UNICEF seeks an international consultant to help countries strengthen the alignment between education systems, skills development programmes, and labor market needs. While many countries track educational participation and completion, there is limited evidence on employment outcomes, employer satisfaction, school-to-work transitions, and the relevance of skills training to labor market demand. The consultant will support the development of global tools and provide technical assistance on labor market monitoring systems, graduate tracer studies, employer surveys, and education–labor market observatories. The work aims to improve evidence-based policymaking, strengthen education and skills programmes, and support successful transitions from education to employment for young people.

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.

The consultancy will contribute to strengthening evidence-based decision-making, improving education and skills programme performance, supporting education sector planning and financing, and promoting successful school-to-work transitions for adolescents and young people. 

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to learn

How can you make a difference?  

UNICEF is committed to ensuring that all children and young people acquire the knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to successfully learn, thrive and transition to further learning, decent work, and active citizenship. As countries invest in general education, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), skills development programmes, and alternative learning pathways, there is increasing demand for evidence on whether these investments are aligned with labor market needs and contribute to improved work and life outcomes. 
Expected Deliverables:
Task 1 – Global Public Goods on Education System External Efficiency and Skills–Labor Market Alignment
1A. Compendium of Good Practices on Education–Labor Market Observatories:
1B. Compendium of Good Practices on Tracer Studies and Employer Surveys:
1C. Compendium of Good Practices on Public–Private Dialogue and Stakeholder Engagement:
Task 2 – Technical Assistance to Country Offices and Governments
2A. Demand-Driven Technical Assistance to Countries: Provide technical assistance to UNICEF Country Offices and governments, in response to formal technical assistance requests, on establishing or strengthening education–labor market observatories, tracer studies, employer surveys, labor market intelligence systems, and stakeholder consultation mechanisms. Support will be provided to at least five countries and documented through technical reports, mission reports, technical reviews, workshop outputs, and country-specific recommendations.
2B. Toolkit: Produce a toolkit consolidating lessons from the global reviews and identifying operational models, indicators,
templates, and tools that can inform future UNICEF guidance, technical assistance, and country support on education-toemployment
transitions and labor market alignment monitoring.
2C. Knowledge Sharing, Capacity Development and Final Synthesis: Develop knowledge products and training materials, facilitate regional and global webinars and peer-learning exchanges, document country case studies and implementation lessons, and produce a final synthesis report highlighting country experiences, emerging lessons, and recommendations for strengthening education system external efficiency and skills–labor market alignment

If you would like to know more about this consultancy on the detailed deliverables and expected outcomes, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: Download File TMC0003862 ToR.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have:

Minimum requirements:

  • Education: Advanced university degree (Master's or higher) in Economics, Labor Economics, Statistics, Monitoring and Evaluation, or a closely related field
  • Work Experience: • At least eight years of progressively responsible professional experience in labor market analysis, TVET, education sector planning, education financing, monitoring and evaluation, or closely related fields.
  • Demonstrated experience conducting or supporting graduate tracer studies, employer surveys, labor market assessments, labor market intelligence systems, workforce observatories, or similar monitoring systems.
  • Proven experience supporing governments and development partners in strengthening alignment between education systems and labor market needs.
  • xperience producing analytical reports, global reviews, guidance materials, toolkits, and other knowledge products intended for policy and operational use.
  • Experience providing technical assistance to governments and/or international organizations in low-and middle-income countries.
  • Skills: 
  • Strong understanding of education-to-employment transitions and employability outcomes.
  • Knowledge of education system performance, external efficiency analysis, skills development systems, TVET, and workforce development policies.
  • Familiarity with labor market observatories, tracer studies, employer surveys, labor market intelligence systems, and skills forecasting methodologies.
  • Strong analytical, research, writing, and synthesis skills.
  • Ability to translate technical evidence into practical recommendations for policymakers and practitioners.
  • Strong facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills.
  • Language Requirements: Fluent in English, spoken and written. Knowledge of French will be an advantage
  • Desirables:Experience working with Ministries of Education, Labor, Planning, TVET authorities, chambers of commerce, employers' organizations, trade unions, and development partners is desirable.
  • Knowledge of French or another UN language. 

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 promoting 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 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 (Talent Management System):

Remarks:  If the TOR or financial proposal documents are not visible on certain recruitment platforms, please visit our official page Vacancies | UNICEF Careers

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.

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Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.