The role 

We are currently looking for CSESI Climate Finance Consultant, based in Laos.

Background

The Climate Smart Education System Initiative (CSESI) was launched in early 2023 by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) in partnership with Save the Children, UNESCO Education for Sustainable Development Section and UNESCO-IIEP and is implemented in around 35 countries. The initiative seeks to enhance countries’ capacities to mainstream climate change adaptation and environmental sustainability into education sector plans, budgets and strategies as well as to enhance education ministry capacity for cross sectoral coordination on climate and environment-related policy and programming. This involves developing scalable models for this integration and fostering collaboration across all levels to create an environment conducive to building resilience among children and within the education sector.

There is significant need and opportunity to support the education sector in accessing climate finance given the limited investment in adaptation for this sector. Laos’s access to climate finance is limited because its sovereignty is not recognized by Laos or any foreign government. This activity seeks to build climate finance capacity within Laos and identify potential funding sources for the region. The relevant government departments currently need to build their technical and institutional capacity to effectively integrate climate resilience considerations into the education sector planning, particularly in areas such as climate-resilient infrastructure, green building practices, energy conservation, and carbon footprint reduction. Climate change components need to be prioritized in domestic budget allocations and effectively leveraged through international funding opportunities, which presents particular challenges in the context of Laos. The relevant government stakeholders as well as civil society actors need to have stronger familiarity and awareness of the global climate funds and potential pathways to access those funds. A joint concept note on education and climate change could include a focus on the differential impacts of climate change on girls, boys and children with disabilities. This concept note would act as a shared advocacy and influencing tool to support the education sector to come together and access climate finance.

Purpose

To support this effort, the consultant ‘s main task is to support the education sector in Laos to be ready to access climate finance: These activities will support the education sector in Laos to identify climate finance opportunities and develop a roadmap to access such opportunities. In addition, a design workshop will facilitate preparation of a concept note that clearly highlights education sector priorities already outlined in the guiding documents in Laos on climate change and education.  The main two components of this are:

• Climate finance training and Development of Roadmap for Education sector
• Development of GCF Concept Note for a specific project focused on climate resilience in the education sector of Laos with key stakeholders

 

Specifically, this includes:

• Lead development of climate finance training as part of the wider Roadmap development workshop utilising the completed Climate Finance Landscape report and other SC templates
• Leading and facilitating Roadmap stakeholder engagements (KII, FGD, discussions) and workshop to inform the Roadmap Report
• Development of Roadmap report (utilising SC template)
• Undertake Concept Note development workshops (in collaboration with SC CSESI team guidance and support) with key outputs being clear write-up of government priorities and proposed interventions, outcome > outputs > activities mapping into a draft theory of change (ToC) for review and pre-feasibility study
• Development of Concept Note (CN) draft incorporating SC feedback and comments

 

Consultant Tasks

Under the supervision of Save the Children Australia’s Senior Advisor for Climate Change and Education Financing and the climate change and education focal points from Save the Children International’s Laos Office, the consultant(s) or firm will carry out the following activities:

1.1 Climate finance and Roadmap workshop with Laos Education Sector Stakeholders: Utilising the already completed climate finance landscape report and other SC training materials, develop and facilitate a Climate Finance and Roadmap Development Workshop including basic climate finance training, overview of the landscape and development of the roadmap with key stakeholders and partners of the Education Sector. Initial key informant interviews and discussions should also inform which climate finance funds and mechanisms exist that Laos is eligible to access, mapping of active donors in Laos that either have climate finance of their own (through bilateral mechanisms or arrangements). The Roadmap Workshop aim is to inform the development of draft Roadmap for Laos pipeline in the future with targets, roles and responsibilities and next steps. It is proposed for April 2026. The UNESCO IIEP-produced Strategy, where relevant, will help inform the Roadmap.

1.2 Roadmap for climate finance: With the MoES, lead preparation of a climate finance roadmap for the education sector. Follow up with bilateral and group meetings to explore the education sector’s climate needs, where these have been costed, and through primary and secondary research gather information on needs, existing costs and identify any climate finance gap that can be addressed through projects.  Identify top priorities for funding and develop a pipeline of project. Prepare report summarizing training workshop and bilateral discussion conclusions on priorities and costs, including information about the climate finance gap and outstanding capacity building needs. This would involve data analysis, identifying and interviewing key donors in Laos for potential co- and parallel finance, in addition to the multilateral climate funds. The final roadmap would be a shared product owned by the MoES.  Save the Children would also contribute to the preparation of this deliverable by providing a template, engaging in initial consultations for the development of the roadmap, and reviewing drafts.

1.3 GCF Climate Project Design workshop: Plan and facilitate 2 workshop(s) with key stakeholders to design a project concept in accordance with Save the Children guidance including problem statement linked to   to proposed intervention description and mapping of outcome/outputs /activities into a draft Theory of Change. Save the Children would engage on this as well, facilitating access to key stakeholders and providing insight based on technical expertise of the education sector in Laos.

