Mainstreaming Education in Emergencies (EiE) into Education Sector Planning consultant, 12 months, remote with possible travel, # 594520

Contract Duration - 12 months

Working arrangement: remote with possible travel

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 care

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF works with governments and partners to strengthen education systems and improve equitable learning outcomes for all children, particularly in crisis-affected and fragile contexts. As crises become more frequent, protracted and overlapping, education systems must be better equipped to anticipate, prepare for, respond to and recover from shocks. Mainstreaming Education in Emergencies (EiE) into sector planning is critical to ensure continuity of learning, system resilience, and inclusion of the most vulnerable children.

Within this framework, UNICEF supports countries to integrate EiE across sector analysis, planning, implementation and monitoring processes, ensuring stronger linkages between humanitarian response, recovery and long-term system transformation.

Countries require technical support to ensure that sector plans are risk-informed, crisis-sensitive and aligned with emerging priorities including climate change, digital learning, and stronger use of evidence and data.

To support these priorities, UNICEF seeks an experienced consultant to provide technical assistance on mainstreaming EiE into education sector planning processes, including accompanying countries across the planning cycle and supporting integration of cross-cutting priorities.

The consultant will be working remotely under the supervisor of the Senior Education Adviser in the GEP Humanitarian and Resilience Action pillar and will work in close coordination with other pillars as requested to ensure alignment between sector planning, reform prioritization, evidence generation, and financing analysis.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: ToRTMC0004222.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have:

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Advanced university degree in Education, International Development, Social Sciences, or a related field.

• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in education sector planning, policy development, systems strengthening, and Education in Emergencies (EiE) or humanitarian programming.
• Proven experience integrating risk-informed, crisis-sensitive, and resilience-focused approaches into education planning and policy processes.

• Work Experience: Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in education sector planning, policy development, systems strengthening, and Education in Emergencies (EiE) or humanitarian programming.

• Demonstrated experience supporting governments and development partners in the development, review, and implementation of education sector analyses, sector plans, operational plans, and education reforms specifically in humanitarian settings.
• Proven experience integrating risk-informed, crisis-sensitive, and resilience-focused approaches into education planning and policy processes.
• Experience supporting countries in mainstreaming EiE into education sector planning frameworks, including preparedness, response, recovery, and continuity of learning.
• Strong understanding of global education architecture and financing mechanisms, including GPE Partnership Compacts, System Transformation Grants, ECW investments, and related sector planning processes.
• Experience working with governments, UNICEF country offices, regional organizations, and development partners in low- and middle-income countries, including fragile and crisis-affected contexts.
• Demonstrated experience facilitating multi-stakeholder technical working groups, consultations, and policy dialogue processes.

• Skills: Strong technical expertise in education sector analysis, planning, policy development, and results frameworks.

• Excellent analytical skills, including the ability to conduct and interpret risk, vulnerability, and resilience analyses.
• Strong drafting skills with demonstrated ability to produce high-quality technical guidance, reports, policy briefs, and strategic recommendations.
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into practical and actionable recommendations for governments and partners.
• Strong facilitation, coordination, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Knowledge of climate-resilient education systems, continuity of learning, education financing, and data/evidence systems is an asset.

• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French, Spanish, or Arabic is highly desirable.

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 (only acceptable in the format of the linked template) Financial proposal TMC0004222.xlsx

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.