Technical Vocational Education and Training Consultant, Amman, Jordan, UNICEF Global Programme Division, Education, 9.5 months (remote) #594604

Contract Duration: 9.5 months

Working arrangement: remote

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.

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Background

UNICEF works to ensure that every child has the right to learn, develop and participate fully, without discrimination.

Advancing equity, gender equality and inclusion is central to this mandate, with a particular focus on children who are most marginalized or excluded from education systems, including children with disabilities, girls, children affected by poverty, displacement, conflict and crisis, and children who are out of school or at risk of exclusion.

Within UNICEF Global Programme Division, the Education Practice works to strengthen education systems so that they are more equitable, inclusive, gender-responsive, and resilient across the life course. This includes supporting countries to improve policy and planning, financing, data and evidence, teacher and workforce development, accessible and inclusive learning environments, and cross-sectoral coordination for children’s learning, development,and wellbeing in development and emergency contexts.

UNICEF is committed to ensuring that all children and young people acquire the knowledge, skills, and competencies they need to succeed in work and life. There is a growing recognition that effective Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) systems must be integrated within broader socio-economic frameworks, aligning with Agenda 2030 commitments for education, equity, and economic empowerment.

Secondary education represents the principal entry point for skills development, with TVET embedded as a formal pathway to equip adolescents with the skills needed to successfully transition from learning to earning. Globally, secondary education systems are rapidly transforming with the increasing vocationalization of secondary education aligned to labour markets. Participation in TVET remains, nonetheless, uneven, particularly affected by gender, income, and geography, with girls and marginalized groups often underrepresented. Many low- and middle-income contexts face challenges such as weak labor market intelligence and fragmented governance between education and labour, hindering equitable quality learning and employment outcomes.

UNICEF seeks to engage an international consultant to deliver high-level technical assistance on TVET as part of UNICEF’s Skills & Secondary Education global programme portfolio which can both build on the opportunities as well as address any gaps.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The purpose of this assignment is to support financing, systems strengthening & policy reform, scale-up of transformative TVET programmes, and related monitoring, evaluation, research and learning for UNICEF’s Skills & Secondary Education global programme portfolio. This will engage colleagues and teams across Global Education Practice as well as other parts of UNICEF (i.e. ESP/GenU) and partners (i.e. ILO, UNESCO, World Bank).

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: TMC0004095 ToR.pdf

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Master’s degree in TVET, education, development studies, monitoring & evaluation or a related field.
• Work Experience: 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): 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.
  • A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in education systems strengthening, with a strong focus on TVET, skills development, and secondary education.
  • Language requirement:
    • Proficiency in English is required
    • Knowledge of Arabic will be an added advantage
  • Skills:
    • Extensive knowledge and skills in TVET, education, programme management, digital system development, or education technology solutions.
    • In addition, experience working with governments, development partners, and private sector actors on skills ecosystems, school-to-work transitions, or TVET reform.
  • An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
  • Cover letter
  • A separate financial proposal TMC0004095 Financial Proposal Template.xlsx