Consultancy: Sport for Development (S4D) Expert, Athens, Greece Country Office (Home-based)

UNICEF Country Office in Greece is seeking to recruit a Sport for Development (S4D) expert, who, in collaboration with the relevant sections and partners, will provide technical guidance for programming and policy advisory services of the GCO in relation to sport-based interventions.

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, SUPPORT

Under the guidance of the UNICEF Programme team, the incumbent will support the National Action Against Childhood Obesity in Greece. This support will encompass the design, piloting, dissemination, and implementation of a sport-based methodology in schools and sports academies, aimed at enhancing knowledge and skills related to healthy eating and physical activity among children and adolescents.

Using team sports such as basketball, football, and volleyball, the program will teach crucial life skills including self-control, healthy decision-making, goal setting, and perseverance. Additionally, it will aim to prevent harmful behaviors, such as alcohol and tobacco consumption, substance abuse, and overeating. Beyond the immediate physical benefits of sports, the methodology will provide children with practical tools to make healthy decisions, resist peer pressure, and manage stress, which they will carry into adulthood.

The development of this methodology will align with the broader goals of the National Action Against Childhood Obesity in Greece, follow international best practices, and involve collaboration with key stakeholders, including sports associations and federations, physical education departments, , the National Network of Associated Organizations of the General Secretariat of Public Health, the Institute of Educational Policy and others.

How can you make a difference? 

Work Assignment Overview

1. Literature and Practice Review
• Review existing research and publications on sport-based interventions for promoting healthy lifestyles and preventing harmful behaviors among children and adolescents.
• Analyze international best practices and case studies relevant to sport for development (S4D) programmes and the status of physical education in schools.
• Map and evaluate existing sport programmes and methodologies in Greece focused on childhood obesity, healthy eating, and physical activity
• Identify gaps and areas for improvement, including in the area of physical education in schools.

Deliverable/Output: One short summary report detailing literature review findings and global best practices, including recommendations for adapting these practices to the Greek context.

2. Consultation with Sports Associations and Federations, Physical Education University Departments and S4D Experts
• Identify key stakeholders and establish communication channels.
• Engage with experts, organize consultations and stakeholder meetings to gather insights, recommendations, and feedback on the proposed sport-based methodology and ensure alignment with the broader goals of National Action Against Childhood Obesity in Greece as well as with national goals and standards.
• Engage with the MoERAS on the developments concerning the profession of the physical education teacher and relevant curricula

Deliverable/Output: One short consultation summary report documenting insights, recommendations, and feedback gathered from experts and stakeholders guiding the development of the methodology.

3. Methodology Design and Piloting

• Design* a comprehensive methodology integrating multiple team sports (basketball, football, volleyball, etc.) to teach life skills and promote healthy behaviors.
• Ensure the methodology covers self-control, healthy decision-making, goal setting, perseverance, and the prevention of harmful behaviors (alcohol, tobacco, substance abuse, overeating).
• Refine the methodology based on feedback from consultations with experts and stakeholders.
• Refine the methodology based on small scale pilot in select schools/sport academies.

*The design process involves adapting existing methodologies to fit the national context and address the specific needs and objectives of the National Action against Childhood Obesity.

Deliverables/Outputs: A detailed description of the proposed methodology including:
• Explanation of how each sports session will contribute to teaching specific life skills (self-control, healthy decision-making, goal setting, perseverance).
• Strategies for addressing and preventing harmful behaviors such as alcohol and substance abuse, tobacco use, and overeating through sports activities.
• Structured curriculum outline that includes modules for each life skill (self-control, decision-making, goal setting, perseverance).
• Sample lesson plans and activities for each team sport, emphasizing practical application of life skills.

4. Teacher’s / Coach’s Guidebook Development

Create Guidebook Content

• Develop detailed content for a teacher’s guidebook, including lesson plans, activities, and instructional strategies.
• Ensure the guidebook is user-friendly and practical for Physical Education teachers and sport academy coaches

Review and Edit

• Review the guidebook with input from educators and experts to ensure accuracy and effectiveness.

