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Please click the link for further information about UNICEF Viet Nam: https://www.unicef.org/vietnam/

For every child, an opportunity...

How can you make a difference?

Background:

Viet Nam is at critical juncture in its development journey, especially under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework which provides a strengthened partnership platform for supporting Viet Nam’s efforts towards achieving key national priorities. With the increasing national capacity, UNICEF is increasing its role in upstream advocacy and technical assistance to eliminate barriers and bottlenecks across sectors, including Education.

Globally, Viet Nam is among the most affected countries by climate change. Each year, increasingly intense and unpredictable weather events cause fatalities and extensive damage to infrastructure, such as schools and health centres, and impact on the livelihoods of already disadvantaged communities in urban and rural areas.

Children are especially affected by these climate change related disasters. Access to food, water, education and healthcare is threatened and the pressure on communities – resulting from loss of income and assets – increases children’s exposure to violence, exploitation and abuse. Women also tend to be disproportionately impacted, further increasing negative effects on children, as they may be less able to provide sufficient nutrition or care.

UNICEF, as the leading agency in education emergency responses, is working to help Viet Nam strengthen the ability of its children, families, communities and government bodies to deal with climate change-related natural disasters, with a specific focus on reducing child vulnerabilities. We support government to reduce risks, plan for natural disasters and ensure vulnerable populations are better prepared to withstand climate change shocks. Building resilience to these shocks within families and communities is paramount in this context.

UNICEF is also applying a Child-Centred Disaster Risk Reduction (CCDRR) approach that identifies, assesses and reduces the potential loss of lives, health status, livelihoods, assets and services. With this child-centred response, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, UNICEF is working to keep communities safe through initiatives such as promotion of the Climate Smart and Safe Schools models, community-based child protection systems, raising awareness of climate change related disasters among children using innovative technologies and youth-led initiatives as well as mapping risks in schools and communities. By supporting the government to implement CCDRR, we will ensure communities, families, and children are supported and empowered to proactively mitigate and to withstand the growing severity, frequency, and cumulative effects of hazards.

With a growing evidence pool based on monitoring of climate and weather patterns pointing to a substantial risk of climate-related emergencies negatively impacting the South-East Asia region and Viet Nam in both the short- and long-terms, and with the ratification of several international agreements encouraging Viet Nam to take a robust approach to tackling climate change impacts, UNICEF has developed a vision that recognizes the importance of supporting humanitarian responses to disasters with longer-term and sustainable development work. UNICEF is developing its new 5 years strategy in Viet Nam (2027-2032) which include a specific and inter-sectoral focus on child-centred climate action.

At the heart of UNICEF response are the Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action (CCCs). The CCCs form the core UNICEF policy and framework for humanitarian action and are mandatory for all UNICEF personnel. Grounded in global humanitarian norms and standards, the CCCs set organizational, programmatic and operational commitments and benchmarks against which UNICEF holds itself accountable for the coverage, quality and equity of its humanitarian action and advocacy. The incumbent EiE Consultant is expected to bring in critical inputs to the emergency component of Education programming to meet to the UNICEF's CCC in emergency with the overall supervision of the Education Specialist. The position further aims to provide technical assistance for the recovery component of Education programming with special focus on risk-informed programming and the humanitarian-development continuum. This in turn will help UNICEF to demonstrate DRR/CCA incorporated into the overall rural development programs in selected provinces and help scale up across the country.

The consequences of floods and storms often result in the disruption of education of vulnerable children and adolescents, especially those most vulnerable and in the hardest-to-reach areas, due to damage to schools, loss of learning materials, psychological distress faced by children, teachers and the community, etc. Supporting the sustained continuity of learning is critical to undertake without delay by UNICEF as the co-lead of the Education-in-Emergency (EiE) Sector Group. Hence, additional capacity is crucial to be deployed to deliver UNICEF responses in EiE ensuring no one is left behind. Moreover, due to anticipated high workload of the Education programme to implement activities at both national and provincial levels, it is necessary to hire a competent national EiE consultant to provide technical support to UNICEF implementing partners, and function independently in the field as needed. The goal is to provide children with the critical EiE supply required, to save lives and to ensure the rights of all children, everywhere, to meet UNICEF’s Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action.

