Consultancy: Consultant, Foundational Learning Consultant – Req. #573967

Working in close coordination with the Education Specialist (Primary Education), the Senior Advisor of Education (Systems Strengthening) and Programme Teams as well as Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO), West and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO), target Country Offices (COs) and other internal and external stakeholders, the Foundational Learning Consultant provides technical support in:
• Monitoring and reporting of foundational learning program: Supporting monitoring and reporting of the Scaling-up Remedial Education Program funded by the GATES Foundation.
• Consolidating and disseminating best practices on foundational learning: systematically gather, synthesize, and share best practices in foundational learning interventions to inform policy, practice, and programming globally. The consultant will lead efforts to consolidate existing knowledge, identify emerging trends, and disseminate actionable insights to relevant stakeholders.
• Facilitating Cross-Country Learning Exchange: Facilitate learning exchange and peer-to-peer collaboration among countries implementing foundational learning focused education programs to share experiences, lessons learned, and innovative practices.Advancing UNICEF’s technical leadership on foundational learning: Strengthen UNICEF’s thought leadership in implementing foundational learning programs.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, hope.

Consultancy Title: Foundational Learning Consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station: Education/ ADAP Section, Programme Division, NYHQ

Duration: 1 September 2024 to 31 December 2026

Home/ Office Based: NYHQ / Remote 

About UNICEF 

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world’s leading children’s rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection and development. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

The Education Section of Programme Group (PG) at New York Headquarters (NYHQ) requires the services of a Foundational Learning Consultant to support the implementation of the Scaling-up Remedial Education Program  initiated in 2022 as a three-year partnership between  UNICEF and the GATES Foundation.  The Program  aims to  provide  technical and operational support to 17 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to address the learning crisis -the epicenter of the learning crisis where an estimated 90% of 10 children are unable to read with comprehension by age 10. ( UNICEF, UNESCO, World Bank, USAID, FCDO, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. 2022. Review of The State of Global Learning Poverty: 2022 Update. ) – to .

Three countries – Ghana, South Africa, and Zambia – were selected for high priority intervention as they had already initiated their work addressing the learning crisis through remedial programming in their national education systems. In Ghana, this is the Differential learning model; in South Africa, the Structured learning programme; and in Zambia, the Catch-up programme. The remediation program intended to plug in any gaps and provide direction/guidance to the exiting government programme on the ground. In that sense this is not a stand-alone or new programme.

Additionally, 14 mid-support countries receive tailored support through technical agencies recruited at two UNICEF Regional offices (East and Southern Africa and West and Central Africa) to enhance their existing foundational learning initiatives, ensuring a broader impact across the region. At the global and regional levels, UNICEF has mobilized technical expertise and resources, fostering cross-country collaboration and sharing best practices to amplify the programme’s reach and effectiveness.

Since in all countries the intervention builds on existing initiatives, the task is to increase its effectiveness and reach. Focus is placed on ensuring technical rigor, particularly in relation to improving pedagogy/ instruction and embedding approaches to doing this through government systems. The programme components are aligned to the five components of UNICEF’s RAPID Framework: Reach, Assess, Prioritize, Increase instruction support and practices; Develop children’s social and emotional skills-required to accelerate foundational learning. Additionally, the programme, to the extent possible, considers strategies to address needs of children with disabilities as well as mental health and psycho-social needs of learners.

Expected Results

The percentage of children who are unable to read with understanding and do math at age-appropriate levels in intervention areas of the three targeted countries reduced by half by 2025.

Outputs:

1. Remediation programme implemented at scale in three countries.

2. Assess learning and use results to guide teaching.

3. Classroom teaching practices in math and reading improved.

4. All learners in targeted areas attend classes regularly and access effective remedial learning practices and resources.

The outputs from this consultancy will  contribute to global public good dissemination, global advocacy and knowledge management on foundational learning, and enhancement of UNICEF’s thought leadership in foundational learning.

Scope of Work:

Working in close coordination with the Education Specialist (Primary Education), the Senior Advisor of Education (Systems Strengthening) and Programme Teams as well as Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO), West and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO), target Country Offices (COs) and other internal and external stakeholders, the Foundational Learning Consultant provides technical support in:

• Monitoring and reporting of foundational learning program: Supporting monitoring and reporting of the Scaling-up Remedial Education Program funded by the GATES Foundation.

• Consolidating and disseminating best practices on foundational learning: systematically gather, synthesize, and share best practices in foundational learning interventions to inform policy, practice, and programming globally. The consultant will lead efforts to consolidate existing knowledge, identify emerging trends, and disseminate actionable insights to relevant stakeholders.

• Facilitating Cross-Country Learning Exchange: Facilitate learning exchange and peer-to-peer collaboration among countries implementing foundational learning focused education programs to share experiences, lessons learned, and innovative practices.Advancing UNICEF’s technical leadership on foundational learning: Strengthen UNICEF’s thought leadership in implementing foundational learning programs.

The Primary Education team in Education Section does not have funding to cover all planned activities that continue until the end of 2026. Some deliverables are planned to be completed if additional resources become available. 

