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Background 

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is UNESCO’s response to the urgent challenges facing our planet. Human activities have altered Earth’s ecosystems to the point where our survival is at risk, and these changes are becoming increasingly difficult to reverse. ESD empowers people with the knowledge, skills, values, attitudes, and behaviours needed to live in ways that benefit the environment, economy, and society. It encourages smart, responsible choices that contribute to a better future for everyone.

The “ESD for 2030” programme generates and disseminates knowledge, provides policy guidance and technical support to countries, and implements projects on the ground. It also promotes peer learning and innovation through information, networks, and partnerships. Adopted globally by Member States for the period 2020-2030, ESD for 2030 builds on the lessons learned from the Global Action Programme on ESD (GAP, 2015-2019) to enhance the role of education in ensuring humanity’s survival and prosperity. It emphasizes education’s contribution to achieving all 17 SDGs. It reassesses the purposes and values underpinning education and reorients all levels of education and learning to support sustainable development and improve the quality and relevance of learning. As 2030 approaches, accelerating ESD is crucial in the decade of action to achieve the 17 SDGs. To operationalize the global framework and roadmap, concrete actions have been proposed in five priority areas: policy, education environments, capacity building for educators, youth engagement, and local-level action. These actions highlight the essential role of ESD in achieving these goals through the individual and societal transformations needed to address urgent sustainability challenges.

Rationale of the LEAD-ESD programme

During the 2024-2025 biennium, Member States in Eastern Africa have requested support to strengthen the capacities of their teacher educators to integrate ESD into their curricula. Several states have already made concrete efforts to build national capacity for understanding and implementing ESD. Building on the success of the Sustainability Starts with Teachers (SST) programme conducted by the UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSA), the UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa (ROEA) aims to extend a similar ESD capacity-building initiative to additional East African countries, titled “Leadership for Education for Sustainable Development (LEAD-ESD).”

The LEAD-ESD project is informed by several global developments. There has been a rallying of efforts towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, with growing recognition of the central role of education in attaining all 17 SDGs. At the Transforming Education Summit (TES) held in 2022, six Calls to Action were issued, including the Greening Education Partnership (GEP) - Getting Every Learner Climate Ready. The Greening Education Partnership is structured around four key pillars of transformative education: greening schools, greening curriculum, greening teacher training and education systems’ capacities, and greening communities. These interventions are rooted in UNESCO’s longstanding work in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), with a particular focus on education’s role in tackling climate change. UNESCO aims to equip individuals and communities with the skills, values, and attitudes needed to shape green, low-emission, and climate-resilient societies.

Objective of the LEAD-ESD programme

The LEAD-ESD programme aims to strengthen the implementation of SDG4, particularly Target 4.7, in teacher education institutions. It focuses on teacher educators from ECCE through primary, secondary, tertiary, and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET). The programme will guide and empower learners, educators, and heads of educational institutions by equipping them with the knowledge, skills, values, and behaviours necessary for this transition. In 2025, LEAD-ESD will be tailored to the specific needs and contexts of four beneficiary countries: Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, and Uganda.

Target group for the programme: 

The programme targets educators at all levels of education, equipping them with critical skills to help learners understand the complex choices required for sustainable development and motivate them to transform themselves and their societies.

DUTIES AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE POST

Under the authority of the Regional Representative and Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa, and direct supervision of the Education Unit Head, the incumbent will support the implementation of the “LEAD-ESD project in 2025. The terms of Reference for the consultant are as follows:

1. Collaboration and Coordination

• Work closely with Kenyatta University, regional ESD Experts, and partners in the project, to mobilize expertise in the region to contributing to an ‘ESD policy literate’ and active Climate and Environmental Educators System.

• Attend and co-facilitate meetings in collaboration with implementing partners and with the project ‘expert group’ in each of the participating countries to identify teacher educators to be trained; and conduct post training course preparation activities.

• In collaboration with the implementing partners, organise Regional Workshops with participants from Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs) for Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), Primary, Secondary and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in participating countries. The workshops will be held in Kenya.

• Facilitate the training workshops together with other project partners including Rhodes University, UNESCO Chairs on ESD related issues.

• Collaborate with an evaluation team and contribute to formative evaluation of the project activities.

