Individual Consultant - Campus Africa Programme Implementation Support

The Individual Consultant will provide technical and programmatic support to UNESCO ROEA for the implementation of the 2026-2027 Campus Africa workplan in Eastern Africa. The role involves supporting research projects, publication, AI integration in higher education, social entrepreneurship skills development, and recognition of qualifications initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical and programmatic support for the implementation of the Campus Africa Programme 2026-2027 workplan in Eastern Africa.
• Support finalisation and publication of the "Empowering Women in Applied STEM" research project across selected Anglophone Eastern African countries.
• Provide technical and programmatic support to the Education Track of the East African Alliance for Digital Skills, AI Research and Innovation (AI for EAC).
• Support social entrepreneurship skills development for student innovators in Eastern Africa and explore programme expansion.
• Promote awareness, regional dialogue, and capacity building on recognition of qualifications and implementation of the Addis Ababa Convention.
• Draft proposals, concept notes, briefing papers, and reports to support programme implementation.
• Participate in regional workshops, forums, and technical meetings, including preparation and facilitation.
• Network and develop partnerships with universities, regional bodies, development partners, governments, and private sector stakeholders.
• Support resource mobilisation including identification of funding opportunities and development of funding proposals.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s level or equivalent) in Education, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Gender Studies, Public Policy, or a related field.
• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in higher education programme coordination, research management, policy analysis, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience in coordinating research projects, managing multi-country or multi-partner programmes, and producing policy-relevant knowledge products.
• Experience working on gender equality in higher education and/or STEM is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with the higher education landscape in Eastern Africa, including knowledge of relevant regional bodies (EAC, AU, IGAD) and policy frameworks (Addis Ababa Convention, EAC AI Strategy).
• Experience with AI integration in education or digital skills development is an asset.
• Prior experience working with UNESCO, other UN agencies, or international development organisations is an asset.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, including the ability to produce high-quality reports, briefs, and proposals for diverse audiences.
• Strong analytical and research skills, with the ability to synthesise complex information and generate evidence-based recommendations.

Skills

• Higher Education Programme Coordination
• Research Management
• Policy Analysis
• Gender Equality in Higher Education
• STEM Education
• Multi-country Programme Management
• Multi-partner Programme Coordination
• Policy-relevant Knowledge Production
• Higher Education Landscape Knowledge
• Regional Development Frameworks
• AI Integration
• Digital Skills
• Report Writing
• Brief Writing
• Proposal Writing
• Analytical Research
• Evidence-Based Recommendations
• Social Entrepreneurship Skills Development
• Qualifications Recognition
• UNESCO Procedures

Languages

English