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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: Track Progress in Foundational Learning Consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station: Education Section, Programme Group, UNICEF NYHQ

Duration: 13 January 2025 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:

UNICEF seeks the services of a professional expert to produce reports, policy briefs and scorecards related to the monitoring of foundational learning progress under the RAPID framework, a framework adopted to fight against learning poverty and as a follow-up to the Transforming Education Summit. The RAPID framework encapsulates five key policy actions:

• Reach every child and keep them in school;
• Assess learning levels regularly;
• Prioritize teaching the fundamentals, as the building blocks of lifelong learning;
• Increase the efficiency of instruction including through catch-up learning; and
• Develop psychosocial health and wellbeing so every child is ready to learn.

Scope of Work:

The RAPID monitoring will be at both global and country levels in collaboration with HQ/regional teams plus selected country offices. The broad objectives of this consultancy are to:

1. Produce public goods regarding foundational learning results and interventions.
2. Raise awareness on progress, achievement and lessons learnt in terms of foundational learning policies.

Specifically, the consultant will:

1. Collect data on country RAPID response globally (e.g., country surveys and internal and external/publicly available data), including refinement of the RAPID monitoring survey tool.
2. Analyze, interpret, and visualize RAPID data collected through global reports on RAPID progress, country scorecards and deep dive reports on the RAPID framework components.
3. Support updates of analyses related to Foundational Learning tracking / accountability, including on Early Childhood Education and Equitable Financing, with a target on foundational learning:

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

• Foundational Learning Action Tracker (FLAT) deep dive for two countries (Rwanda and Egypt): Two country briefs (1 March 2025)           
• Update of the Equitable Financing Index 2025 with a focus on Foundational Learning: 2025 Equitable Financing Brief updated (15 May 2025)
• Write up and design of FLAT 2025 global report and country scorecards, based on RAPID 2025 survey data and additional data sources related to foundational learning: First Draft of RAPID global report and country scorecards      (1 August 2025)         
• Revise RAPID 2025 global report and country scorecards through consultations: Final Draft of RAPID global report and country scorecards design  (15 September 2025) 
• Develop FLAT 2025 regional snapshots: Two regional FLAT Snapshots (Africa and Asia-Pacific (30 October 2025)
• Support webinars and events on explaining, promoting, and using FLAT findings: At least three webinars hosted (20 November 2025)
• Advocacy and communication of Foundational Learning prepared: On thematic deep dive report in the field of Foundational Learning / RAPID Framework (30 December 2025) 
• Foundational Learning Action Tracker (FLAT) deep dive for two countries (TBC) : Two country briefs            (1 Feb 2026)   
• Update of the Equitable Financing Index 2025 with a focus on Foundational Learning: 2026 Equitable Financing Brief updated (15 May 2026)
• Write up and design of FLAT 2026 global report and country scorecards, based on RAPID 2026 survey data and additional data sources related to foundational learning: First Draft of RAPID global report and country scorecards      (1 August 2026)
• Revise RAPID 2026 global report and country scorecards through consultations: Final Draft of RAPID global report and country scorecards design  (15 September 2026) 
• Develop FLAT 2026 regional snapshots: Two regional FLAT Snapshots (Africa and Asia-Pacific) (30 October 2026)
• Foundational Learning Action Tracker (FLAT) deep dive for two countries (TBC) : Two countries briefs and workshops  (15 November 2026)  
• Support webinars and events on explaining, promoting, and using FLAT findings: At least three webinars hosted (30 November 2026)           
• Support advocacy and communication of Foundational Learning: On thematic deep dive report in the field of Foundational Learning / RAPID Framework prepared (30 December 2026)

Qualifications

Education: 

Advanced university degree (Masters) in the area of Education, Statistics and other social science disciplines.

Work experience:

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *: 

• At least 7 years of work experience in monitoring, evaluation, research, and/or assessment of learning and skills and relevant areas.
• Familiarity with education database.
• Familiarity with different types of skills and their measurement.
• Proficiency in Excel. Knowledge of Excel macros an asset.
• Proficiency in at least one statistics software (e.g., R, SPSS, STATA).
• Good English communication and writing skills.

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.