Individual Consultant - Campus Africa Programme Implementation Support
UNESCO's Regional Office for Eastern Africa (ROEA), based in Nairobi, implements the Campus Africa Programme, a continental initiative aimed at transforming higher education across Africa to drive inclusive development, innovation, and regional integration. In Eastern Africa, the Programme focuses on four interconnected pillars: enhancing research capacity through networking and partnerships; improving relevance through links to employers and skills development; building robust quality assurance systems and fair recognition of qualifications; and strengthening institutional governance and leadership. Over the 2026-2027 biennium, UNESCO ROEA has prioritised activities spanning gender-responsive research in applied STEM, AI integration in higher education (including support to the East African Alliance for Digital Skills and AI Research and Innovation, AI for EAC), social entrepreneurship for student innovators, and recognition of qualifications under the Addis Ababa Convention.
UNESCO ROEA seeks a qualified Individual Consultant to support implementation of the 2026-2027 Campus Africa workplan in Eastern Africa across five discrete work areas:
(1) finalisation of the “Empowering Women in Applied STEM: Advancing Gender-Responsive Career Services in Agriculture, Renewable Energy and Technology” research project across selected Anglophone Eastern African countries (Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Seychelles, Somalia), in collaboration with UNESCO IESALC;
(2) publication and dissemination of the pilot phase of the same research (Ethiopia, Mauritius, Rwanda, United Republic of Tanzania), including proofreading, copy-editing, graphic design coordination and a regional dissemination webinar;
(3) technical and programmatic support to the Education Track of AI for EAC, including mapping AI-related needs and capacity gaps in higher education and developing concept notes and funding proposals;
(4) strengthening social entrepreneurship skills for student innovators in East Africa, including follow-up support to prototypes and expansion to new countries; and
(5) promoting awareness, regional dialogue and capacity building on recognition of qualifications and implementation of the Addis Ababa Convention, including the UNESCO Qualification Passport (UQP) and labour market intelligence training.
The Consultant will also provide programme coordination and management support: drafting proposals, concept notes, briefing papers and reports; supporting UNESCO ROEA participation in regional workshops and technical meetings; networking and developing partnerships with universities, regional bodies, development partners, governments and the private sector (at least three partnership arrangements, expressions of interest or draft MoUs); and supporting resource mobilisation.
The Consultant works under the authority of the Regional Representative and Director of UNESCO ROEA and under the direct supervision of the Education Unit Head and the Programme Specialist responsible for Campus Africa. Based in Nairobi, Kenya, on site, with possible missions within Kenya, to EAC Partner States and other Eastern African countries.
Contract type: Consultant Contract, Level 2 - Middle, Hiring Unit: Education Sector (ED).
Duration: 6 months. Deliverables include publication-ready consolidated reports on Empowering Women in Applied STEM (indicative deadline September 2026).
UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism.
deadline (Midnight UTC+3 Time) : 03/09/2026
HOW TO APPLY:
Apply online via the UNESCO careers portal using the 'Apply now' link. Application deadline (Midnight UTC+3 Time): 03/09/2026. Hiring open to external candidates.