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Consultant - Gender Equality and Education - Job Opportunity at UNESCO

Paris, France
Contract
Senior
Posted: July 10, 2025
Remote
USD 8,000 - 12,000 per month for a 5-month contract, totaling approximately USD 40,000 - 60,000 for the full assignment. This range reflects the senior-level expertise required, the international scope of work, extensive travel requirements, and UNESCO's competitive compensation structure for specialized gender equality consultants.

Benefits

Remote work flexibility with home-based position allowing for optimal work-life balance
Comprehensive travel expense coverage including airfare and daily substance allowance under UN travel rules
Access to UNESCO's extensive administrative and analytical documentation resources
Professional networking opportunities through facilitated contacts with institutions and individuals
Technical guidance and support from the GCI team throughout the assignment
Logistical support for visa and residence permit procedures in destination countries
Rolling recruitment process allowing for early selection and faster hiring

Key Responsibilities

Forge strategic alliances with key stakeholders including donors, governments, civil society organizations, and development partners to create a comprehensive network for gender equality advancement
Mobilize financial resources to support roadmap implementation and ensure successful advancement of gender equality in education across Africa
Provide technical assistance and training to national and regional education authorities on gender mainstreaming in education policies and programs
Enhance AU Member States' capabilities to design and implement gender-responsive education initiatives
Promote awareness campaigns and advocacy efforts to highlight the importance of girls' education and gender equality in Africa, particularly the Africaeducatesher Campaign
Strengthen continental accountability mechanisms for girls' education and gender equality
Develop and implement robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks to assess the effectiveness of gender-responsive education policies, initiatives, and programs
Document best practices, initiatives, and interventions on gender-responsive policies
Support the development of comprehensive mapping of existing gender-responsive education policies across AU Member States
Support the establishment of a Community of Practice in collaboration with IIEP and AU CIEFFA focal points from Ministries of Education and Gender
Facilitate knowledge sharing and peer-learning on gender-responsive education policies in Africa

Requirements

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in political science, development studies, public policy, social sciences, gender studies or other related disciplines

Experience

Minimum of 6 years' experience on girls' education and gender equality

Required Skills

Demonstrated experience in implementing/supporting education related policies and frameworks in Africa Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing monitoring and evaluation frameworks for education policies and programs Demonstrated experience in engaging with ministries of education/ministries of gender, NGOS, development partners, donors and other relevant stakeholders in Africa Experience in managing and overseeing projects with a focus on gender-responsive policies Demonstrated ability to provide technical guidance and support to governments and other stakeholders in relation to education policies Familiarity with international and AU regional policy processes and policy analysis in girls' education and gender equality Gender mainstreaming expertise in education policies and ability to integrate gender perspectives into policies, programs, and projects Stakeholder Engagement and Resource Mobilization: Establish and maintain effective partnerships with Ministries of Education, NGOs, development partners, donors and other relevant stakeholders, capacity to mobilize financial resources Strategic thinking and Analytical skills: Ability to assess existing policies and identify opportunities for gender-responsive improvements and to contribute to the development of gender-responsive education policies Capacity Building: design and deliver training programs on gender-responsive policies for education stakeholders Communication skills: Effective written and verbal communication skills to convey complex gender concepts to diverse audiences Monitoring and Evaluation: Develop and implement monitoring and evaluation frameworks to assess the impact of gender-responsive initiatives Excellent command (written and oral) of English or French and written and oral proficiency in the other language
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Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

The global development sector is experiencing unprecedented focus on gender equality in education, driven by the UN Sustainable Development Goals and increased donor funding specifically targeting girls' education initiatives. This trend is creating substantial demand for specialized consultants who can navigate complex multi-stakeholder environments and deliver measurable outcomes in gender-responsive policy development. African continental integration efforts are accelerating, with the African Union increasingly prioritizing education sector harmonization and gender equality frameworks. This creates significant opportunities for consultants who understand both regional policy processes and grassroots implementation challenges across diverse African contexts. International development organizations are shifting from traditional project-based approaches to systems-level interventions, requiring consultants who can work across multiple countries simultaneously and build sustainable institutional capacity rather than delivering one-off training programs. The rise of evidence-based policy making in development cooperation is creating demand for consultants who can combine technical expertise with robust monitoring and evaluation capabilities, particularly in measuring the impact of gender-responsive education interventions.

Role Significance

The consultant will work within a matrix structure involving the GCI team at IIEP-UNESCO, AU CIEFFA coordinators, and various national focal points across African Union member states. This typically involves direct collaboration with 8-12 core team members and indirect coordination with 50+ stakeholders across multiple countries.
This is a senior-level strategic advisory role that operates at the intersection of continental policy development and national implementation. The consultant will function as a bridge between high-level AU policy frameworks and country-level education ministries, requiring sophisticated diplomatic and technical skills to influence policy at multiple levels simultaneously.

