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Purpose of Assignment:

The Education Outcomes Fund (EOF), in partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone and development partners, is transforming education outcomes, innovations in donor financing, and implementing partner’s performance and efficiency. EOF has worked with the government to implement the Sierra Leone Education Innovation Challenge (SLEIC), an outcomes-based financing programme designed to improve foundational learning outcomes through partnerships with non-state education providers.

In parallel, EOF is supporting the launch of the Sierra Leone Early Childhood Care and Education Outcomes Fund (SLECCE), also known as the Salone Pikin 4 Play en Lan (SPPL) programme, which aims to expand access to quality early childhood care and education (ECCE) while improving holistic child development outcomes over the period 2026-2029.

As part of our work and in support of the government, we are seeking a consultant to serve as a Learning, Scaling and Innovative Financing Lead for the program.

As SLEIC reaches the final stages of implementation, there is an opportunity to ensure that the programme’s evidence, delivery innovations, and financing approaches inform sustainable, government-owned and led reforms within the education system. In parallel, the development of SLECCE provides an opportunity to apply lessons from SLEIC to the design of future programmes and sustainability pathways from the outset, working under government guidance and with partners across the sector. The consultant will support the updating and operationalisation of the SLEIC sustainability strategy and contribute to the design of sustainability plans for both SLEIC and SLECCE. The role will emphasise engagement with government stakeholders, facilitating dialogue on evidence and innovative financing approaches, and identifying feasible institutional pathways for embedding learning within government systems, in alignment with local partners.

Core components of the assignment include:

• Understanding government priorities and areas of focus, exploring what problems the government most wants to invest time in solving in the education system, and examining how we best we can support these needs via a learning agenda package:
• That package could include research, technical assistance, building data tools, or other support defined by government, to see through and sustain the Ministry’s objectives on improving learning outcomes;
• The role will be building the sustainability impact of the early childhood education program, working in real time with learning being generated; or on resource gaps we already know are likely to occur once the program ends;
• Building strong donor partnerships (GPE, UNICEF, FCDO and others) coordinating on evidence-based propositions for helping government deliver on its priorities;
• Consistently engaging EOF’s implementing partners and investors to ensure program delivery is effective and able to generate learning on innovative finance and education policy.

Finally, the assignment will also consider whether outcomes-based financing or payment-based incentives are of continued interest. The Sierra Leonean government has already expanded from SLEIC to a second outcomes fund, and given the government is considering whether school subsidy payments could be linked to school performance working with other partners, there may be interest in doing more. If so, partnership with government would explore how to institutionalise such incentives and learning - whether via budgets, procurement systems or new programming.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  TMC0001842 TOR.pdf

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

• Education:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Education, Economics, Public Policy, International Development, or a related field, is required.
• A Master's degree is preferred but not required.

• Work Experience:

• 8 years of relevant professional experience is required.
• Demonstrated experience working with the Government of Sierra Leone and strong networks across government institutions and education sector stakeholders.

• Skills:

• Proven ability to engage government counterparts, facilitate multi-stakeholder collaboration, and support the uptake of reforms within government systems.
• Strong strategic thinking and political economy analysis skills, including the ability to identify feasible institutional pathways for embedding programme learning and reforms.
• Ability to translate complex programme evidence and research findings into policy-relevant insights and strategic recommendations for government stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, particularly for engaging senior government stakeholders and facilitating policy dialogue.

Desirables:

• Experience with education system strengthening, innovative financing, or results-based financing initiatives is highly desirable.
• Experience working in Sub-Saharan Africa or similar contexts preferred.

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  TMC0001842 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.

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

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