Field Support Consultant, Generation Unlimited, Programme Group, Generation Unlimited, NYHQ, remote. Req#585748

Under the direct supervision of the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist (Officer-in-Charge for Country Support), under the overall guidance of the Deputy Director, Programmes, in close collaboration with the Senior Adviser Global Solutions and in coordination with wider GenU Programme team, the consultant will provide bespoke services and products to countries and regions already implementing- or in the process of establishing the full GenU model (Public Private Youth Partnership Governance structure and programme delivery) and/or delivering GenU related programmes to increase these countries ability to develop or deliver on their GenU agenda. The consultant will collaborate across the GenU Global Team and UNICEF Programme Group/to be established Center of Excellence teams to strengthen Country Offices’ ability to effectively develop their GenU agenda and operationalize programme delivery plus monitor plans intending to impact young people within the learning to earning and social impact space, in line with the GenU Strategy which is linked to the UNICEF SP. As part of this work, in close collaboration with the Senior Adviser Global Solutions, the consultant will also provide targeted support in the development of the work-based learning (WBL) programmatic portfolio, helping to design and deliver global programming aiming to increase the uptake of WBL interventions in UNICEF Country Offices and beyond, thus providing technical and operational support to the implementation of GenU’s Digital Initiatives programme supported by Global Affairs Canada. The WBL component is expected to constitute 30% of the consultant's level of effort.

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines fordeveloping countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

Consultancy: Field Support Consultant, Generation Unlimited

Duty Station: Programme Group, Generation Unlimited

Duration: 15 November 2025 – 31 December 2026

Home/ Office Based: Remote

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

Under the direct supervision of the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist (Officer-in-Charge for Country Support), under the overall guidance of the Deputy Director, Programmes, in close collaboration with the Senior Adviser Global Solutions and in coordination with wider GenU Programme team, the consultant will provide bespoke services and products to countries and regions already implementing- or in the process of establishing the full GenU model (Public Private Youth Partnership Governance structure and programme delivery) and/or delivering GenU related programmes to increase these countries ability to develop or deliver on their GenU agenda. The consultant will collaborate across the GenU Global Team and UNICEF Programme Group/to be established Center of Excellence teams to strengthen Country Offices’ ability to effectively develop their GenU agenda and operationalize programme delivery plus monitor plans intending to impact young people within the learning to earning and social impact space, in line with the GenU Strategy which is linked to the UNICEF SP. As part of this work, in close collaboration with the Senior Adviser Global Solutions, the consultant will also provide targeted support in the development of the work-based learning (WBL) programmatic portfolio, helping to design and deliver global programming aiming to increase the uptake of WBL interventions in UNICEF Country Offices and beyond, thus providing technical and operational support to the implementation of GenU’s Digital Initiatives programme supported by Global Affairs Canada. The WBL component is expected to constitute 30% of the consultant's level of effort.  

Scope of Work:

Assessment of needs and opportunities. The consultant will conduct qualitative research from a set of priority countries on bottlenecks/requirements/opportunities for them to advance the GenU agenda to maximize the efficiency and impact of their partnership base/governance structure for resources and impact.  

Develop bespoke Country Plans. The consultant will convene inter-departmental consultations to inform and develop support plans to country offices, including around resource mobilization and global programmes   

Update existing country strategies. The consultant will facilitate existing GenU countries to articulate/update their GenU theory of change and results framework based on consultations.  

Provide technical support to operationalize plans. The consultant will deliver specific support plans to countries and regions on youth-focused programming around learning to earning, with a focus on livelihoods.  

Review, update and/or develop GenU country support assets. The consultant will update and finalize key assets consisting of key GenU documents and tools for countries that want to engage with GenU in line with the new strategy and ways of working, including alongside Centers of Excellence. Engage and deliver bespoke support to the development of countries new to GenU agenda with a focus on facilitating sustainable partnerships for impact (Governance model), conceptualizing their GenU theory of change and results framework, supporting the identification and development of signature programmes applicable to the local context and ensuring there are appropriate means to measure results. This to support the expansion of GenUs footprint to enable reaching impact targets as per the new UNICEF Strategic Plan.   

Support Programme Research and Learning. The consultant will work closely with the Knowledge Management focal points to contribute to the preparation of learning products such as learning briefs, reports, and case studies, including synthesis of emerging evidence from programme evaluations and research. Special attention will be given to capturing youth perspectives and estimating system-level impact.  

Results monitoring and reporting. The consultant will inform and support development of Annual Results Reports, as well as documents for senior management.  

