UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, Education

Many ECE facilities do not have adequate infrastructure and learning materials. Moreover, not all preschool teachers, especially in home bases and centers, have the necessary professional training. Addressing these  challenges requires continued investment and collaboration between the government, NGOs, and local communities to ensure that all children have access to quality ECE, hence the proposal to develop an ECE investment case to mobilize the necessary support.  Although this is an individual contract, it is recommended that the consultant identify someone with complementary skills to work as a team considering complexity of the assignment.

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose of the assignment

The overarching objective of the assignment is to develop an ECE investment case for Lesotho. The investment case aims to demonstrate the value and impact of early learning on children, society and the nation as a whole. It provides evidence-based arguments to policymakers, highlighting how ECE can lead to better educational outcomes, increased economic productivity, and reduced social inequalities, among many benefits. By highlighting the costs of inaction and the benefits of investing in ECE such as better performance in primary school, reduced repetition rates and increased life-time earnings, the investment case is meant to attract political support and funding from both government, local communities and international donors towards the expansion of ECE services. Ultimately, it serves as a strategic tool for advocacy for improved investments in ECE, ensuring that all children in Lesotho have access to pre-primary education.

Scope of Work 

1. Conduct a desk review to establish current stay of play about ECE services: The objective of this component is to conduct a light touch assessment of the early learning system in Lesotho based on a desk review. The assessment will include types of early learning services (e.g., reception classes, home based, center-based etc), geographic spread and accessibility, infrastructure and learning environments, curriculum and pedagogical approaches, and inclusion of vulnerable and marginalized group

2. Measure the size of current government investments in ECE: The consultant will be required to assess the size, composition and allocative efficiency of public resources meant to support early learning. The analysis should estimate total public and donor investments over the past three to five fiscal years, disaggregated by key categories such as infrastructure, teaching and learning materials, ECE workforce salaries and training, and operational costs. The consultant should evaluate the adequacy and equity of funding across different regions and population groups, identifying any disparities or gaps.

3. Costing exercise and funding gap analysis: The consultant will be required to estimate the cost of rolling out reception classes in all primary schools across Lesotho and estimate funding gap to ensure national coverage, for a given period as determined by specific scenarios. This task will involve identifying the key cost components associated with establishing and maintaining reception classes, including infrastructure upgrades, teaching and learning materials, recruitment and training of early childhood educators, and ongoing operational expenses. The analysis should consider different implementation scenarios (e.g., phased vs. full rollout) and account for regional variations in school readiness and resource availability. The costing exercise will help determine the financial requirements needed to achieve universal access to reception classes and will inform strategic planning, budgeting, and resource mobilization efforts by the government and partners.

4. Undertake a cost of inaction analysis to estimate the negative impacts of not investing in ECE at the level of the child, community, and macro-economy: This component will entail simulation of socio-economic costs of not investing sufficiently in early learning (cost of inaction analysis). The analysis should have four components:

• Child-level analysis: Assess the developmental and educational consequences for children who lack access to early learning. This includes analyzing data on school readiness, learning outcomes, repetition and dropout rates, and other impacts on cognitive and socio-emotional development.
• Public expenditure analysis: Examine the financial implications for the government, including increased costs associated with remedial education, grade repetition, and delayed learning outcomes. This analysis should quantify how early learning investments could generate cost savings for the education system
• Community impact analysis: Evaluate the social and economic effects on families and communities, such as reduced parental workforce participation (especially among women), limited access to safe childcare, and increased vulnerability of children in underserved areas. This can either entail qualitative and quantitative assessments
• Macroeconomic analysis: Estimate the broader economic costs of underinvestment in early learning, including reduced labor productivity, lower future earnings, and increased reliance on social services. This analysis should model long-term economic returns from early learning investments and the opportunity costs of inaction.

5. Development of financing options:  The consultant will also be expected to generate practical financing options for early learning in Lesotho by conducting a rapid fiscal space analysis. This will involve identifying and assessing potential sources of additional funding within the national budget, such as reallocations from underutilized sectors, efficiency gains in current education spending, or increased prioritization of early learning within existing education allocations. The consultant should also explore external financing opportunities, including donor contributions, public-private partnerships, and innovative financing mechanisms such as community contributions, social impact bonds or earmarked taxes, where applicable. The analysis should consider the country’s macroeconomic context, fiscal constraints, and political feasibility. It should result in a set of realistic and actionable recommendations for sustainably financing the expansion and improvement of early learning services in Lesotho.

• Introduction , background and methodology
• ECE Policy and strategic frameworks
• Trends in ECE Policy financing in Lesotho
• Socio-economic impacts of not investing in ECE
• Financing needs and policy options
• Conclusion and recommendations

Advanced degree in a social science field such as economics, development studies, public policy and any other related field*A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree. 

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• At least 10 years of proven relevant experience and knowledge in developing investment cases in sectors such as health, education, and nutrition
• Strong data analysis including econometric modelling from a social sector spending perspective
• Demonstrated knowledge in producing policy reports (sample copies will be required)
• Knowledge of ECE in developing countries

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

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

  To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

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.

Interested candidates should indicate their ability, availability, and rate (daily/monthly) expressed in USD to undertake the terms of reference. Please indicate an all-inclusive fee (including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable) to undertake the tasks in the Terms of reference.

Remarks:  

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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.