UNESCO Consultant – Health and Wellbeing Education Materials, Malawi
UNESCO is seeking a Senior Consultant to support the development of instructional materials for the Health and Wellbeing Education curriculum in Malawi. The consultant will work with the Malawi Institute of Education (MIE) and a materials development panel to develop Scripted Lesson Plans (SLPs) for Grade 4 and create guidelines for developing and quality-assuring materials for Grades 5 and 6.
Application deadline: 23 November 2026.
The consultancy is based in Lilongwe, Malawi, and is open to external applicants. It is a 40-day consultancy implemented over six months, with the work expected to take place between November 2026 and April 2027.
About the Consultancy
The Malawi Institute of Education is a government parastatal under the Ministry of Education responsible for supporting curriculum development and related educational work. Malawi is currently reviewing its school and college curricula following a transition from the previous 8-4-4 structure to a 1-6-6-3 education structure.
UNESCO has developed the Health and Wellbeing curriculum for Grades 4, 5 and 6. The Grade 4 syllabus is final, while the Grade 5 and Grade 6 syllabi are still being refined.
To support implementation, UNESCO is using Scripted Lesson Plans (SLPs) as instructional materials to help teachers deliver sensitive Health and Wellbeing and comprehensive sexuality education content in a structured, age-appropriate and culturally relevant way.
Key Responsibilities
The consultant will work closely with MIE and the materials development panel to strengthen local capacity to develop and quality-assure SLPs.
Key responsibilities will include facilitating meetings with the MIE materials development panel, presenting the rationale for SLPs and developing a strategy for producing Grade 4 lesson plans.
The consultant will also facilitate writing workshops to develop the Grade 4 SLPs and obtain input into the development guidelines for Grades 5 and 6.
A further responsibility will be facilitating a validation workshop with relevant stakeholders to review the Grade 4 SLPs and the development guidelines.
Following the validation process, the consultant will review and revise the materials and finalize the Grade 4 SLPs and SLP development guidelines for submission to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology for approval.
Expected Deliverables
The consultancy will produce several key outputs, including:
- An inception report;
- A report on the meeting with the MIE materials development panel;
- Reports on writing workshops;
- Draft Grade 4 SLPs and SLP development guidelines ready for validation;
- A report on the validation workshop; and
- Final Grade 4 SLPs and SLP development guidelines for submission to MIE for approval.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must have a Master’s degree or higher in education, with specialization in Curriculum Design and Development, Sexuality Education, Public Health or a related field.
Candidates must also have at least five years of experience developing instructional materials for Life Skills, Health and Wellbeing Education.
UNESCO requires demonstrated experience supporting governments in similar assignments, as well as strong writing, communication and facilitation skills. Applicants must also demonstrate experience in instructional materials writing.
The role is particularly suited to experienced education, curriculum development and public health professionals with practical experience translating curriculum requirements into effective classroom materials.
Consultancy Details
Position: Senior Consultant
Hiring Unit: Education
Location: Lilongwe, Malawi
Contract: Consultant
Duration: 40 days over six months
Expected period: November 2026–April 2027
Application deadline: 23 November 2026
UNESCO emphasizes core values including integrity, respect for diversity, professionalism, accountability, innovation, teamwork, planning and results focus.
How to Apply
Interested candidates must complete an online application through the UNESCO Careers website and provide complete and accurate information before the deadline. Applicants should note that applications cannot be modified after submission.
The selection process may include a pre-recorded video interview, written assessment, panel interview and reference checks.
This consultancy offers an opportunity for an experienced education or public health professional to contribute to curriculum implementation and strengthen Malawi’s capacity to deliver effective, inclusive and age-appropriate Health and Wellbeing Education.
