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If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines fordeveloping countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

Consultancy: Content Consultant

Duty Station: Programme Group, Generation Unlimited

Duration: 15 January 2026 – 14 January 2027

Home/ Office Based: Remote

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

As part of its mission to skill and connect the world’s 1.8 billion youth to opportunities for education, employment, and social impact, Generation Unlimited (GenU) delivers skilling programmes supporting young people to transition to employment. To advance this work and position GenU as the global leader in learning-to-earning pathways, particularly for the Global South, GenU is recruiting a Content Specialist consultant. This role will drive innovation in content strategy, AI mainstreaming, and the development of a globally recognized certification framework that enhances employability, fosters job placement, and establishes GenU as the go-to organization for youth digital credentials in the Global South.

Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Director Programmes, under the direct supervision of the Senior Advisor, Global Programmes, in collaboration with the Global Passport to Earning (P2E) Coordinator and UNICEF and GenU partners, the consultant will support the development and implementation of a global certification strategy, with a strong emphasis on earning outcomes. This includes supporting the implementation of the AI Action Plan (including training for GenU staff and mainstreaming AI content through the library), managing youth engagement for P2E, supporting the implementation of the Creative Academy and providing country-level support to ensure content and certifications lead to tangible employment results. The consultant will play a pivotal role in updating the Global Library, curating inclusive content, and advocating for GenU's certification model at global fora to build partnerships that connect youth to jobs.

Scope of Work:

• Facilitate GenU solutions content operations (focused on P2E but including GVI, GESP, Green Rising, imaGen, Ekyan) to ensure cohesive functionality and alignment with GenU goals, driving unified skilling and earning opportunities;
• Support the development of a Global Certification Framework for P2E, focusing on micro-credentials, badges, and stackable certifications that are recognized by employers and national bodies in the Global South. Position GenU as the authoritative hub for learning-to-earning certificates by piloting integration into government and industry systems, emphasizing job placement metrics and employer trust.
• Undertake an analysis of current P2E content and certifications, identifying gaps in alignment with labor market needs, particularly in AI, green skills, creative economy, and employability. Update the global instance accordingly, incorporating practical, job-oriented content.
• Provide technical expertise and ongoing support to UNICEF country offices (e.g., Brazil, Rwanda, Niger, Egypt, and others) in developing localized content with a focus on AI and certification strategies, sourcing content, uploading, testing P2E instances, and integrating certifications into national accreditation systems to address contextual employment needs while aligning with global priorities.
• Identify, curate, and upload diverse, inclusive content (e.g., videos, quizzes, games, assessments) in multiple languages and formats, aligned with the Digital Content Strategy with a focus on AI and Creative Economy.
• Support the implementation of Gen U’s Creative Economy project, coordinating with countries to develop and integrate job-oriented content in creative industries, ensuring alignment with P2E and certification frameworks.
• Coordinate with GenU’s Youth Engagement Hub to operationalise the Young People Advisory and Taskforce Structures, incorporating youth input into content, certification, and program design to enhance relevance and employability.
• Support high-impact partnerships with credential providers (e.g., Adobe, Microsoft, Accredible), employers, and education institutions to pilot global-to-local recognition models.
• Support the implementation of the AI Action Plan by training GenU staff on AI tools, integrating AI content into the global library, and creating AI-focused learning-to-earning pathways. Act as GenU's AI focal point for cross-programme strategies.
• Develop materials for dissemination including blogs, publications, and presentations, to support knowledge management and position GenU as the leader in youth skilling and credentials for the Global South.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Work Assignment Overview/Deliverables and Outputs/Delivery deadline

1. Implement AI Action Plan, including staff training, AI solutions integration, and AI-focused partnerships

- At least 2 sessions organized to train GenU staff on AI tools; 3 AI-integrated solutions deployed across P2E; 3 new AI-focused partnerships established with tech providers

30 June 2026

2. Implement the Global Certification Framework

-  Framework rolled out with endorsement from partners and piloted in at least 2 Global South countries

31 May 2026

3.  Deploy at least one new country instance of P2E and renew the country instances ensuring AI mainstreaming

-  One new country instance  fully deployed with localized content, AI integration, and certification pathways

31 Jul 2026

4.  Update and expand the global P2E library with sector focused, creative skills,  job-oriented content that has AI components

-  5 new high-quality, employability-focused pathways uploaded, incorporating AI and creative economy themes.

30 Apr 2026

5.  Collaborate with the global P2E consultant to support country offices in curating, localizing, uploading, and testing content for local P2E platforms

-  5 Country offices libraries are updated with relevant and contextualized content

14 Jan 2027 

6.  Work with GenU program teams to ensure that their online content offerings are successfully integrated into the global P2E platform, contributing to a unified skilling and opportunities hub for youth.

-  Global P2E platform is updated with  P2E, Yoma, and imaGen Ventures materials creating a unified skilling and opportunities hub for youth.

30 Nov 2026

Qualifications

Education:   

• A Masters degree from a recognized university in any of the following: Economics, Business Administration, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, or similar fields.

Language Proficiency:

• Fluency in English is required, strong written and verbal competency is necessary

Working knowledge of another UN language an asset

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

•  At least 7 years of work experience in education technology, education, project management, or relevant areas.
• Strong experience in skills development, education technology databases, learning management systems (LMS), and/or platform development in the social development sector.
• Experience designing entrepreneurship programs and curricula.
•  Experience working with organizations focused on engaging and empowering adolescents and youth, especially the most marginalized.
• Experience working in Artificial Intelligence programs within UNICEF.

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and

- Upload copy of academic credentials

- Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :

• • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability

- Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.

- At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.

- Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors 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. 

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:  

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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.