Purpose of the assignment:

The Education in Emergency (EiE) consultant(s) will support the UNICEF Country Office in Viet Nam in the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of UNICEF’s Education emergency response and recovery. The focus will be on programming to ensure improved access to continuous learning in emergency, and recovery efforts in the context of disasters in affected provinces in line with UNICEF’s Core Commitments for Children (CCC) in Emergency and national/ international humanitarian standards.

Objective:

The Consultant(s) will support the Education team to carry out planned Education interventions effectively through collecting data and information, coordination, implementation, monitoring and support of Education emergency response at national and local levels in affected provinces and others as needed, including supply distribution planning and monitoring at provincial, district and commune levels.

Responsibilities of the Consultant(s):

- Provide technical support for timely implementation of UNICEF education response implemented by partners including DOET in the targeted affected provinces.

- Support monitoring the UNICEF EiE response to ensure it is in full track as per the agreed target and plan in coordination with other sectors (WASH, Child Protection, Health, Nutrition, etc.) and cross cutting working groups (Accountability to Affected Population, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Gender Based Violence, etc); Prepare situation analyses updates and emergency-related donor reports throughout the emergency response.

- Assist EiE communication/visibility and resource mobilization.

- Support the EiE coordination of Education Sector Group (ESG) with national and provincial partners to ensure an inclusive response and accountability to affected populations, including monitoring the response and recovery implementation.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete TOR here: LTA TOR Education in Emergencies 2026.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree) in Education or a related technical field, emergency management or other relevant areas.

Work Experience:

+ Minimum 7 years of relevant experience in development planning and management in formal and/or non-formal education and/other relevant areas is required, at least three of which field-based dealing with large-scale emergencies or displaced/refugee situations.

+ Experience in responding to emergencies in the Education sector, including experience supporting the Education-in-Emergency Sector Group and cluster approach is an asset.

Language Requirements:

Strong communication (written and verbal) skills and fluency in both English and Vietnamese.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:

- Excellent inter-personal communication skills to be able to work closely with team members from a wide range of cultural and social context is desired.

- Sound judgement is required in follow-up on requests; high degree of accuracy is important.

- Ability to meet tight deadlines through excellent time management, organization, and multi-tasking skills.

- Experience of working in the UN or other international development organizations is most preferable;

- Good computer knowledge and skill.

Evaluation Criteria:

Technical Evaluation Criteria (80 points):

+ Advanced University degree in Education or a related technical field, emergency management or other relevant areas, 15 points.

+ Practical experience relating to natural disasters, disaster risk reduction and environment, emergency program management, monitoring and reporting, communication, resource mobilization, information management, Education in Emergency coordination and information management in rural areas in Viet Nam (20 points).

+ Experience in responding to emergencies in the Education sector, including experience supporting the Education-in-Emergency Sector Group and cluster approach is an asset (10 points).

+ Strong communication (written and verbal) skills and fluency in both English and Vietnamese required (10 points).

+ Good understanding of Government’s regulations and standards in education in emergency, development context and the Education Sector (5 points).

Financial evaluation (20 points):

- The maximum number of points shall be allotted to the lowest Financial Proposal that is opened /evaluated and compared among those technical qualified candidates who have attained a minimum 45 points score in the technical evaluation. Other Financial Proposals will receive points in inverse proportion to the lowest price.

- The Contract shall be awarded to candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores, subject to the satisfactory result of the verification interview if needed.

Submission of applications:

- A cover letter explaining the motivation for applying and explaining how the qualifications and skillset of the candidate are relevant for this consultancy.

- Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV), including 3 names of people who can be contacted for recommendations.

- Relevant course certificates, including BSAFE as a mandatory course requirement (on https://agora.unicef.org/?autologin=unicef)

- A financial proposal indicating professional fee, travel and other costs for the assignment as per the template indicated in the TOR. Please do not forget to specify your name in the file while saving.

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.  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.

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: National Individual Consultant to Support the Implementation of Education Emergency Response and Recovery in the Context of Disasters in Viet Nam