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For every child, the right to a Future

Background

South Sudan’s education system continues to face profound challenges, with nearly all pre-primary-aged children and 60% of primary and secondary school-aged children out of school. Chronic underfunding has resulted in under-resourced schools, irregular teacher salary payments, and shortages of teaching and learning materials, while weak school management, insufficiently qualified teachers, and poor learning outcomes further constrain progress.

Vulnerable groups such as girls, orphans, pastoralist children, and children with disabilities remain disproportionately excluded, and these challenges are compounded by poverty, climate-related shocks, and ongoing insecurity.

The availability and use of textbooks and teacher guides remain a key challenge, with student textbook ratios of one book per six students in most subjects. A recent evaluation identified many challenges regarding the availability and use of the materials in schools and proposed several recommendations related to the textbook management process, from planning and forecasting, title development, publishing, procurement and distribution management to the active use of books in schools.

Through the Global Partnership for Education’s Transforming Education in South Sudan (GPE-TESS) programme, UNICEF and the Ministry of General Education and Instruction (MoGEI) will review and update the LTM policy to address identified challenges recognized with textbooks specification and development, procurement, printing, and distribution.

Purpose/Objectives

The objective of the consultancy is to provide technical support to the Ministry of General Education and Instruction (MoGEI) to review and update the 2015 Learning and Teaching Material (LTM) policy.

Scope of Work:

The scope of this assignment is to support MoGEI to update the LTM policy to address challenges identified in a recent evaluation including related to inventory management, books specification and financial repercussions of book damage. The Consultant will adopt a participatory and consultative approach working closely with MoGEI and UNICEF colleagues to strengthen the LTM policy and textbooks supply chain for South Sudan. The assignment will also include the development of a 5-year budgets for textbooks and a 5-year plan for book acquisition.

Deliverables/Outputs:

• Conduct a desk review of relevant reference materials on the LTM policy (e.g. Partnership Compact, General Education Sector Plan, Textbook Supply Chain Analysis, etc.) and textbook distribution system. Develop a detailed inception report. Inception report by 31 November 2025 (4 weeks.)

• Conduct consultative and stakeholder interviews/discussions and workshops with key stakeholders including MoGEI, education partners, school administrators, students, to review the LTM policy. Workshop Report by 15 December 2025 (2 weeks).
• Develop draft updated LTM Policy based on desk review and stakeholder consultations. Draft updated LTM Policy by 31 December 2025 (2 weeks).
• Conduct workshops to validate the LTM Policy. Finalize updated LTM Policy. Final updated and approved LTM Policy by 15 January 2026(2 weeks).
• Conduct five-day workshop to formulate a comprehensive 5-year plan for book acquisition and distribution plan. Workshop Report by 31 January 2026 (2 week).
• Establish a 5-year book budget, taking into account, school census data, demographic shifts, curriculum demands, and the student-to-book ratio to ensure accurate fund distribution. 5-year textbook budget by 15 February 2026 (2 weeks).
• Formulate a comprehensive 5-year plan for book acquisition. 5-year plan for textbook acquisition by 28 February 2026 (2 weeks).
• Develop a Book Use and Management SOP to maximize the efficient use of resources. Book Use and Management Policy by 15 March 2026 (2 weeks).
• Conduct workshops to validate the 5-year plans. Finalize 5-year plans. Final updated and approved 5-year plans by 31 March 2026 (2 weeks).
• Compile the final consultancy report Final consultancy report  by 31 March 2026 (2 weeks).

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• A master’s degree in education, Social Policy, Economics or a related field.

Work Experience:

• At least five years’ relevant experience in the education sector in South Sudan including direct engagement and collaboration with MoGEI.
• Preferably relevant experience related to education policy development/review and/or textbook management/distribution.
• Strong writing, editing and communication skills in English (spoken and written).

All applications must be accompanied by a detailed technical and financial proposal.

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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:  

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable 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.

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.

 UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

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.

 National Consultant Education Policy Consultant.pdf