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.

How can you make a difference?

In 2021, UNICEF signed a 57-million-dollar partnership (one of the largest to date with a Mobile Network Operator) with Airtel Africa to promote digital learning by connecting schools to the internet and providing free access to national and UNICEF learning platforms across six countries in the region. Six countries in WCAR directly benefit from the ongoing partnership. With Airtel in WCAR, more than 1,000 schools have been connected to the internet, and ~1 million students and teachers are accessing more than 20 zero-rated platforms, such as UNICEF Learning Passport, for learning and teaching.

The partnership focuses on three strategic pillars:

1.Connectivity for Opportunity – connecting schools and learners through the Airtel initiative.

2.Accessible Learning Platforms – providing affordable or zero-rated access to high-quality digital erducation content such as the Learning Passport.

3.Championing Digital Education for Africa’s Children – advocacy, communication, and behaviour change to promote digital learning inclusion.

To support the effective coordination and implementation of this multi-country initiative, UNICEF seeks a qualified consultant to serve as Project Coordinator for the partnership in the West and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO).

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

A.Project Coordination and Implementation

•Support day-to-day coordination of activities across UNICEF regional and country offices and Airtel Africa’s teams.

•Track implementation progress across all 6 partner countries, ensuring alignment with partnership goals and timelines.

•Facilitate joint work planning sessions, co-creation workshops, and technical meetings between UNICEF and Airtel Africa.

•Coordinate with UNICEF’s Giga and Learning Passport teams to align digital learning and connectivity components.

•Draft white paper on expanding connectivity partnership to include out of school children in phase 2

B.Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

•Update and maintain the Airtel monthly KPI reporting document and Airtel dashboard.

•Consolidate quarterly and annual progress reports, highlighting reach, achievements, challenges, and lessons learned.

•Support data collection and reporting on KPIs such as number of schools connected, learners reached through zero-rated content, and advocacy milestones.

•Ensure timely submission of progress updates and donor reports to UNICEF and Airtel Africa.

C.Communication and Advocacy Support

•Liaise with UNICEF and Airtel communication teams to plan joint visibility activities.

•Support the organization of high-level events, launches, and communication campaigns promoting digital learning.

•Draft communication briefs, case studies, and success stories showcasing impact.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  Download File ToR_extTMC0006025 Airtel Africa Project Coordinator.pdf

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

QUALIFICATIONS / SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE / EXPERIENCE/ COMPETENCIES (CORE/TECHNICAL/FUNCTIONAL) / LANGUAGE SKILLS REQUIRED FOR THE ASSIGNMENT

Education:

Masters in any of these disciplines: Education, Blended learning, Pedagogy and Instructional Design, Education Technology, Multimedia Design, Project Management, Technology

Work Experience:

A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in designing, managing, coordinating, or technically advising digital education activities, preferably in multi-country, international development contexts.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:

Strong project management skills and ability to coordinate multi-country projects, including management of deliverables, timelines, and review processes across multiple stakeholders.
Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex methodological, technical, and operational inputs into clear guidance, reports, briefs, and presentations.

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)

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.

Airtel Africa Project Coordinator National/International Consultancy, WCARO Regional Office, Senegal, Dakar, 6 months (595634)