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.

For every child, the right to love and care

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does, in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens, addressing inequity, not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

UNICEF’s Strategic Plan 2026–2029 sets out an ambitious agenda to accelerate results for children, with a strong emphasis on equity, resilience, and integrated, cross-sectoral programming. Delivering on these priorities depends critically on robust Country Programme processes that translate global ambitions into context-specific, evidence-based action. Effective country planning ensures alignment with national priorities, strengthens partnerships, and drives accountability for results—making it central to maximizing impact for children and ensuring that resources are used strategically and efficiently.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Regional Planning Manager or the highest level planning position in the CO, the Planning/CPP Consultant will provide technical support to UNICEF’s Regional Office and Country Offices in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The consultant may support one or more of the 24 Country Offices in LAC to ensure that country programme planning processes and products are developed in line with established UNICEF guidelines, meet quality standards, and are strategically aligned throughout planning, programming, and implementation phases.

The consultancy contributes to maintaining high-quality planning processes and outputs across the region, while systematically strengthening the integration of evidence-based and risk-informed approaches within core planning, implementation, monitoring, and review processes. The consultant will support Country Offices in the preparation, review, and quality assurance of key planning documents, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), Country Programme Documents (CPD), and Country Programme Management Plans (CPMP).

The Planning/CPP Consultant will also support the production of key CPP-related documentation, including Strategic Intent Memos and high-quality PowerPoint presentations, and will work closely with national and regional teams in the preparation and coordination of key activities across the Country Programme Planning (CPP) process.

In addition, the consultant will support Country Offices with capacity-building activities related to UNICEF’s Rights- and Results-Based Programming, including the development, finalization, and review of relevant guidance, learning, and training materials in both English and Spanish.

The overall objective is to establish a robust and diverse pool of highly qualified professionals to support the effective and timely delivery of technical assistance for the implementation of the CPP and additiona activities described in this document. This pool will enable country offices to rapidly identify and mobilize relevant expertise over the three-year period (2026–2029), while ensuring comparability of outputs, standardization of methodologies, and adherence to corporate guidelines, quality assurance protocols, and approved standards.

MAJOR TASKS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED

The Planning/CPP Consultant will support UNICEF LACRO and Country Offices across the Latin America and the Caribbean region by providing technical expertise throughout the Country Programme Planning (CPP) cycle. This includes both remote and in-person facilitation of CPP-related activities, as required, and the preparation of corresponding documentation, such as meeting summaries, PowerPoint presentations, strategic and technical memos, draft Country Programme Documents (CPD), and related planning products. Tasks are organized under three core, interrelated categories aligned with the purpose and scope of the assignment.

Category 1: Country Programme Planning Support, Quality Assurance and Documentation

Provide technical support to Country Offices, as requested and in different timelines, to ensure CPP processes are conducted in line with UNICEF policies, procedures, and established planning guidelines and have a strategic focus following UNICEF’s 2026-2029 strategic shifts approach (Focus, Scale, Impact and Differentiation).

Review country documentation, guide country offices and facilitate sessions advising on, and quality assuring country programme plans to ensure strategic coherence across planning, implementation, monitoring, and review phases. Ensure alignment of country programmes with regional and global strategic priorities.

Support the preparation, review, and quality assurance of key planning documents, including UNSDCF, CPD, and CPMP.

Lead or support the production of CPP-related documentation, including Strategic Intent Memos and high-quality PowerPoint presentations.

Work closely with regional and national teams to prepare and coordinate key activities throughout the CPP process and key review exercises (Mid-term reviews, Strategic moments of reflection), ensuring timely and coherent documentation and deliverables.

Expected deliverable 1: Proposed CPP plan for country support to be provided after consultation with the country office. All phases of the plan are conducted including in person facilitation of CPP related activities –as noted in the deliverables table below. Documents are drafted for country review; feedback is incorporated in coordination with COs.

Delivery schedule: 2026-2029, Finalized documents depending on the CPP timeline of the specific countries

Category 2: Programme and business model analysis and support to the evidence synthesis

Programme and business model analysis - Support Regional and Country Offices in the development of programme and business model analyses and conceptualization of programming approaches in different context, to contribute to data-driven analysis that strengthens strategic decision-making, making effective use of available data sources and considering programmatic priorities alongside operational and resource implications.

Collaborate closely with regional or country teams to identify and apply appropriate analytical approaches to assess programme performance, delivery models, and implementation feasibility, ensuring alignment between strategic objectives and business model considerations.

