Type of contract: Consultant Contract. Level 2 - Middle. Hiring Unit: Education Sector (ED). Duty Station: Maldives. Work location: Remote. Duration of contract: 6 months. Hiring open to: External candidates.
OVERVIEW: CSESI was launched in early 2023 by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) in partnership with Save the Children, UNESCO's Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Section and UNESCO-IIEP. The initiative is implemented in 35 countries and seeks to mainstream climate change adaptation and environmental sustainability into education sector plans, policies and budgets, and to enhance education ministry capacity for cross-sectoral coordination on climate- and environment-related policy and programming.
OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this consultancy is to support the integration of climate change, environmental sustainability and DRR into teacher training programmes in the Maldives by: reviewing existing pre-service and in-service teacher training resources; identifying priority climate and environmental topics and learning outcomes aligned with national frameworks and UNESCO guidance; assessing teachers' and school leaders' readiness to teach climate/environment/DRR; and updating teacher training materials and developing supplementary teaching aids that promote learner-centred, inclusive and action-oriented pedagogies. The consultant will work closely with the Ministry of Education (MoE), the National Institute of Education (NIE), teacher training institutions and TRCs, supported by UNESCO and CSESI partners.
SCOPE OF WORK: Step 1 - Assessment and mapping of existing pre-service and in-service teacher training curricula, modules and materials (primary to secondary levels) to identify gaps, opportunities and priority topics drawn from the Greening Curriculum Guidance and aligned with the National Curriculum Framework. Step 2 - Teacher readiness assessment via an online survey measuring knowledge (climate science and pedagogy, with emphasis on local issues such as sea-level rise, coastal erosion and extreme weather), attitudes and confidence, and practice. Step 3 - Development and updating of teacher training materials and supplementary teaching aids (lesson exemplars, facilitation notes, formative assessment tools), prioritising transformative, action-oriented, place-based, inclusive and gender-responsive pedagogies. Step 4 - Consultation, validation and finalization, supporting UNESCO, MoE and NIE in organizing validation workshops and incorporating feedback, including recommendations for institutionalization through NIE and national teacher education systems.
DELIVERABLES: Assessment and Mapping Report on Teacher Training Resources; Teacher Readiness Assessment Report; Updated Teacher Training Materials and Supplementary Teaching Aids; Consultation and Validation Workshop Report.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: An advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in education, curriculum development, teacher education, pedagogy, Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), environmental education, or a related field; alternatively a Bachelor's degree with three years of relevant experience. A minimum of seven (7) years of progressive professional experience in the education sector, with demonstrated expertise in curriculum development, teacher training, teaching and learning materials (TLMs), pedagogy, and institutional capacity development. Strong knowledge of global standards and best practices in curriculum design, teacher education and TLM development, including integration of climate change, environmental sustainability and/or Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). Proven experience designing, reviewing and revising curricula and teacher training resources, ideally in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) or similar contexts. Demonstrated experience in climate change education, ESD and/or DRR integration in education systems. Demonstrated experience working in the Maldives, including familiarity with the MoE, NIE and teacher training systems. Experience conducting capacity assessments, including survey design, data collection and analysis. Experience facilitating stakeholder consultations with government counterparts, teacher training institutions and development partners. Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, with proficiency in Dhivehi required.
The consultant is responsible for arranging their own logistics (office space, administrative support, telecommunications, travel, printing), the costs of which must be included in the lump sum proposal. Technical assets produced will be the property of UNESCO. In line with UNESCO's gender mainstreaming strategy, the contractor is expected to integrate a gender perspective in all activities.
Closing date: 01/09/2026
Closing date: 2026-09-01
HOW TO APPLY:
Qualified candidates must complete an online application through the UNESCO careers portal and attach the following documents under the 'Employment History' attachment section: a Cover Letter (maximum one page) explaining how their qualifications and experience make them suitable for the assignment; an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) including educational qualifications, relevant professional experience, telephone number, email address, and contact details of two (2) professional references; a Technical Proposal (maximum five pages) outlining the applicant's understanding of the assignment, key challenges and proposed approaches, methodology, workplan, relevant experience, and samples of previous relevant work in the Maldives or a similar context; a Financial Proposal in US dollars, inclusive of consultancy fees, travel, all other miscellaneous costs, and mandatory taxes as per the laws of Maldives, indicating the overall lump-sum cost and a breakdown of monthly costs; and a list and samples of relevant work. All documents must be submitted in English. Application deadline (Midnight IST Time): 01/09/2026.
https://careers.unesco.org/talentcommunity/apply/1369823257/?locale=en_GB