The UNICEF Recife Zonal Office (EZ Recife) works across the states of Alagoas (AL), Paraíba (PB) and Pernambuco (PE), supporting state and municipal governments in guaranteeing children's and adolescents' right to education. Among the platforms followed by the Education area, two stand out: the UNICEF Seal (Selo UNICEF, RS2), which strengthens and monitors municipal education indicators in partnership with Asserte, and the City Agenda (#AgendaCidade), through which it strengthens and monitors indicators in the capital of Pernambuco, Recife. Under both the Seal and the City Agenda, particular relevance is given to the School Active Search strategy (Busca Ativa Escolar, BAE), which focuses on identifying and reintegrating into school children and adolescents who are out of school, and to Education that Protects (Educação que Protege, EQP), which establishes protection pathways within the school environment. This consultancy will provide technical support to the monitoring of these strategies, the systematization of results and the production of technical inputs for the programme team, between August and December 2026.

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The objective of this consultancy is to provide technical support to the Education Section of EZ Recife in the implementation, monitoring and systematization of results of the UNICEF Seal (RS2) and City Agenda Recife strategies, particularly the School Active Search (SAS) and Education that Protects (ETP) strategies, between August and December 2026. The consultant prepares technical inputs and systematizes results; direct liaison with partners, State Departments of Education (SEDUCs), Undime and municipal governments remains the responsibility of the UNICEF programme team.

DELIVERABLES

1. Work Assignment overview 1

1.1. Deliverables/Outputs

Preparation of the consultancy Work Plan. Systematization of the August deliverables of the UNICEF Seal (RS2) in the municipalities of Alagoas, Paraíba and Pernambuco, on the School Active Search (BAE) platform and on the Growing Together Platform (Plataforma Crescendo Juntos, PCJ), in coordination with Asserte. Descriptive report of the monthly meeting of the Recife School Active Search Steering Committee. Technical inputs for the Education that Protects (EQP) Action Plan of the Recife Municipal Education Department (SEMED), covering the mobilization phase and the application of the capacity matrix.

1.2. Deadline

5th working day of Month 01

1.3. Estimate Budget 25%

2. Work Assignment overview 2

2.1. Deliverables/Outputs

Descriptive report of the monthly meeting of the Recife School Active Search Steering Committee. Finalization of the Education that Protects Action Plan of SEMED Recife.

Planning document for the six-monthly School Active Search monitoring workshop with the State Departments of Education (SEDUCs) and Undime of Alagoas, Paraíba and Pernambuco (agreed date, summary document of the thematic points raised by the states, and workshop agenda).

Systematization of the six-monthly School Active Search monitoring workshop, with the SEDUCs and Undime of Alagoas, Paraíba and Pernambuco.

2.2. Deadline 5th working day of Month 02

2.3. Estimate Budget 20%

3. Work Assignment overview 3

3.1. Deliverables/Outputs

Descriptive report of the monthly meeting of the Recife School Active Search Steering Committee.

Agenda and supporting materials for the presentation of the account of successful School Active Search experiences at the State Seminar on Quilombola School Education.

3.2. Deadline 5th working day of Month 03

3.3. Estimate Budget 15%

4. Work Assignment overview 4

4.1. Deliverables/Outputs

Descriptive report of the monthly meeting of the Recife School Active Search Steering Committee. Systematization of the November deliverables of the UNICEF Seal (RS2) on the “Sistema Pesquisas” platform (anti-racist, inclusive and protective pedagogical practices; literacy practices; violence prevention practices). Support to the review of the EZ Recife Education Annual Work Plan (AWP).

Preliminary technical note with the count of beneficiaries reached under the AWP actions.

4.2. Deadline 5th working day of Month 04

4.3. Estimate Budget 25%

5. Work Assignment overview 5

5.1. Deliverables/Outputs

Descriptive report of the monthly meeting of the Recife School Active Search Steering Committee.

Final technical note with the count of beneficiaries reached under the AWP actions, by state and thematic area.

Advocacy roadmap for the opening pedagogical week of the 2027 school year, with content suggestions and supporting materials for the Undime of Alagoas, Paraíba and Pernambuco.

5.2 Deadline 5th working day of Month 05

5.3. Estimate Budget 15%

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENT

●Completed university degree in Education, Pedagogy, Social Sciences or a related field. A postgraduate qualification (specialization, master's or doctoral degree) in Education will be considered an asset.

●A minimum of 3 (three) years of professional experience in public education policy, preferably in initiatives related to School Active Search, the monitoring of municipal education indicators, or child and adolescent protection within the school environment.

●Skills in data systematization and technical report writing, with the ability to translate complex information into clear and objective outputs.

●Familiarity with UNICEF's results agenda in Education (UNICEF Seal, School Active Search), with the management structure of state and municipal education departments, and with the work of municipal education associations (Undime) will be considered an asset.

●Prior work experience with international organizations, public bodies or civil society organizations in the Northeast region, particularly in the states of Alagoas, Paraíba and Pernambuco, will be considered an asset.

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

Fluent Portuguese (mandatory), both written and spoken, for the preparation of technical outputs and interaction with the UNICEF team. Basic to intermediate knowledge of English will be considered an asset.

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’S CORE VALUES

Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS)

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background 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.

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GENERAL CONDITIONS: PROCEDURES AND LOGISTICS

Consultant will work from home using own equipment and stationery. UNICEF will provide office space for consultative meetings when needed.
Consultant’s, travel costs should be included in the consultant’s fee.
No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant and mandatory courses are completed.
Consultants will not have any representative, certifying, or approving authority, or supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget.
The consultant will work remotely on a delivery basis.

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

Costs indicated are estimated. Final rate shall follow “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee.
A financial proposal including the fee for the assignment based on the deliverables and number of days must be submitted. Consultants are asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum, administrative cost, travel cost and subsistence costs, as applicable.
The payment will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

INSURANCE AND HEALTH COVERAGE

The contractor is fully responsible for arranging, at his or her own expenses, such life, health, and other forms of insurance covering the term of the contract as he or she considers appropriate.
The contractor is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members.

RESTRICTIONS

Consultants may not receive training at the expense of UNICEF. Notwithstanding, consultants must complete the applicable mandatory trainings before the signature of the contract.
In case of government officials, the contract cannot be issued without prior written clearance by the Government, or unless on leave without pay.

REMARKS

Individuals engaged under a consultancy will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants. Consultants are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

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.

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