New Opportunity: UNESCO Seeks Education Consultant  (Apply by April 24, 2025)

Are you an education planning expert with strong skills in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and a passion for supporting national reform efforts? Here’s an exciting opportunity to contribute to systemic transformation in Jordan’s education sector. UNESCO is inviting individual consultants to apply for a key role in developing a 10-Year School Rationalization Plan for the Ministry of Education (MoE) in Jordan.

📌 Position: Education Consultant (School Mapping Expert)
📍 Location: Amman, Jordan
🕒 Contract Type: Non-staff, Individual Consultancy
📆 Duration: 7 to 11 months
🌐 Deadline to Apply: 24 April 2025 (Midnight Amman time)

🧭 Why This Role Matters

Jordan’s Ministry of Education is taking a bold step to optimize its public school system in response to rapid demographic and spatial growth. This 10-Year School Rationalization Plan aims to:

• Alleviate overcrowding

• Repurpose underutilized schools

• Improve access in underserved areas

• Expand quality early childhood and vocational education

• Create a resilient, inclusive, and efficient education system

UNESCO is providing strategic technical assistance to ensure that this plan is data-driven, forward-looking, and responsive to Jordan’s national goals.

🎯 Objectives of the Consultancy

As an Education Consultant, you will support the MoE and UNESCO by leading the analysis, coordination, and finalization of the rationalization strategy using both baseline data and Geographic Information Systems (WebGIS)tools. This includes:

• Analyzing the current school landscape (overcrowding, double shifts, KG2 access, rental schools, etc.)

• Supporting regional-level planning through capacity-building and workshops

• Developing a financially sound, inclusive, and actionable 10-year strategy

🔍 Key Responsibilities

The assignment will involve three major workstreams:

1. Understanding and Executing the Rationalization Process

• Conduct a desk review of existing data, WebGIS tools, and baseline analysis

• Define clear, measurable rationalization targets at both central and local levels

• Facilitate initial workshops with the MoE School Mapping Unit

2. Supporting the Development of the 10-Year Plan

• Design a comprehensive methodology and data framework for the rationalization plan

• Collect and consolidate input from local Field Directorates, MoE departments, and communities

• Recommend strategies for school closures, consolidations, facility upgrades, and transport networks

• Collaborate on budget planning and financial forecasting

• Develop a robust Monitoring & Evaluation framework

3. Finalization and Stakeholder Engagement

• Facilitate a second stakeholder workshop to validate the plan

• Integrate feedback and submit the final, costed 10-Year School Rationalization Plan

📅 Timeline and Deliverables

This consultancy is well-structured, with clearly defined outputs and a suggested timeline (subject to adjustment):

✅ Who Should Apply?

This consultancy requires a seasoned professional with both technical skills in GIS and experience in educational planning or large-scale infrastructure reform.

🎓 Minimum Qualifications:

• Advanced degree (Master’s or equivalent) in GIS, Education Policy/Planning, Urban Planning, Public Administration, or similar

• At least 10 years of experience in educational reform or infrastructure planning

• Proficiency in both English and Arabic (spoken and written)

🛠 Required Skills:

• Expertise in data analysis and using planning tools like WebGIS

• Strong stakeholder engagement and workshop facilitation experience

• Competence in report writing, Microsoft Office tools, and baseline assessments

• Ability to set measurable targets and design actionable, costed plans

Desirable Skills and Added Advantage

• Proficiency in GIS software: ArcGIS, QGIS, or similar

• Experience with school mapping, spatial data analysis (e.g., buffer/network analysis)

• A track record of training stakeholders in GIS tools

• Prior experience working in Jordan or similar education system contexts

• Proven ability to translate technical findings into clear strategic documents

📝 How to Apply

Interested candidates must:

1. Click on “Apply Now” on the official UNESCO Careers Portal

2. Download and complete the UNESCO Employment History Form (Word document)

3. Attach additional pages at the end of the Word file with:

   • A technical proposal (max 3 pages) outlining your understanding of the assignment, proposed methodology, and approach

   • Your financial proposal, including daily or lump-sum rates and any other expected costs

   • A brief statement of interest and availability

📌 Note: Only individual consultants are eligible — not institutions or companies.

🔗 Why This Role Is Important for the Region

Jordan’s education system is undergoing critical transformation. The rationalization plan is expected to:

• Enhance learning environments

• Optimize the use of public resources

• Support inclusive education for all communities

• Guide policy decisions for years to come

By joining this project, you are not only contributing to data-informed policy-making, but also helping to build resilient education systems in the MENA region.

📣 Final Tips for Applicants

• Highlight past experience with school rationalization, GIS, or planning in Jordan or similar contexts

• Clearly outline your methodological approach in your technical proposal

• Ensure your financial proposal is realistic and transparent

• Make sure you meet the language requirements — both English and Arabic are essential

🔗 Direct Link to Apply

🟢 Apply on the UNESCO Career Portal

🕒 Deadline: 24 April 2025 (Midnight Amman Time)

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Disclaimer: This is a summary provided by Research Jobs Hub and is not affiliated with UNESCO. Always refer to the official UNESCO vacancy announcement for accurate application procedures and updates.