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.

For every child, the right to HOPE! 

Vacancy Announcement: Consultant

Consultancy Title: Youth Movements for Gender Equality and Education Consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station:  September 2025 to September 2026

Duration: Education Section/UNGEI Team – Programme Group

Home/ Office Based: NYHQ 

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/Assignment: 

UNGEI is a global partnership for gender equality in and through education. Our mandate is to catalyse and galvanize action locally, nationally, regionally and global for girls’ education and gender equality in education. The UNGEI Secretariat is governed by UNICEF policies of employment. We strive to uphold feminist and anti-racist principles in how we work and offer flexible work arrangements.

We bring together diverse partners to develop and implement bold commitments to gender equality in education. We convene global, regional and local conversations and action for girls’ education and gender equality in education, including through the leadership of young feminist activists around the world

The Youth Movements for Gender Equality and Education Consultant is a creative, dynamic and exciting role. You will be responsible for identifying, supporting and strengthening youth and feminist movements across the UNGEI Partnership, and to strengthen feminist leadership within UNGEI networks and the platforms it convenes. 

Scope of Work:

The Youth Movements for Gender Equality and Education Consultant is primarily responsible for two streams of work: i) supporting UNGEI’s work to partner with and leverage feminist youth leaders in their efforts to advance gender equality in and through education; and ii) supporting programme coordination on feminist capacity development among education actors. The Consultant will also support the implementation of UNGEI’s intergenerational approach in all of its work. The Consultant will play a key role in UNGEI’s mandate to bridge the feminist movement with the gender equality and education movement. The Consultant will report to the Programme Manager at the UNGEI Secretariat.

Specific deliverables:

Deliverable 1: ‘Feminist School’

•   Support the development, implementation, monitoring and reporting of different editions of Feminist School, delivered by UNGEI and its partner. Feminist School is an action- and peer-based learning program focused on leadership skills-building along with experiential learning of gender justice.

•   Deliver one global public good related to the application of feminist monitoring, evaluation and learning approaches to the Feminist School.

•   Develop an external facing product (e.g. a blog article) on positive masculinities, based on the Feminist School Adolescent Boys Edition.

•   Deliver a report on the impact of feminist leadership on the education sector, including evidence and case studies).

•   Deliver one pitch deck to support the fundraising for the Feminist School and facilitate existing and new partnerships to sustain and scale up the Feminist School.

•   Support the preparation of at least three donor reports, incorporating the results of the Feminist School and other areas of work covered by this ToR.

Deliverable 2:  Youth and feminist movements working on gender equality in and through education 

•   Support Transform Education, the young feminist coalition hosted by UNGEI. This Includes coaching and facilitating learning opportunities, monitoring the implementation of its action plan, supporting the widening and deepening its membership. 

•   Deliver Transform Education’s external facing annual report.

•   Deliver one pitch deck building the case for resourcing young feminist movements working on gender equality in and through education, based on the evidence and lessons learned from ‘Education Shifts Power’ scheme implemented by UNGEI and partners.

•   Foster youth feminist participation and movement building within the Global Working Group to End School-Related Gender-Based Violence, Partner Coalition to End Gender Stereotypes in Classrooms, UNGEI Partnership.

•   Identify, facilitate and nurture new partnerships with diverse feminist led and youth led networks for potential collaboration and engagements, especially less represented groups like those focusing on disabilities, LGBTQIA+, marginalized ethnic and religious communities and others. At least 5 such new partnerships are developed.

•   Support at least two national young feminist coalitions in the frame of the Gender at the Center Initiative and UNGEI’s other programmes through capacity development and guidance.

Deliverable 3: Feminist Network for Gender Transformative Education (FemNet4GTE)

•     Support the delivery of the Feminist Network for Gender Transformative Education in September 2025.  This will entail liaising with at least 10 youth groups within FemNet4GTE, its planning group and other partners, as well as supporting the safeguarding policy.

•     Contribute to the agenda setting of FemNet4GTE by co-designing and preparing sessions with at least 10 youth-led feminist organizations and activists.

•     Deliver one blog article featuring the experience of youth-led feminist organizations at FemNet4GTE.

•     Contribute to the development of the report of FemNet4GTE.

•     Contribute to the long term strategy of FemNet4GTE 2026-2030, to be developed in 2026.

