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 care.

How can you make a difference?

The consultancy will cover all nine districts of Karamoja: Abim, Amudat, Kaabong, Karenga, Kotido, Moroto, Nabilatuk, Nakapiripirit and Napak. The analysis should differentiate between districts and the six livelihood zones classified by the Government of Uganda. Where appropriate, the study should identify district clusters or livelihood zones with distinct development challenges, opportunities, and programming considerations to support more targeted recommendations. The analysis will be multi-sectoral and will consider both region-wide dynamics and district-specific differences, with deliberate attention to the differentiated needs, roles and contributions of women, men, girls and boys. It will examine structural, climate and environmental drivers of vulnerability, humanitarian-development-peace nexus dynamics, and how development challenges and opportunities intersect across education, health, nutrition, WASH, child protection, social protection, livelihoods, food systems, climate resilience, natural resource management, peace and security, governance, gender equality, adolescent and youth development, and local economic transformation.

The consultancy will map and review existing national and regional development plans, sector strategies, district development plans, UN and partner programme documents, donor-funded programme reports, humanitarian, resilience and vulnerability assessments, evaluations and lessons learned reports, field mission reports, and relevant research or policy briefs. The synthesis should not duplicate existing studies but should draw together their key findings into a concise, strategic and actionable product for senior decision makers.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  ToR TMC0008038.pdf

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

Minimum requirements: (Qualifications/Experience/ Knowledge/Expertise/Skills)

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in development studies, public policy, economics, social sciences, governance, humanitarian and development programming, monitoring and evaluation, or a related field.

Work Experience:

• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in strategic analysis, policy synthesis, development planning, programme evaluation, area-based programming or UN cooperation frameworks.
• Demonstrated experience synthesizing large volumes of qualitative and quantitative evidence into concise, strategic and actionable products.
• Experience working with Government institutions, UN agencies, development partners, civil society organizations and district-level actors.
• Prior experience in Uganda, Karamoja, pastoralist contexts, fragile settings, climate-vulnerable contexts or cross-border contexts is strongly preferred.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills: The consultant should demonstrate:

• Strong understanding of human development, resilience, climate adaptation, food systems, social services, governance and humanitarian-development-peace nexus approaches.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Uganda’s development context. Strong analytical, writing, facilitation, and presentation skills. Ability to synthesize complex evidence into concise, strategic, and practical recommendations.
• Experience applying systems-strengthening, localization, resilience, and gender equality lenses in development analysis. Ability to engage effectively with Government, UN agencies, development partners, civil society and district-level stakeholders.
• Understanding of gender equality, child rights, disability inclusion, protection risks and accountability to affected populations.

Language Requirements:

•  Excellent written and spoken English is required.

Desirables:

• Prior experience working on Karamoja or comparable pastoralist, fragile, climate-vulnerable or cross-border contexts.
• Familiarity with Uganda’s Fourth National Development Plan, the Karamoja Regional Development Plan IV (KRDP-IV) and the UNSDCF 2026–2030.
• Experience supporting UN strategic positioning, joint programming, area-based programming or cooperation framework implementation.
• Experience preparing senior leadership briefs, roadmap documents or strategic analysis products for decision-making.

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

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 (only acceptable in the format of the linked template)  Financial proposal template TMC0008038.docx
• Applicants should submit a concise technical proposal (maximum 10 pages, excluding CV and annexes) that includes:
1. understanding of the assignment and the Karamoja context;
2. proposed methodology, analytical framework and approach to document mapping and consultations;
3. a workplan and timeline aligned with the deliverables;
4. at least two samples of similar synthesis or strategic analysis reports authored or co-authored by the applicant.