Develop and deploy a WBL global programme. The consultant will work with team members and other stakeholders to develop a WBL programme that can be deployed by UNICEF COs. This will include identifying and synthesizing existing research on WBL, developing a programme design that can be easily implemented by COs, supporting communications and advocacy related to this work, and helping to crowd in funding partners to finance programme deployment.   

Monitor implementation of Digital Initiatives programme. The consultant will work with the Senior Advisor, Global Solutions to monitor and support the implementation of the Digital Initiatives programme. This will include regular monitoring calls with Country Offices, preparing internal updates, contributions to donor reports, etc.  

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Work Assignment Overview/Deliverables and Outputs/Delivery deadline

1.  Develop and conduct survey to assess support needs assessment of GenU countries, with focus on GAC Countries  

-  1 survey is developed and conducted,  along with 10 follow-up calls with select countries, and 1 call with each with Education and Child Poverty COEs  

30 Nov 2025

2.  Survey four Regional Offices and two COEs, recommend bespoke approaches.  

-  4 Regional Offices and 2 COEs are surveyed, and regional approaches developed for GenU Plan  

31 Dec 2025

3.  Develop bespoke plans to meet these needs based on consultations with GenU (and partner/RO/COE) teams as needed, including to advance governance for long term sustainability per the GenU model  

-  1 country engagement plan with draft schedule and meeting agenda is produced, and 20 calls with identified COs conducted

31 Jan 2026

4.  Deliver quarterly updates on bespoke technical support requirements based on plan within learning to earning and monitor country offices support plan progress  

-  4 quarterly updates submitted on monitoring of action plan for country offices and bespoke learning to earning technical support provided as defined by consultations

30 Sept 2026

5.  Articulate proposals within learning to earning programme for county offices fund mobilization efforts in coordination with partnerships team and country office

-  A Tool to support continuous monitoring is developed in collaboration with relevant stakeholders

28 Feb 2026

6.  Prepare updates and inputs on county offices GenU agenda for senior management on documents and reports reflecting country engagement, including pre-reads for board and leadership council.

-  1 measurement tool package developed, and countries sensitized on its use. Inputs to 3 board and 3 leadership council pre-reads and meetings provided

31 May 2026

7.  Review and ensure quality and accuracy of GenU 2025 Annual Results Reporting plan and methodology and conduct quality assurance activity

-  2025 GenU Annual Results Reporting process conducted and 1 report produced

30 Apr 2026

8.  Collect knowledge needs and topics from countries and regional office, develop plan and support the activation of a community of practice/webinar related to GenU knowledge sharing

-  1 GenU community of practice /webinar plan developed and activated, and 1 session on PPYP supported for delivery

31 Jan 2026

9.  Develop process and conduct coordination engagements with seven Accelerator Countries and GenU Global Team, to monitor progress ensure support needs are met.

-  28 meetings conducted on time with detailed agenda and minutes with action points developed.  

31 Dec 2026

10.   Undertake and report on consultations with youth to  understand their needs related to WBL programmes  

-  1 WBL youth consultation report developed  

31 Jan 2026

11.  Design a WBL technical support kit that lays our how COs can quickly deploy WBL programming  

-  1 WBL technical support kit developed  

30 March 2026

12.  Monitor and support implementation of the Digital Initiatives grant  

-  6 monitoring reports developed  

30 Oct 2026 

Travel: 6 Country missions in total: 2 related to Country support and 4 related to WBL/GAC

Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s degree from a recognized university in education, economics, international relations, social sciences or another relevant technical field. 

Language Proficiency:  

• Fluency in English is required, strong written and verbal competency is necessary  

• Working knowledge of another UN language an asset  

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

• A minimum of 7 (seven) years of experience in development, programme management/coordination and/or technical partnership related efforts required  

• Experience in programme management, multi-stakeholder coordination, as well as experience working in a multi-cultural environment and Global South situation is required.  

• Experience in youth skilling, work-based learning programmes, youth employment, youth entrepreneurship and young peoples’ civic engagement is required.  

• Experience in youth-led programming, youth partnerships, or adolescents and youth in development and humanitarian contexts desirable  

• Proven experience in writing data-driven reports for technical and non-technical audiences, preferably with a particular focus on education, skills, and youth livelihoods topics.   

• Experience with large Government and Private Sector grants required. Experience with Global Affairs Canada grants an asset.   

• Experience in the roll-out and adoption of digital solutions and in the development and design of innovative financing mechanisms is an asset  

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and

- Upload copy of academic credentials

- Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :

• • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability

- Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.

- At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.

- Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory 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.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors 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. 

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.