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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: Partnerships and Reporting Consultancy  

Duty Station: Programme Group, Education Section

Duration: 15 January 2026 – 14 January 2027

Home/ Office Based: Remote

 

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

Safe to Learn is a global initiative hosted by UNICEF that unites governments, civil society, and international partners to end violence in and around schools so that every child is safe to learn. It supports countries to strengthen policies, systems, and practices that prevent and respond to all forms of violence—physical, sexual, psychological, and online—while promoting positive, inclusive, and gender-responsive learning environments. Through evidence generation, advocacy, and coordinated action across education and child protection sectors, Safe to Learn helps translate global commitments into tangible progress for children.

The Secretariat requires dedicated capacity to ensure effective programme and grant management across its major initiatives (GPE, Wellspring, and Global Affairs Canada), including country office engagement and coordination. The consultant will also play a central role in building and coordinating the coalition.

The consultancy will contribute to advancing Safe to Learn’s mandate by strengthening results-based management, documentation, and partnership coordination. The consultant will work closely with the STL Secretariat team, UNICEF Country Offices, and partner organizations under the supervision of the Head of the Safe to Learn Secretariat, UNICEF Education Section.

Scope of Work

The consultant will support the Safe to Learn (STL) Secretariat in implementing the STL Strategy and donor-funded workplans through three main areas of work: Programme Management and Reporting, Learning and Documentation, and Partnership and Coordination

Working under the supervision of the Head of the Safe to Learn Secretariat, the consultant will provide coordination, technical, and analytical support to ensure effective implementation, monitoring, and reporting of STL activities. The consultant will also help generate and package learning from STL country experiences and facilitate engagement with partners across the STL Coalition to advance the global agenda on ending violence in and around schools.

1. Programme Management and Reporting

The consultant will support coordination and monitoring of STL donor-funded projects, ensuring timely delivery of outputs and quality assurance of technical and narrative deliverables. This includes support in management of ongoing donor grants such as GPE Phases 1 and 2, Wellspring, and others.

Specific tasks include: 

• Coordinating GPE-TAI Phase 1 and 2 program across the four pilot countries, ensuring UNICEF CO are implementing in line with the GPE Partnership Framework.
• Submission of high-quality interim and final GPE Phase 1 and 2 reports in alignment with donor requirements and STL’s results framework, ensuring that results, risks, and lessons are documented
• Compiling and analysing UNICEF country-level results for global reporting, including STL inputs to the UNICEF Annual Report 2026.

2. Learning and Documentation

The consultant will support STL’s knowledge generation and learning agenda to capture and disseminate lessons from STL implementation at global and country levels.

Specific tasks include:

• Coordinating lessons-learned webinars and the development of country case studies (e.g. Sierra Leone and Nepal), ensuring outputs are actionable and widely shared.
• Developing the Global Report on Benchmarking Assessments (2019–2023), synthesizing key findings, progress, and recommendations for partners and governments.
• Finalizing the revised Education Cannot Wait / Education in Emergencies publication (2025) in collaboration with relevant partners.
• Producing blogs or short knowledge pieces highlighting STL lessons, good practices, and country achievements, aligned with the STL communications and knowledge strategy.

3. Partnership and Coordination

The consultant will support strengthening STL’s coordination and engagement with partners through the STL Partnership Committee, Advisory Board, and other collaborative platforms. The consultant will help ensure coherence across the STL Coalition, alignment with UNICEF’s Education and Child Protection priorities, and mobilization of partners to advance STL objectives.

Specific tasks include:

• Coordinating the organization and documentation of STL Partnership Committee and Advisory Board meetings, ensuring preparation of high-quality briefing materials, PowerPoints, and meeting reports.
• Supporting the Head of Secretariat with the preparation of presentations, talking points, and technical briefs for participation in key global and regional events.
• Coordinating the development of the STL Annual Progress Report (2025), synthesizing results and lessons across Secretariat and partner activities.
• Supporting consultations and drafting for the design of the next STL Strategy (2026–2028), ensuring it reflects evolving partner priorities, evidence, and country-level needs.
• Contributing to the development of resource mobilization briefs and donor proposals to expand STL’s funding base and ensure sustainability of Secretariat operations.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Work Assignment Overview/Deliverables and Outputs/Delivery deadline

Task 1: Program Management

1.  Manage GPE Phase 1 and Phase 2 programmes

- Grant management plan developed with HQ level results and updated monthly.

- Quarterly program coordination calls held with GPE Phase 1 and Phase 2 pilot countries and actions documented and followed up.

- Phase 1 Year 1 final reports drafted, including coordination of MEL in collaboration with GPE Learning/MEL consultant

31 Dec 2026

2.  Support STL annual work planning

- Input to UNICEF Annual Report consolidated and submitted

- Secretariat 2026 annual work plan developed

31 Mar 2026

Task 2: Learning and Documentation

3.  Develop country case studies for Sierra Leone and Nepal

- 2 case studies finalized and published

30 Jun 2026

4.  Strengthen documentation of impact of STL Initiative

- Develop Global Report on Benchmarking Assessment (2019–2023)

28 Feb 2026

- Editing of 10 Country Benchmarking Assessments or other STL publications

31 Dec 2026

- Revised edition of STL/EIE publication developed in collaboration with ECW and STL Partners

30 June 2026

5.  Develop blogs sharing lessons learned from STL countries 

- 4 blogs or articles published on STL website in collaboration with partners

31 Dec 2026

6.  Organize 6 events or webinars to share learning from STL

- 6 events or webinars organized, with summary outcome document, including 2 lessons learned webinars from GPE Phase 1

31 Dec 2026

Task 3: Partnerships

7.  Organize STL partnership committee and  Advisory Board meetings

- 4 partnership committee and 2 advisory meetings =organized and documented

31 Dec 2026

8.  Support events content development

- 12 PowerPoints or talking points delivered

31 Dec 2026

9. Prepare STL Annual Progress Report

- 1 annual progress report finalized

31 Dec 2026

10.  Support process and design of STL Strategy (2026–2028)

- Input into draft and final strategy

- Coordination and documentation of 2 partner consultations

31 Mar 2026

11.  Support STL partnership development

- Input into 2 proposals or partnership briefs

- 12 Monthly updates and follow ups on partnership opportunities including 12 resource mobilization tracker updates

31 Dec 2026

Qualifications

Education:   

Advanced University degree in  International development, humanitarian action,  political or social sciences, or other relevant degree.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

• In-depth knowledge and experience in partnership development and coordination
• At least 5 years of experience in the field of education, violence prevention, partnership management and coordination, or EiE/humanitarian affairs.
• Demonstrated experience in relationship management and coordination of diverse partners working together on a specific goal or outcome
• Demonstrated experience in program management, writing reports and grant proposals.                                                                                                
• Previous experience with Safe to Learn Coalition is an asset 

Competencies

• Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to independently track and follow-up on various tasks;
• Ability to work in a highly collaborative and complex environment with minimal direct supervision
• Ability to present information in attractive and concise manner in slide format (ppt, Canva)
• Ability to utilize UNICEF INSIGHT for updating program spend and present in excel format.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.  Spanish or French working proficiency 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.