Consultant: Education Specialist

Position details

• Vacancy type: Consultancy
• Recruiting type: Consultant
• Contract type: Consultancy (Up to 11 months)
• Initial contract duration: Three Months
• Office or unit: Country Office
• Location: Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia
• Application deadline: 2026-10-18T13:00:00+00:00

Context

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Emergency Management (DECEM) and the FSM Department of Education (DOE), is implementing the project "Safer Schools, Stronger Shelters: Advancing Community Resilience in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)." The project aims to support the national and state governments in strengthening climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction efforts through the education sector and community preparedness initiatives. 

The consultancy will focus on component 1, mainstreaming DRR and CCA into the FSM education system and will ensure necessary and relevant integration and support under component that focus on infrastructure and strengthening EES management capacities. Recognizing the important role of education in building long-term resilience, the project seeks to mainstream Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) into the FSM education system through the development of an Action Plan, review and development of learning materials, and capacity development of teachers. The consultant will support the review of existing curriculum resources and initiatives, facilitate stakeholder consultations, develop recommendations and an Action Plan, and contribute to the development and piloting of DRR/CCA learning modules and supporting materials.

IOM seeks to engage a Curriculum Integration Specialist Consultant who will work closely with the Department of Education and relevant stakeholders to conduct curriculum assessments, identify entry points for integrating resilience-related themes into existing learning frameworks, develop curriculum integration resources and learning materials including review and update of the existing learning materials, support stakeholder consultations, and facilitate training of trainers (ToTs), teacher training and piloting activities. The assignment will contribute to ensuring that students acquire practical knowledge, skills, and attitudes that promote disaster preparedness, climate resilience, environmental stewardship, and sustainable development within the FSM. The consultant will ensure that all recommendations are evidence-based, aligned with FSM education priorities, and reflective of indigenous knowledge, local context, and good practices from previous initiatives such as CADRE and CADRE+.

This assignment will be carried out under the IOM FSM Community Resilience Unit, and the candidate will work under the direct supervision of the Project Officer (Community Resilience) and in close coordination with Programme Coordinator (Community Resilience) as well as other relevant project managers, coordinators and head of sub-offices.

Responsibilities

1. Conduct an in-depth assessment of existing mechanisms, policies, curricula, learning materials, and initiatives supporting DRR and CCA education in FSM.

2. Review existing educational resources developed under CADRE, CADRE+, and other relevant programmes.

3. Assess opportunities and challenges for mainstreaming DRR and CCA into the existing primary school curriculum and support the review, adaptation, and/or development of DRR and CCA learning modules and educational materials.

4. Identify gaps in existing DRR/CCA curriculum content, teaching methodologies, teacher capacities, institutional arrangements, and educational resources required for sustainable integration in FSM education system.

5. Ensure indigenous knowledge, local practices, and cultural considerations are adequately reflected in the assessment.

6. Facilitate consultations with DOE, DECEM, State Departments of Education, teachers, students, civil society organizations, and development partners.

7. Prepare and facilitate validation workshops at national and state levels, document and consolidate stakeholder feedback and recommendations. 

8. Lead the development of an evidence-based Action Plan for mainstreaming DRR and CCA into the FSM education system.

9. Develop recommendations for curriculum integration, ToR, teacher training, and educational resource development.

10. Ensure materials are age-appropriate, culturally relevant, inclusive, and aligned with FSM education standards.

11. Integrate gender, disability inclusion, climate adaptation, environmental sustainability, and indigenous knowledge considerations into all materials.

12. Support the development of teacher guidance and resource materials and integrate practical preparedness concepts, including school safety, emergency procedures, hazard awareness, and community resilience principles, into learning materials where appropriate.

13. Support the design of Training of Trainers (ToT) packages,methodologies and facilitate ToT trainings.

14. Prepare inception, assessment, workshop, Action Plan, and final consultancy reports and maintain regular coordination with IOM and project partners.

15. Present findings and recommendations to relevant stakeholders.

16. Undertake duty travel as required.

17. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Summary of the Key Deliverables:

• Inception Report including methodology, workplan, stakeholder engagement approach, and assessment framework. 

• Assessment Report on existing DRR/CCA education policies, curricula, learning materials, teacher capacities, and gaps for mainstreaming. 

• Stakeholder Consultations and Validation Workshops conducted at national and state levels, with findings and recommendations documented. 

• DRR and CCA Education Action Plan developed, including priorities, implementation roadmap, roles and responsibilities, and sustainability measures. 

• DRR/CCA Learning Materials Package reviewed, adapted, and/or developed, including student learning materials and teacher resource guides. 

• Training of Trainers (ToT) Package developed to support capacity building of teachers and education stakeholders. 

• Teacher and Stakeholder Training Workshops delivered, including training reports and recommendations. 

• Pilot Testing and Validation Report documenting results, lessons learned, and recommendations for refinement of learning materials. 

• Final Consultancy Report summarizing activities undertaken, outputs delivered, key findings, recommendations, and next steps for implementation.

Performance Indicators for the Evaluation of Results:

• Satisfactory completion of Tasks specified in the TOR based on supervisor’s performance evaluation.

• Planning, organization, and timeliness for managing and delivering outputs.

• Quality and comprehensiveness of assessment and recommendations.

• Effective coordination and stakeholders engagements and capacity building. 

• Quality of data and information collected and coordinated with partners, quality of reports, compliance with standard and sustainability principles.

• Quality, inclusiveness, and relevance of learning materials developed.

Qualifications

Education, Experience and/or Skills required:

• Master’s degree in education, Curriculum Development, Climate Change, Disaster Risk Reduction, Social Sciences, Development Studies, or related field with at least two years of relevant professional experience; or

• Bachelor's degree in the above fields with at least five years of relevant professional experience.

• Demonstrated experience in curriculum development or education sector programming.

• Experience in Climate Change Adaptation (CCA), Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), environmental education, or resilience programming.

• Experience facilitating multi-stakeholder consultations and workshops.

• Experience working with government institutions and education authorities.

• Experience in the Pacific region or small island developing states is highly desirable.

• Knowledge of indigenous knowledge systems and community-based approaches is an advantage.

Travel Required: YES

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required.

• Knowledge of any local languages (Pohnpeian, Kosraean, Chuukese and Yapese) is desirable.

Competencies 

Values

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.

• Integrity and transparency maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.

• Professionalism: demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.

• Courage: demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.

• Empathy: shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.

Core Competencies – Behavioural indicators

• Teamwork: develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.

• Delivering results: produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner. Is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.

• Managing and sharing knowledge: continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.

• Accountability: takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own actions and delegated work. 

• Communication: encourages and contributes to clear and open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.