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UNESCO is inviting proposals from individuals and organizations for the following work assignment.

1. Background

The Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report is an editorially independent, evidence-based annual report hosted and published by UNESCO. Established in 2002, its current mandate derives from the 2015 World Education Forum and focuses on monitoring education in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the implementation of the strategies outlined in the Education 2030 Framework for Action. Accordingly, each report has two parts: 

• a monitoring part reviews the SDG 4 targets, education in the other SDGs and education finance.
• a thematic part focuses on a relevant theme in the international education agenda, which is selected by the GEM Report’s Advisory Board; the last six themes in the GEM Report series have been: education and the other SDGs (2016), accountability (2017/8), migration and displacement (2019), inclusion (2020), non-state actors (2021/2) and technology (2023). The theme of the 2024/5 report is leadership in education.

Between the 2019 and 2023 GEM Report cycles, practically all regions of the world were covered through regional reports that examined the theme of the global report in individual regions in partnership with regional organizations. Based on that experience, a new series of regional editions will be launched beginning from the 2024/5 GEM Report cycle, linked to specific aspects of the theme of the global report. The regional edition of the 2024/5 GEM Report will focus on leadership for inclusive education in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia. 

Leadership is at the heart of equitable and inclusive education. Leadership plays a key role in promoting an inclusive school culture based on social justice (). School leaders, including principals, middle-tier teachers and teachers, contribute to inclusion through the promotion of collaborative approaches, participatory practices in schools and diversity in learning environment (; ). Their collective actions and thinking can define and reinforce an inclusive school ethos (Kugelmass, 2003), where every actor, including students, teachers, parents and local community, feel they can contribute to an encouraging environment. Leadership is also a determinant of quality education. There is a growing belief that educational leadership is the second most important factor explaining learning outcomes, after classroom instruction.  

As highlighted in the  for the 2024/5 GEM Report, it is challenging to measure whether a school environment promotes inclusion, and how school leaders can influence that culture. In addition, as cultural outcome, it is often highly context dependent. Standards and practices of good leadership have emerged, at least partly informed by evidence.

2. Work and objectives

The Work will contribute to the development of a regional edition on leadership for inclusive education in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia. 

In doing so, the Work will:

• identify the characteristics of a school leader who can promote inclusive education and explore local perceptions of leadership for inclusive education;
• examine how school leaders are selected and appointed, and whether those characteristics that are supportive of inclusive education are also part of the selecting criteria;
• investigate what are working conditions and incentives that encourage school actors to become leaders in inclusive education;
• explore how pre-service training and professional development programmes and other interventions can strengthen the practice of leadership for inclusive education; and
• identify best practices of leadership for inclusive education in schools in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia.

The Work will consist of a combination of research and outreach activities. For the research part, the Work will rely both on secondary data and desk-based literature review and primary data collection, according to the methodology elaborated by the Contractor.

3. Outputs

The Work will consist of: 

3.1. Research activities:

• Research support to country case studies 

Provide research methodology and support to the data collection and analysis of at least 7 country case studies of approximately 10,000 words in selected countries in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia to ensure their research quality and comparability.

• Review of country case studies

Review at least 7 country case studies of approximately 10,000 words in selected countries in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia based on the above framework. The review will consider the state of the art, ensure quality and comparability, and identify major gaps in the country analysis.

• Review of the drafts of the regional edition, key messages and recommendations

Review the regional edition draft based on the above framework relative to the state of the art, ensure research rigour and quality, identify major gaps in the cross-country analysis, and help identify key messages and recommendations relevant for the region.

3.2. Outreach activities:

• Organise national and regional launch events and participation in co-hosted dialogues on the regional edition theme.
• Support with national and regional press and media outreach activities.
• Identify and support representatives from organizations and partners to act as media spokespeople. 

4. Timeline

The Contractor shall submit to the GEM Report team for its approval by:

Deliverables and timing:

1. A list of identified experts in the region for background research: 09.02.2024
2. Provide research support to 7 country case studies: 20.06.2024
3. Review of the first draft of 7 country case studies: 20.06.2024
4. Review of the final draft of 7 country case studies: 20.09.2024
5. Review of the regional edition draft, key messages and recommendations: 13.12.2024
6. Organization of at least 3 events for dissemination: 30.09.2025

5. Submission of proposals

The GEM Report team hereby invites interested individuals and organizations to contribute to the development of the 2025 regional edition on leadership for inclusive education in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia. 

A proposal should include: 

• A maximum 3-page technical proposal including: 
  • proposed methodology, including datasets, and workplan;
  • description of past research experience in this field and in the country/region; 
  • a financial proposal. 
• full CVs of expert(s) involved in the project, including academic record and list of publications, research grants and projects; 
• only for legal entities: proof of registration as a non-governmental/private organization including copies of registration certificate(s); please place the proposal on the organisation’s letterhead. 

The deadline for submission is 30 January 2024.

The following are the selection criteria: 

• Proven research record in leadership in education;
• Suitable research methodology for primary data collection and analysis in the proposed area;
• Experience in conducting country case studies and literature reviews;
• In-depth understanding of the education systems in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia;
• Proven engagement with relevant educational stakeholders in the region; and
• Capacity to carry out the assignment and to draft to a high standard in English.

Commissioning will take place in January/February 2024 and the Work commissioned is expected to be fully completed by September 2025. 

Please send your proposal in English along with the attachments in one PDF file to Ms Francesca Endrizzi (f.endrizzi@unesco.org), using the subject line 2023 Regional Edition in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Please also specify in your proposal if you are applying as an individual or an entity. 

Any requests for additional information should be addressed in writing to f.endrizzi@unesco.org. All responses to any queries or clarification requests are available to all applicants on the GEM Report website via this link by 12 January 2024.

Participation in this call for proposals does not guarantee that the organisation or individual expert will be ultimately selected.