UNESCO Junior Research Consultant 2026: Remote Consultancy with Competitive Monthly Fee. UNESCO is hiring Junior Research Consultants for the Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report 2026. Remote contract for 7–11 months. Apply by 28 February 2026.
If you have a background in education research, policy analysis, or development economics, this remote consultancy with UNESCO could be a strong opportunity for 2026.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is recruiting Junior Research Consultants to support the Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report, one of the leading global publications tracking progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4).
This is a non-staff consultancy contract, fully remote, with a duration of 7 to 11 months.
Opportunity Overview
- Organization: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
- Programme: Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report
- Position: Junior Research Consultant (Multiple Positions)
- Contract Type: Non-Staff Consultancy
- Duty Station: Remote (Multiple locations)
- Duration: 7–11 months
- Application Deadline: 28 February 2026
- Compensation: Monthly fee based on financial proposal (competitive, depending on experience)
About the GEM Report
The Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report is an editorially independent, evidence-based annual publication hosted by UNESCO.
Its mandate includes:
- Monitoring progress toward SDG 4 (Education)
- Reporting on education-related targets across other SDGs
- Assessing implementation of national and international education strategies
The 2026 and 2027 editions will focus on:
- Access and equity (2026)
- Learning and quality (2027)
In addition to the global report, the GEM team produces:
- Regional editions
- Thematic reports (e.g., gender, youth, finance)
- PEER country profiles
- Online education inequality and completion tools
What the Junior Research Consultant Will Do
Under the supervision of the Chief of Education Policy, consultants will contribute to research, drafting, and analytical work across multiple outputs.
Global Report
- Provide research inputs, including literature reviews and case studies
- Draft sections or analytical boxes
- Support fact-checking and referencing processes
- Contribute to advocacy and dissemination
Regional Reports
- Conduct research and draft sections for regional editions
- Contribute to fact-checking and referencing
- Support report dissemination
PEER Country Profiles
- Draft, review, and map country profiles based on templates
- Revise profiles drafted by other authors
- Participate in PEER team meetings
- Support website uploading and review processes
Indicative Workload (11-Month Example)
The contract may include tasks such as:
- Drafting 52 PEER country profiles (1,000 words each)
- Revising 38 country profiles drafted by other authors
- Drafting sections and case studies for global and regional reports
- Fact-checking chapters (up to 10,000 words)
- Preparing thematic boxes for policy papers
These deliverables help candidates prepare an accurate monthly financial proposal.
Mandatory Requirements
Education
- Master’s degree (or equivalent) in:
- Education
- Economics
- Or a related field
Work Experience
- At least 2 years of research experience in education, economics, or related areas
Required Skills
Strong candidates typically demonstrate:
- Excellent drafting skills in English
- Strong qualitative and quantitative research skills
- Attention to detail and ability to follow editorial guidelines
- Ability to work independently under tight deadlines
- Experience in policy research
- Experience working in international or multicultural environments
Knowledge of SDG 4 themes and international education development is considered an advantage.
Application Requirements for UNESCO Junior Research Consultant 2026
Applicants must upload a single PDF containing:
- Updated CV
- Technical proposal (1–2 pages outlining methodology and approach)
- Financial proposal (monthly fee quoted in USD, GBP, or EUR)
Applications must be submitted in English via the official UNESCO careers portal.
Only complete applications will be reviewed.
Selection Process
Applications are evaluated based on:
- Alignment with technical requirements
- Quality of technical proposal
- Value for money
The process may include written assessments and interviews. Shortlisted candidates will undergo reference checks.
Why This Consultancy Is Worth Considering
This role offers:
- Fully remote engagement
- Involvement in one of the most influential global education reports
- Exposure to international education policy research
- Collaboration with global research and communication teams
- Competitive consultancy fees based on experience
For early-career researchers with a strong foundation in education policy and SDG monitoring, this consultancy provides meaningful professional experience at the global level.
Final Thoughts
The GEM Report plays a central role in tracking global education progress and informing policy discussions worldwide. Contributing to its research outputs offers both professional credibility and impact.
If your academic and research background aligns with the requirements, this is a strong remote consultancy opportunity to consider for 2026.
Keywords
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