Contract Duration: 3 Months

Working arrangement: Remote work

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.

TERMS OF REFERENCE

The purpose of this assignment is to provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Education, Science, and Innovation to develop a detailed costed investment plan for implementation of the one-shift school model, with the particular focus on selected pilot schools.

The one-shift school model implementation plan will include a detailed overview of the investments required in school infrastructure and equipment, the provision (and potential models) of a free meal, the engagement of additional human resources, as well as institutional reorganization, among other elements, for up to 15 selected schools across Montenegro. The plan will be based on the Guidance on Implementation of a Full-Day School Approach and aligned with the new National Curriculum Framework. It will also present different implementation scenarios, considering available resources, implementation timelines, cost estimates, financing options, expected outcomes, risks and mitigation measures, and monitoring and evaluation arrangements.

The one-shift school model is expected to advance educational equity by ensuring more equal access to learning opportunities, support services, nutritious meals, and extracurricular activities for all students, particularly those from disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: Download File TMC0004577 External ToR.pdf

Minimum requirements:

Education:
Masters in Economics, Education Finance.

Work Experience:
• At least five years of experience in the area of economics, education finance or another relevant field.

• Experience in public finance, investment planning, or education sector reform will be considered as an asset.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in education financing, costing methodologies, public budgeting, and investment planning.

• Strong analytical and quantitative skills, including development of financial models, per-capita costing frameworks, and implementation scenarios.

• Proven knowledge of education sector policy, school infrastructure planning, and resource allocation.

• Good cross-sectoral knowledge; education, health, child protection, and social protection issues.

• Familiarity with the local context in Montenegro is a distinct advantage.

• Previous experience of collaboration with the UN/UNICEF is an asset.

Language Requirements:

• An advance knowledge of English language.

• Knowledge of any of regional languages- ie. Montenegrin, Serbian, Bosnian and, and or Croatian will be considered as an asset.

Desirable:

• Excellent writing skills, presentation skills, strong strategic and analytical skills.

• Ability to work with different stakeholders.

• Demonstrates tact and a high sense of responsibility and discretion.

• Demonstrates integrity and high ethical standards.

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

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 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.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
Cover letter
A separate financial proposal TMC0004577 Financial proposal.xlsx
Technical proposal requirement:
1. CV and sample of previous work that the candidate authored relevant to the topic of assignment (up to 5 pages per sample)
2. Proposed methodology for Analysis

Remarks:

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.

International Consultancy to conduct a costing analysis for implementation of the oneshift school model, Education section, Podgorica, Montenegro, 3 months, Remote