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Assignment 1: Monitoring and reporting of foundational learning program: Supporting monitoring and reporting of the BMGF Scaling-up Remedial Education Program    Deliverable 1-1: 14 Status reports on remediation programme in BMGF programme support countries     20 Sept 2024- through 20 October 2025

Deliverable 1-2: annual report for the BMGF scaling remedial education programme 1-Nov-24

Deliverable 1-3:  annual report for the BMGF scaling remedial education programme 1-Nov-25

Deliverable 1-4: 10 Status reports on remediation programme in BMGF programme support countries – 20 Jan 2026- through 20 October 2026

Deliverable 1-5:  annual report for the BMGF scaling remedial education programme 1-Nov-26

Assignment 2: Consolidation and dissemination of best practices on foundational learning: systematically gather, synthesize, and share best practices in foundational learning interventions to inform policy, practice, and programming globally. The consultant will lead efforts to consolidate existing knowledge, identify emerging trends, and disseminate actionable insights to relevant stakeholders.       

Deliverable 2-1: 4 detailed case studies related to foundational learning. – First- 30 Dec 2024, second- 30 April 2025, third- 31 July 2025, fourth-30 October 2025

Deliverable 2-2: 2 blogs highlighting issues related to foundational learning. – First-28 Feb 2025; Second- Aug 2025

Deliverable 2-3: 4 issues of the “Foundational Learning First” quarterly newsletter – First:30 Nov 2024, second-31 March 2025, third-30 June 2025; fourth-Oct 2025

Deliverable 2-4: 2 blogs highlighting issues related to foundational learning. – First-28 Feb 2026; second-30 August 2026

Deliverable 2-5: 4 issues of the “Foundational Learning First” quarterly newsletter – First- 28 February 2026, second-31 May 2026, third-Aug 2026; fourth-30 Nov 2026

Deliverable 2-6: 4 detailed case studies related to foundational learning. – First- 30 Dec 2024, second- 30 April 2025, third- 31 July 2025, fourth-30 October 2025

Assignment 3: Facilitating Cross-Country Learning Exchange: Facilitate learning exchange and peer-to-peer collaboration among countries implementing foundational learning focused education programs to share experiences, lessons learned, and innovative practices.        

Deliverable 3-1: 1 deep dive session for the Foundational Learning Education Priority Technical Team meeting            – 30-Jun-25

Deliverable 3-2: 1 Yammer deep dive on foundational learning – 31-Aug-25

Deliverable 3-3: Synthesis report on cost analysis and effectiveness of foundational learning program – 30-Sep-25

Deliverable 3-4: Synthesis report on UNICEF’s global foundational learning programs with mapping of interventions and review of evidence – 30-Aug-25

Deliverable 3-5: Virtual/In-person meeting technical session conceptualisation and report – 30-Nov-24

Deliverable 3-6: 1 deep dive session for the Foundational Learning Education Priority Technical Team meeting – 31-Mar-26

Deliverable 3-7: 1 Yammer deep dive on foundational learning- 31-Jul-26

Assignment 4: Advance UNICEF’s technical leadership on foundational learning: Strengthen UNICEF’s thought leadership in implementing foundational learning programs           

Deliverable 4-1: Policy brief on importance of addressing linguistic barriers for foundational learning – 28-Feb-25

Deliverable 4-2: One policy brief on foundational learning  – 30-Nov-25

Deliverable 4-3: Technical donor pitch (or technical brief) on UNICEF’s foundational learning programming – 30-Aug-25

Deliverable 4-4: One policy brief on foundational learning  – 30-Jun-26

Deliverable 4-5: Technical donor pitch (funding proposal) on UNICEF’s foundational learning programming –            31-Jul-26

Deliverable 4-6: Synthesis report on best practices in scaling foundational learning including gender related strategies  – 30-Sep-26

Qualifications

Education:

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree) in Education, Child Development, International Development, Psychology, Social Sciences or a related field

Work experience:

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

Work experience

• Minimum of 5 years progressively responsible relevant work experience in education programme planning, management or research

• Strong education policy and sector analysis capacity and demonstrated results with education policy dialogue

• Strong understanding of Primary education with particular focus on foundational learning through applied work or academic experience.

• Familiarity with pedagogical approaches, learning outcomes, assessment and teacher support.

• Knowledge of international development, humanitarian issues and children’s rights.

• Knowledge of the United Nations system or other international organizations are an asset.

Language:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) is considered as an asset.

Others:

• Demonstrated strong communication, presentation and writing skills are essential – a clear, concise, compelling writing style, which is adaptable for difference audiences, including mainstream public.

• Strong verbal communication skills, interpreting and condensing technical language or complicated global issues for different audiences.

• Strategic thinking and critical analysis.

• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment.

• Commitment and drive, with a clear focus on results.

• Positive, proactive, ‘can-do’ approach.

• Ability to juggle competing priorities, whilst maintaining attention to detail and meeting deadlines.

• Creative and innovative.

• Familiarity with UNICEF and its systems and ways of working is an advantage.

Requirements: 

Completed profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system and

– Upload copy of academic credentials

– Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :

• • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability

– Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.

– At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.

– Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants. Consultants are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.