Current vacancies

Contract Duration - 10 Months

Working arrangement - Remote work with 1 field mission to Tirana, Albania

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

                                                         TERMS OF REFERENCE

UNICEF has established a partnership with the Central Finance and Contracting Unit (CFCU) and has initiated the implementation of the project “Building Skills, Shaping Futures – on the path to EU integration.” This 18-month intervention, financed by the European Union (EU), aims to build and institutionalize a comprehensive Life Skills and Career Guidance model in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education.

The purpose of this assignment is critical to the design and development of a robust, evidence-based Life Skills Model for the Albanian education system, grounded in the EU 4Cs Life Skills framework (Critical thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, and Communication). The International Consultant will lead the conceptualization and design of the model as well as the Training of Trainers (ToT) planned under the programme “Life Skills improved through their Integration in Upper Secondary Education Curricula and Careers Guidance introduced in the School System” (hereafter referred to as the “Life Skills and Career Guidance programme”).

The Consultant will ensure that the model is aligned with EU standards and national education priorities, informed by international best practices, and tailored to the Albanian context. This includes defining key competencies, curriculum integration pathways, pedagogical approaches, implementation modalities, institutional roles, and sustainability mechanisms to support the effective integration of life skills into the education system.

The assignment will ultimately contribute to strengthening students’ competencies for lifelong learning and improving their school-to-work transition outcomes. The International Expert is also expected to create strong synergies with the parallel work on Career Guidance under the same project, ensuring coherence and complementarity between the two models.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  TMC0002257 External ToR 2.pdf

Minimum Qualification required:

Education: Master's degree

• The position requires an international background in Education, Life Skills Development, Psychology, Human Development, Sociology, or related fields, with demonstrated expertise in designing and implementing life skills frameworks and programmes, competency-based approaches, and 21st-century skills development within education systems.  

Work experience

• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in life skills development, education systems strengthening, competency-based education, or related fields, including demonstrated experience in designing life skills models, frameworks, or programmes at national or system level.
• Proven experience in working in designing and/or implementing life skills programmes within education systems, including the integration of 21st-century skills (such as Creativity, Critical Thinking, Communication, and Collaboration) into curricula and teaching practices.
• A strong experience in working with government institutions, education systems particularly Ministries of Education, is required.
• The expert should demonstrate solid expertise in working with policy analysis, education reform, and system strengthening, as well as experience in conducting qualitative research, including interviews, focus groups, and stakeholder consultations
• A proven track record in working on developing analytical reports, policy briefs, competency frameworks, and learning materials (including modules and teachers’ guidelines) is essential

Skills

• Strong expertise in life skills education frameworks, theories, and international standards, including the EU 4Cs framework and global approaches such as UNICEF’s Life Skills and Citizenship Education (LSCE) framework, as well as other competency-based education models.
• Solid understanding of education systems, particularly in EU and comparable contexts, with specific expertise in integrating life skills into formal and non-formal education systems and strengthening school-to-work transition pathways.
• Strong analytical and research capabilities, including experience in education sector analysis, policy review, and systems-level assessment related to life skills development.
• Proven facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills, with experience working effectively with government institutions, educators, youth, and development partners in multi-stakeholder environments.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex evidence, data, and analysis into practical, scalable, and context-sensitive recommendations, tools, and learning resources.
• Proven experience in designing and delivering capacity-building programmes, including training of trainers (ToT), mentoring, and coaching initiatives in the field of life skills education.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with a strong track record of producing high-quality technical reports, policy briefs, and guidance materials in English.

Language Requirements

• Excellent command of English written and spoken

Desirables

• Experience in designing national-level frameworks or models in education and life skills
• Familiarity with EU education and employment policies and standards
• Previous experience working on EU-funded or UNICEF programmes
• Knowledge of labour market trends and skills development policies
• Experience integrating equity and inclusion approaches (e.g., gender, vulnerable groups) into programme design

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
• Expression of Interest Letter
• A separate financial proposal  TMC0002257 Financial Proposal.docx
• Methodology proposed
• Example of similar work conducted previously

Remarks:  

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.