Deliverable/Output: A teacher’s guidebook with lesson plans, activities and instructional strategies adjusted to different age groups.

5. Training Materials Development

Training of Trainers (ToT) Materials

• Develop comprehensive ToT materials, including presentations, training manuals, and practical activity guides.
• Ensure materials are aligned with the sport-based methodology and the teacher’s guidebook
• Pilot test the ToT Materials with a small group of trainers and gather feedback for refinement.

Video-based Asynchronous Training Materials

• Support the development of an instructional video series to provide asynchronous training on the sport-based methodology for Physical Education teachers. The video series will be accompanied by supplementary materials and a mechanism for collecting feedback. All asynchronous training materials will be uploaded onto an existing training platform.

Deliverables/Outputs:
• A ToT package including presentations, training manuals, and practical activity guides
• A series of structured video modules covering the following aspects of the sport-based methodology:
a) Introduction to the methodology and its objectives.
b) Detailed explanation of each life skill addressed (self-control, healthy decision-making, goal setting, perseverance, prevention of harmful behaviors).
c) Practical demonstrations of implementing the methodology through basketball, football, volleyball, etc.
d) Guidance on integrating the methodology into existing curriculum and lesson plans.
e) Tips for effectively managing and engaging students during sports activities.
f) Strategies for evaluating student progress and outcomes.
• Supplementary materials to accompany the video modules, such as slide decks or presentations used in the videos, reading materials, including the teacher’s guidebook, additional resources, and links for further exploration, quizzes, or assessments to reinforce learning objectives.
• A feedback mechanism for collecting feedback from teachers and coaches who complete the training to iterate and improve the video content and training materials.

6. TOT Delivery and Promotion of the Use of the S4D Methodology at the school and community level ToT Delivery:

• Deliver face to face and online Training of Trainers sessions to sports academy coaches, schoolteachers, counselors, and MoE staff responsible for Health Education, Sustainable Schools, and School Activities across different regions to support the roll out of the methodology in schools and sports academies.

Community Collaboration:

• Collaborate with the National Network of Associated Organizations of the General Secretariat of Public Health to advance the use of the methodology within schools and the broader community.

Deliverables/Outputs:
• Summary of face-to-face and online ToT sessions, including participant lists and attendance.
• Agendas, materials, and evaluation results.
• Recorded online sessions and supplementary resources.
• Community Collaboration Plan outlining strategies and timelines for promoting the methodology in schools and communities.
• Regular updates on collaborative activities and impact.
• Promotion Materials including flyers, brochures, and digital content for awareness campaigns.

7. Deliver online mass capacity building seminar to reach PE teachers in schools and sport academy coaches.

Deliverables/Outputs:
• Summary of face-to-face and online ToT sessions, including participant lists and attendance.
• Agendas, materials, and evaluation results.
• Recorded online sessions and supplementary resources.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Social Sciences, Economics or relevant areas.
• A minimum of 7 years of relevant professional work experience in education, with a preference for physical education, or a related field.
• Demonstrated knowledge in designing and implementing sport based methodologies for skills development.
• Practical experience in project management highly desirable.
• Excellent writing, analytical, communication and negotiating skills. 
• Excellent team working skills and respect for diversity.
• Fluency in Greek and in English

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants are invited to:

a. Complete their UNICEF profile

b. Attach relevant academic degrees, latest CV and motivation letter

c. Samples of previous work (links or attachments)

d. Indicate a lump-sum amount quoted in Euro for the whole assignment. The amount should be provided per deliverable by completing the consultancy financial proposal table.

 Consultancy Financial Offer S4D.xlsx

PLEASE NOTE THAT APPLICATIONS FROM CANDIDATES WHO DO NOT SUBMIT A FINANCIAL PROPOSAL TABLE WILL BE CONSIDERED INCOMPLETE AND WILL NOT BE FURTHER REVIEWED.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

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. 

Remarks:  

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract 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 and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors 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. 

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants 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.