Organization Mission

The Asia-Pacific region is home to almost two thirds of the world’s population and comprises countries of great economic, religious, political and cultural diversity.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has 46 Member States and two Associated Members in the Asia-Pacific and is present in those countries with a network of 14 field offices. Established in 1961, UNESCO Bangkok has a dual role as both the Regional Bureau for Education and as a Cluster Office.

As the Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau for Education, UNESCO Bangkok provides policy advice, technical assistance and capacity development support, to Member States and other UNESCO field offices in the region and facilitates knowledge partnership and networking in the area of education.

As a Cluster Office, UNESCO Bangkok is responsible for the implementation of all UNESCO programmes in the “Mekong” countries – in Thailand, Myanmar, Lao PDR, and Singapore, and in collaboration with UNESCO Country Offices in Hanoi (Viet Nam) and Phnom Penh (Cambodia).

UNESCO Bangkok also has an Antenna Office established in Yangon, Myanmar. Through this office, and in collaboration with the government of Myanmar, the Organization is able to develop programmes and take actions in the country.

Context

The UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok and Office for UN Coordination for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCO Bangkok) is exploring opportunities to strengthen understanding of local financing ecosystems and financing models that can 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 actors in Thailand. Particular attention will be given to financing approaches that can support equitable access to education, lifelong learning opportunities, and local implementation of SDG 4 alongside broader sustainable development objectives.

The findings will help inform UNESCO’s programmes, partnerships, research, and advocacy efforts related to education financing, sustainable development, local governance, and financing for development. The resulting analysis will serve as an evidence base for identifying opportunities, challenges, and innovative practices in local financing, including mechanisms that can strengthen education outcomes at the local level, notably through UNESCO Learning and Creative Cities. The Online Volunteer’s contribution will support UNESCO’s efforts to foster inclusive, resilient, and sustainable communities through evidence-based policymaking, strengthened local capacities, and enhanced investment in education and local development.

Key Responsibilities

We are looking for an Online Volunteer with experience in public finance, local governance, development financing, education financing, or economic research to support a short-term assignment on local financing in Thailand. Under the guidance of programme specialist, the Online Volunteer will support the mapping and analysis of financing models and financing mechanisms available to local governments and local development actors in Thailand, with particular attention to opportunities for supporting education and SDG achievement.

Specifically, the Online Volunteer will:
– Conduct a desk review of relevant literature, policy documents, reports, and databases related to local finance, education financing, and subnational financing in Thailand.
– Map 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.
– Identify and compile relevant quantitative and qualitative data from publicly available sources.
– Develop a structured inventory/database of financing mechanisms, including their characteristics, eligibility requirements, scale, and potential applications for local development and education initiatives.
– Assess 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.
– Analyze trends, opportunities, gaps, and challenges in local financing in Thailand.
– Identify examples of promising practices and innovative approaches that could support localized development, education outcomes, and SDG financing, including through UNESCO Learning and creative Cities.
– Prepare a concise analytical report (approximately 10-15 pages) summarizing findings, key trends, and recommendations for further exploration.

The Online Volunteer will be expected to provide regular progress updates and participate in periodic virtual check-ins with the project team.

Required Skills and Experience

Candidates should have demonstrated experience in public finance, local government finance, economics, education finance, development finance, fiscal decentralization, public policy, or related fields.
The ideal candidate should possess:
• Strong research, analytical, and data synthesis skills.
• Experience conducting desk reviews, data mapping, and policy analysis.
• Knowledge of local government systems, public financial management, fiscal decentralization, education financing, or development financing is highly desirable.
• Understanding of financing for sustainable development and SDG financing frameworks is an asset.
• Ability to present complex information in a concise and user-friendly format.
• Experience with Excel, data visualization tools, and analytical reporting.
• Familiarity with Thailand’s development context or Southeast Asia is desirable.
• Familiarity with UNESCO’s areas of work, particularly education and sustainable development, is an advantage.

• Advanced university degree in economics, public policy, public administration, finance, education, development studies, or a related field.