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: Field Support Consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station: Generation Unlimited, Programme Division, NYHQ

Duration1 October  2024 to 30 September 2025

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:

 Under the direct supervision of the Senior Advisor, Country Support, under the overall guidance of the Deputy Director, Programmes and in close collaboration with the Girls Education and Skilling Partnership (GESP) Manager while engaging with the wider GenU Programme team, the consultant will provide bespoke services and products to countries and regions already implementing- or in the process of establishing the full GenU model (Public Private Youth Partnership Governance structure and programme delivery) and/or delivering GenU related programmes to increase these countries ability to develop or deliver on their GenU agenda. The consultant will collaborate across the GenU Global Team and UNICEF Programme Group to strengthen Country Offices’ and Regional Offices’ ability to effectively develop their GenU agenda and operationalize programme delivery plus monitor plans intending to impact young people within the learning to earning and social impact space, in line with the GenU Strategy which is linked to the UNICEF SP.

Scope of Work:

• Conduct qualitative research from priority countries on bottlenecks/requirements/opportunities for them to advance the GenU agenda to towards maximizing the efficiency and impact of their partnership base/governance structure for resources and impact.
• Convene strategic inter-departmental consultations to inform and develop support plan to countries offices and regional offices, including around resource mobilization and on global programmes
• Deliver on specific support plans to countries and regions on youth-focused programming around learning to earning and social impact.
• Facilitate existing GenU countries to articulate/update their GenU theory of change and results framework based on consultations.
• Update and finalize “self-starter kit” consisting of key GenU documents and tools for countries that want to engage with GenU.
• Advance knowledge exchange and support the GenU Community of Practice to maximize learning from other GenU examples/models through documentation and sensitization.
• Develop knowledge products like case studies on GenU country operating models and programmes.
• Inform and support development of Annual Results Reports, as well as documents for senior management.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Develop and conduct survey to assess support needs assessment of GenU countries, with focus on GESP Countries

• 1 survey is developed and conducted to consult countries.
• 5 follow-up calls with select countries.
• 1 call with each Regional Office.
• 1 strategy report is produced reflecting survey findings and defining next steps.

31 November 2024

Survey Seven Regional Offices, recommend bespoke approaches.

• 7 Regional Offices are surveyed.
• 7 Regional Offices have GenU plan.

31 December 2024

Develop bespoke plans to meet these needs based on consultations with GenU (and partner/PG) teams as needed, including to advance governance for long term sustainability per the GenU model

• 1 country engagement plan with draft schedule and meeting agenda is produced.
• 20 calls with identified COs.

31 December 2024

Deliver on bespoke technical support requirements based on plan within learning to earning and monitor county offices support plan progress

• Bespoke support action plan for country offices monitored, analyzed and presented on quarterly basis with inputs from country offices and technical support providers

30 September 2025

Articulate proposals within learning to earning programme for county offices fund mobilization efforts in coordination with partnerships team and country office.

• Tool to support continuous monitoring is developed in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

28 February 2025

Prepare updates and inputs on county offices GenU agenda for senior management on documents and reports reflecting country engagement, including pre-reads for board and leadership council.

• Measurement tool package developed, and guidance note created to sensitize countries on its uptake. Inputs to 3 board and 3 leadership councils pre-reads and meetings provided.

31 May 2025

Review and ensure quality and accuracy of GenU 2024 Annual Results Reporting plan and methodology and conduct quality assurance activity.

• 2024 GenU Annual Results Reporting process conducted and report produced.

30 April 2025

Collect knowledge needs and topics from countries and regional office, develop plan and support the activation of a community of practice/webinar related to GenU knowledge sharing.

• Gen U community of practice /webinar plan developed and activated.
• 1 session on PPYP supported for delivery.

31 January 2025

Create a consolidated resource package, including guidelines, templates and case studies, for new/emerging GenU countries. Further, support in both demand creation and dissemination/capacity build of its tools to expand GenU’s footprint into additional countries.

• GenU Country Kit updated and disseminated.

30 November 2024

Develop Public Private Youth Partnership guidance deck and operational paper for Country and Regional Office guidance.

• PPYP deck and operational paper developed.

30 November 2024

Develop process and conduct coordination engagements with five Accelerator Countries (all which are GESP Countries) and GenU Global Team, to monitor progress ensure support needs are met.

• 20 meetings conducted on time with detailed agenda and minutes with action points developed.

31 August 2025

Consult with- and develop to engage Regional Offices regularly, including coordination with GenU Global Team and UNICEF Programme Group on the GenU agenda, and ensure support needs are met.

• Seven consultations conducted, seven plans developed, acted upon and monitored on a quarterly basis.

30 September 2025

Travel

International missions to NYHQ, Viet Nam and Turkey

Qualifications

Education:

Master’s degree from a recognized university in education, economics, international relations, social sciences or another relevant technical field

Work experience:

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

• •      A minimum of 7 (seven) years of experience in development, programme management/coordination and/or technical partnership related efforts required
• Experience in programme management, multi-stakeholder coordination, as well as experience working in a multi-cultural environment and Global South situation is required.
• Experience in youth skilling, youth employment, youth entrepreneurship and young peoples’ civic engagement an asset.
• Experience in youth-led programming, youth partnerships, or adolescents and youth in development and humanitarian contexts desirable
• Experience in the roll-out and adoption of digital solutions and in the development and design of innovative financing mechanisms is an asset
• Fluency in English is required, strong written and verbal competency is necessary
• Working knowledge of another UN language an asset

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.

Remarks: 

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.