Key Projects

Development of continental gender equality monitoring frameworks that will be adopted by 55 African Union member states Implementation of the Gender at the Centre Initiative Phase 2 across multiple sub-Saharan African countries Establishment of sustainable Communities of Practice linking education and gender ministries across Africa Resource mobilization campaigns targeting G7 donors and international development partners for multi-million dollar education initiatives

Success Factors

Deep understanding of African Union policy processes and the ability to navigate complex bureaucratic structures while maintaining momentum on gender equality initiatives. Success requires building trust with diverse stakeholders from government officials to grassroots organizations. Proven track record in resource mobilization and partnership development, as the role requires securing financial commitments from international donors while aligning diverse partner interests around common gender equality objectives. Strong analytical and strategic thinking capabilities to assess existing policy landscapes, identify gaps, and develop evidence-based recommendations that can be implemented across diverse African contexts with varying capacity levels. Exceptional communication and facilitation skills to convey complex gender concepts to diverse audiences, from technical experts to political decision-makers, while building consensus around sensitive policy issues. Cultural competency and language skills to work effectively across francophone, anglophone, and lusophone African countries, understanding regional nuances while promoting continental harmonization.

Market Demand

High demand with limited supply of qualified candidates. The intersection of gender equality expertise, African education systems knowledge, and multilateral organization experience creates a highly specialized talent pool, making this a competitive recruitment market.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Gender mainstreaming expertise in education policies is absolutely essential as this forms the core technical competency for the role. The consultant must understand how to integrate gender perspectives into complex policy frameworks while ensuring practical implementation across diverse African contexts. Stakeholder engagement and resource mobilization capabilities are crucial for success, as the role requires building and maintaining partnerships with governments, donors, and civil society organizations while securing financial commitments for multi-year initiatives. Strategic thinking and analytical skills are fundamental for assessing existing policy landscapes, identifying opportunities for gender-responsive improvements, and developing evidence-based recommendations that can be scaled across multiple countries. Communication skills in multiple languages (English/French proficiency required) are critical for working across Africa's diverse linguistic landscape and effectively conveying complex gender concepts to varied audiences.

Beneficial Skills

Experience with monitoring and evaluation frameworks enhances the consultant's ability to demonstrate impact and secure continued funding for gender equality initiatives, particularly important given the increased emphasis on evidence-based programming in development cooperation. Understanding of education sector planning strengthens the consultant's ability to integrate gender considerations into broader education system reforms, making interventions more sustainable and systemic rather than project-based. Proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese would be valuable for engaging with lusophone African countries and expanding the initiative's reach across all African linguistic communities. Research and analysis experience adds credibility to policy recommendations and enhances the consultant's ability to produce high-quality documentation of best practices and lessons learned.

Unique Aspects

This role represents a unique opportunity to shape continental-level gender equality policy across 55 African Union member states, providing influence at a scale rarely available to individual consultants in the development sector.
The position combines high-level policy development with grassroots implementation, requiring the consultant to work simultaneously with AU headquarters, national governments, and local civil society organizations.
The role offers exceptional networking opportunities through the Gender at the Centre Initiative Alliance, connecting the consultant with major international organizations, G7 donors, and leading African education advocates.
The timing of this consultancy coincides with critical continental initiatives including the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the post-2025 education framework development, providing the consultant with the opportunity to influence decade-long policy directions.

Career Growth

Career progression typically occurs within 3-5 years for high-performing consultants in this field. The visibility and network development from this UNESCO role can accelerate advancement to director-level positions, particularly given the current high demand for gender equality expertise in international development.

Potential Next Roles

Senior Gender Equality Advisor roles at major international organizations such as UN Women, World Bank, or African Development Bank Director-level positions at specialized gender equality organizations or education-focused NGOs Independent consulting practice specializing in gender equality and education policy across Africa Academic positions at universities with strong international development programs, combining research with policy advisory work Senior policy advisor roles within African Union institutions or national governments

Company Overview

UNESCO

UNESCO stands as the United Nations' specialized agency for education, science, and culture, with over 75 years of experience in international cooperation. The organization operates in 195 member countries and maintains a unique position as both a standard-setting body and technical assistance provider in education policy development.

UNESCO holds the preeminent position in global education policy development and is recognized as the intellectual leader on Education for All initiatives. The organization's convening power and normative role make it an essential partner for governments, donors, and civil society organizations working on education sector transformation.
UNESCO's presence in Africa is substantial, with regional offices in Dakar, Nairobi, and Harare, plus national offices in multiple countries. The organization's partnership with the African Union through AU CIEFFA demonstrates its commitment to continental integration and regional approaches to education development.
UNESCO maintains a collaborative, intellectually rigorous work environment that values diversity, multilingual capabilities, and cultural sensitivity. The organization's commitment to zero-tolerance policies on harassment and its focus on gender parity create a supportive environment for professionals working on gender equality issues.
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