Consultancy duration: One year

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.

Purpose of Assignment:

The Leadership Council on Disability-Inclusive Education is a recently launched global platform convened by UNICEF and partners that will bring together governments and key stakeholders to promote sustained prioritization of inclusive education, coordinated action around evidence-based approaches, and strengthen collective accountability for progress at national and global levels. Through coordinated leadership, policy advocacy, and engagement around systems-level change, the Leadership Council seeks to translate global commitments on inclusive education into concrete progress within education systems.

A Secretariat is being established to support the Leadership Council through coordination of its work and support for delivery of agreed upon priorities. The Secretariat will be responsible for planning and documentation, development of policy and advocacy outputs, and coordination of Leadership Council partnerships, meetings, and engagement.

This consultancy will provide dedicated technical and coordination capacity to support the secretariat as it moves into active implementation. Working under the supervision of the Education Specialist (Disability Inclusion) and in close collaboration with Leadership Council founding partners, the consultant will support operationalization of the Secretariat through coordination of Leadership Council activities and partnerships, and development of key technical and advocacy products.

In addition, the consultancy will support finalization of the Inclusive Education Toolkit, including completion and refinement of its core components to prepare them for clearance and dissemination, as well as support technical advisory to certain UNICEF country offices, upon request and as agreed with the supervisor.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: TMC0001305 ToR.pdf

Minimum requirements: /Qualifications/ Knowledge/Expertise/Skills

• Education: Advanced degree in relevant field, preferably inclusive or special education, international education, human development or social sciences, economics.
• Work Experience:
  • At least 8 years of progressively responsible professional experience in the field of international disability-inclusive education.
  • Demonstrated experience drafting high-quality technical, policy, and advocacy documents for diverse audiences.
  • Demonstrated experience coordinating and managing multi-stakeholder partnerships, including governments, international organizations, and civil society actors.
  • Demonstrated experience in program management and reporting.                                                                                                
  • Experience engaging with government counterparts and senior-level stakeholders in international policy processes.
• Skills:
  • Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with ability to synthesize complex information into clear, actionable outputs.
  • Excellent coordination and stakeholder engagement skills in multi-partner environments.
  • Ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously while meeting established deadlines.
  • High level of autonomy and ability to work effectively with minimal supervision.
  • Proficiency in developing high-quality presentations and written materials (e.g., PowerPoint, Canva).
• Language Requirements: Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
•  Desirables: Previous experience with UN agencies or multilateral institutions is an asset.
• Working proficiency in other UN languages an asset.

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  TMC0001305 Financial proposal.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.