Research, Mapping and Analysis Associate

Mission and objectives

UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It seeks to build peace through international cooperation in education, sciences, and culture. UNESCO's programmes contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in the 2030 Agenda, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015. UNESCO's Regional Office in Bangkok serves as the regional hub for Asia and the Pacific, supporting United Nations coordination and leading efforts toward the achievement of SDG 4, which aims to ensure inclusive, equitable, and quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. The Office implements UNESCO's six programme areas: education, natural sciences, ocean sciences, social and human sciences, culture, and communication and information across Afghanistan, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam. National-level activities are carried out through UNESCO National Offices in Phnom Penh, Ha Noi, and Kabul, as well as the Antenna Office in Yangon. Within the Education Section, the Inclusive and Equitable Learning Team advances equitable access to education, with a particular focus on out-of-school children and youth, as well as adults with limited educational opportunities. UNESCO Bangkok also promotes learning cities and learning communities as a means of upholding education as a fundamental human right and fostering lifelong learning for all.

Context

The UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok and Office for UN Coordination in Asia and the Pacific (UNESCO Bangkok) is exploring opportunities to strengthen understanding of local financing ecosystems and financing models that support sustainable local development, quality education, and the localization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This assignment will contribute to UNESCO's work on education financing, evidence generation, policy dialogue, and local development by mapping and analyzing financing mechanisms available to local governments and other local stakeholders in Thailand. Particular attention will be given to financing approaches that can enhance equitable access to quality education, lifelong learning opportunities, and the local implementation of SDG 4, while also contributing to broader sustainable development objectives. The findings will inform UNESCO's programmes, partnerships, research, and advocacy efforts related to education financing, local governance, sustainable development, and financing for development. The resulting analysis will provide an evidence base for identifying opportunities, challenges, and innovative practices in local financing, including mechanisms that can strengthen education outcomes at the local level, particularly through UNESCO Learning Cities and Creative Cities initiatives. Through this assignment, the UN Volunteer will support UNESCO's efforts to foster inclusive, resilient, and sustainable communities by promoting evidence-based policymaking, strengthening local capacities, and encouraging greater investment in education and local development.

Task Description

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Education Section, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks : - Support a desk review of relevant literature, policy documents, reports, and databases related to local finance, education financing, and subnational financing in Thailand. - Contribute to mapping of key financing models, mechanisms, and instruments used by local governments, including public finance, fiscal transfers, local revenue generation, borrowing mechanisms, public-private partnerships, philanthropy, and innovative financing approaches. - Support in identification and compilation of relevant quantitative and qualitative data from publicly available sources. - Assist in developing a structured inventory or database of financing mechanisms, including their characteristics, eligibility criteria, scale, and potential applications for local development and education initiatives. - Support in assessing the extent to which identified financing mechanisms and local financing models can support education development priorities, including equitable access to quality education, lifelong learning opportunities, skills development, and local implementation of SDG 4. - Contribute to analysis of trends, opportunities, gaps, and challenges in Thailand’s local financing landscape. - Support in identification of examples of promising practices and innovative approaches that could support localized development, improved education outcomes, and SDG financing, including through UNESCO Learning Cities and Creative Cities initiatives. - Contributing to preparation of a concise analytical report summarizing findings, key trends, and recommendations for further exploration. The UN Volunteer will be expected to provide regular progress updates and participate in periodic meetings with the Education team.

Competencies and values

- Accountability - Adaptability and Flexibility - Commitment and Motivation - Communication - Ethics and Values - Integrity - Knowledge Sharing - Planning and Organizing - Professionalism - Respect for Diversity -Technological Awareness - Working in Teams

Living conditions and remarks

Thailand is located in Southeast Asia. The climate is tropical, with the monsoon season running from May/June through October/November. Bangkok is the capital of Thailand, and it is also the most populated city in the country. It is located in the Chao Phraya River delta in the central part of the country. Bangkok has an estimated population of 5.5 million as of 2022. Over the past decades, Bangkok has grown rapidly with little urban planning or regulation. This has led to traffic congestion and air pollution, and there is frequent flooding of streets during the rainy season in the City’s low-lying areas. The cost of living in Thailand is relatively low, as compared to many other capitals in Southeast Asia. Housing is widely available in various sizes and at various price points. Many condos are wheelchair accessible. Private healthcare in Thailand is of excellent standard, and there are numerous top hospitals in Bangkok, which fall far below countries like the US in terms of price. There are numerous high-quality international schools available in Bangkok, with English as the language of instruction. Security threat level for most of Thailand has been assessed as minimal or low.