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? 

The Symposium aims to advance evidence-informed dialogue on education financing and provide a platform for sharing research, country experiences, financing reforms, and policy innovations that support sustainable and transformative education systems. The event will also showcase country case studies, policy uptake, financing commitments, and lessons emerging from the Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (KIX) initiative and broader education reform efforts across the continent.

To support the planning and successful delivery of the Symposium, UNICEF seeks a senior and experienced Event Management Consultant to provide end-to-end operational and logistical support.

Purpose of the Assignment: The consultant will provide comprehensive event management support for the planning, coordination, implementation, and post-event closure of the 5th GPE-KIX Africa Research Symposium. The consultant will work closely with the Symposium Organizing Committee comprising representatives from the GPE-KIX Africa 19 Hub, Africa 21 Hub, UNICEF, UNESCO-IICBA, OIF/IFEF, IDRC, the African Union, and other partner institutions. The scope of work are:

Event Planning and Coordination
Venue Sourcing, Contracting and Logistics Management
Travel and Accommodation Coordination
Registration and Participant Services
Hybrid Conference Technology Coordination
Programme Delivery Support
Communications and Visibility
Symposium Delivery and Post-Symposium Activities

If you would like to know more about this consultancy on the detailed deliverables and expected outcomes, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: TMC0003602 GPE-KIX Africa TOR.pdf

Minimum requirements:

Education: A Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Event Management, Business Administration, Marketing, Hospitality Management, Education, or another relevant field is required. A master's degree in a relevant field will be an added advantage

Work Experience: At least seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in planning and managing large-scale conferences, symposiums, ministerial meetings, or comparable high-level events.
Demonstrated experience coordinating events involving governments, UN agencies, regional organizations, development partners, or other international organizations.
Demonstrated experience managing participant registration, travel, accommodation, venue logistics, protocol, and vendor coordination.
Demonstrated experience supporting hybrid events, including virtual participation platforms, audiovisual coordination, livestreaming, or interpretation.

• Skills: Strong project planning and coordination skills.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Strong stakeholder engagement and organizational skills.

• Language Requirements: Fluency in English.

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 promoting 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 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 (Talent Management System):

An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
Cover letter
A separate financial proposal TMC0003602 Financial proposal template.docx

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.

GPE-KIX Africa Research Symposium Event Management Consultant, Global Education Practice, 4 months, COE, Nairobi, Kenya (Remote) #594137