The Ministry of Education of Zambia, through the Directorate of Teacher Education and Specialised Services is committed to strengthening and improving the quality of provision of School Guidance and Counselling services to better support learners nationwide. In pursuit of this goal, the Ministry seeks to review and update its Guidelines on Administration and Management of Guidance and Counselling in the Education System to ensure relevance, effectiveness, inclusiveness, alignment with national policy and legal frameworks and with international evidence and best practices. To facilitate this process, UNICEF on behalf of the Ministry of Education is seeking the services of an Individual Consultant for a three-month engagement from April to July 2026. To work closely with the Ministry of Education and various multi-sectorial stakeholders to provide a document that is relevant and response to emerging challenges related to the learners academic, social, and emotional well-being.

Contract Duration: 3 months

Working arrangement: Home Based

 

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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.

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                                                         TERMS OF REFERENCE          

The Ministry of Education of Zambia, through the Directorate of Teacher Education and Specialised Services is committed to strengthening and improving the quality of provision of School Guidance and Counselling services to better support learners nationwide. In pursuit of this goal, the Ministry seeks to review and update its Guidelines on Administration and Management of Guidance and Counselling in the Education System to ensure relevance, effectiveness, inclusiveness, alignment with national policy and legal frameworks and with international evidence and best practices. To facilitate this process, UNICEF on behalf of the Ministry of Education is seeking the services of an Individual Consultant for a three-month engagement from April to July 2026. To work closely with the Ministry of Education and various multi-sectorial stakeholders to provide a document that is relevant and response to emerging challenges related to the learners academic, social, and emotional well-being.

Background

School Guidance and Counselling guidelines are essential for schools in Zambia as they provide a clear and structured framework to support learners’ academic, social, and emotional development. These guidelines help in the administration and management of guidance and counselling services thereby addressing learners’ diverse needs, promoting mental well-being, and fostering a positive learning environment. By establishing clear protocols, schools can more effectively assist learners in overcoming personal and academic challenges, ultimately contributing to improved educational outcomes and holistic growth. Zambia is a country with high prevalence of violence perpetrated to minors[1], including sexual and gender-based violence and with low disclosure and care seeking behavior among minors, especially female adolescents. For that, it is expected that the guidance and counselor teachers have the capacity to be the recipients of the trust of the adolescents in areas beyond the academic field but also to conduct effective case management for comprehensive services in collaboration with other line ministries while guaranteeing confidentiality and security for the minors.

Objectives:

To revise the Ministry of Education (2014) "Guidelines on the Administration and Management of Guidance and Counselling in the Education System" to improve the provision of School Guidance and Counselling Services within the education system and to address current educational and public policy and legal needs. This will be done through a participatory and consultative process with key stakeholders.

Scope of Work:

Phase 1 Inception and desk review:

  • Identify Relevant new and current legislation: Collate and review all policy changes since 2014. This includes updated versions of the National Education Policy 2025, National Gender Policy, and newer frameworks like the revised Zambia Education Curriculum Framework 2023, National Policy on Persons with Disabilities 2025 and Re-Entry Policy
  • Situational Analysis: through a desk review evaluates how effective the current guidelines and the new curriculum are addressing contemporary challenges like the long-term impact of HIV/AIDS, STIs, teenage pregnancies, gender-based violence, child marriages, alcohol and substance abuse, and emerging mental health and psychosocial issues as well as the national values, principles and ethics

Phase 2 Stakeholder Consultations:

  • To gather practical feedback from field practitioners to ensure the guidelines address realistic and practical implementation challenges. The consultant should consider collecting data from 2 districts from 5 provinces. Gathering input from key stakeholders through the hosting of a symposium which will include representatives from all key Directorates of the Ministry of Education, Senior Education Officers, District Guidance and Counselling Coordinators, Head Teachers, School Counsellors, Student/Learner Councils and Parent-Teacher Committees (PTCs), line ministries including the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services , NGOs, CSOs and UN agencies.

Phase 3 Drafting of Revised Guidelines on the Administration and Management of Guidance and Counselling in the Education System:

  • The consultant will consolidate all inputs, identify gaps in the 2014 guidelines, and integrate updated legislation, policies, and international best practices. The draft will include clear protocols for implementation, defined roles and responsibilities of stakeholders, referral pathways, and mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation.

Phase 4  Validation and Finalization:

  • Conduct central validation meeting of draft guidelines for 40 people which will include key stakeholders from national, sub national levels, Student councils, CSOs, NGOs and Development partners to critically review the draft guidelines and ensure they are practical, inclusive, and aligned with policy and legislation. The consultant will document and integrate stakeholder feedback, refine the draft to address identified gaps, and produce the final guidelines and report.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:Download File External ToR TMC0001688.pdf

 

Minimum requirements:

  • Education

An advanced degree in Education, Guidance and Counselling, Psychology, Social Sciences, Law, or a related field.

  • Work Experience:
  • Demonstrated knowledge of the Education sector, in similar contexts
  • At least 5 years’ experience working with Ministries of Education, preferably within the African context.
  • At least 8 years’ experience working in Education sector with experience in guidance and counselling.
  • Proven experience in developing or reviewing educational policies or guidelines, preferably in school guidance and counselling services
  • Demonstrated experience in facilitating stakeholder consultations and validation processes.
  • Skills
  • Strong analytical, writing, and communication skills
  • Experience in Child Safeguarding
  • Familiarity with the Zambian education context is an added advantage
  • Language Requirements:

Proficient in both spoken and written English.

 

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 Download File Financial proposal template TMC0001688.docx
  • A detailed technical proposal: 
    • Highlighting the understanding of the ToR and,
    •  an outline of the methodological approach and an appropriate timetable
    • Samples or links to Samples of previous relevant work listed as references of the proposer, on which the proposed key person directly and actively contributed or authored
    • Three references of the proposer of past and on-going relevant assignments. s. UNICEF may contact references for feedback on services provided by the proposers

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.


[1] UNICEF investment case SWW 2025.

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