UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.
At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.
UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.
Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.
For every child, the right to have the chance to study
Context
The Gender at the Centre Initiative (GCI), co-led by UNGEI (United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative) and IIEP-UNESCO, supports the leadership of Ministries of Education and National Civil Society actors to advance gender equality in and through education. Through an innovative and systemic approach, GCI builds technical capacity in gender, fosters political will, and supports the transformation of harmful gender norms.
In Senegal UNGEI is working in through the UNICEF country office to provide technical support for promoting the integration of gender equality into education systems and the capacity strengthening of ministries of education, civil society organizations (CSOs) and technical partners to prioritize gender equality in education. The Government of Senegal has endorsed the Freetown Manifesto for Gender-Transformative Leadership in Education, signaling a strong political commitment.
At country level, GCI is also linked to another important initiative, the UNICEF 7 % Set Aside resources mobilized globally, which supports gender-transformative actions. To ensure effective implementation of the planned activities and delivery of results, the UNICEF Senegal Education Section seeks to recruit a consultant to coordinate, deliver and monitor GCI activities and to provide technical support to national partners. In addition, the consultant will also support other education programme activities that integrate gender equality, thereby reinforcing coherence across the section’s interventions.
This consultancy aims to support Senegal CO’s efforts to advance gender equality and girls' education by ensuring the effective implementation of the GCI workplan, while also contributing to other education programme activities where gender integration is a key priority. It is fully aligned with Senegal’s Vision 2050, which emphasizes inclusive growth, human capital development, and gender equity through education, and with the UNICEF Country Programme Document (2024–2028), which prioritizes equity in access to quality learning, the empowerment of girls, and stronger, more inclusive education systems.
How can you make a difference?
Specifically, the consultant will:
• Build Leadership: Equip Ministry decisionmakers with gender‑transformative leadership skills.
• Mobilize Youth Voices: Launch and operationalize a Feminist Youth Coalition for Gender Equality in Education to amplify girls’ perspectives in education policy.
• Shift Social Norms: Drive a high‑impact multimedia campaign to challenge gender stereotypes around menstrual health and girls’ leadership.
• Influence Policy: Co‑create targeted advocacy products on SRGBV prevention and women’s leadership in education, and secure ministerial commitments at the Regional Girls’ Summit.
• Strengthen coordination with other UNICEF sections and with external partners, including government, civil society and development partners, to ensure complementarity of gender-transformative actions.
Scope of Work :
The Consultant will deliver the following four results/phases, which are part of the GCI work plan, incorporating both GCI-specific activities and core gender integration tasks. The deliverables under each result will be produced in line with an estimated activity timeline.
The Consultant will deliver the following four results/phases, which are part of the GCI work plan, incorporating both GCI-specific activities and core gender integration tasks. The deliverables under each result will be produced in line with an estimated activity timeline.
• Component 1 – Gender‑Transformative Leadership Training for MEN
- Prepare and facilitate a follow-up webinar with MEN decision-makers to deepen discussions on gender and transformative leadership within the education system.
- Deliver complementary training sessions for academic inspectors (in Set-Aside intervention regions), school directors, and women teachers, building on the Ministry’s existing gender and inclusion module.
- Convene a regional webinar to highlight the experiences and good practices of the Women Teachers’ Network, showcasing their leadership in advancing girls’ education.
- In partnership with the Coordinator of the MEN Gender and Equity Unit, design a forward-looking strategy for the coming year to strengthen and institutionalize gender-transformative leadership across the education sector
Deliverable: 1) Follow-up Webinar Report with MEN decision-makers (agenda, participant list, facilitation notes, key outcomes). 2) Training Package and Completion Report for academic inspectors (Set-Aside regions), school directors, and women teachers, building on the MEN gender and inclusion module, 3) Regional Webinar Documentation showcasing the Women Teachers’ Network (agenda, facilitation notes, participant list, summary of good practices and recommendations).
• Component 2 – Feminist Youth Coalition
- Research and design a youth-led coalition model, building on experiences from GCI coalitions in Mali, Niger, and Nigeria.
- Develop this model in an inclusive and participatory manner, through consultations with youth networks, girl-led and feminist organizations, and relevant stakeholders, ensuring ownership and sustainability beyond the consultancy period, including a handover and follow-up mechanism for continued youth engagement.
- Conduct stakeholder mapping and organize a (virtual) kick-off meeting to launch the process
Deliverable: Coalition terms of reference and action plan, including roles for UNICEF, youth networks, and MEN focal points.
• Component 3 – National Awareness Campaign
- Produce a podcast on menstrual hygiene and girls’ leadership.
- Organize a mobile “caravan” tour featuring girl champions and local influencers.
- Provide technical support to the PAC Section in the conception, shooting, and editing of a musical clip featuring prominent Senegalese VIPs advocating for girls’ empowerment, implemented under the framework of the Girls’ Education Set-Aside.
Deliverable: Storyboards/HIS, production plan, sample footage & campaign rollout schedule.
• Component 4 – Strategic Advocacy
- Co‑develop, with the youth coalition, an advocacy brief centered on one or two concrete policy asks (e.g. prevention of school-related gender‑based violence, enhanced leadership roles for women teachers/school principals).
- Hold a meeting with youth coalition members at the beginning of 2026.
- Align messaging with the MEN’s Plan for Women’s Promotion and the WiLL research findings.
- Explore a U‑Report poll or online on school-related gender‑based violence to enhance youth engagement.
Deliverable: Strategic Advocacy Package (advocacy brief, youth coalition meeting report, messaging note, U-Report/online poll summary).
Final Deliverable: A consolidated final report: results against Results Framework, lessons learned across all phases, recommendations for sustainability and scale‑up.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
- Education:
Master’s (or equivalent) in Education, Social Sciences, Gender Studies, Development Studies, or a related field.
- Work Experience: 5 years in gender transformative education programmes in Africa; proven engagement with UNGEI, GPE or equivalent. Experience working within UNICEF, another UN agency or similar institutional environment (preferred)
- Skills: Strong knowledge of gender issues in education and of the Senegalese education system.
Proven experience in working with government counterparts, civil society organizations (CSOs), and technical partners.
Strong knowledge with GCI, UNGEI and related initiatives.
Development of gender sensitive pedagogical tools; Multimedia campaign design and community engagement; Workshop facilitation, strategic advocacy writing; Design of gender responsive M&E frameworks
- Language Requirements: Fluency in French (oral and written) and at least intermediate English.
Supervision : The consultant will work under the supervision of the Chief of the Education Section and will collaborate closely with other sections and the Deputy Representative (Programmes).
Interested candidates are invited to submit (i) a cover letter outlining their relevant experience and motivation for the assignment, (ii) a detailed curriculum vitae (CV), and (iii) a financial proposal (expressed in USD, indicating the total cost for the assignment, including international travel costs). The financial proposal must be submitted as a separate document from the technical application (cover letter and CV). Costs related to approved travel within the country for field missions will be covered directly by the UNICEF Country Office. Only applications including all three elements will be considered.
For every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values
The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others
Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.
UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.
UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.
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.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.
Remarks:
As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.
UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.
Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.
UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.
All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.
