Junior Consultant - Global Alliance for Literacy (GAL) and UIL Learning Hub

JOB DETAILS Type of contract : Consultant Contract Level : Level 1 - Junior Hiring Unit : Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) Duty Station : Hamburg Work location : Remote Duration of contract : 6 months Hiring open to : External candidates Application deadline (Midnight UTC+1 Time) : 16/06/2026 UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, ProfessionalismOVERVIEW Background and Institutional Context The UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), based in Hamburg, Germany, is one of UNESCO’s specialized education institutes. UIL supports Member States in strengthening lifelong learning systems, promoting literacy and foundational skills, fostering inclusive learning opportunities, and advancing learning ecosystems. Within UNESCO’s mandate, UIL contributes to the realization of the right to education and lifelong learning through research, capacity development, networking, policy advice, and knowledge sharing, with particular attention to UNESCO’s Global Priorities of Africa and Gender Equality. Despite significant progress in recent decades, an estimated 739 million youth and adults worldwide still lack basic literacy skills, with women accounting for nearly two-thirds of this population. Addressing persistent literacy challenges remains critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4 on inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all. To accelerate progress, UNESCO launched the Global Alliance for Literacy within the Framework of Lifelong Learning (GAL) in 2016. GAL is a global partnership that brings together countries with significant literacy challenges, development partners, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and private-sector actors to advocate for literacy, strengthen international cooperation, and support innovative approaches to literacy learning. UIL serves as the Secretariat of GAL and coordinates its strategic activities, partnerships, knowledge-sharing initiatives, and annual meetings. As part of its efforts to promote quality literacy provision and support literacy educators, UIL, through GAL and the UNESCO-led Global Education Coalition, has developed the Digital Competency for Literacy Educators programme. Initially developed with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and subsequently expanded with support from Huawei, the programme aims to strengthen the digital competencies of youth and adult literacy educators through multilingual online learning opportunities hosted on the UIL Learning Hub. In 2026, UIL will focus on promoting the global uptake of these courses, supporting the development of the next GAL Action Plan (2026–2029), organizing the annual GAL meeting, and implementing a pilot project in collaboration with the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) in India. The Institute will also continue strengthening the UIL Learning Hub as a global platform for capacity development, knowledge exchange, and communities of practice in lifelong learning. To support these activities, UIL is seeking a motivated Junior Consultant. Long Description Duties and Responsibilities Under the overall authority of the Director of UIL and the direct supervision of the Team Leader, Quality Learning Ecosystems programme, the consultant will contribute to the implementation of activities related to the Global Alliance for Literacy, the UIL Learning Hub, and associated projects. 1. Global Alliance for Literacy (GAL) Support the promotion and dissemination of the Digital Competency for Literacy Educators courses through GAL networks and partner organizations. Contribute to communication and outreach activities aimed at increasing course participation and visibility. Draft the final narrative report for the Huawei-supported Digital Competency for Literacy Educators project (2023–2026). Support consultations and stakeholder engagement processes related to the d