Consultant for Education Systems for an Education that Protects

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, is a United Nations agency responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide. With a mission to promote the rights and well-being of every child, UNICEF operates in over 190 countries and territories through country programs and National Committees. The organization focuses on various areas including education, health, nutrition, and protection from violence, ensuring that children have access to essential services and opportunities for growth. UNICEF's work is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and it aims to create a world where every child can thrive, regardless of their circumstances.

Job Overview:
The consultant will play a crucial role in supporting the implementation of the 'Education Systems for an Education that Protects' project, which aims to enhance the institutional capacities of seven education systems in Brazil to prevent and respond to violence. This position involves providing technical advisory support over a period of approximately 10 months, engaging with local teams and education secretariats to facilitate self-assessments, action plan development, and implementation processes. The consultant will also contribute to the broader Education that Protects strategy within the UNICEF City Agenda and the School Success Pathways strategy, ensuring that education serves as a protective factor against violence. The consultant's work will involve collaboration with various stakeholders, including municipal and state education systems, and will require a strong understanding of the educational landscape in Brazil.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support the implementation of the project 'Education Systems for an Education that Protects' by providing technical advisory support to selected education systems for approximately 10 months. This includes conducting self-assessments of institutional capacities, developing action plans, implementing these plans, and conducting follow-up assessments.
• Assist in the implementation of the Education that Protects strategy within the UNICEF City Agenda, focusing on strengthening the institutional capacities of eight education systems.
• Facilitate the integration of the Education that Protects strategy with the School Success Pathways strategy, working with implementing partners and state education systems.
• Develop and enhance materials for workshops and training sessions, including methodologies for in-person and online formats.
• Conduct guidance and support actions with local offices for the application of the institutional capacity self-assessment matrix by education secretariats.
• Document and report on the technical assistance provided to education secretariats, focusing on violence prevention and response.
• Organize and facilitate synchronous online training sessions for management and school teams in participating territories.
• Implement and document a community of practice, including participant mapping and mobilization.
• Support the implementation of evaluation activities and systematization of findings in accordance with monitoring tools. 1
• Provide ongoing support and documentation for in-person workshops and training sessions, ensuring alignment with project objectives.

Required Qualifications:

• Completed undergraduate degree in fields such as Education (Pedagogy), Psychology, Social Work, Social Sciences, Law, Public Policy, or related areas.
• Postgraduate studies (specialization, master’s, or doctorate) in Education, Public Policy, Child and Adolescent Rights, or related fields will be considered a significant asset.
• A minimum of five (5) years of proven professional experience in areas related to education and the protection of children and adolescents from violence.
• Demonstrated experience in providing technical assistance to municipal and/or state education secretariats.
• Experience in institutional capacity-strengthening projects, preferably with a focus on violence prevention in the school context.
• Experience in designing and facilitating workshops, training sessions, and capacity-building processes, both in-person and online.
• Experience in project monitoring and evaluation, including the development of instruments and preparation of technical reports.
• Ability to work collaboratively with multiple teams and stakeholders simultaneously.

Educational Background:
The position requires a completed undergraduate degree in relevant fields such as Education, Psychology, Social Work, Social Sciences, Law, or Public Policy. Postgraduate qualifications in related areas will be highly regarded and considered a significant asset, enhancing the candidate's suitability for the role.

Experience:
Candidates must have a minimum of five years of professional experience in education and child protection, with a strong emphasis on violence prevention. This experience should include providing technical assistance to education secretariats, engaging in capacity-strengthening projects, and facilitating workshops and training sessions. Experience in project monitoring and evaluation is also essential, as is the ability to work effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders.

Languages:
Full proficiency in Portuguese (written and spoken) is mandatory for this position. Intermediate knowledge of English will be considered an asset, particularly for reading technical documents from UNICEF and other international organizations.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy will last for 10 months, with specific deliverables and deadlines outlined for various work assignments. The consultant will work remotely and must have adequate infrastructure for remote work, including equipment and internet connectivity. Travel may be required for in-person missions, with costs covered by the consultant's fee. The consultant will not be considered a staff member of UNICEF and will not be entitled to benefits provided to staff members. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, including verification of academic credentials and employment history.