UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.
Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.
And we never give up.
For every child, education
The European Commission approved a Technical Support Instrument to support the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth (MoERDY) of Slovakia in the area of desegregation of Roma children in education. The Project is implemented by the UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, in cooperation with European Commission’s Reform and Investment Taskforce (SG REFORM) and the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of Slovakia. The Project aims to strengthen the capacity of education authorities and stakeholders at all levels to effectively implement desegregation of Roma children in education, and to develop a sustainable system to monitor elimination and prevention of segregation in schools. The expected impact is to provide Roma children with high quality education which will enable them to have better skills, knowledge and equal opportunities, as well as to promote inclusion and respect for diversity and multiculturalism, eliminate prejudices, stereotypes and discrimination of Roma children in the education system and beyond.
UNICEF is providing technical support to implement the project activities as per the agreed Description of Action: i) a comparative EU/international review of good practices in eliminating and preventing education segregation for Roma children, ii) peer-learning activities to familiarize Slovak education authorities with EU good practices, iii) upgraded methodology for monitoring elimination and prevention of education segregation for Roma children iv) a toolkit for capacity building and capacity building events for MoERDY and other national and regional education authorities and other stakeholders, v) a draft National Education Desegregation Plan including action from all levels of education and supported by other sectors, and vi) a draft national action plan for social behavior changes in support to inclusion of Roma children in education.
How can you make a difference?
UNICEF ECARO is launching a call for a National Education Specialist-Consultant to closely collaborate with the TSI Project Coordinator-Consultant. The National Education Specialist-Consultant will facilitate communication and coordination with the MoERDY and all involved stakeholders, provide logistical and technical support to the implementation of the project’s activities in the country, as well as support the contextualization of project activities by ensuring relevance to the local context and alignment with national legislation, as well as translation and adaptation in Slovak language.
The specific tasks expected for the National Education Specialist-Consultant are described further in the document (details of all tasks and activities will be discussed in more detail with the selected candidate).
The National Education Specialist-Consultant together with the TSI Project Coordinator-Consultant will maintain regular communication with UNICEF ECARO to ensure smooth and timely implementation of project activities. All reports to be submitted in electronic format by email to UNICEF ECARO Education Specialist in English.
Modality: Part-time, home-based (ideally in Slovakia) with 15.5 working days a month (279 working days in total) between July 2025 and December 2026. Local travels are foreseen.
|
Work Assignment Overview
Tasks/Milestone:
|
Deliverables/Outputs: |
Number of working days and deadline |
|
1 Provide support to TSI Project Coordinator-Consultant in coordinating project activities in the Slovak Republic (working meetings/workshops/events), translation and adaptation in Slovak language, and maintain communication with MoERDY, national and regional stakeholders and UNICEF contractors.
|
1.1 Communication with MoERDY and other Slovak counterparts to ensure inputs to documents, agendas, list of participants, reports.
1.2 Communication with contractors and vendors to ensure compliance with UNICEF rules and regulations and ensure the timely delivery of activities and reporting.
1.3 Translate and contextualize draft agendas, materials, compile lists of participants, send out invitations (in consultation with MoERDY)
1.4 Organized study visit- logistical support, communication with participants for the study visit and accompany stakeholders.
1.5 Quality control of Slovak translation.
1.6 Admin/logistical support with identifying the venue/catering/translation/interpretation of AG/CG/closing events and other events, if/when required.
|
7 days/month
Deadline: by end of each month
|
2 Acting as a rapporteur during the meetings/workshops when and if necessary and in agreement with the international experts, drafting minutes and reports in coordination with UNICEF team.
|
Draft minutes, reports, correspondence, etc., for various events/meetings, activities produced
|
2.5 days/month
Deadline by end of each month
|
3 Provide contextualized technical expertise to ensure adaptation of the project activities in line with the needs in the Slovak context, as well as the roles of involved stakeholders.
|
3.1 Support international experts with project activities (assessment of good practice in EU/beyond, the assessment of the current practices in the
Slovak Republic, development of toolkit and capacity building activities) by collecting EU and national reports/documents, making summaries in English, communicate with national counterparts.
3.2 Collect relevant legislation, data and reports and EU legally binding documents, materials produced by the CSO sector and other organizations, previous research analyses.
3.3 Coordinate with the national implementing partner for the organization of the capacity building events and for the development of the national Roma education desegregation action plan ensuring involvement of all relevant stakeholders beyond education and coordination.
3.4 Provide inputs to develop and implement the research plan for the testing of the methodology for monitoring education desegregation of Roma children in education.
|
6 days/month
Deadline by end of each month
|
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
- An advanced degree in one of the following fields is required: international development, human rights, education, or another relevant social science field.
-
At least six years of professional work experience in education/ inclusive education/ inclusion of the most vulnerable groups in education,
-
Proven experience in project management and successful coordination of similar projects,
-
Knowledge/good understanding of the system of education, inclusive education and education of Roma in Slovak Republic, and recent reforms in these areas is an asset,
-
Knowledge/experience in conducting research or managing research project is an asset,
-
Knowledge/experience in delivery of the trainings is an asset,
-
Good knowledge/understanding of the local environment of different stakeholders in inclusive education and inclusion of Roma children in education (education ministry and related institutions, other ministries and civil society organizations),
-
Good networking and collaboration skills,
-
Fluent written and spoken English and Slovak language, with excellent communication and presentation skills,
-
Ability to be flexible and deliver results under tight deadlines,
-
Excellent skills in Microsoft Office applications.
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).
To view our competency framework, please visit here.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.
According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.
UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.
Remarks:
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.
The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.
