Learning and Development Consultant, Programme Group, Child Protection, NYHQ, remote. Req # 585898

The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (the Alliance) is a global network of operational agencies, academic institutions, policymakers, donors and practitioners that facilitates inter-agency technical collaboration on child protection in all humanitarian contexts. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) co-leads the Alliance with rotating NGO, currently the International Rescue Committee and Hurras Network. The Alliance sets standards and produces technical guidance for use by the various stakeholders, particularly field practitioners. Its mission is to support humanitarian actors to achieve high-quality and effective child protection interventions in humanitarian contexts, in both refugee and non-refugee settings. UNICEF also co-leads the Learning and Development Working Group (L&D WG) and provides a dedicated human resource to lead L&D activities within the Alliance. The purpose of the assignment is to support implementing activities of the L&D WG guided by the Alliance Strategic Brief: Sustaining Child Protection in a Changing Humanitarian Landscape as well as the Alliance CPHA L&D Roadmap, while also taking into account the development of a new strategy to be formulated over the course of 2026 to guide the subsequent strategic period commencing mid-2026

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: Learning and Development Consultant

Duty Station: Programme Group, Child Protection

Duration: Dec 1, 2025 – Jul 31, 2027

Home/ Office Based: Remote

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (the Alliance) is a global network of operational agencies, academic institutions, policymakers, donors and practitioners that facilitates inter-agency technical collaboration on child protection in all humanitarian contexts. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) co-leads the Alliance with rotating NGO, currently the International Rescue Committee and Hurras Network.  The Alliance sets standards and produces technical guidance for use by the various stakeholders, particularly field practitioners. Its mission is to support humanitarian actors to achieve high-quality and effective child protection interventions in humanitarian contexts, in both refugee and non-refugee settings.

UNICEF also co-leads the Learning and Development Working Group (L&D WG) and provides a dedicated human resource to lead L&D activities within the Alliance. The purpose of the assignment is to support implementing activities of the L&D WG guided by the Alliance Strategic Brief: Sustaining Child Protection in a Changing Humanitarian Landscape as well as the Alliance CPHA L&D Roadmap, while also taking into account the development of a new strategy to be formulated over the course of 2026 to guide the subsequent strategic period commencing mid-2026

Scope of Work:

The overall goal of this consultancy is to facilitate and strengthen the L&D Working Group and provide technical support to the Alliance’s capacity strengthening efforts led by other WG, Task Forces and initiatives. The consultant will work with the Alliance leadership and the Lead Agencies’ representatives on the strategy, management, and direction of learning and development across the Alliance.  The consultant is expected to perform following functions for the L&D WG in line with the Alliance Strategic Brief and the CPHA L&D Roadmap:

Task 1. Promote competency-based learning

• Provide an overview of child protection capacity needs and gaps within humanitarian settings across regions through updating the CPHA Learning Resources Mapping and CPHA Competency Development Guide
• Document and share case studies of successful Learning and Development initiatives that have been sustained or scaled despite significant funding constraints, to generate evidence for advocacy with donors and promote continued investment in effective CPHA L&D efforts

Task 2. Increase access to learning and capacity sharing opportunities

• Organize and deliver at least 4 trainers’ workshops and keep trainers network mailing list updated
• Pilot online learning series including the revised Primary Prevention Learning Package and Prevention of Separation learning Package
• Update and maintain Kaya Premium learners and facilitators pathways and analyze enrollment and completion data
• Ensure timely information-sharing about learning opportunities (i.e. trainings, webinars, conferences)
• Moderate the CPHA community of practice and yearly update engagement strategy

Task 3. Increase cooperation with tertiary level institutions

• Organize and deliver two webinars, in partnership with International Schools of Social Work, to share and discuss learning resources currently used across diverse humanitarian settings.
• Identify opportunities for collaboration with Open Online Universities to showcase and expand access to the Alliance online learning offer.

Task 4. Support L&D related activities of the Alliance Working Groups, Task Forces and Initiatives

• Support working groups and task forces in reviewing and refining learning tools and approaches to ensure they are competency-based, user-friendly, and effectively support capacity strengthening across the sector, including:

• Support Cash and Child Protection Task Force with the upload and maintenance of new CP And Cash E-course on Kaya
• Support Case Management Task Force to increase uptake of Level 3 Case Management Modules
• Support UASC Task force with translation of UASC TOT and drafting of storyboard for dedicated Standard 13 Module of the CPMS E-course
• Support development and upload of new CPMS E-course modules where needed

• Support the transition of the CAAFAG MOOC from FutureLearn to Kaya Premium

Task 5. Support the L&D WG facilitation and Annual Meetings

• Organize and deliver at least 5 L&D WG calls and circulate minutes including agreed actions
• Deliver orientation sessions for new members, especially those from local/national organizations and/or with a learning and development skills set, to encourage active participation
• Prepare L&D WG annual reports based on the M&E framework developed and provide inputs to donor reports as required
• Input on the strategy development for the new strategic period beyond 2026
• Support delivery of the Annual Meeting for Child Protection and Humanitarian Action

There is currently no sufficient funding to cover all planned activities that continue until July 2027. Some deliverables are planned to be completed if additional resources become available

