DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT: Individual Consultant PROJECT NAME: Toolkit for Curriculum Localization PERIOD OF ASSIGNMENT/SERVICES: 6 months LOCATION: Virtual Proposals should be submitted by email to: info@mission4point7.org
About Global Schools: Global Schools is an initiative of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). Our mission is to create a world where every primary and secondary school student is equipped with the knowledge, values, and skills necessary for effectively responding to the greatest challenges of this century and shaping a sustainable and prosperous world. The Global Schools program has been working internationally to support schools and educators with evidence-informed training and localized classroom resources in order to integrate sustainable development into school curricula, operations, and activities.
About the SDSN:
The UNSDSN was set up in 2012 under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General. SDSN mobilizes global scientific and technological expertise to promote practical solutions for sustainable development, including the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement. SDSN works closely with United Nations agencies, multilateral financing institutions, the private sector, and civil society.
SDSN is guided by a Leadership Council, which brings together global sustainable development leaders from all regions and all sectors, including civil society, public, and private sectors. Much of SDSN’s work is led by National or Regional SDSNs, which mobilize knowledge institutions around the SDGs. The SDG Academy leads the education work of the SDSN, including the Global Schools program. About Mission 4.7:
Mission 4.7 brings together leaders from government, academia, civil society, and business to accelerate the implementation of Education for Sustainable Development around the world and highlight the critical importance of education in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. It is a joint initiative as founded by the Global Schools program and the SDG Academy, both flagship programs of SDSN, in partnership with the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens, UNESCO, and the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University.
Background:
The Global Schools program, with the support of Mission 4.7, is seeking an experienced and proactive consultant to support the creation of a Localization Toolkit for implementing SDG 4.7 in the curriculum. The Toolkit will provide guidance for Ministries of Education and other education stakeholders to analyze and audit curriculum and policy documents using Transformative Education (Education for Sustainable Development, Global Citizenship Education, 21st-century skills, etc.) competencies and learning outcomes. This Toolkit will also detail steps for garnering national policy support for integrating SDG 4.7 at all levels of K-12 education, from curriculum design to implementation. The Research Officer will be responsible for improving upon a pilot Toolkit that was used by 60+ researchers in Ghana, Morocco, and Turkey.
Project Objectives:
Provide a practical tool to guide Ministries and in-country researchers to put long-term planning for Target 4.7 on their policy agendas;
Create an applicable and worldwide methodology that other researchers and SDSN Networks can use to localize the core ESD competencies, as defined by UNESCO, in national contexts; and
Document best practices to be championed under the auspices of Mission 4.7.
Scope of Work and Responsibilities
Build on Global Schools’ pilot methodology conducted in Ghana, Morocco, and Turkey to create a Localization Toolkit to audit global citizenship and sustainable development in curriculum, facilitating pathways for scale-up by National Ministries and universities;
Conduct a desk review on areas relevant to Target 4.7 to improve the design of the pilot Localization Toolkit;
Review and synthesize survey results from 60+ researchers who participated in the pilot projects;
Revise the curriculum auditing process in the pilot methodology by creating appropriate targets and indicators for each ESD concept, and devise more explicit guidelines on how to map and interpret Target 4.7 concepts (indicators were given to pilot counties in the form of a spreadsheet and/or dashboard to guide their research outputs. Reference cases and examples will be shared on past projects in Ghana, Morocco, and Turkey);
Improve programmatic surveys and RCT designs that can be implemented at the local level by NGOs, researchers, and Ministries that will use the Toolkit; and
Coordinate with the Mission 4.7 Secretariat, Education Task Force, and other stakeholders to collect and synthesize input on improving the pilot methodology and designing the Localization Toolkit.
Evaluation/Desired Outcomes
Create a Localization Toolkit that will guide policymakers and researchers through individual needs assessments for integrating Target 4.7 into long-term education planning and strategy.
Requirements for Experiences and Qualifications
Graduate degree in international education, human rights education, sustainable development, or a related field is required. Doctorate preferred;
Minimum 10-15 years of relevant experience;
Experience in advising and working with Ministerial level education stakeholders at the international level;
Ability to liaise with diverse stakeholders and comfortable conducting in-depth interviews and focus groups;
Outstanding analytical and writing skills;
In-depth knowledge of data and research sources on SDG Target 4.7, international education, education for sustainable development, and global citizenship
English required, French and/or Turkish a plus
Proposal Submissions
Interested parties should submit:
Proposal, not to exceed 2,000 words, to include a proposed consulting plan
List of past clients with whom she/he/they have done similar work
Proposals should contain the following:
Contact information
Project description and approach
References, with contact information
Budget
Please state your required budget for a six-month engagement on the tasks described in this document. Budgets are subject to approval by the SDSN Board of Directors.
Timeline
Proposals are due on or before August 1, 2022.
The selected consultant will be notified by August 15, 2022.
The consultant’s work is anticipated to begin by September 1, 2022.
SDSN is an equal opportunity employer
SDSN provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to unlawful considerations of race, color, creed, religion, gender, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information, military or veteran status, age, and physical or mental disability, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws.
