EmPowerHer Africa Programme Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, is a globally recognized organization dedicated to promoting and protecting the rights of children. Established in 1946, UNICEF has been operational for over 70 years and currently works in 190 countries and territories. The organization is the world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries and focuses on various aspects of child welfare, including health, nutrition, education, and protection from violence and exploitation. With a workforce of over 12,000 employees spread across more than 145 countries, UNICEF is funded entirely through voluntary contributions from individuals, businesses, foundations, and governments, ensuring its independence and ability to respond to the needs of children worldwide.

Job Overview:
The EmPowerHer Africa Programme Consultant will play a crucial role in supporting the AU Women and Youth Financial and Economic Inclusion (WYFEI) 2030 initiative, which aims to dismantle systemic barriers to financial and economic inclusion for women and youth across Africa. This initiative is a key component of the African Women's Decade (2020–2030) and aligns with the broader Agenda 206

• The consultant will provide strategic, operational, and technical support to the EmPowerHer Africa programme, which aims to empower 50 million adolescent girls and young women by 203
• The consultant will be responsible for programme planning, coordination, and stakeholder engagement, ensuring the effective implementation of skills, enterprise, and financial inclusion interventions across pilot Member States. The role requires a proactive approach to monitoring implementation progress, identifying challenges, and initiating corrective actions to ensure high-quality and scalable programme delivery.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant's duties will include facilitating the operational roll-out of the EmPowerHer Africa programme in selected Member States, adapting AU-level frameworks into actionable national and regional strategies, and establishing effective programme delivery mechanisms. The consultant will engage with various stakeholders, including government entities, youth and women's organizations, financial institutions, and private sector partners, to foster collaboration and joint delivery of programme objectives. Additionally, the consultant will contribute to the development of a Partnerships and Capacity Development Framework, strengthen the capacity of partner organizations, and support the preparation of quarterly and annual programme reports. The consultant will also be responsible for organizing learning and dissemination sessions, ensuring compliance with AU and UNICEF standards, and maintaining a risk and compliance monitoring framework for programme delivery.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master's degree from a recognized university in Development, Economics, Gender Studies, Social Policy, or a related field. A minimum of 5 years of proven experience in programme management for multi-country development is required, with a focus on capacity building and technical assistance for governments and civil society organizations. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated leadership in partnerships and stakeholder engagement, particularly in the context of gender and youth empowerment programmes. Strong familiarity with AU and/or UN programming and results frameworks is essential, along with exceptional drafting, reporting, communication, and facilitation skills.

Educational Background:
The educational requirement for this position is a Master's degree from a recognized university in relevant fields such as Development, Economics, Gender Studies, Social Policy, or similar disciplines. This advanced degree is crucial for understanding the complexities of programme management and the socio-economic factors affecting women and youth in Africa.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in programme management, particularly in multi-country development contexts. Candidates should have a proven track record of providing capacity building and technical assistance to governments and civil society organizations. Experience in leading partnerships and stakeholder engagement initiatives, as well as delivering gender and youth empowerment programmes, is highly desirable. Familiarity with AU and UN programming frameworks will be an advantage.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position, as it is the primary language of communication within UNICEF and with stakeholders. Proficiency in French or another AU working language is highly desirable and will enhance the consultant's ability to engage with a broader range of partners and stakeholders across Africa.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is set to commence on 15 November 2025 and will conclude on 31 October 202

• This position is remote, allowing for flexibility in work arrangements. The consultant will be expected to travel within AU Member States as required for programme implementation and stakeholder engagement. The role is full-time, and the consultant will be responsible for delivering key outputs and reports as outlined in the terms of reference.