International Consultant for Education Planning, Research, Monitoring and Data

The consultant will provide technical support to UNESCO Kabul Office's education sector development activities including sector planning, research, monitoring, data management, capacity development, and technical support to education programmes. The role involves supporting the implementation of the GPE System Capacity Grant and related education sector planning and monitoring processes in Afghanistan.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical review to GPE SCG activities and related UNESCO education programme priorities, including review of progress against agreed workplans, outputs and milestones.
• Support implementation, monitoring, review and operationalization of the AESSP and related education sector planning processes.
• Contribute to education sector analysis, scenario-based planning, programme prioritization and development of operational and implementation frameworks.
• Support analysis of AESSP implementation progress, emerging sector needs, operational constraints and programme coverage and translate findings into recommendations for programming and decision-making.
• Lead the development of gender preparedness and recovery plan, including relevant analytical frameworks, strategic priorities, operational considerations and linkages with broader education sector planning processes.
• Review technical inputs, briefing notes, presentations, planning documents and analytical materials for programme and sector-level consultations.
• Lead the design, implementation and finalization of the 2026 Education Situation Report and related sector analysis.
• Lead the analytical work on the impact and costs of restrictions on girls’ secondary and higher education, including analysis of the economic, social and fiscal consequences of continued restrictions and associated female professional and skills gaps across key sectors.
• Review research concepts, research questions, methodologies, analytical frameworks, Terms of Reference and data-collection instruments.
• Provide technical review and quality assurance of research products, including inception reports, methodologies, analytical outputs, draft reports and final studies.
• Support consultations with researchers, technical experts, education partners and other relevant stakeholders.
• Provide technical support and review for monitoring, evaluation and learning arrangements under the GPE SCG, AESSP and other relevant UNESCO education activities.
• Review and quality assure monitoring methodologies, questionnaires, reporting templates, observation tools, key informant interview instruments and focus group discussion tools.
• Provide technical guidance for joint monitoring field visits and other field-based evidence-generation activities, including review of mission methodologies, data-collection tools, analysis approaches and reporting products.
• Review triangulated partner-reported information, field findings and other data sources to strengthen the reliability of programme and sector analysis.
• Support documentation and dissemination of monitoring findings and lessons learned.
• Provide technical guidance on systematic collection, consolidation, validation and analysis of education programme and sector data.
• Provide guidance on periodic data collection from implementing partners and other relevant education stakeholders.
• Provide technical review and quality assurance support to the development and refinement of the integrated education sector dashboard, including review of indicator frameworks, data structures, source documentation, visualization approaches and alignment with sector monitoring and planning needs.
• Lead the beta testing and roll-out the integrated education dashboards in close consultation with ESJP members.
• Review and provide technical inputs to education dashboards and other analytical and data-visualization products.
• Provide support on effective use of available evidence in education planning, programme development, monitoring and reporting.
• Provide technical support to GPE SCG periodic reporting and project closure processes, with particular emphasis on review of the monthly reports and quality assurance of the final narrative report.
• Consolidate information on implementation progress, achievements, indicators, challenges, mitigation measures and lessons learned.
• Support preparation of technical closure and handover documentation to preserve relevant institutional knowledge and facilitate continued use of programme evidence and tools.
• Develop a brief concept note for the future of the upcoming GPE SCG project cycle.
• Review and finalize capacity-development plan based on identified needs and AESSP and localization priorities.
• Technical inputs on delivery of capacity training workshops, Training-of-Trainers, technical sessions and other capacity-development activities.
• Participate in relevant technical meetings, consultations and working groups, as requested by the supervisor.
• Coordinate technical inputs with relevant UNESCO colleagues, consultants and education partners for assigned workstreams.
• Prepare technical documentation, meeting materials, presentations and follow-up notes.
• Track implementation of assigned technical activities and flag delays, risks, dependencies and issues requiring management attention.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in education, international development, public policy, economics, social sciences, development studies, monitoring and evaluation, statistics or another field relevant to the assignment.
• At least five years of progressively responsible professional experience in education sector planning, programme implementation, research, monitoring and evaluation, education data, capacity development or closely related areas.
• Demonstrated experience supporting education sector planning, sector analysis, programme planning or implementation of education system-strengthening programmes.
• Experience in the design or implementation of monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks, results frameworks, indicators and data-collection systems.
• Demonstrated experience conducting or managing quantitative and qualitative research and translating findings into policy- or programme-relevant analysis.
• Experience in education data collection, quality assurance, analysis, reporting and visualization.
• Experience preparing high-quality technical reports, analytical briefs, programme reports and presentations.
• Experience designing or supporting capacity-development activities, including development of training plans, technical materials and learning tools.
• Previous professional experience in Afghanistan education sector.
• Experience working with multi-stakeholder education programmes involving UN agencies, development partners, NGOs and/or other education sector actors.
• Experience working in fragile, conflict-affected or emergency contexts.
• Experience with GPE-funded programmes or comparable donor-funded education system-strengthening programmes.
• Experience supporting education sector plans, sector analyses, operational plans and/or sector monitoring frameworks.
• Experience working with education coordination mechanisms and multi-partner sector processes in Afghanistan.
• Experience in mixed-methods research, field monitoring and stakeholder consultations.
• Knowledge of the education context, institutional arrangements and operational environment in Afghanistan would be a strong asset.
• Strong knowledge of education sector planning, programming and results-based management.
• Strong analytical and research skills, including ability to synthesize quantitative and qualitative evidence.
• Strong monitoring, evaluation and learning competencies.
• Strong education data management, quality assurance, analysis and visualization skills.
• Ability to translate complex evidence into clear and actionable programme and policy recommendations.
• Strong technical writing and reporting skills.
• Ability to design practical monitoring, research and data-collection methodologies and tools.
• Ability to develop structured and context-responsive capacity-development approaches and materials.
• Strong planning, organization and prioritization skills and ability to manage multiple technical workstreams.
• Ability to work independently and deliver high-quality outputs within agreed deadlines.
• Strong communication, teamwork and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to work effectively in multicultural and multi-stakeholder environments.
• Sound judgement, discretion and sensitivity in handling programme and sector information.
• Excellent written and spoken English.

Skills

• Education Sector Planning
• Programme Implementation
• Research Design
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Education Data Management
• Capacity Development
• Quantitative Research
• Qualitative Research
• Data Quality Assurance
• Data Analysis
• Data Visualization
• Technical Report Preparation
• Policy Analysis
• Result-Based Management
• Monitoring Framework Design
• Learning Framework Design
• Training Material Development
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Multi-Partner Coordination
• Field Monitoring

Languages

English