Community of Practice Consultant – Global Accelerator Community of Practice on social protection and jobs

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, is the world's leading organization dedicated to children's rights and welfare. Established in 1946, UNICEF has been working tirelessly for over 70 years in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection, and development. As the largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF plays a crucial role in supporting child health and nutrition, ensuring access to clean water and sanitation, providing quality basic education for all children, and protecting children from violence, exploitation, and diseases such as AIDS. The organization is funded entirely by voluntary contributions from individuals, businesses, foundations, and governments, and employs over 12,000 staff members across more than 145 countries, making it a truly global entity committed to improving the lives of children worldwide.

Job Overview:
The Community of Practice Consultant will play a vital role in supporting the development, coordination, and facilitation of a Community of Practice (CoP) under the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions. This position is designed to foster peer learning, technical exchange, and co-creation of solutions among UN agencies and national counterparts in pathfinder countries. The consultant will be responsible for establishing and managing the CoP Core Group, facilitating quarterly learning and practice sessions, and coordinating the onboarding and engagement of CoP members. The overarching goal of the CoP is to accelerate progress on the Global Accelerator national roadmaps by fostering collaboration, sharing innovations, and strengthening the capacities of technical counterparts and UN agencies working across various regions and sectors. The consultant will also develop and maintain a CoP monitoring dashboard and produce learning briefs and peer exchange reports, contributing to the broader knowledge ecosystem of the Global Accelerator's Hub of Expertise.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be tasked with several key deliverables, including:

• Establishing the CoP Core Group and finalizing the operating framework, including the CoP charter and structure by February 15, 202
• Onboarding and engaging CoP members, which involves updating the member list, creating onboarding materials, and providing progress reports by May 31, 202
• Organizing two peer support and technical clinics, with reports on the outcomes due by September 30, 202
• Facilitating four quarterly learning sessions, with learning briefs to be produced by October 31, 202
• Developing and maintaining a CoP dashboard and monitoring and evaluation framework, with updates to be provided on a monthly basis by November 15, 202
• The consultant will also be responsible for fostering a collaborative environment where practitioners can share experiences, troubleshoot challenges, co-develop tools, and strengthen cross-country learning and collaboration.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in social policy, international development, communications, or a related field. Additionally, they should have at least 8 years of experience in social protection, skills and employability, job creation, and livelihoods. Proven experience in organizing participatory learning events and facilitating peer exchanges for government counterparts is essential. Strong interpersonal, analytical, and communication skills are required, along with experience managing communities of practice or similar platforms. Familiarity with online collaboration platforms and knowledge management tools is also necessary.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree in social policy, international development, communications, or a related field is required for this position. This educational background is crucial as it provides the theoretical and practical knowledge necessary to effectively engage with complex social protection and employment systems.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in the fields of social protection, skills and employability, job creation, and livelihoods. This level of experience is essential to ensure that the consultant can effectively contribute to the development and facilitation of the Community of Practice, as well as manage the various responsibilities associated with the role.

Languages:
While the job posting does not specify mandatory languages, proficiency in English is likely essential given the international nature of UNICEF and the position. Additional languages may be considered advantageous, particularly those relevant to the regions in which the Community of Practice will operate.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is set to last until December 1, 2026, and is home/office based, allowing for remote work. Candidates must complete their profiles in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and upload copies of their academic credentials. A financial proposal reflecting the costs per deliverable and the total lump-sum for the entire assignment must also be submitted. Any emergent or unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF. Selected candidates must have current health insurance coverage at the time the contract is awarded. Payment of professional fees will be contingent upon the submission of satisfactory deliverables, and UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment if the deliverables do not meet the required standards or if there are delays. Additionally, candidates must ensure that they have valid visa and health insurance for the duration of the contract. Selected candidates will also be required to confirm their fully vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 with a WHO-endorsed vaccine, although this does not apply to those working remotely.