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Purpose of Activity/Assignment:
Sudan Country Office (SCO) seeks the services of a consultant to support the development of a new Country Programme Document (CPD) 2026-2028 and supporting documentation. The CPD is developed in coordination with the 2026-2028 UN Sudan Interim Cooperation Framework 2026-28 (UNSICF).

The current Sudan context is dynamic and fast moving. Sudan has been plunged into one of the world's largest and most complex humanitarian crises since the conflict erupted between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in April 2023, with over 11 million people internally displaced and 200-400,000 continuing to be displaced each month. Epidemics, floods, extreme food insecurity, and malnutrition have all contributed to the situation. Basic social services have effectively collapsed, with a huge number of health, nutrition, and WASH facilities either closed or operating at suboptimal levels, an alarming child safety scenario, and 17 million children still out of school.

The operating environment is marked by persistent instability, shifting territorial control, fragmented governance, and rising ethnic tensions. These factors not only complicate humanitarian response but also pose a significant risk of abruptly altering and severely limiting UNICEF’s operational capacity to respond effectively. CPD planning in this context will not follow the traditional UNICEF approach. The consultant will be required to have an innovative approach to CPD planning that is both flexible, pragmatic and light touch.

The consultant will complete one visit to Port Sudan of at least 10 working days (Sunday – Thursday, not including weekends or travel dates).

How can you make a difference? 

Scope of Work:
Under the supervision of the Chief PME and in collaboration with the Deputy Representative Programmes, the consultants will facilitate consultation and draft the CPD and related deliverables, including the results and resources framework, explanatory notes, and other documents as specified below.
This work will include the following:

1. CPD preparatory work
• Review relevant documentation including but not limited to existing CO planning documents (Country Programme Document, Crisis Response Plans, Contingency Plans, Annual Work Plans, Annual Review, Internal Prioritization report, Annual Report etc.); CO Situation Analysis, an Evaluation synthesis, CO Humanitarian Development Nexus paper, CO Localization strategy, other evidence based analytical document and reports including UNCT plans and reports.
• Finalize method, approach and timeline for CPD milestone.

2. Results and Resources Plan (RRP) and Explanatory Notes
• Facilitate the development of an Outcome based Results and Resources Plan (RRP) with draft Explanatory Notes (ENs), that pulls together program strategies and operational modalities into a coherent first draft country strategy.
• Ensure cross cutting areas are reflected, including gender, Social and Behaviour Change (SBC), Accountability to Affected Population (AAP);, disability and the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA).
3. Strategic Moment of Reflection (SMR)
• Facilitate a light CO SMR exercise - including developing the agenda and agreeing the methodology with CO.
• Produce a report of SMR deliberations and outcomes.
4. CPD development and finalization
• Support consultation with external stakeholders.
• Draft and finalize the UNICEF Sudan CPD 2026-2028 including the Costed Evaluation Plan.
• Draft and finalize a ‘What’s at Stake’ document
• Review and update the CO Humanitarian Development Nexus paper.
• Review and update the CO Localization strategy

Education :-

Masters degree in a relevant field i.e. international relations, development studies, business administration, social sciences, political science.

• A minimum of At least ten years of strategic planning and programme design experience in social development field.
  • Demonstrated experience in design of UN and UNICEF country programme documents and results frameworks, particularly in conflict settings.
  • Demonstrated experience in results-based management practice including in programme design (prioritization, programme strategy, results framework and results-based budgeting).
  • Experience in development and humanitarian programming in the Middle East and North Africa Region is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

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UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

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:  

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract 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 and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors 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.