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Work Assignment Overview/Deliverables and Outputs/Delivery deadline

Task 1: Update CPHA Learning Resources and CPHA Competency Development Guide

1.  Provide an overview of child protection capacity needs and gaps within humanitarian settings across regions through updating the CPHA Learning Resources Mapping and CPHA Competency Development Guide

- 1 CPHA Learning Resource Mapping updated

28 Feb 2026

-  1 CPHA Competency Development Guide updated

28 Feb 2027 

2.  Document and share case studies of successful Learning and Development initiatives that have been sustained or scaled despite significant funding constraints, to generate evidence for advocacy with donors and promote continued investment in effective CPHA L&D efforts

-  3 videos on successful CPHA capacity strengthening initiatives recorded and available

30 March 2026

Task 2. Increase access to learning and capacity sharing opportunities

3.  Organize and deliver at least 4 trainers’ workshops and keep trainers network mailing list updated

- 4 trainers workshops organized and delivered in 2026

30 May 2026

-  4 trainers workshops organized and delivered in 2027

30 May 2027

4. Pilot online learning series including the revised Primary Prevention Learning Package and Prevention of Separation learning Package

- 2 online trainings organized and delivered in 2026

31 Jul 2026

-  2 online trainings organized and delivered in 2027

30 April 2027

5.  Update and maintain Kaya Premium learners and facilitators pathways and analyze enrollment and completion data

-  Review and data analysis on Kaya share report drafted

31 Aug 2026

6.  Ensure timely information-sharing about learning opportunities (i.e. trainings, webinars, conferences)

-  Bi-monthly updates on L&D opportunities are shared with the Alliance members

30 Dec 2026

7. Moderate the CPHA community of practice and yearly update engagement strategy

- CPHA community of practice engagement strategy updated

30 Apr 2026

- CPHA community of practice engagement strategy updated

30 Apr 2027

Task 3: Increase Cooperation with Tertiary Learning Institutions

8.  Organize and deliver two webinars, in partnership with International Schools of Social Work, to share and discuss learning resources currently used across diverse humanitarian settings

-  2 webinars organized and delivered in cooperation with IASSW

31 Aug 2026 (1 webinar) 

30 Nov 2026 (1 webinar) 

9.  Identify opportunities for collaboration with Open Online Universities to showcase and expand access to the Alliance online learning offer.

-  Open Online Universities mapping conducted

31 Aug 2026

Task 4: Support L&D related activities of the Alliance Working Groups, Task Forces and Initiatives

10.  Support working groups and task forces in reviewing and refining learning tools and approaches to ensure they are competency-based, user-friendly, and effectively support capacity strengthening across the sector

-  5 WG, TF and Initiatives learning products reviewed

31 Aug 2026

11. Support the transition of the CAAFAG MOOC from FutureLearn to Kaya Premium

-  1 CAAFAG MOOC moved from FL to Kaya Premium

30 Dec 2026

Task 5. Support the L&D WG facilitation and Annual Meetings

12. Organize and deliver at least 5 L&D WG calls and circulate minutes including agreed actions

- 5 L&D WG calls organized and meeting minutes shared during 2026

31 July 2026 (3 calls)

31 October 2026 (2 calls)

-  3 L&D WG calls organized and meeting minutes shared during 2027

31 July 2027

13.  Deliver orientation sessions for new members, especially those from local/national organizations and/or with a learning and development skills set, to encourage active participation

-  3 orientation sessions for new L&D WG members delivered

30 Oct 2026

14.  Prepare L&D WG annual reports based on the M&E framework developed and provide inputs to donor reports as required

- 2025 L&D WG Report

31 Jan 2026

-  2026 L&D WG Report

31 Jan 2027

15.  Input on the strategy development for the new strategic period beyond 2026

- 2 consultations held with L&D WG members on the new strategy

30 oct 2026

-  1 set of recommendations on the L&D element provided for the new strategy

30 oct 2026

16.  Support delivery of the Annual Meeting for Child Protection and Humanitarian Action

-  2 L&D specific sessions held at the Annual Meeting per year

30 June 2026

30 June 2027

Qualifications

Education:   

Advanced University degree in  Education, pedagogy/andragogy, social work, social sciences, public affairs, human rights/humanitarian law, or other relevant disciplines.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

• In-depth knowledge and experience of training development and delivery, particularly in humanitarian setting
• At least 5 years of experience in child protection in humanitarian action programming
• At least 5 years of progressively responsible, professional work experience on adult learning at the international level, including in challenging contexts
• Experience working with governments, coordination groups and other key CP stakeholders/actors at national/regional level
• Knowledge of online learning platforms used by humanitarian and development actors
• Experience of working in a highly collaborative environment with minimal direct supervision
• Understanding of the work of the Alliance and its L&D related activities  

  Competencies

• Experience in communications and capacity building materials development.

• Strong analytical and writing skills

• A commitment to excellence & attention to detail

• Ability to work well and punctually under pressure

• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to successfully interact with a diverse group of people and build consensus;

• Flexible work attitude, with the ability to follow direction and work independently across a virtual work environment;

• Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to independently track and follow-up on various tasks;

• Collaborative work style, with strong team-player attitude and ability to identify gaps and to take initiative to fill them;

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.