Senior Consultant – Women in Learning Leadership Project

Hiring Organization / Company Name: UNESCO – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Location: Paris (Duty Station) | Remote
Application Deadline: 16 February 2026

About the Organization
UNESCO’s International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) is the United Nations’ specialized body supporting education policy, planning, and management. With more than five decades of experience, IIEP works with Member States and partners to reduce inequalities in education through rigorous research, data-driven analysis, and technical assistance. Gender equality is central to its mission, including leadership of the Gender at the Centre Initiative (GCI), which strengthens gender-responsive education systems worldwide.

Job Summary
UNESCO is seeking a Senior Consultant to support the Women in Learning Leadership (WiLL) project, a joint initiative led by IIEP-UNESCO in collaboration with the Gender at the Centre Initiative and UNICEF Innocenti. The assignment focuses on advancing evidence-based, gender-responsive school leadership in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The consultant will provide high-level technical leadership across global research, country-level studies, project management, quality assurance, and dissemination of research findings.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and contribute to global research on gender-responsive education, school leadership, and women’s participation in leadership roles
• Design, analyze, and validate quantitative and qualitative assessment tools and education datasets
• Draft analytical reports, policy briefs, blog articles, research protocols, and conceptual notes
• Provide technical guidance for country-level research in Benin, Madagascar, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire
• Oversee ethical and legal research protocols, sampling strategies, and data collection processes
• Supervise data collection, data quality control, anonymization, and cleaning
• Support coordination with Ministries of Education, international partners, and national stakeholders
• Contribute to policy dialogue, research design workshops, and capacity-strengthening activities
• Participate in fundraising efforts, proposal development, donor reporting, and monitoring processes
• Support publication, dissemination, and knowledge mobilization of research outputs at national, regional, and global levels
• Ensure methodological rigor, ethical standards, and quality assurance across all research activities

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or PhD) in education, economics, social sciences, gender studies, or related fields
• At least 10 years of professional experience in quantitative research and analytical report writing in education and gender
• Minimum of 2 years of international professional experience
• Proven experience working with Ministries of Education, international organizations, or development partners
• Demonstrated experience in sub-Saharan Africa

Skills and Competencies

• Advanced expertise in quantitative data analysis and use of statistical software
• Strong experience in research design, mixed-methods approaches, and analytical frameworks
• Excellent analytical writing skills with a strong publication record
• Ability to manage complex, multi-country research projects
• Strong coordination, planning, and stakeholder engagement skills
• Capacity to work under pressure, meet deadlines, and operate in challenging contexts
• Willingness to travel internationally as required

Benefits and Salary

• Senior-level consultancy contract (Level 3)
• Contract duration: 11 months, full-time commitment
• Home-based with covered international travel according to UN travel rules
• Remuneration based on a monthly consultancy rate proposed by the consultant

How to Apply
Eligible candidates must submit an online application through UNESCO Careers with an updated CV (maximum five pages). In addition, a technical and financial offer (maximum three pages) must be sent by email to: GCI.consultant@iiep.unesco.org. Applications that do not follow this process will not be considered.

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