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.
For every child, the right to empowerment.
In the Pacific we work in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu: These 14 Pacific island countries are home to 2.3 million people, including 1.2 million children and youth, living on more than 660 islands and atolls stretching across 17.2 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean, an area comparable to the combined size of the United States of America and Canada. Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are classified as Fragile States according to World Bank/OECD criteria.
All 14 Pacific Island countries and territories have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, but only a third are on track with reporting obligations. Explore the different areas of our work here: UNICEF Pacific Islands.
UNICEF is a key partner in education to governments in the Pacific and works with governments of the 14 countries to support strategic programmes and system reforms in line with each country’s education sector priorities and plan. As part of UNICEF’s system strengthening approach, UNICEF supports Ministries of Education and regional initiatives with education system capacity and transformation. This work involves design, implementation and review of sector priorities for education transformation, related to foundational learning, teachers, culture and indigenous knowledge, inclusion, skills and others. It also includes strengthening education system capacity to achieve transformation, through improved education data, evidence-based and risk-informed planning and policy development, and planning for transforming and building resilience of education systems. A key focus of this systemic support in 2026 will also include Mid Term Reviews (MTR) of Partnership Compacts for Global Partnership for Education (GPE) Pacific Countries, along with sector reviews, leading up to preparations and design of programmes for the next GPE funding cycles in 2027/8. Direct technical support will also be provided to countries and to regional work through the Pacific Regional Education Framework (PacREF).
How can you make a difference?
Under the overall guidance and direction of the Chief of Education and education manager day to day, the Pacific Education Transformation Adviser is expected to provide technical advice and guidance on education system capacity and transformation based on proven experience with partnerships in education across the Pacific.
The consultant will provide strategic technical advice and guidance in the form of support to the development, design and revision of strategies, programmes, policies, plans, concept notes, terms of reference, proposals, briefs, analyses, monitoring frameworks and other relevant documents, on the following:
- Education system capacity linked to transformation. This will include technical leadership and support to increasing the use of data and evidence to inform planning at school- and local-levels, in line with national plans; emergency/risk-informed planning, and quality assurance systems. particularly as relate to sector analysis, risk-informed education sector planning and targeted policy development, ensuring full national ownership, dedicated attention to each sub-sector, to cross-cutting issues of resilience, climate change, gender, equity, efficiency, learning outcomes, and the most marginalized, including children with disabilities, and maximizing alignment with GPE and, ensuring relevance to context. Education sector planning will be driven by risk-informed and climate smart principles, in line with each country’s priorities.
- Support to MTR processes of Partnership Compacts and GPE related processes. Nine countries developed Partnership Compacts in 2023/24. Many of these were developed just prior to or in parallel with the development of new Education Sector Plans. Seven countries will now have to undergo an MTR of partnership as part of GPE related process and to support their future applications for next round allocations. Countries will need a variety of support to understand the process; including the development of a robust and relevant methodology for mid-term reviews of Partnership Compacts and undertake participatory reviews relevant for their context; conduct consultations with relevant stakeholders and document findings in the form of a memoir and actionable country level plans.
- Education system transformation. This will include technical advice on the education system transformation programme design, implementation, monitoring, and review of the same. The consultant is expected to be able to guide on a variety of education priority themes, particularly those linked to regional priorities of improving learning outcomes; traditional knowledge, culture, language, climate resilience and sustainability, gender, inclusion and others including application and integration of these themes as all education subsectors (ECE, primary and secondary). Strengthening governments and UNICEF offices’ technical capacity in education sector transformation, and use of data to improve learning, tailored to country contexts.
- Technical support to specific countries on System Capacity. UNICEF Pacific is active in a number of countries with minimal UNICEF presence or that have unique vulnerabilities and opportunities for educational improvement that require dedicated support. This requires longer in-country missions and dedicated technical expertise to the Ministries in planning and overseeing education services, who rely on responsive technical support in these areas.
- Regional partnerships, fora and workshops, and Pacific-Pacific collaboration. This will include technical leadership and support to the UNICEF Pacific team to effectively position in regional bodies and partnerships , contribute to Wansolwara cross-country learning capturing lessons on what works in sector planning in the Pacific, and maximize coordination, engagement and synergies with regional partners and partnerships in support of Pacific Island countries, IA Fono, CROP HRD/PHES and any other regional partnerships. This also includes promoting multi-country and Pacific-Pacific collaborations and may include regional or multi-country analyses on Pacific regional priorities. As mentioned above, the new PacREF phase 2 programme is under design stage and will require dedicated technical support and leadership for UNICEF to cement its leadership role and comparative advantage in these various forums.
Please refer to the ToR (
Pacific Education Transformation Advisor_ToR.pdf) for further information on the deliverables and the timelines.
GUIDANCE FOR APPLICANTS:
Please submit a CV and cover letter describing the proposed approach, with a separate financial offer along with your application. The financial proposal should be a lump sum amount for all the deliverables and should show a break down for the following:
- Monthly / Daily fees– based on the deliverables in the Terms of Reference above
- Travel (economy air ticket where applicable to take up assignment and field mission travel
- Living allowance where travel is required
- Miscellaneous- to cover visa, health insurance (including medical evacuation for international consultants), communications, and other costs.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
Education:
- An advanced university degree (masters) in education, economics, psychology, sociology, public policy or another relevant technical field.
Work Experience:
- A minimum of ten years of senior professional experience in strategic programme and sector analysis planning, management, and/or research within the field of education.
- Experience working in education in the Pacific required.
- Familiarity with UN and government systems.
Skills:
- Good education sector planning knowledge/ability, including the range of modalities for delivering education, linkages between different sub-sectors (e.g. ECD, Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, Inclusive Education), as well as cross-cutting areas (e.g. Gender, Climate, Disability Inclusion, etc.), cost-effectiveness and efficiency issues, key institutional structures, components and processes, as well as governance issues.
- Good ability to support policy dialogue: translation of analytical findings and evidence into development programme and policy discussions around equity and learning with partners, including government, development partners, CSOs and academia in relevant areas.
- Good ability to support engagement with partners e.g. Global Partnership for Education, Regional institutions and partnerships (PacREF, SPC, USP, PHES, etc.), Inter-sectoral partnerships such as in ECD, as well as networking with other key partners.
- Good understanding of gender and inequity issues in relation to education and development and the application of gender / equity analysis to policy and planning in education.
- Solid communication skills, including strong written and spoken English language appropriate for diverse audiences and purposes.
- Excellent facilitation skills, including engagement of high-level stakeholders as well as consultations with diverse audiences.
Language Requirements:
- Fluency in English is required, with demonstrated ability to produce high-level written documents.
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
The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others
Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.
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 a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation 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.
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.
Remarks:
Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract 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 and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors 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.
UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable male and female candidates are encouraged to apply.
Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.
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.
In this role, you will collaborate with colleagues across multiple locations. For effective collaboration, we encourage flexible working hours that accommodate different time zones while prioritizing staff wellbeing.
Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.
All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.
