We are extending by a week our call for expressions of interest from individuals and organizations to contribute a background paper for the 2024/5 GEM Report on leadership and education.

Each year, around 30 background papers are externally commissioned to fill in research gaps in the GEM Report. From contracting to finalizing, their time frame ranges between 6 and 9 months. Over the years, papers have spanned a wide range of topics, contributing to the understanding of the report themes. The papers are released when the report is launched each year, e.g. the background papers of the 2021/2 report can be found on this page.

A Q&A with responses to queries or requests for clarification related to the call is also available.

The deadline for submitting proposals for the 2024 GEM Report has now been extended until 14 April 2023 with notifications of outcomes given on 28 April 2023. Commissioning will take place in May 2023 and papers commissioned are expected to be completed by December 2023.

As described in the concept note, the 2024/5 GEM Report will focus on 5 thematic areas, organized under 3 main parts, across all levels of education, from early childhood to adulthood.

Leadership within education institutions

1. School leadership roles and standards

• Skills (related to people, instruction and organization) and contexts related to enacting leadership.
• Evidence on the impact of leadership (and of leader characteristics) on the achievement of individual and community education outcomes
• Standards of school leadership and links to governance and accountability regimes

2. Policies on school leader selection, preparation, development

• Appointment processes and practices, talent management systems, alternative paths, locally and central decisions and requirements
• Working conditions, remuneration, non-pecuniary incentives and workplace satisfaction
• Initial preparation programmes, characteristics (duration, timing, sector, location, modality, content, coaching and mentoring), and impact
• Professional development programmes (coverage, offer of practicums, responsiveness to the needs, emphasis on instructional leadership, and the degree of formality as opposed to more collaborative approaches)

3. Teachers, community and school leaders

• Middle leaders (curriculum or grade)
• School management committees and boards
• Students leadership

Leadership at the education system level

4. System leaders at local and central level

• District education officers, inspectors, supervisors, superintendents
• Ministries of education and national implementation agency officials

Leadership outside the education system

5. Political and non-state leaders

• Political leaders (executive and legislative) vision and tradeoffs with short-term considerations (tenures, coalitions vested interests)
• International organization influence in inspiring education change
• Non-state actors: civil society organizations, activists, teacher unions, employer organizations, think tanks and academics, intellectuals, media

How to apply

The paper should preferably have a comparative regional or global geographical scope and could refer to any level of education, from early childhood to adulthood.

An expression of interest should include:

• A maximum 3-page technical proposal aligned with either one of the above themes or a theme under the open category, including:
  • proposed methodology (and data, if relevant);
  • brief description of past research experience in this field;
  • a financial proposal;
    (background papers tend to be about 8,000 words long)
  • geographical scope, and
  • a suggested timeline and workplan.
• full CVs of those involved, including academic record and list of publications, research grants and projects;
• only for legal entities: proof of registration as a non-governmental/private organisation including copies of registration certificate(s); please place the proposal on the organisation’s letterhead.

Please take note of these selection criteria:

• Proven research record in the proposed area
• Consistency of the approach outlined in the concept note and alignment of the expression of interest with one or more of the above themes
• Capacity of the organisation or individual expert to implement the project based on the track record and past experiences
• Comprehensiveness of the project proposal, including the workplan and budget
• Capacity to draft to a high standard in English or French

Send your expression of interest in English or French by 14 April 2023 (midnight CEST) along with the attachments in one PDF file to gemrpost@unesco.org, using the subject line EOI 2024/5 GEM Report.

Please also specify in your proposal if you are applying as an individual or an entity.