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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, commitment.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment

Since the war began in February 2022, Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic have welcomed nearly 1.5 million Ukrainians, including around 400,000 aged 15-24. Many face challenges and lack access to support services. To address this, UNICEF has launched the PATHWAYS Initiative in 2024-2025 Pathways for Ukrainian youth | UNICEF Europe and Central Asia to help Ukrainian youth access education, skills training, and employment opportunities in Ukraine and refugee hosting countries, in collaboration with governments and NGOs. The Initiative offers three interlinked opportunities to Ukrainian adolescents and youth:

• Pathway 1: Access to and completion of formal secondary education and/or TVET
• Pathway 2: Access first job opportunities
• Pathway 3: Access flexible learning and upskilling opportunities

The project supports the Ukraine Situation: Regional Refugee Response Plan 2025-2026 by facilitating the transition from primary to secondary education and reducing dropouts. It integrates refugees into national education systems and addresses challenges like limited teacher capacity, psychosocial support, and career guidance. PATHWAYS in Ukraine offers catch-up classes, extracurricular STEM activities, entrepreneurship programmes, and skill-building opportunities while connecting TVET graduates with internships and providing certified training in essential skills.

To date, under the PATHWAYS Initiative, UNICEF has supported 215,685 Ukrainian children and adolescents aged 10 to 24 (61% girls and 39% boys) in the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, and Ukraine by offering learning courses, catch-up classes, transferable and job-specific skills training, and first job opportunities for improved societal integration. The programme provides training courses and remedial classes to ensure successful school completion and retention. This includes support for transitioning to secondary education, vocational skills training, mental health support, and opportunities for obtaining a first job to foster better integration into society.

The implementation cycle in Slovakia and Czechia is nearing its conclusion, while Poland is also developing its transition programme plan. Additionally, neighbouring countries such as Romania and Bulgaria have expressed interest in implementing the PATHWAYS initiative. In this context, it is crucial to learn from the PATHWAYS results, particularly regarding its shift from addressing immediate humanitarian needs to addressing systemic issues. Aligning PATHWAYS with Ukraine's recovery plans and EU policies will outline the immediate objectives for the countries and the region. This will help ensure continued support for refugee and displaced adolescents and youth.

Therefore, UNICEF ECARO is looking for an International Consultant who has expertise in inclusive education and social integration of refugee adolescents and youth to document the PATHWAYS experience in the region and compile case studies from various countries, highlighting lessons learned. The Consultant will be home-based and will report to the PATHWAYS Programme Coordinator and collaborate closely with the ECARO education team, UNICEF ECARO. This documentation will contribute to UNICEF’s global knowledge on successful programming at the humanitarian development nexus.

Scope of Work

Under the supervision of the PATHWAYS Programme Coordinator and in close collaboration with the Education Specialist (Inclusion and Learning in Emergencies and Recovery), Education and ADAP sections of ECARO, as well as with the UNICEF PATHWAYS country focal points, the Consultant will document the PATHWAYS Initiative experience in the region, collect lessons learned from its implementation, and compile a compendium of case studies from various countries.

The scope of work entails:

1. Undertake desk review based on available reports and documentation (i.e. progress reports, annual reports, activity reports, materials produced, monitoring sheets and forms, as well as other pertinent reports, case studies, etc.) provided by Refugee Response Offices (RROs) in Czechia, Poland, Slovakia, and Ukraine country office, and by the UNICEF ECARO.
2. Develop the documentation methodology and data collection tools. Submit the inception report.
3. Collect data: key informant interviews and focus group discussions online.
4. Data analysis and presentation of the preliminary conclusions.
5. Draft three case studies (one per each of three Pathways) highlighting lessons learned and examples from the implementing countries.
6. Submit a proofread final compendium of case studies, as one coherent report that can be usable by UNICEF education and adolescent development staff and policymakers, as well as be disseminated to donors as a tool for fundraising.

Work Assignment Overview

Estimated Duration of the Contract

37 working days between July and August 2025

Consultant's Work Place and Official Travel

The Consultant will be home-based.

As part of this assignment, some international travels are foreseen. The consultant will arrange her/his travel as and when they take place, and related costs will be reimbursed per UNICEF travel policy.

Travel Clause

• All UNICEF rules and regulations related to travel of Consultants apply.
• All travels shall be undertaken only upon the prior written approval by UNICEF.
• The consultant must be fit to travel, be in a possession of the valid UN BSAFE certificate, obligatory inoculation(s) and have a valid own travel/medical insurance and an immunization/vaccination card.

Estimated Cost of the Consultancy & Payment Schedule

Payment will be made on submission of an invoice and satisfactory completion of the above-mentioned deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs are incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines. All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.

Please submit a professional fee (in USD) based on 37 working days to undertake this assignment, without travel fees as these will be reimbursed as and when they take place.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Required:

• An advanced University Degree in one or more of the following areas: Education, Psychology, Social Sciences, or other relevant degree
• At least 5 years of experience in education project management, research, monitoring and evaluation, or consultancy roles.
• Proven record of strong analytical and report writing skills.
• Fluency in English is required

Desired:

• Previous experience of working in Eastern Europe or refugee response countries is an asset.
• Experience working with or in UN organization.
• Familiarity with UNICEF’s mission and mandate is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS), and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most marginalized children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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:

Please include:

• a full CV,
• a Cover Letter detailing how you intend to undertake the assignment, 
• two (2) samples of similar previous work (1-2 pages of a case-study, or similar document)

in your application. Additionally, indicate your availability and professional fee (in USD) to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a professional fee will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

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.

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.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants 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.