National Consultant - Integration of Climate Change into Learning Assessments, Balochistan & KPK
Organizational Context
The National Consultant will provide technical leadership to support the School Education Department (SED) of Balochistan and Elementary and Secondary Education Department (E&SED), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) in integrating climate change, environmental sustainability, and disaster risk reduction (DRR) into provincial learning assessment frameworks. This involves technical reviews, mapping, identifying priority competencies, developing recommendations, and facilitating stakeholder consultations. The assignment is coordinated with UNESCO, Education Departments, and the international expert team supporting CSESI, with the consultant reporting directly to UNESCO.
Job Purpose
The National Consultant will provide technical leadership and expertise to support the School Education Department (SED) of Balochistan and Elementary and Secondary Education Department (E&SED), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) in strengthening the integration of climate change, environmental sustainability, and disaster risk reduction (DRR) into provincial learning assessment frameworks. This role involves undertaking technical reviews and mapping, identifying priority competencies and learning outcomes, and developing evidence-based recommendations and assessment approaches. The consultant will also facilitate stakeholder consultation, co-creation, capacity development, and validation processes. The assignment requires close coordination with UNESCO, the respective Education Departments, relevant provincial institutions, and the international expert team supporting CSESI. The consultant will be contracted, supervised, and managed by UNESCO, reporting directly to the organization, to ensure effective integration of climate and environment into learning assessments in Balochistan and KP.
Responsibilities
The consultant will strengthen education systems in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to assess learners' knowledge, competencies, attitudes, and behaviors related to climate change, environmental sustainability, and DRR. This involves reviewing existing learning assessment frameworks, identifying gaps, and developing contextually relevant, gender-responsive, and evidence-based recommendations for integration into provincial assessment systems, aligned with UNESCO's Greening Curriculum Guidance and ongoing reforms. Key activities include conducting a comprehensive review and mapping of current learning assessment frameworks, curricula, and policy documents against climate change competencies, identifying priority topics and learning outcomes, and ensuring policy alignment with national curriculum reforms. The consultant will develop evidence-based recommendations for integrating these priorities, including proposed learning outcomes, assessment methodologies, and an implementation strategy. Furthermore, the role requires facilitating at least six inter-ministerial, multi-stakeholder workshops across both provinces for consultation, co-creation, capacity building, and validation of outputs. These workshops are crucial for gathering inputs, securing consensus on identified priorities, and validating findings and recommendations, while also delivering capacity-building sessions on climate change education and literacy.
Work Experience
A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in the education sector, specifically in learning assessments, curriculum development, Teaching and Learning Materials, pedagogy, and institutional capacity development. Strong command of global best practices in learning assessment development is essential, with demonstrated experience in similar assignments, including developing and revising curricula and TLMs in Pakistan.
Skills
Familiarity with Balochistan and KP's curriculum framework and TLMs is required. The consultant must possess the ability to work collaboratively with government ministries at national and sub-national levels, as well as with international experts. Demonstrated experience in developing user-friendly, adaptable, and valuable content and resources is essential, alongside the ability to facilitate technical discussions and consultations effectively. Experience in implementing consultation, co-creation, and capacity-building workshops is also necessary, coupled with excellent planning, organizational, coordination, and negotiation skills, and the ability to deliver results under tight deadlines while injecting innovation.