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TERMS OF REFERENCE

Background and Justification

UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) is embarking on a Strategic Moment of Reflection (SMR) under the theme: Rethinking How We Deliver Results for Every Child.”

This initiative responds to the Future Focus Initiative (FFI) and the significant organizational changes underway across Headquarters, Regional, and Country levels. It seeks to ensure that UNICEF’s programme delivery systems remain agile, adaptive, and anchored in the primacy of the child rights agenda, even as the external landscape evolves.

Amid shifting donor priorities, changing national strategies, and growing government ambitions, UNICEF must evolve its delivery model to remain fit for purpose and capable of achieving results at scale, particularly for children at the last mile.

Through a partnership with the Design School in Cape Town, ESARO aims to facilitate a structured change journey grounded in creative problem-solving, systems thinking, and co-creation. The process will involve Multi-Country Offices (MCOs), Deputy Representatives, and the Regional Management Team (RMT), focusing on co-developing models for future-fit programme delivery across diverse contexts.

The consultant will support the ESARO team and the Design School in developing prototype programme delivery models, aligned with different country typologies across the region.

These models will serve as a foundation for the Deputy Representatives’ and RMT workshops, facilitating structured reflection and iteration to shape UNICEF’s future field delivery architecture.

Scope of Work

1) Goal and objective: Under the supervision of the Deputy Regional Director and in collaboration with ESARO leadership and the Design School, the consultant will:

· Analyze UNICEF’s current programme delivery modalities across different country contexts.

· Develop and articulate a set of 3–4 prototype models that reflect operational realities and strategic opportunities across typologies (e.g., MCOs, fragile/humanitarian, MICs, transition countries).

· Translate these models into practical, visual, and interactive tools for collaborative use in workshops.

· Support the design and facilitation of co-creation sessions during the Deputy Representatives’ Workshop and the RMT meeting.

· Synthesize workshop outputs into actionable recommendations for a reimagined regional delivery framework.

2) Scope of Work and Key Tasks

Task	Description	Expected Deliverable	Timeline
Task 1. Inception and Planning	Review key documentation (FFI materials, Strategic Plan 2026–2030, Regional Priorities, RMT notes, etc.) and consult with ESARO leadership, DSchool, and selected COs.	Inception report outlining approach, analytical framework, and workplan.	January 2026
Task 2. Country Typology Analysis	Map ESAR countries into 3–4 typologies (e.g., Fragile/Humanitarian, Transition, MIC, MCOs) through document review and targeted consultations.	Country typology analysis and summary matrix.	February 2026
Task 3. Prototype Model Development	Develop prototype delivery models for each typology, defining key characteristics, delivery functions, and enabling factors.	Draft models and supporting presentation materials.	March 2026
Task 4. Workshop Design and Support	Collaborate with DSchool to prepare and facilitate working sessions during the Deputy Representatives’ Workshop.	Workshop toolkit (visuals, templates, facilitation materials) and workshop summary.	April 2026
Task 5. Final Synthesis and Recommendations	Consolidate insights from the workshops, refine the models, and produce the final synthesis for presentation at the RMT.	Final report with refined models and recommendations.	May 2026

 

3) Work relationships: The consultant will work under the supervision of the Deputy Regional Director (DRD), UNICEF ESARO, and in close consultation with the steering committee.

Regular consultations will be held with the Office of the Regional Director, Regional Planning and Monitoring Section, and Design School (Cape Town) to ensure alignment, quality, and coherence of deliverables.

4) Outputs/Deliverables:

· Inception Report and Analytical Framework – January 2026

· Country Typology Analysis and Mapping – February 2026

· Draft Prototype Delivery Models and Workshop Toolkit for Country Office and Regional Management Team (RMT)meeting use – March 2026

· Workshop Support and Summary Note – April 2026

· Final Synthesis Report with Recommendations – May 2026

Payment Schedule

· 20% Upon submission and approval of Inception Report and Analytical Framework

· 20% Upon submission and approval of Country Typology Analysis and Mapping

· 20% Upon submission and approval of Draft Prototype Models and Workshop Toolkit

· 20% Upon completion of Workshop Support and Summary Note

· 20% Upon submission and acceptance of Final Synthesis Report with Recommendations

Desired competencies, technical background and experience

a) Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Organizational Development, Systems Thinking, Public Policy, International Development, or related fields.

