Consultant-Education Sector

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Description

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The UNESCO ‘Jaago: Empowering Women in STEM’ initiative seeks to address this gap in the school-to-work transition through research, advocacy and gender-responsive training to address the factors that affect the choices of girls and women in India, particularly those from underprivileged groups. The overall aim is to increase the inclusive participation of women (already enrolled in STEM courses in tertiary education) aged 18–25 and girls aged 12–17 in STEM careers. The target beneficiaries are women in Tier 2 and 3 cities and rural areas, particularly those from underprivileged communities and those with disabilities.

UNESCO is seeking a national consultant in India to coordinate STEM research activities, communications on STEM, and to develop an inclusive STEM toolkit for educational institutions and workplaces to promote women participation and retention in STEM careers. The national consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist (Education), overall supervision of the Chief of Education, and with the implementing partner organization(s) and government officials to ensure the successful implementation of the activities.

The specific objectives of this assignment are:

• Improve quality of data and evidence in India on factors affecting the school-to-work transition of women in STEM to inform policies, plans and strategic interventions.
• Create resources for educational institutions and industry to be more gender inclusive in STEM.
• The contract duration is expected to be from 20 May 2025 to 20 December 2025 (7 months).
• Under the overall authority of the Director, UNESCO South Asia Regional Office and the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist and Chief, Education sector, the consultant will:

Research guidance and coordination:

• Provide technical guidance to the implementing partner conducting a national landscape study in India to understand the issues affecting access to inclusive quality STEM education and participation in STEM jobs by girls aged 12-17 and women aged 18-25, including girl learners with disabilities including review and feedback on research methodology, sampling, analysis and discussions.
• Coordinate project implementation with the implementing partner, relevant stakeholders, partner organizations, and government agencies.

Industry and higher education institutions engagement:

• Develop an inclusive STEM toolkit for educational institutions and workplaces to promote women participation and retention in STEM careers.
• Plan and coordinate meetings with an advisory group to ensure relevance and practicality of the toolkit.
• Develop a capacity-building programme, based on the toolkit, for industry and educational organizations to integrate inclusive organizational practices and policies that support women in STEM careers.
• Plan and facilitate two orientation workshops (2 days), provisionally in Delhi and Pune,as part of capacity building for partners and stakeholders.

Communications:

• Develop visually compelling reports and knowledge products that communicate findings effectively to stakeholders, in collaboration with the UNESCO Communications and Public Engagement teams.
• Develop impact stories to showcase on the UNESCO website and social media channels.

Partnership development:

• Map out relevant STEM partners including government, private sector, foundations, academia, development partners, relevant UNESCO Global Education Coalition (GEC) members.
• Develop detailed annual partnership action plan to establish possible modalities of engagement to support the STEM initiatives within India and the South Asia region.
• Contribute to the conceptualization and drafting of project documents for the promotion of STEM in schools, vocational education, higher education and/or other non-formal learning for partnerships on STEM-relevant entities and networks.​​​​​​​
• Any other tasks assigned by Director, UNESCO South Asia Regional Office, the Chief of Education Sector or the Programme Specialist (Education).
• In line with UNESCO’s overall gender mainstreaming strategy, the Individual consultant is expected to integrate a gender perspective and apply gender analysis and gender mainstreaming concepts whenever feasible.
• The consultant will be responsible for arranging their own logistics: office space, administrative and secretarial support, team members, telecommunications, travel arrangement, printing of documentation, etc. The costs of these logistics, including all research-related travel costs, will be included in the lump sum proposal.
• The consultant must ensure that sources are properly cited by using the Harvard referencing style, following international academic standards and making sure that no copyrights are violated. Please refer to the UNESCO Style Manual for citation style, terminology and spelling, abbreviations, references, etc.
• UNESCO will provide feedback throughout the process, in particular there will be feedback and revisions that are expected to be incorporated for all deliverables. The contractor and UNESCO will hold regular meetings to discuss progress and next steps. 
• In line with UNESCO’s overall gender mainstreaming strategy, the contractor is expected to integrate a gender perspective in all activities and apply gender analysis and mainstreaming concepts whenever feasible. 
• The technical assets produced will be the property of UNESCO. 

DELIVERABLES:

• Workplan for the duration of the assignment and summary narrative report of the review of research documents, including methodology, sampling, and other   elements of research design, submitted by 30 May 2025.
• Partnership mapping of STEM partners, detailed annual partnership action plan, and 1 summary narrative report of coordination activities submitted by 30 June 2025.
• Review draft research report, draft 2 communications briefs on STEM for women and 1 summary narrative report of coordination activities submitted by 30 July 2025.
• 2 impact stories developed, 1 outline of inclusive STEM toolkit submitted and 1 summary narrative report of coordination activities submitted by 1 September 2025.
• Coordination meetings with advisory group organized, capacity-building plan developed and 1 summary narrative report of coordination activities submitted by 30 September 2025.
• 2 workshop reports on the orientation of stakeholders for the inclusive STEM toolkit, 2 final communication briefs on STEM for women and 1 summary narrative  report of coordination activities submitted by 30 October 2025.
• Final inclusive STEM toolkit and 1 summary narrative report of coordination activities submitted by 3 December 2025.

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s and above) in education, gender and development studies, political relations, social sciences, sciences and any related fields.

Experience:

• At least 4 years of progressive experience in the area of STEM project management, research, and/or training with a focus on gender equality.
• Experience working with national non-profit organizations and industry-academia skilling and career counselling programmes.
• Experience developing and implementing national toolkits on STEM or skilling schemes.
• Experience with mixed methods research.
• The applicant must have excellent oral communication and writing skills in English and working knowledge of Hindi.

Source :  https://careers.unesco.org/job/New-Delhi-STEM-Consultant-Education-Sector-(RE-ADVERTISED)/817645602/

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