About the opportunity
The UNESCO Education Sector (ED) is seeking a consultant to support the development of tools for tracking learner trajectories and educational exclusion. The consultant will review existing data systems, including OOSCI frameworks, and examine how these tools apply across early childhood, basic, secondary, TVET, and higher education. Key tasks include conducting a literature review, preparing six country case studies on national data system capacities, and developing an EMIS-PATT module for monitoring enrollment, attendance, and dropout risks. The consultancy is home-based and expected to last approximately 3 months, with a total of 60 working days, from November 2026 to January 2027.
Salary and benefits
- Professional consultancy contract with UNESCO
- Opportunity to contribute to global education policy and data system development
- Engagement with international experts in education planning and statistics
Who can apply?
- Advanced university degree in education planning, information systems, statistics, public policy, or a related field
- At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in EMIS development or education data systems
- In-depth knowledge of the UNICEF and UNESCO OOSCI framework
- Proven expertise in quantitative and qualitative research, including literature reviews and comparative case studies
- Experience in developing analytical tools and guidelines for national education systems
- Excellent drafting and communication skills in English
Required documents
- Short proposal (maximum 5 pages) detailing the approach to the literature review, case studies, and module development
- Financial proposal (1 page) detailing the number of working days per activity and the daily rate
- Short CV focusing on relevant experience, consultancy assignments, and expertise
When to apply
- Application deadline: 17/11/2026 at 23:59 CET
How to apply
- Prepare a consolidated PDF document containing the proposal, financial proposal, and CV (maximum 8 pages total)
- Submit the application via the UNESCO Careers website before the deadline
Additional information
- The work is home-based
- The consultancy duration is approximately 3 months (60 working days)
- Knowledge of French or Spanish is considered an asset
- UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against harassment
- UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the hiring process
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Professionals with a background in EMIS development or education data systems who have direct experience with the OOSCI framework.
- Researchers with a track record of producing comparative country case studies and analytical policy tools for international organizations.
- Experts comfortable working independently in a remote environment while coordinating with multiple internal UNESCO teams.
What should you think carefully about?
- The application requires a highly specific proposal and financial plan; ensure your submission is consolidated into a single PDF and strictly adheres to the 8-page limit.
- The role is a short-term, 3-month consultancy contract, which may not be suitable for those seeking long-term employment stability.
- The timeline is intensive, requiring the delivery of multiple complex outputs within a 60-working-day window.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This consultancy is an excellent opportunity for an education policy expert to influence global data standards and contribute to the development of practical tools used by ministries of education. It provides high-level exposure to UNESCO's Education Sector and allows the consultant to build a portfolio of work that bridges the gap between academic research and institutional policy implementation.
Our take
This position is ideal for experienced education data specialists who can hit the ground running with minimal supervision. It is less suitable for those without specific, documented experience in EMIS or the OOSCI framework, as the technical requirements for the literature review and module development are significant.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
Official-source verified