b) Minimum 8–10 years of progressively responsible experience in programme strategy, systems design, organizational change, or innovation in international development settings.

c) Demonstrated expertise in developing conceptual and operational models for programme delivery or organizational design.

d) Familiarity with UNICEF’s programming approaches and structures (especially in decentralized, multi-country, and humanitarian contexts).

e) Excellent analytical, facilitation, and visualization skills, including proficiency in tools such as Miro, Figma, or similar.

f) Strong communication and drafting skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information clearly and visually.

g) Must exhibit the UNICEF Core Values of: Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, Sustainability

h) The consultant is expected to maintain professional written and verbal communication in English.

Administrative issues

Consultancy Location: The consultant will be remote-based, with the option to work from Nairobi if preferred.

Working Hours: Given collaboration with ESARO, the Design School (Cape Town), and Country Offices, the consultant is expected to remain reasonably available during standard Nairobi working hours for virtual coordination, meetings, and iterative reviews.

Travel Requirements: The assignment may require travel to Nairobi (Kenya) and Cape Town (South Africa) to support co-creation sessions and workshops, aligned with the consultancy timeline and subject to UNICEF travel clearance procedures, and business needs.

UNICEF will cover approved travel expenses, that have to be included in the financial proposal as part of the all-inclusive fee. All official travel will be by the most economical fare and reimbursed in accordance with UNICEF policy.

Meetings and Progress Reviews: The consultant will participate in regular check-in meetings (bi-weekly or as agreed) with the Deputy Regional Director (supervisor), Programme Planning and Monitoring (PPM), steering committee, and collaborating units, as well as milestone-based reviews linked to the delivery schedule (inception, draft models, workshop preparation, post-workshop synthesis, final report).

Conditions

Office Space & Equipment

This assignment is home-based/remote, and the consultant is expected to use their own office equipment, software, and communication tools to deliver the tasks. UNICEF will facilitate access to relevant SharePoint spaces, documentation, and virtual collaboration platforms as needed.

Travel

Travel may be required to support workshop preparation and delivery, specifically to Nairobi (Kenya) and/or Cape Town (South Africa), subject to UNICEF approval. UNICEF will cover approved travel expenses, that have to be included in the financial proposal as part of the all-inclusive fee. All official travel will be by the most economical fare and reimbursed in accordance with UNICEF policy.

Payment Modalities and Deliverables

As per UNICEF DFAM policy, payments will be made only upon UNICEF’s acceptance of agreed deliverables, according to the approved schedule in the TOR.

No advance payments will be issued unless exceptionally approved against a bank guarantee, up to a maximum of 30% of the contract value, and only if justified (e.g., purchase of required services/software or travel needs).

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements

Selected candidates must be fully vaccinated with a WHO-endorsed COVID-19 vaccine if they are expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, field locations, or interact with communities, or if official travel is required. This requirement does not apply if the consultant remains fully remote for the duration of the assignment, with no travel or premises access.

Consultancy Status

Individuals engaged under this contract are not considered UNICEF staff members and are not eligible for staff entitlements (such as medical insurance, leave, or pension). The consultant’s terms will be governed by the Consultant Contract and the UNICEF General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants

Visa, Insurance, and Medical Clearance

The consultant is responsible for ensuring valid visas and health insurance for the full duration of the contract, including travel medical coverage where travel is required.

Taxes

Consultants are responsible for any taxes, social security, or duty liabilities applicable under local or international legislation. UNICEF does not issue statements of earnings for tax purposes.

Disability Inclusion and Reasonable Accommodation

UNICEF is committed to disability inclusion. Reasonable accommodations may be provided as required (e.g., accessible tools, adaptive software, mobility/mission support). Applicants are encouraged to voluntarily disclose disability-related needs during recruitment or contract execution.

How to apply

Qualified candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, CV or P11 form and their technical proposals to the online recruitment portal (Talent Management System) or email provided.

Interested candidates to indicate their ability, availability, and all-inclusive financial proposal (in a separate document) to undertake the terms of reference. The fees should be inclusive of other costs incurred such as travel/return ticket, VISA and subsistence allowances for international consultants who will be based in Nairobi.

Applications submitted without a fee/ rate will not be considere

Remarks:  

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

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.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.