESCO Global Convention, with a complementary assessment of national preparedness for ratification and implementation of the Tokyo Convention;
• a map Uzbekistan’s qualifications recognition ecosystem, including mandates, functions, capacities, workflows, coordination arrangements, overlaps, and gaps across relevant ministries, agencies, quality assurance bodies, higher education institutions, and TVET institutions where relevant.
• an option paper on establishment, designation, or strengthening of a National Information Center, including institutional model, functions, governance, and capacity requirements.
• a final draft national, inter-agency roadmap for validation by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, reflecting stakeholder inputs on strategic direction, priority actions, sequencing, institutional roles and responsibilities, indicative timeline, and resource implications, for subsequent submission by the responsible national authorities for governmental consideration under national procedures

1. Review key national and international documents, including UNESCO conventions and guidance, the Law on Education of Uzbekistan, related acts, administrative procedures, institutional regulations, and other documents on recognition, admission, credit transfer, quality assurance, accreditation, and verification of foreign qualifications, as well as relevant public information systems and websites. Based on this review, prepare a gap matrix identifying aligned, partially aligned, and missing provisions, implementation barriers, and areas needing follow-up action.
2. Map Uzbekistan’s recognition ecosystem and identify mandates, capacities, overlaps, bottlenecks, coordination gaps, and areas for improvement. This shall cover relevant ministries and agencies, higher education institutions, quality assurance and accreditation bodies, TVET institutions linked to higher education access, data providers, and the main service, appeals, and verification mechanisms.
3. Analyse how recognition procedures work in practice and identify gaps between the legal framework and administrative practice. The analysis shall cover recognition for access to higher education and further study, partial studies and credit transfer, qualifications from non-traditional or cross-border modes where relevant, cases with incomplete documentation, including refugees or persons in refugee-like situations where applicable, and procedures for decisions, refusal, partial recognition, and appeal or review.
4. Develop an options paper on establishing, designating, or strengthening a National Information Centre in Uzbekistan. The paper shall examine institutional models, legal basis, governance arrangements, core functions, staffing needs, data needs, links with quality assurance information, regional and global linkages, and the main advantages, risks, and resource implications of each option.
5. Develop consultation tools, conduct interviews and meetings with key stakeholders, document feedback, and reflect relevant inputs in the draft roadmap and related deliverables. Stakeholders shall include relevant ministries and agencies, higher education institutions, TVET institutions, legal and policy experts, and, where relevant, actors involved in student mobility and international cooperation.
6. Based on the diagnostic work and consultations, prepare a draft national, inter-agency roadmap for implementation of the Global Convention and preparedness for the Tokyo Convention. The roadmap shall set out the policy context, main findings, strategic objectives, priority actions, institutional responsibilities, required legal and regulatory measures, the proposed NIC pathway, coordination arrangements, resource needs, monitoring arrangements, risks, and next steps for governmental consideration.
7. Prepare and support one national validation workshop or equivalent consultation mechanism, then revise all outputs and submit a final package reflecting comments received from UNESCO and national stakeholders.

Estimated start date of the assignment is on 1 June 2025. Duration is for six months.

• Deliverable 1. Diagnostic and Gap Analysis Report, which shall include, at minimum, a legal and policy review of relevant national and international documents, an article-by-article gap analysis against the Global Convention with observations on national preparedness for the Tokyo Convention, a preliminary identification of legal, regulatory, procedural, and capacity gaps, and draft consultation tools and stakeholder interview questions. Due date: Within two months upon contract signature.
• Deliverable 2. Ecosystem Mapping and NIC Options Report, which shall include, at minimum, a mapping of Uzbekistan’s qualifications recognition ecosystem, an analysis of how recognition procedures operate in practice, identification of gaps between the legal framework and administrative practice, an options paper on the establishment, designation, or strengthening of a National Information Centre, and a short summary of stakeholder consultations undertaken. Due date: Within four months upon contract signature.
• Deliverable 3. Final inter-agency draft Roadmap ready for the submission to the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of Uzbekistan, for validation.  Final submission shall include, at minimum, a draft national, inter-agency roadmap for implementation of the Global Convention and preparedness for the Tokyo Convention, a validation workshop package including the agenda and presentation materials, a summary of stakeholder feedback and a comment matrix, and a final revised package containing the roadmap and all supporting analytical reports. Due date: Within six months upon contract signature.

• 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 university degree in law, public policy, higher education, education management, public administration, or related field. Ph.D. is desirable.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Minimum 7 years of relevant professional experience in higher education policy, legal or regulatory analysis, education governance, qualifications recognition, quality assurance, accreditation, or related areas. Proven experience in Uzbekistan’s legal and institutional context is required.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

Strong analytical, drafting, consultation, and coordination skills. Good knowledge of Uzbekistan’s higher education and recognition system. Ability to produce high-quality policy and analytical outputs and engage effectively with government and institutional stakeholders.

LANGUAGES

Excellent written and spoken Uzbek and English. Russian is an asset. 

Interested candidates should click on “Apply Now” and submit a completed Employment History Form, a cover letter, a detailed CV, and at least three relevant writing samples. Writing samples should demonstrate the candidate’s analytical and drafting experience in technical reports, policy documents, legal reviews, or similar publications relevant to the assignment.

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.