UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, hope.

 

Consultancy Title: GenU Content Specialist Consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station: Programme Group, Generation Unlimited (YPA) secretariat, UNICEF NYHQ

Duration: 15 January 2025 to 31 December 2025

Home/ Office Based: NYHQ / Remote

 

About UNICEF

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 for developing 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.

 

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 support this work, GenU is recruiting a Content Specialist who will deliver strategic deliverables that will enhance the quality, reach and impact of GenU’s global programmes. This will include a specific focus on enhancing the quality of the global and national content offerings available via the Passport to Earning (P2E) platform.

As a part of the GenU Programmes Team, under the overall guidance of the Deputy Director Programmes, under the direct supervision of the Senior Advisor, Global Programes, in collaboration with the Global P2E Coordinator and UNICEF and GenU partners, the consultant will develop and deliver a global content strategy, including specific focuses on the deployment of AI and Green skilling across programmes. The consultant will play a pivotal role in ensuring that P2E content aligns with the global content taxonomy, meets global standards, and addresses the evolving needs of young people across multiple countries. They will update the Global Library with relevant and up-to-date content for P2E users. Key responsibilities include developing a global accreditation and certification framework for P2E, providing content support for countries, assisting the Global Coordinator, and supporting the localization and contextualization of content.

 

Scope of Work:

• Undertake an analysis of the current performance of the global instance of the P2E platform, including identifying the extent to which it contains relevant content aligned with the P2E taxonomy, with a particular focus on incorporating foundational and practical GenAI and Green content. Based on this analysis, update the global instance accordingly.
• Provide technical expertise to UNICEF country offices in developing localized content strategies, sourcing content, uploading, and testing P2E instances that address contextual needs, while aligning with global priorities and regional labor market demands.
• Identify, curate, and upload content that meets global quality standards. Collaborate with country offices to facilitate the transition of content from the global library to national libraries, ensuring country-specific needs are met.
• Collaborate with partners to source and curate content in various formats (e.g., videos, quizzes, games, assessments) in line with the Digital Content Strategy. Ensure the content is diverse, inclusive, and available in multiple languages and formats suitable for the intended audience.
• Work with the Senior Advisor to establish an AI action plan that integrates AI skilling across GenU programs, particularly in creating AI-focused learning-to-earning pathways for youth.
• Work with GenU program teams (e.g. BeGreen, imaGen Ventures, Yoma, GVI, etc.) 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.

 

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Undertake an analysis of the global instance of the P2E platform to assess the extent to which it contains relevant content aligned with the P2E taxonomy, incorporating foundational and practical GenAI content. Make any updates identified as necessary. An analysis of the current status of the global instance of P2E is undertaken and the site updated as identified. (28-Feb-25)

Assist UNICEF country offices in developing localized content strategies, sourcing content, uploading, and testing P2E instances to address contextual needs. A content strategy for at one P2E-implementing UNICEF country office is developed. (31-May-25)

Develop a framework to accredit and certify P2E content to ensure it meets global standards and is recognized by local partners.  A comprehensive framework is developed. (31-Jul-25)

Collaborate with partners to source and curate diverse, inclusive content (videos, quizzes, games, assessments) aligned with the Digital Content Strategy, available in multiple languages and formats. 5 new high quality content partnerships are developed, and content uploaded to P2E. (30-Apr-25)

Work with the Senior Advisor to establish an AI action plan, integrating AI across GenU programs, particularly in creating AI-focused learning-to-earning pathways for youth. An AI action plan is created. (31-May-25)

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. Content from P2E, Yoma, and imaGen. Ventures is successfully integrated into the global P2E platform, creating a unified skilling and opportunities hub for youth. (31-Dec-25)

 

Qualifications

Education: 

Advanced university degree (Masters) in the area of Economics, Business Administration, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Innovation or other related degree.

 

Work experience:

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.
• Fluency in English is required, strong written and verbal competency is necessary. Working knowledge of another UN language an asset.

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.