Support to the Ministry of Education and Higher Education

OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: Beirut

Classification of duty station: [[filter12]]

Standard Duration of Assignement : [[filter13]]

Job Family: Education

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 1 to 6 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 17 October 2025

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND

Lebanon's education system has been profoundly affected by overlapping crises, including economic collapse, social instability, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and protracted emergencies. These challenges have severely disrupted the provision of equitable, quality education and placed extraordinary pressure on the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE).

In this context, the Education Cannot Wait (ECW)-funded Multi-Year Resilience Programme (MYRP) "Securing the Right to Education for Crisis-Affected Girls and Boys in Lebanon" has provided a critical framework for addressing the immediate and long-term needs of crisis-affected learners, while also contributing to the resilience of the national education system.

Building on this foundation, Lebanon is seeking to mobilize additional international resources to sustain and scale reforms especially for crisis-sensitive preparedness. UNESCO, as a key partner to MEHE, will provide technical support to ensure the preparation of a high-quality resource mobilization application/report for the purpose of crisis-preparedness within the education sector. This process is intended to strengthen education sector analysis, planning, preparedness and reform prioritization, thereby contributing to a coherent and evidence-based framework for system strengthening.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

Under the overall authority of the Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Beirut and the direct supervision of the Senior National Programme Officer, the consultant is expected to provide technical expertise to UNESCO in support of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE) in Lebanon for ongoing resource mobilization efforts. This includes preparing a high-quality application for external financing to strengthen Lebanon's education sector. The consultant will ensure that the application is evidence-based, coherent, and aligned with national reform priorities as well as international funding requirements.

Building on this, the consultant will support the drafting of a comprehensive resources mobilization application/report that reflects Lebanon's education sector context, challenges, and priorities, thereby maximizing the country's chances of securing additional resources to sustain and scale reform efforts, as well as to ensure that the sector is prepared to respond to crisis.

OBJECTIVES

The overall objective of this consultancy is to provide technical expertise to ensure the high-quality preparation and timely submission of Lebanon's application for external financing in support of education sector reforms. To this end, the specific objectives are to:

• Draft the resource mobilization application/report – Develop a high-quality, evidence-based application/report that highlights Lebanon's education sector priorities and demonstrates readiness to effectively utilize mobilized resources and to respond to crises.
• Support in the coordination with partners – Engage with MEHE, UNESCO, and other stakeholders to validate inputs, build consensus, and ensure alignment across technical and financial deliverables.

Long Description

SCOPE OF WORK

The consultant will work under the guidance of UNESCO Beirut, in close coordination with Lebanon's Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE) and in coordination with the Local Education Group (LEG). The consultant's tasks will include, but will not be limited to, the following:

1. 
   
2. Review and Analysis of Existing Documentation

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2. Analyze existing documents, data, and reports relevant to the development of an application/report for resource mobilization.
3. Identify data gaps and areas requiring clarification with MEHE and partners to inform the resource mobilization application/report.

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2. Drafting of the resource mobilization application/report

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2. Prepare first draft of the application, ensuring compliance with donor guidelines and full integration of Lebanon's Enabling Factors Questionnaire and Domestic Financing Matrix outputs.
3. Revise and finalize the application based on iterative feedback from MEHE, UNESCO, and partners.
4. Support MEHE in compiling annexes, financial tables, and other required documentation.

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2. Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination

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2. Participate in consultations and technical meetings with MEHE, UNESCO, and partners to present findings, gather feedback, and ensure consensus.
3. Support consensus-building across stakeholders to ensure a coherent submission package.

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2. Finalization and support in submission of the resource mobilization application

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2. Deliver a complete, high-quality application/report (narrative, annexes, financial tables, and required documentation) ready for MEHE's submission to the donor.
3. Provide technical backstopping and advisory support to MEHE up to the point of official submission.

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2. Reporting and Workplan

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2. Submit an inception report/workplan at the start of the consultancy, outlining methodology, timeline, and milestone.
3. Deliver a final consultancy report summarizing the process, key findings, and recommendations for sustaining progress beyond the resource mobilization application/report.

DELIVERABLES

1. 
   
2. Package 1, including:
   
   1. 
      
   2. A brief inception report and work plan outlining the methodology, timeline, and coordination approach for completing the assignment.
   3. Draft resource mobilization application/report 

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2. Package 2- including:

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2. Final resource mobilization application/report incorporating feedback from MEHE, UNESCO, and partners, and including all relevant annexes, ready for submission to donor.
3. Final Consultancy Report

A short report summarizing the process, coordination activities, challenges encountered, and recommendations for sustaining momentum.

TIME FRAME

This consultancy is expected to begin on 1 November, 2025 and conclude on 31 December, 2025.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)
Accountability (C) Communication (C) Innovation (C) Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C) Planning and organizing (C) Results focus (C) Teamwork (C) Professionalism (C) -
For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

1. 
   
2. Education:

• Advanced university degree PhD in Education, Economics, Public Policy, Development Studies, or a related field.
• Additional training in education sector analysis, planning, or monitoring and evaluation is an asset.

ii. Experiance :

• Minimum 15 years of progressively responsible experience in education sector planning, policy development, and programme management at national and international levels.
• Demonstrated experience in supporting ministries of education with education sector analyses, education sector plans, reform prioritization processes and resource mobilization.
• Proven expertise in preparing evidence-based applications, proposals or reports for international education resource mobilization mechanisms.
• Strong knowledge of enabling factors affecting education systems, including governance, sector planning, financing, equity, and learning outcomes.
• Previous experience working in at least three crisis-affected Arab countries, with solid understanding of education in emergencies and resilience building.
• Experience coordinating multi-stakeholder consultation processes, including with governments, donors, and civil society partners.
• Excellent analytical, drafting, and communication skills in English. Knowledge of French is a strong asset.

COMPITENCIES

iii. Compitencies

• Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills.
• Excellent facilitation and consensus-building abilities.
• Proven ability to deliver high-quality outputs under tight deadlines.
• Demonstrated capacity to work effectively in multicultural teams and with diverse stakeholders.
• Commitment to UNESCO's core values of integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity.

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.

The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview. 

UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.

Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.

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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.

Please note that UNESCO is a non-smoking Organization. 

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