Consultant for Foundational Learning

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, is a United Nations agency that works in over 190 countries and territories to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child and offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development to its staff. UNICEF is known for its passionate culture and attractive compensation and benefits package, making it a desirable workplace for those dedicated to serving children and communities globally.

Job Overview:
The consultancy aims to provide technical leadership and project management for UNICEF’s Foundational Learning (FL) portfolio. The consultant will work closely with the Ministry of Education and Technical Education (MoETE) to co-design, assure quality, and implement evidence-based interventions. The focus will be on scaling models across primary, preparatory, and TVET levels to ensure foundational mastery for every learner, aligning with national priorities. Key deliverables include leading the technical design and planning of FL programs, ensuring effective implementation through coordination with stakeholders, establishing performance and quality assurance measures, and integrating Ed-Tech solutions to enhance learning outcomes.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the technical design, planning, and implementation of FL programs in partnership with MoETE, ensuring readiness for scale-up.
• Oversee the effective and quality implementation of FL initiatives, coordinating timelines, stakeholders, and deliverables across UNICEF and partners.
• Establish coherent performance and quality assurance documentation to guide implementation and scale-up of FL initiatives.
• Accelerate foundational learning interventions by integrating Ed-Tech solutions and blended learning approaches to reach more students and ensure quality learning for all.
• Collaborate with various stakeholders to ensure coherence and timely delivery of initiatives, generating evidence for program effectiveness.
• Monitor and evaluate the progress of FL initiatives, making necessary adjustments based on data and feedback.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Social Sciences, International Development, or Humanitarian Studies; a Master's degree in Education is a strong asset.
• Minimum 10-15 years of progressively responsible experience in foundational learning, early grade education, and adolescent remediation programs.
• Proven experience in co-designing large-scale education programs with Ministries of Education, ensuring alignment with national curricula and policies.
• Strong expertise in program design across the learning continuum, including literacy, numeracy, school readiness, and remediation.
• Solid project management experience, including multistakeholder coordination, planning, timeline management, and risk mitigation.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and delivering Training of Trainers (ToT) and teacher professional development models.
• Experience in integrating evidence, monitoring data, and research into program design and implementation refinement.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess at least a Bachelor's degree in relevant fields such as Education, Social Sciences, International Development, or Humanitarian Studies. A Master's degree in Education is highly regarded and considered a strong asset for this position.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 10-15 years of progressively responsible experience in foundational learning and education programs. Candidates should have a proven track record of co-designing large-scale education initiatives and managing complex projects involving multiple stakeholders.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Arabic (both written and spoken) is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset but is not required.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is remote with travel requirements. UNICEF promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, or background. The organization has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with its aims and objectives, including discrimination and abuse. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous background checks and must adhere to UNICEF's standards and principles.