The consultant will work under the supervision of the Chief of Education, UNICEF Eritrea, and in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Local Education Group (LEG), GPE Secretariat and development partners.

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.

Consultancy Title: Consultant to Support the GPE Partnership COMPACT Mid-Term Review (MTR)

Section/Division/Duty Station: Education and learning

Duration: 19 Oct 2026 to 19 Jan 2027 (40 Working Days)

Home/ Office Based: Off-Site (National Consultancy)

For every child, the right to Education! 

How can you make a difference? 

The Ministry of Education (MoE) is implementing the Partnership COMPACT under the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), focused on Eritrea's priority education reform. In accordance with GPE requirements, Eritrea is required to conduct a Partnership COMPACT Mid-Term Review (MTR). The MTR is a mandatory requirement and a prerequisite for accessing future GPE financing, including eligibility for GPE IV funding. Failure to complete the MTR will limit Eritrea's ability to access future GPE resources.

The MTR was initially planned for December 2025 but was postponed due to low levels of implementation and the need to generate sufficient evidence on reform progress. The review is now scheduled for October 2026. The MTR must be conducted in accordance with GPE Guidelines and Quality Assurance Framework requirements and culminate in the preparation of an MTR Memo that will inform GPE Board decisions regarding future funding allocations.

UNICEF, as Grant Agent, on behalf of the Ministry of Education, seeks to recruit a consultant to provide technical support for planning, coordination, facilitation, analysis and documentation of the Partnership COMPACT Mid-Term Review.

Key deliverables

The consultant will work under the supervision of the Chief of Education, UNICEF Eritrea, and in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Local Education Group (LEG), GPE Secretariat and development partners. The consultant will undertake the followings:

Phase 1: Planning and Country Self-Assessment

  • Develop an MTR workplan and timeline.
  • Support establishment and coordination of an MTR Task Team.
  • Coordinate data collection and evidence gathering related to COMPACT implementation.
  • Complete the GPE Mid-Term Review Preparatory Monitoring Questionnaire.
  • Review implementation progress against the priority reform, enabling factors, gender equality, inclusion and grant performance.
  • Liaise with the GPE Secretariat regarding MTR preparation and review of the Country Snapshot Report.

Phase 2: Inclusive Dialogue and Draft MTR Memo

  • Design and facilitate stakeholder consultation meetings and MTR workshops.
  • Facilitate inclusive dialogue among government ministries, development partners and the Local Education Group.
  • Analyze achievements, implementation challenges, bottlenecks, lessons learned and opportunities for accelerating reform implementation.
  • Support identification of future GPE financing priorities and potential funding triggers.
  • Facilitate agreement on priority actions required to accelerate implementation of the COMPACT.
  • Draft the Mid-Term Review Memo in line with GPE requirements and templates.

Phase 3: Finalization and Submission

  • Revise the draft MTR Memo based on stakeholder and GPE Secretariat feedback.
  • Support validation and endorsement processes through the Local Education Group.
  • Finalize the MTR Memo for submission to the GPE Secretariat.
  • Prepare presentations and briefing materials for senior government officials and partners.

Summary of Deliverables:

Deliverable 1: (05 working days)- Inception Report and Workplan

Consultation with MoE, UNICEF and LEG; submission of detailed workplan and methodology

Deliverable 2: (10 working days) Completed MTR Preparatory Monitoring Questionnaire

Data collection, evidence review, analysis and completion of GPE questionnaire

Deliverable 3: (10 working days) Stakeholder Consultations and Summary Report

Facilitation of consultations and preparation of consultation report

Deliverable 4: (07 days working days) Draft Mid-Term Review Memo

Preparation and submission of draft MTR Memo

Deliverable 5: (08 working days) Final MTR Memo and Presentation

Finalization of MTR Memo and presentation of findings

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

  • Advanced university degree (Master's level or above) in Education, Public Policy, Development Studies, Education Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, or related field.

Experience:

  • Minimum 10 years of relevant professional experience in education sector planning, policy development, programme management, monitoring and evaluation, or sector reviews.
  • Demonstrated experience supporting GPE-funded programmes and processes.
  • Familiarity with Partnership COMPACTs, GPE grant implementation modalities, and education sector planning processes.
  • Experience facilitating multi-stakeholder consultations and policy dialogue.
  • Previous experience working with government institutions and development partners.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

  • Strong knowledge of GPE policies, procedures and review requirements.
  • Strong understanding of Eritrea's education sector and Partnership COMPACT reform agenda.
  • Excellent analytical and report-writing skills.
  • Strong facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills.
  • Ability to manage complex assignments within tight deadlines.
  • Strong communication and presentation skills in English.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English and the local language is required

HOW TO APPLY

Interested consultants should provide the following:

Technical proposal

  • The Technical Proposal should include but not be limited to the following:
  • Methodology: Detailed Methodology / approach to requirement detailing how to meet or exceed UNICEF requirements for this assignment
  • Profile: Ensure to include information related to the experience of the consultant Including similar assignments.
  • References: Names and contact details of supervisors/refences for similar assignments undertaken.

Financial proposal

  • Professional fee and other expenses: include all expenses related to the assignment professional fees.
  • Complete the attached financial proposal form and upload it in this application Financial Proposal Template Download File Financial Proposal template VV.xlsx

CONDITIONS

  • The consultancy will be for 40 working days.
  • The candidate selected will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions for individual contracts.
  • No contract may commence unless both UNICEF and the consultant sign the contract.
  • The consultant will be paid an all-inclusive fee (stationary, communication and other miscellaneous expenses) as per the stipulated deliverable and payment schedule.
  • Standard UNICEF procedures will apply for invoicing and all other financial management requirements set out in the contract.
  • Standard penalty clauses will also apply for late and poor-quality deliverables. The supervisor of the contract will provide the consultant with the criteria for the evaluation of the quality of each deliverable.
  • Additional details of UNICEF rules, regulations and conditions will be attached to the contract.
  • Consultants will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on the UNICEF budget.
  • Individuals engaged under a consultancy contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures. They 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 assignment is off-site.
  • Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed 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

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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

[add the 8th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role]. 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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 a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation 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.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

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.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Applications submitted without technical and financial proposals will not be considered

Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply.

CANDIDATES SHOULD PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF COMPLETION/EXEMPTION FROM NATIONAL SERVICE. PLEASE NOTE THAT COMPLETION/EXEMPTION OF NATIONAL SERVICE IS A REQUIREMENT.  COPY OF CARD/EXEMPTION MUST BE ATTACHED.  APPLICATIONS WITHOUT THIS REQUIREMENT WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

Please note that UNICEF is a smoke-free environment.

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