2. Communication and Outreach

• Develop and maintain an up-to-date database and electronic communications system with regular online newsletter communication with ESD experts and LEAD-ESD course participants.

• Issue a regional Call for Expressions of Interest to identify participating TEIs in the participating countries (Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, and Uganda) to participate in the LEAD-ESD training sessions conducted by Kenyatta University and the UNESCO ROEA.

• Develop and disseminate communication materials including a flyer, which provides basic information on the project and training programmes, its objectives and structure. Draft regular workshop and webinar updates and reports for online dissemination and media releases.

• In collaboration with Kenyatta University, draft and disseminate policy briefs on ESD Policy and Leadership Development.

3. Logistics and Administration

• During in-country workshops, arrange accommodation and local costs for participants for the training workshops (approximately 15 in Seychelles, 20 in Rwanda, 50 in Kenya and Uganda respectively) with a facilitation and appropriate support team.

• Oversee the design of and contribute to regular management and updating of the website for LEAD-ESD situated in Kenyatta University.

Deliverables:

1. Maintain a database of all final training course scripts with associated materials, including handouts and PPT and communications materials developed in the project. 

2. Alumni database and regular communications record. 

3. Project website. 

4. Regular short workshop reports of sub-regional workshops and course activities, newsletter items and web stories with photos for each activity carried out. 

5. Documentation of ESD Change Projects (placed on the project website). 

6. Regional exhibition of good practices in ESD in participating TEIs – at each annual evaluation workshop. 

7. A final programme evaluation report after the feedback workshop each year. 

    

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

COMPETENCIES

A successful candidate will be required to demonstrate the following competencies:

Accountability

Communication

Teamwork

Innovation

Results focus

Planning and organizing

Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement

For detailed information please consult the 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in the field of Education for Sustainable Development, environmental sciences, education, social sciences, economics and statistics or other relevant fields 

Work experience

• Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience in the field of Education for Sustainable; Development (ESD), Environmental, education, social sciences, economics and statistics or other relevant fields of which at least 2 years acquired at regional and/or international level. 
• Professional experience of working with the United Nations System or other international development organization(s), with knowledge of regional networking structures for Education for Sustainable Development in Eastern Africa. 
• Proven experience in the field of ESD programme coordination, programme management and in designing and implementing programmes/projects, as well as demonstrated expertise in Education for Sustainable Developmentin Teacher Education in the Eastern African region. 
• Experience in promoting or contributing to South-South cooperation in Education for Sustainable Development policy and capacity building at the national and /or regional level.
• Relevant experience or training in sustainable development and education for sustainable development issues linked with the 2030 Global Agenda. 

Skills/Competencies

• Knowledge of international education initiatives and familiarity with activities in the education sector.
• Familiarity with the operations and structure of international organizations and/or the United Nations System.
• Experience in designing and/or delivering regional training programmes in sustainable development.
• Understanding of the regional geopolitical context and sustainable development issues.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and project management skills.
• Excellent coordination and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with authorities, institutions, and organizations.
• Proven ability to communicate and negotiate effectively with various stakeholders.
• Knowledge of fundraising and resource mobilization strategies.
• Ability to work effectively in a team and within a multicultural environment.
• Proficiency in IT skills, including office software.

Languages

• Fluency in English is required (oral and written proficiency).
• Fluency in one of the local languages is an added advantage.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• PhD degree in the field of Education for Sustainable Development 

• Working experience in an international multi-cultural environment.

• Knowledge of results-based management and gender mainstreaming approaches.

• Knowledge of basic French. 

HOW TO APPLY 

 To apply, please send your application letter, personal CV in UNESCO CV format and a proposal with your proposed budget which can be accessed from /en/fieldoffice/nairobi in English making reference to post- ED LEAD-ESD NAI including contact details of 3 referees: By email:  nairobi.recruitment@unesco.org

A WRITTEN EXAMINATION MAY BE USED IN THE EVALUATION OF CANDIDATES. PLEASE NOTE THAT PRE-SELECTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED.

UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of staff members shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity. UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment. UNESCO is committed to achieving and sustaining equitable and diverse geographical distribution, as well as gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Candidates from non- and under-represented Member States (last update here) are particularly welcome and strongly encouraged to apply. Individuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. Worldwide mobility is required for staff members appointed to international posts.

UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.