Evidence synthesis or Situation analysis report- Support the generation and quality assurance of evidence synthesis, ensuring it is robust, coherent, and methodologically sound. Work with country teams to identify, assess, and utilize nationally recognized and credible data sources—including government statistics, administrative data, surveys, and sectoral studies—to accurately reflect the situation of children and adolescents within the country context.

Provide technical guidance to ensure that evidence synthesis is relevant for informing Country Programme Planning, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s guidelines, standards, and methodological requirements relevant and strategically used to inform key Country Programme Planning (CPP) products, priorities, and decision-making processes.

Strengthen country teams’ capacity to interpret and apply both analytical insights and evidence in an evidence-based, risk-informed, and context-sensitive manner across all stages of the CPP cycle—planning, implementation, and review.

Expected deliverables: Program and Business model analysis as coordinated with the CO or RO, Evidence synthesis draft

Delivery schedule: 2026-2029, depending on the CPP timeline of the specific country, or RO requests

Category 3. Capacity Building and Knowledge Support on Rights‑ and Results‑Based Programming

Support capacity-building activities for Country Offices related to UNICEF’s Rights- and Results-Based Programming (RRBP) approach in coordination with LACRO, with a focus on sections 2 and 3 of the RRBP focusing on planning (CPP processes) and programme implementation (includes workplanning, programme implementation, monitoring, evaluation, reporting and learning and adapting.

Develop, adjust, and review learning, and training materials in English and Spanish.

Provide hands-on technical support and knowledge sharing to strengthen national teams’ capacity to plan and implement with a focus on critical thinking and strategic shifts to ensure a high-quality CPP processes.

Expected deliverables: Capacity Building Sessions Delivered and Documented: Country level capacity building activities on UNICEF’s Rights and Results Based Programming (RRBP) approach delivered in coordination with LACRO, with supporting materials, agendas, and brief session summaries.

RRBP Learning and Training Materials (English/Spanish)- Finalized or adjusted, quality-assured learning and training materials on RRBP and CPP (e.g. slide decks, guidance notes, tools, templates) developed or updated and made available in both English and Spanish. This includes adaptation of materials for each countries with contextual information and data/evidences specific to the country.

Delivery schedule: 2026-2029, depending on the CPP timeline of the specific country.

Expected deliverables for each category of this LTA are:

Note: Candidates are free to apply to any category of expertise based on their qualifications and experience. They can also apply for multiple categories. UNICEF will award LTA to top ranked with above of 70 points under each category. A candidate may be awarded LTA for one or more than one category.

Responsibilities of the Consultant:

i. The consultant will work in close collaboration with the Regional Planning Manager, UNICEF Country Office team, e.g. Deputy Representative, M&E Officer, etc and other members of the team involved in CPP.

ii. Conduct country visits where the consultant is expected to provide in person support for facilitation of workshops, discussions etc, as requested by the country office.

iii. The consultants will use their own equipment: laptops, microphones, software and other accessories that may be required for these tasks.

iv. The consultants will not give the content/material, or any part thereof, to any third party without the written permission of UNICEF. All components will be the property of UNICEF, and the consultant will not share the same with anyone else.

v. The consultant must observe the highest standards of confidentiality and discretion regarding the information managed as a result of the activities performed and deliverables produced.

vi. . The consultant will prepera a report on activities undertaken and completed againt the deliverables by the completion date. A separate report needs to be prepared and submitted to the UNICEF supervisor for each travel/mission.

vii. The consultants will not put their name, logo/emblem on the content / any final product.

Responsibilities of UNICEF:

i. UNICEF will provide all details pertaining to the activities and the requirements

ii. UNICEF will orient the consultant on UNICEF’s MICS best practices and acceptable quality standards

iii. UNICEF will facilitate information and any other supplementary material required to carry out the assigned tasks.

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

Minimum requirements:

- Bachelor’s degree in business, Social Sciences, or other related technical fields.

- A Master degree or equivalent, in relevant technical matters indicated above, will be considered as an asset.

- At least five (5) years of experience in working with country program planning with UNICEF or other UN agencies is required.

- Experience in research and evidence generation will be considered as an asset.

- Experience in project coordination, report writing, capacity building material, impactful presentations, is required

- Experience in facilitating strategic discussion and guiding groups in consensus seeking activities.

- Fluency in English or Spanish is a requirement.

- Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective relationships with national partners

- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

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 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.

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 may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

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. For this position, eligible and suitable female and male are encouraged to apply.

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.

Long Term Agreement (LTA) for individual consultants’ support for country programme planning (CPP) processes in the LAC region (Home based)