Home-based Consultancy: Education Policy Expert Consultant (55 Working days), ECARO, O/P Rome, Italy

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, Protection

Scope of the work:

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

UNICEF is responding to the unique needs of children, adolescents and young people who are seeking asylum in Europe, on the move, stranded or pushed back, as part of the Regional Migrant and Refugee Response. Since 2016, as part of the Geneva-based UNICEF Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECARO), the operation established a national Response Office in Italy, based in Rome. UNICEF’s National Response in Italy aims to provide support to the Italian Government, to ensure timely, equal and appropriate care, protection, education and support for social inclusion of the most disadvantaged children and adolescents, including Unaccompanied and Separated Children (UASC), young refugees and migrants, students with a migration background.

Starting from 2020, the Italy response is also supporting the national authorities in the establishment and implementation of the European Child Guarantee (ECG) to prevent and combat child poverty and social exclusion, through testing, scaling and mainstreaming innovative and evidence-based models of services for the most disadvantaged children, amongst whom, children and young people with a migration background, children in precarious family situations, children in institutions.

UPSHIFT is UNICEF’s 21st century skills building flagship programmeand one of the models piloted as part of phase III of the European Child Guarantee. Since 2022, the the programme is implemented through a Memorandum of Understanding between UNICEF and the Italian Ministry of Education (MoE) in lower and upper secondary schools, within the dual education (“PCTO”) and the civic education programmes.

Following the pilot phase, UNICEF’s current priority to ensure sustainability of the UPSHIFT model with key government stakeholders. Overall, in collaboration with the MoE and Regional School Offices, the aim is to support the localization of the ECG in the field of education and training through allocation of EU Social Fund+ for ECG implementation. A first step in the implementation of this strategy has been the identification and analysis of European Social Fund + channels and allocation mechanisms at both central and region level, and the development of an Action Plan to support UNICEF’s efforts in leveraging the sustainability of the UPSHIFT models through these funds. Based on the Action Plan, the next step is for UNICEF to pilot a European Social Fund+ (ESF+) funded UPSHIFT model with national or regional authorities in order to generate evidence on its feasibility and effectiveness for future scale up of the strategy. 

Key responsibilities include:

Support the implementation of the ECARO’s National Response Office Action Plan for the promotion and sustainability of UNICEF’s education and skills building models in the Italian school system. 

Specifically, the Consultant will:

• Provide technical support for piloting of a ESF+ funded public tender for implementation of UPSHIFT in the Italian school system;
• Oversee and document phase I of the ESF+ funded UPSHIFT pilot.  

 How can you make a difference? 

Work location: Home-based in the Italy.

To apply:

Applicants are invited to: 

1. Complete their UNICEF profile;
2. Submit a financial proposal with a daily fee in EUR. Applications without fees will not be considered.

– Payment schedule: The consultant will be paid based on satisfactory and timely submission of deliverables.

– Duration: 55 days between September 2024 and August 2025

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

• Master’s degree in public policy, social sciences, international development, education or related field
• A minimum of ten years relevant professional work in public policies, strategies and plans;
• Proven track record of engagements and/or professional links/partnerships with relevant national and subnational bodies;
• Excellent planning and organizational skills;
• Excellent analytical and written skills;
• Strong communication skills – both oral and written;
• Fluency in Italian and English.

Desired criteria:

• Professional experience with focus on the context, policy, and process for education services at the national and sub-national level in Italy;

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

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:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

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.