Grant Management and MEL Consultant

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 significant player in the international development landscape.

Job Overview:
The Grant Management and MEL Consultant position is a consultancy role within UNICEF's Hosted Funds, specifically focusing on the End Violence Against Children initiative. The consultant will be responsible for managing the fund management portfolio, which includes overseeing key systems, platforms, and processes to maximize the return on investment from Safe Online grants. This role is critical in supporting the grantee network in sharing and leveraging learning, with a particular emphasis on Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL). The consultant will assess the portfolio's needs, manage technical assistance, identify opportunities, and facilitate collaboration among grantees and Safe Online partners. The position is remote, allowing for flexibility in work arrangements while contributing to a vital cause.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will have a comprehensive set of responsibilities, including:

• Grant Management - Application: Review and sift through approximately 50 applications per Call for Proposals annually, documenting initial analysis and screening results. Provide analytical inputs to Results Frameworks and onboarding materials by specified deadlines.
• Grant Management - Monitoring: Review 50 reports annually, analyzing qualitative and quantitative information on project progress, focusing on MEL and Theory of Change aspects. Conduct monthly virtual monitoring calls with selected grantees to assess implementation progress, document key takeaways, and perform data quality checks.
• MEL Systems & Learning Development: Plan and manage logistics for quarterly MEL Community of Practice webinars, develop assessments of portfolio-level results tracking and learning systems, and curate a repository of MEL tools and guidance materials. The consultant will also be responsible for maintaining and refining Safe Online’s results tracking and learning systems, ensuring that all deliverables are met within the specified timelines.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in grants management, project monitoring, or program coordination within the international development sector. A strong understanding of results-based management (RBM), monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems, and donor reporting requirements is essential. Hands-on experience with Grant Management Systems or Management Information Systems, particularly in an MS Office 365 environment, is required. The consultant should demonstrate excellent analytical, writing, and organizational skills, along with effective communication abilities to engage with both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Comfort in working remotely and across diverse cultures is necessary, as is the ability to conduct monitoring calls and visits as needed.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree in social sciences, international development, journalism, business administration, monitoring and evaluation, data analysis, or related disciplines is required for this position. This educational background will provide the necessary foundation for understanding the complexities of grant management and MEL processes.

Experience:
The ideal candidate should have at least 5 years of relevant experience in grants management, project monitoring, or program coordination, particularly in the context of international development. This experience should include a strong grasp of results-based management and monitoring and evaluation systems, as well as familiarity with donor reporting requirements. The consultant should also have experience working remotely and across different cultures, which is crucial for effective communication and collaboration in this role.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, as the consultant will be required to communicate effectively with various stakeholders. Additional language skills may be considered an asset, particularly if they enhance the consultant's ability to engage with diverse grantees and partners.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is set to last from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2027, and is home/office based, allowing for remote work. Candidates must complete their profiles in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and upload their academic credentials. A financial proposal reflecting the costs per deliverable and total lump-sum for the assignment is required, along with any travel costs and daily subsistence allowances if applicable. UNICEF will cover any emergent duty travel expenses. Selected candidates must have current health insurance coverage at the time of contract award and will be subject to background checks. UNICEF emphasizes its commitment to diversity and inclusion, offering reasonable accommodations for consultants with disabilities.