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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 Education 

With the Education Strategy 2018–2025 nearing completion, the Ministry of Education and Science has initiated the development of a new strategic framework to guide education policies and reforms in North Macedonia for the next seven years.

The education system has been facing persistent challenges in quality, equity, and efficiency. Student learning outcomes remain well below regional and international benchmarks. According to PISA 2022, only 26% of students achieved foundational reading proficiency, 34% in mathematics, and 35% in science. Socio-economic and ethnic disparities deepen these gaps, with Roma and low-income students performing significantly below national averages.

Structural inefficiencies compound these issues. Demographic shifts—declining birth rates, migration, and urbanization—have not been matched by adjustments to the school network. As a result, some schools are underutilized while others are overcrowded, often operating in double shifts. Resource allocation is inefficient, with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10 compared to the OECD average of 15. General secondary education has seen little reform in the past two decades, and the transition from lower to upper secondary education remains particularly difficult for children with disabilities, with only half successfully transitioning.

Early childhood education is another critical concern. Preschool enrollment for children aged 3–5 stands at 46%, far below the EU target of 96%. Among Roma children, enrollment is less than 8%. Addressing these systemic and structural challenges is essential to improving education quality and outcomes. This context frames the consultant’s role in reviewing, strengthening, and operationalizing the pre-primary, primary, and secondary education pillars of the new strategy.

The process of consultations with a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives of central and local government, educational institutions, civil society, academia, and international partners, has already begun and is ongoing. Several national consultants are engaged in supporting the development of the strategy’s thematic pillars, covering all levels of education. At the request of the Ministry of Education and Science, UNICEF, in collaboration with the Faculty of Philosophy, is leading work on pre-primary and primary education. UNDP is responsible for general secondary education, vocational education and training, and adult education, while the World Bank is supporting higher education. The purpose of this assignment is for the consultant to ensure consistency across the pillars related to pre-primary, primary and secondary education, align activities with strategic priorities, and confirm that all elements are evidence-based and coherent.

How can you make a difference? 

The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

(1) Validation of the Situation analysis in the Education Strategy

• Validate and refine the situation analysis section, including the current state, challenges, and problems in priority areas.

• Ensure the analysis is aligned with national priorities, other strategic documents, and international benchmarks particularly the sustainable development goals and the core targets (7) of the European Education Area, while maintaining consistency across all pillars and making it evidence-based, supported by credible data sources.

Deliverable: Revised situation analysis

Timeframe: By Mid-November - 7 working days

(2) Review of the Education Strategy Action Plan

• For the sub-sectors (general secondary, and vocational education and training) review the overall objectives, specific goals, measures, indicators and targets to ensure they are clear, well-aligned with the strategy, and that indicators are measurable.

• Redefine activities to make them actionable and prioritize those critical for the first two years of implementation.

Deliverable: Updated the action plan with prioritized interventions for the first two years

Timeframe: End of November - 10 working days

(3) Finalization of the Education Strategy

• Incorporate feedback from questionnaires, focus group discussions, and the public debate into the strategy and the action plan.

• Finalize the strategy and the action plan to ensure it is ready for approval, with clear timelines, responsibilities and measurable indicators.

The consultant will be expected to deliver the following deliverables:

• Revised situation analysis

• Updated action plan with prioritized interventions for the first two years

• A finalized Education Strategy document

Deliverable: A finalized Education Strategy with action plan document ready for approval

Timeframe: End of December - 8 working days

 

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

Minimum requirements:

- Advanced degree (Master), Academic Background: Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Education, Public Policy, Social Sciences, or related fields.

Professional Experience:

- Minimum 10 years of experience in education sector reform, policy development, or strategic planning.

- Proven track record in reviewing or drafting national education strategies or similar high-level policy document.

- Experience working with government institutions, international organizations, or donor-funded education projects.

Core Competencies:

- Strong analytical and writing skills for policy and strategy documents.

- Ability to synthesize complex data and present clear, actionable recommendations.

- Proficiency in aligning strategies with national priorities and international benchmarks (e.g., EU, OECD).

- Competence in developing measurable indicators and monitoring frameworks.

Desirable Qualifications:

- Deep understanding of the education system including inclusive education, equity issues

- Familiarity with participatory approaches and stakeholder engagement processes.

Interpersonal and Ethical Skills:

- High level of integrity and commitment to transparency and accountability.

- Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, including government officials and civil society.

- Strong communication and facilitation skills for consultations and feedback integration.

To submit in support of the above:

- Cover letter, clearly articulating the availability of the consultant, and how the candidate intends to undertake the tasks under the ToR.

- Updated CV with reference to previous work relevant to the ToR.

- Financial offer in MKD per working day. The financial offer should indicate the gross amount of the daily fee.  

*Listed requirements will be used for technical evaluation in the competitive process

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 

[add the 8^th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role]. 

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. 

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.

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 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.

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.