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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 fordeveloping 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.

Consultancy: Technical Advisory Consultant (Sierra Leone)  

Duty Station: Education Outcomes Fund

Duration: 1 Nov 2025 – 31 Oct 2026

Home/ Office Based: Freetown, Sierra Leone

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

The Consultant  will support EOF by providing expert and strategic guidance in relation to the education sector as well as the local context and conditions, and contribute to overcoming any challenges that may arise, collaborate in building relationships at the local level and provide advice for a smoother implementation. The Consultant (Technical Advice) will work closely with EOF´s Central and Sierra Leone teams to provide strategic guidance during implementation and thus contribute to the success of the programme.

 The broad objectives of this consultancy are:

• To aid EOF´s Central and Sierra Leone teams in building successful relationships at the local level with key education actors during programme implementation
• To provide strategic advice to overcome any challenges that may arise during programme implementation
• To contribute to the work of EOF in Sierra Leone by providing expert local knowledge and guidance during overall programme implementation

 The Technical Advisor is expected to deliver the following:

• Attend regular meetings such as the Steering Committee and Extended Programme Committee meetings
• Feedback from a local perspective during programme implementation
• Suggest solutions to problems that need to be overcome during programme implementation
• Provide guidance for successful programme implementation
• Strategize to successfully engage with local actors

Scope of Work:

The scope will be focused on EOF’s basic education program and early childhood care and education (ECCE) programs in Sierra Leone

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Work Assignment Overview/Deliverables and Outputs/Delivery deadline

1. Attend an estimate 10 Steering Committee and Extended Programme Committee meetings (each of 90 minutes) and provide feedback and inputs on topics of discussion (program implementation and strategy). Provide strategic advice and specific recommendations on follow-up actions

Deliverable 1: A post-meeting report produced after each Steering Committee and Extended Programme Committee meeting, of at least 3 pages, summarizing meeting contents and next steps

5 by 30.06.2026

The remainder by 31.10.2026

2.  Support engagement with key organizations partnering in the Sierra Leone Early Childhood Care & Education  (SLECCE) and facilitate dialogue with EOF central and local team, engaging in strategic problem solving 

- Deliverable 2: 12 meetings of at least 1 hour with 2 key organizations involved with the program, and a minimum 2 page contact report produced to summarize meeting

6 by 30.04.2026

The remainder by 31.10.2026

3. Advice and recommendations on problem solving for issues reported by service providers during the implementation.

Attend 12 meetings of 1 hour each with EOF’s central and Sierra Leone teams to discuss solutions to any problems that arise. Document meeting attendance with EOF’s central and Sierra Leone teams including email chain outlining follow-up next steps

Deliverable 3: A post-meeting report produced after each meeting, of at least 2 pages, summarizing meeting contents and next steps

6 by 30.04.2026

The remainder by 31.10.2026

4.  During implementation - program documents reviewed. The Consultant is expected to provide comments in the form of guidance for successful programme implementation and contribute to the success of the programme by providing expert local knowledge and guidance

Deliverable 4: Reviewed program implementation documents (estimated 5 documents of approximately 20 pages in length each) with written feedback

3 by 30.04.2026

The remainder by 31.10.2026

5. Develop strategies to successfully engage with local actors and facilitate discussions with EOF and Grantees to ensure a smooth program implementation

Deliverable 5:

Organize and facilitate meetings with strategic partners - minimum 12 meetings of at least 2 hours each

4 by 30.04.2026

The remainder by 31.10.2026

Qualifications

Education: A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject such as Education, International Development, Project Management, Social Sciences, is required

An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in a relevant field is preferred

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

• At least 8 years’ experience in the education sector in Sierra Leone
• Have worked on developing at least 4 Education Sector Plans, at least 2 should be Education Sector Plans in Sierra Leone
• Prior experience of working with international organisations and donors in an education setting in Sierra Leone
• Direct experience of working with the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education in Sierra Leone.

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.