1.4 GCF Concept note on climate change and education: Based on the design workshop, draft a concept note that builds on the climate change and education priorities already outlined in the guiding documents in Laos and incorporates gender, disability and social inclusion. The concept note should be completed on SC-provided templates. The consultant will be responsible for all components of this drafting of Concept Note except the technical climate section of pre-feasibility and ESS section (which will be drafted by SC).

Key Deliverables:

The expected timeframe for the deliverables:

Deliverable	Month 1 (Apr 2026)	Month 2 (May 2026)	Month 3 (Jun 2026)	Month 4 (Jul 2026)
1. Stakeholder Engagement (KII, FGD, discussions) on in preparation for Roadmap workshop and Roadmap development (in collaboration with SCI country office)	X
2. Climate Finance Roadmap Workshop (numbers of days and venue to be confirmed)	X (or late April)
3. Completed Climate finance roadmap for education sector in Laos including results from Roadmap workshop and submission of final Roadmap (inclusive of SC review comments from draft Roadmap) validated by government / key stakeholders		X
4. Design workshop planning and delivery with clear output of problem definition, draft theory of change inclusive of activities > outputs > outcome; and partners. Facilitate Design Workshop to inform draft Concept Note.		X
5. GCF Concept note development (and Annexes) and completion for specific climate change and education project for the education sector in Laos: To be drafted as per SC template incorporating problem statement linked with key intervention summary, draft theory of change (detailing proposed outcome, outputs, activities), risks and partners.			X	X

 

 

*GCF CN template consists of:

Annex 1 – Summary Template (10–14 pages): Consultant to develop with SC & CSESI support and review, Completed GCF CN summary template for review & submission, Aiming for May/June 2026

Annex 2 – Pre-Feasibility: SC to draft Climate Change Context; Consultant to write Project Overview sections. Completed Annex 2 (PFS) for review & submission May 2026, Validation completed by June 2026

Annex 3 – Environmental & Social Safeguards (ESS), SC ESS Adviser (Jun), Completed ESS assessment, after Draft CN & annexes (May 2026)

Annex 4 – Theory of Change: Consultant to draft 1-page ToC diagram – DRAFT post-workshop in April 2026 for internal review, Final (incorporating SC feedback comments) by May 2026.

Expected Outputs

Deliverables

• Climate finance roadmap workshop and Roadmap report for the education sector in Laos (on SC template): Consultant leads Workshop delivery for context & Facilitation, Workshop report; Draft Roadmap priorities, funders and co-finance partners (Consultant in writing up Workshop); Completed Roadmap Report.
• Design workshop for project concept note development: Completed stakeholder engagement in preparation for workshop; GCF CN Workshop with written record of agreed problem statement, intervention descriptions, project outcome, outputs and activities (facilitated by consultant), Confirmed Government priorities; draft ToC for validation.
• GCF Concept note and Annexes on climate change and education project for the education sector in Laos.

 

Qualifications and Experience

The selected consultants will have to demonstrate:

• Excellent research, analytical and writing capacities.
• Strong knowledge of education and climate change or other environmental issues in Laos.
• Excellent understanding of climate finance processes.
• Experience developing and facilitating workshops and proposal writing processes – preferably for GCF or other climate funding mechanisms.
• Experience designing projects and preparing concept notes for major donors, preferably on climate adaptation and resilience or education.
• Strong speaking and writing skills in English.

The consultants will be selected based on:

• Cost-effective fee
• Relevant experience and ability to complete the deliverables in the timeframe stipulated

Proven Experience:

• Demonstrated experience in conducting similar work in the education or climate change / environmental sectors.
• Experience working in fragile, conflict-affected, or low-resource settings is an advantage.
• Familiarity with Laos’s institutional, policy, and education landscape is strongly preferred.

Management of Consultant: 

• The consultant/firm team will report to the Save the Children Australia Manager and have close interaction with Save the Children Laos, specifically with the education lead person and the relevant line ministries.

Timeline:  

• Approximately April – July 2026 (4 months)

 

Contract length: 4 Months (Fixed term)

 

The Organisation

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

 

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

 

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children.  We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

 

Application Information:

 

Interested candidates please submit a full application as mentioned below as a single document including and a copy of your ID card (To HR Department hr.laos@savethechildren.org )

 

Require information that should submitted by interested candidates:

•  Technical proposal (understanding of ToR, methodology, workplan)

•  Financial proposal (working day rate, estimated costs)

•  CV and relevant references

•  Samples of at least two similar works 

 

Please indicate the position you apply on email subject.

 

Closing date for applications is 25^th March 2026. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

 

Save the Children International is a child-rights based organization. Safe recruitment is central to the safeguarding of children and young people that we come into contact with, and support through our programmes.

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Save the children is an equal opportunities employer, qualified females, persons with disability and candidates from diverse cultural backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.