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 hope.

Serbia has made significant progress in the digital transformation of education through investments in infrastructure, connectivity, digital learning resources and teachers’ digital competencies. UNICEF has supported this process cooperating with the Ministry of Education, the Institute for Education Improvement, the Institute for Education Quality and Evaluation, the European Union, the UNICEF Venture Fund and other partners. Further support is needed to ensure that digital technologies are used effectively, inclusively and in pedagogically meaningful ways, and to guide the responsible, safe and inclusive use of artificial intelligence in education. UNICEF therefore seeks a national consultant to provide technical support for digital education policies and initiatives, stakeholder consultations, technical documents, evidence generation and programme development, with a focus on quality, inclusion, child rights and improved learning outcomes.

How can you make a difference?

The consultant will provide expert support to the Ministry of Education, the Institute for Education Improvement and the Institute for Education Quality and Evaluation in digital education, with a particular focus on the development of relevant policies and initiatives and the responsible and pedagogically meaningful use of artificial intelligence in education.

Tasks and Deliverables:

1. Support the development of policies and initiatives in digital education

Provide expert support to the Ministry of Education, the Institute for Education Improvement and the Institute for Education Quality and Evaluation in addressing relevant needs and priorities in the area of digital education.
Support the preparation, implementation, and facilitation of consultation meetings with stakeholders, including the preparation of agendas, discussion points and other necessary materials.
Support the preparation and further development of relevant documents and materials in digital education.

Deliverables:

Materials for consultation meetings, including scenarios, agendas, presentations, and discussion materials, as well as summaries of key conclusions, as required.
Technical documents and knowledge products in digital education, including analyses, recommendations, guidelines, instructions and other relevant outputs, prepared and/or further developed in line with identified needs.

2. Support initiatives related to artificial intelligence in education

Provide expert support in organizing policy roundtable on AI in education
Prepare key conclusions and recommendations based on materials and discussions.
Based on relevant analyses and the outcomes of the consultation process, define priority areas, recommendations, and key considerations for the further development of artificial intelligence use in education, including relevant pedagogical, ethical, safety and policy considerations.

Deliverables:

Materials for the consultation process, including consultation policy workshop scenarios, agendas, presentations (PPTs), discussion materials, and other supporting materials, as required.
Summary of key findings and recommendations from the consultation process, including relevant proposals for further directions in the use of artificial intelligence in education.
Key considerations for AI in education

3. Support the national scale-up of the AI Teaching Assistant model

Follow up on the scalability of AI TA model in education
Identify opportunities for national scale up
Develop short road map

Deliverables:

Support national scale up of AI TA in education developed in cooperation with the Loop Foundation (Venture Fund)
Road map for the scale up of the AI TA

4. Assist key local partners in engaging with and joining GIGA.

Provide technical support to the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Telecommunication in engaging with GIGA
Support the preparation, implementation, and facilitation of consultation meetings with stakeholders, including the preparation of agendas, discussion points and other necessary materials.

Deliverables:

Materials for consultation meetings and discussion materials, as well as summaries of key conclusions, as required.

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

Minimum requirements:

University degree in human sciences, preferably education, pedagogy, psychology, sociology or another humanities field.
At least five years of experience in digital education policy and practice.
Experience in research, analysis and monitoring education policies.
Excellent knowledge of the digital policy framework in education, particularly in the Serbian context.
Strong analytical and conceptual thinking and the ability to synthesize complex information.
Statistical knowledge.
Fluency in Serbian and English language (spoken and written), with the ability to work in both languages.

Desirables:

An advanced university degree is an asset.
High level of gender awareness, cultural sensitivity and judgement; strong negotiation and communication skills; and ability to work effectively as part of a team.
Knowledge of the United Nations/UNICEF mandate and UN rules and procedures.

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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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 a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation 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, discrimination, fraud, corruption and other forms of misconduct.
UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference, safeguarding and background verification checks. These checks may include verification of academic credentials and employment history, screening against relevant United Nations misconduct databases, and requests for misconduct disclosures from current and former employers, professional associations, other relevant organizations and participating organizations under inter-agency safeguarding initiatives, including the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), where applicable.

Appointment, selection and continued engagement are subject to the satisfactory completion of all required checks. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information and consent to enable UNICEF to undertake these checks.
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

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments are conditional on the selected candidates’ willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel.
Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

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.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Consultant for Digital Education and Artificial Intelligence in Education