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?

The purpose of this assignment is for a consultant to work closely with the Ministry of Education, development partners, civil society, academic institutions, and various stakeholders to develop a Foundational Learning Strategy and Investment Plan (2027 – 2034). This document will provide a national framework for improving children’s foundational learning skills. The strategy will set a clear vision, guide policy and programme decisions, identify priority actions, align resources, and establish mechanisms for monitoring progress and accountability, so that every child in Zambia acquires the foundational skills needed for lifelong learning and future success.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: ToR TMC0005568.pdf

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

Minimum requirements (Qualifications/Experience/ Knowledge/Expertise/Skills)

Education:

Advanced university degree in Education, Curriculum Studies, Educational Planning, Public Policy, Development Studies, Social Sciences or a related field.
Minimum of eight years of progressively responsible experience in the education sector, including work on foundational learning.
Strong knowledge of Zambia’s education sector.

Work Experience:

Demonstrated experience in developing, reviewing or supporting the implementation of education policies, strategies, frameworks, guidelines or action plans.
Demonstrated experience in developing costed implementation or investment plans.
Proven experience working with government ministries, development partners, civil society organizations and other education stakeholders.
Experience facilitating stakeholder consultations, technical working groups, validation meetings and participatory strategy development processes.
Strong analytical, writing, communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information into clear strategic documents.
Experience in monitoring and evaluation, results frameworks, education data analysis or learning assessment is an added advantage.

Language Requirements:

Proficient in both spoken and written English.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:

Demonstrated knowledge of the Education sector.
At least 5 years’ experience working with Ministries of Education, preferably within the African context.
Demonstrated ability to design or contribute to monitoring and evaluation frameworks, including outcomes, outputs, indicators, baselines, targets, and data sources.
Excellent written and spoken English, with the ability to produce high-quality policy and strategy documents suitable for government endorsement and partner coordination.
Proficiency in standard computer applications, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

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 template TMC0005568.xlsx

Remarks: If the TOR or financial proposal documents are not downloadable 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.

Consultancy to support the Ministry of Education to develop a Foundational Learning Strategy and Investment Plan, Lusaka, Zambia (Remote), 3.6 months, #595368