Purpose of Activity/Assignment:
UNICEF ECARO is seeking the support of a consultant to develop a concise framing note and a brochure that articulate the links between the Childcare and Early Learning Financing Facility (CELFF) and the skills & jobs agenda. Existing CELFF materials already highlight CELFF’s role in advancing workforce participation, women’s economic empowerment, and the professionalization of the early childhood education and care (ECEC) workforce, but require some further concrete links to situate CELFF within broader national, regional (e.g. EU), and global skills strategies. This work will contribute to CELFF’s positioning as a flagship UNICEF initiative that usefully connects ECEC, employment, and skills agendas.
The consultant will develop a concise framing note (5-7 pages) and a brochure (4-5 pages) that connect CELFF as a catalytic financing platform with the jobs & skills agenda.
1. Content framing
- Draft narrative linking ECEC financing to skills development & job creation (labour market participation, workforce readiness, ECEC workforce training, human capital development, care economy, etc.).
- Review EU and global skills strategies to integrate in CELFF’s existing materials
2. Strategic messaging
- Develop clear, user-friendly messaging (tailored to specific stakeholder group – such as IFIs, philanthropy, etc.) that emphasizes CELFF’s contribution to both ECEC, jobs creation and skills development.
- Identify 3-4 headline messages for use in the brochure and related communications.
3. Drafting and refinement
- Produce a structured framing note (5-7 pages) and a brochure (4-5 pages) that connect CELFF as a financing platform to advancing the skills agenda.
- Provide concise talking points for UNICEF leadership and senior management to use in high-level dialogues.
Work Assignment Overview
Deliverables/Outputs | Delivery Deadline
Framing note (5-7 pages) connecting CELFF with ECEC and skills agendas | 15 July 2026 (2 days)
Brochure (4-5 pages) connecting CELFF with ECEC and skills agendas | 20 July 2026 (2 days)
Messaging toolkit: 3-4 headline talking points and short blurbs for partner communications | 30 July 2026 (3 days)
7 working days between 1 July-31 July 2026.
Consultant's Work Place and Official Travel
The Consultants will be home-based with no travel is foreseen at the moment.
Estimated Cost of the Consultancy & Payment Schedule
Payment will be made on submission of an invoice and satisfactory completion of the above-mentioned deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs are incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines. All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.
Education
- Master's Degree in international development, economics, public policy, education, or related field.
- Specialized training or coursework in skills development or financing for social sectors is an asset.
Experience
- Experience working in skills & jobs agenda in international contexts.
- Proven ability to draft clear, concise policy notes and communication materials for diverse audiences.
- Familiarity with EU and global skills strategies and shifts in global/regional jobs and skills agendas within select organizations (IFIs, MDBs, bilateral donors, etc.).
- Experience in communication for development is an asset.
Skills
- Technical understanding of jobs and skills agendas.
- Strong writing and synthesis skills.
- Ability to develop headline messages and structured documents.
Others
- Experience with an IFI/MDB organization is strongly preferred.
For every Child, you demonstrate...
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
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.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.
Remarks
Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract 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 and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors 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.