Deliverable 4: Campaigning, advocacy and events

•     Develop and contribute to at least four campaigns, advocacy activities and/or events around gender equality in and through education by engaging at least 15 young feminist-led organizations, leaders and activists, in close collaboration with the UNGEI Communications & Advocacy Manager. Support UNGEI in at least 4 strategic meetings and events in New York and elsewhere, including in high level settings such as CSW and UNGA. This will also include ensuring young feminist participation (at least 2 at each event) from UNGEI networks during these events and strategic meetings.

•     Support the creation of at least 5 pieces of digital content per month to amplify intergenerational and youth feminist work.  

•     Deliver at least two blog articles featuring the impact of young feminist participation and movement building in the education sector 

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

Deliverable 1: ‘Feminist School’

•     Support the development, implementation, monitoring and reporting of different editions of Feminist School, delivered by UNGEI and its partner. Feminist School is an action- and peer-based learning program focused on leadership skills-building along with experiential learning of gender justice.

•     Deliver one global public good related to the application of feminist monitoring, evaluation and learning approaches to the Feminist School.

•     Develop an external facing product (e.g. a blog article) on positive masculinities, based on the Feminist School Adolescent Boys Edition.

•     Deliver a report on the impact of feminist leadership on the education sector, including evidence and case studies).

•     Deliver one pitch deck to support the fundraising for the Feminist School and facilitate existing and new partnerships to sustain and scale up the Feminist School.

•     Support the preparation of at least three donor reports, incorporating the results of the Feminist School and other areas of work covered by this ToR.

Deliverable 2:  Youth and feminist movements working on gender equality in and through education 

•   Support Transform Education, the young feminist coalition hosted by UNGEI. This Includes coaching and facilitating learning opportunities, monitoring the implementation of its action plan, supporting the widening and deepening its membership. 

•   Deliver Transform Education’s external facing annual report.

•   Deliver one pitch deck building the case for resourcing young feminist movements working on gender equality in and through education, based on the evidence and lessons learned from ‘Education Shifts Power’ scheme implemented by UNGEI and partners.

•   Foster youth feminist participation and movement building within the Global Working Group to End School-Related Gender-Based Violence, Partner Coalition to End Gender Stereotypes in Classrooms, UNGEI Partnership.

•   Identify, facilitate and nurture new partnerships with diverse feminist led and youth led networks for potential collaboration and engagements, especially less represented groups like those focusing on disabilities, LGBTQIA+, marginalized ethnic and religious communities and others. At least 5 such new partnerships are developed.

•   Support at least two national young feminist coalitions in the frame of the Gender at the Center Initiative and UNGEI’s other programmes through capacity development and guidance.

Deliverable 3: Feminist Network for Gender Transformative Education (FemNet4GTE)  

•   Support the delivery of the Feminist Network for Gender Transformative Education in September 2025.  This will entail liaising with at least 10 youth groups within FemNet4GTE, its planning group and other partners,  as well as supporting the safeguarding policy.

•   Contribute to the agenda setting of FemNet4GTE by co-designing and preparing sessions with at least 10 youth-led feminist organizations and activists.

•   Deliver one blog article featuring the experience of youth-led feminist organizations at FemNet4GTE.

•   Contribute to the development of the report of FemNet4GTE.

•   Contribute to the long term strategy of FemNet4GTE 2026-2030, to be developed in 2026.

Deliverable 4: Campaigning, advocacy and events

•   Develop and contribute to at least four campaigns, advocacy activities and/or events around gender equality in and through education  by engaging at least 15 young feminist-led organizations, leaders and activists, in close collaboration with the UNGEI Partnerships and Advocacy Manager.

•   Support UNGEI in at least 4 strategic meetings and events in New York and elsewhere, including in high level settings including CSW and UNGA. This will also include ensuring young feminist participation (at least 2 at each event) from UNGEI networks during these events and strategic meetings.

•   Support the creation of at least 5 pieces of digital content per month to amplify intergenerational and youth feminist work.

•   Deliver at least two blog articles featuring the impact of young feminist participation and movement building in the education sector.

Qualifications

(1) Education

A university degree (Bachelor’s) in one of the following fields: gender or women’s studies, education, sociology, psychology, child development, international development;

Fluency in English is mandatory. Fluency in another UN language is highly desirable.

(2) Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

•  A minimum of five years of professional experience in gender justice or international development especially in education or other child rights sectors;

•   Prior experience in leading and supporting youth feminist movements at global and local levels is desired;

•   Experience in building and managing relationships with youth movements and networks around the world, especially feminist young education/ child rights activists is an asset;

•   Experience in supporting gender equality and education programmes is an asset.

•   Experience in training and facilitation is 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.

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 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 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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 a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

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.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, are encourage to apply are encouraged to apply.

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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (if applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.