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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.

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Purpose of Assignment:

This consultancy will provide technical support to Education Section to strengthen programmes for inclusive foundational learning, spanning early childhood care and education (ECCE) and foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN), to advance equitable access to quality foundational education and improved learning outcomes.

Scope of Work:

Background:

India’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) – “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” – underscores the country’s resolve to place education at the heart of equitable and sustainable development. Within this framework, Target 4.1 envisions free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education for every girl and boy by 2030, while Target 4.2 aims to guarantee access to quality early childhood development, care, and pre-primary education.

In light of the above commitment, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 identifies Foundational Literacy & Numeracy (FLN) as the most urgent and critical priority, acknowledging that “without achieving foundational learning in primary school, children cannot progress meaningfully to higher grades.” The policy, along with the National Curriculum Frameworks (2022, 2023), reinforces a continuum of learning that links early childhood education with elementary schooling, emphasizing a developmentally appropriate, inclusive, and learner-centred approach to numeracy and literacy. The launch of NIPUN Bharat Mission (2021) further consolidated national focus on achieving universal foundational learning by 2026–27.

In support of these national priorities, UNICEF works in close coordination with the national ministries and state governments, strengthening systemic capacities to deliver FLN interventions across the spectrum—from preschool through the early grades, covering the critical years up to eight years of age. UNICEF’s approach emphasizes equity, inclusion, and quality, co-creating evidence-based policies and programmes to address systemic barriers, thus responding to the diverse needs of India’s learners.

Rationale:

It is within this context that UNICEF seeks to engage a consultant to provide dedicated technical support for evidence synthesis and high-quality technical writing to develop and refine programme models (including foundational numeracy, convergent ECCE, remedial learning and mother-tongue based foundational literacy), produce accompanying knowledge products, and document lessons and good practices.

Scope of Work: (See TOR for details)

The consultancy aims to:

1. Design of the needs assessment tools and needs assessment methodology

2. Support development of an integrated/convergent ECCE model, including actionable recommendations for convergent technical oversight, governance, and supportive supervision mechanisms.

3. Support conceptualization of a remedial learning model to strengthen FLN for early grades, aligned with NIPUN Bharat priorities.

4. Assist in the development of guidance on accommodations and adaptations of curriculum and learning assessments for children with disabilities.

5. Support refinement of UNICEF's mother tongue based foundational literacy approach/model, informed by evidence and consultation.

6. Support development of advocacy and communication knowledge products for ECCE/FLN stakeholder engagement.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  Terms of Reference TMC0002146.pdf

Minimum requirements: QUALIFICATIONS / SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE / EXPERIENCE/ COMPETENCIES

Education

• Advanced university degree in education or international development or public policy or social sciences or management.

Work Experience

• Educational development expertise: Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience supporting ECCE and/or foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) programmes, including technical assistance for design/implementation, development of guidance materials, and support to government systems. Demonstrated ability to contribute to education policy dialogue and system strengthening, with familiarity of India's education policy landscape (e.g., NEP 2020, NIPUN Bharat, and relevant National/State Curriculum Frameworks).

Language Requirements

• English

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills

• Strategy development: Proven track record in developing comprehensive education strategies in diverse educational contexts, high-quality policy briefs, and concept/strategy notes, including logical frameworks (ToCs), donor proposals, particularly in the education sector for the UN or other international agencies.
• Policy and systems strengthening — Evidence synthesis and technical writing: Proven experience conducting desk reviews and synthesising evidence to produce high-quality technical deliverables such as concept notes, strategy notes, frameworks, and policy/advocacy briefs, including clear recommendations to promote foundational learning.
• Stakeholder engagement and convenings: Demonstrated experience planning and facilitating technical consultations/workshops with government and non-government stakeholders, including agenda design, speaker briefs, facilitation plans, and documentation of outcomes.
• Communication and analytical skills: Excellent analytical and written communication skills in English, with ability to translate complex technical content into clear, concise reports, briefs, and presentations for diverse audiences.
• Equity and inclusion: Strong understanding of equity-focused programming, including gender-responsive, disability-inclusive and multilingual/MTB-MLE approaches, and experience integrating these considerations into technical guidance and knowledge products.

For every Child, you demonstrate Care.

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

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 reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. 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.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
• Cover letter
• A separate financial proposal (PLEASE USE THE GIVEN TEMPLATE:  Financial proposal TMC0002146.docx)

Remarks:  If the TOR or financial proposal documents are not visible on certain recruitment platforms, please visit our official page Vacancies | UNICEF Careers.

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.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.