While in recent decades, Brazil has promoted inclusion of children and adolescents in public policies, a significant portion of the population remains excluded. Therefore, in its cooperation programme with the Brazilian Government for the period 2024-2028, UNICEF focuses its efforts on the most vulnerable and excluded girls and boys. These children and adolescents in situations of greater vulnerability are spread throughout Brazil, but they are more concentrated in the Amazon, in the Northeast and in large urban centers.  The current Country Programme Document (CPD) 2024-2028 concentrates on five key Goal Areas: Health and Nutrition; Quality Education; Protection from Violence; Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, Climate and Environment; and Child Poverty and Social Protection. UNICEF is the most decentralized UN agency in Brazil, with offices covering 21 states, and engages in flagship cooperation programs such as SELO UNICEF (covering half of the municipalities of Brazil, 2000+); through Urban Child Protection programmes such as #AgendaCidade in eight of Brazil’s major cities affected by Violence; and collaborates in emergency responses in the Amazon and Rio Grande do Sul.

Children and adolescents in Brazil face heightened vulnerability due to systemic gender, racial and ethnic disparities. Despite efforts to promote inclusion, Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous children often experience higher rates of poverty, limited access to quality education, and inadequate healthcare. The situation for girls has slowly improved in Brazil over the past 25 years, but this progress has been extremely uneven across regions, race and ethnicity. These disparities are exacerbated by historical and structural inequalities, often reinforced by social norms that exclude people due to their gender, race and ethnicity, leading to a cycle of marginalization. In regions like the Amazon and the Northeast, where these populations are more concentrated, the lack of infrastructure and resources further compounds their challenges.

The Consultant’s goal will be to support the mainstreaming of race and ethnicity into UNICEF SELO and #AgendaCidade flagship initiatives, as well as in the Annual Workplans of each of the aforementioned Goal Areas in all of the Zonal Offices. Furthermore, the Consultant will conduct capacity building within the office to enhance awareness on issues of race and ethnicity as well as suggest practical ways to enhance race and ethnicity into programming, enhancing thus the quality of the Country Programme in the long term.

SCOPE OF WORK:

Under the supervision of the Deputy Representative, the Consultant will support UNICEF in the following:

1. Mainstream race and ethnicity, in the new edition of UNICEF SELO Systemic Result 6
2. Mainstream race and ethnicity, in the 2025 Mid-Year Review process
3. Mainstream gender, race and ethnicity, in #AgendaCidade
4. Enhance capacity of the CO to plan, monitor and evaluate race and ethnicity by developing and delivering Capacity Building for the CO staff
5. Conduct Strategic Partners Mapping for the Equity Focus of the Country Programme 

DELIVERABLES

Deliverable 1: Technical Report on Race and Ethnicity Mainstreaming in UNICEF SELO Systemic Result 6.[1]

• Analyze how race and ethnicity are currently addressed within the methodology of Systemic Result 6 (RS6) of the UNICEF SELO strategy.
• Assess the inclusion of race and ethnicity in the existing RS6 methodology and propose adjustments to enhance integration.
• Support the RPM&E team in:
• Structuring indicators.
• Qualifying the baseline.
• Critically analyzing municipal deliveries with an ethnic-racial lens.
• Identify and validate indirect indicators that reflect progress in ethnic-racial equity using secondary data and contextual inference.
• Provide evidence-informed inferences on the impact of UNICEF SELO activities on racial and ethnic equity, especially in data-scarce contexts.

Expected Results / Products

• A comprehensive Technical Report that includes:
• Assessment of current race and ethnicity integration in RS6 methodology.
• Recommendations for methodological adjustments to strengthen ethnic-racial inclusion.
• Identification and justification of indirect indicators linked to UNICEF SELO activities, even if not formally part of RS6.
• Mapping of relevant national datasets that:
• Allow disaggregation by race/ethnicity.
• Serve as proxies for monitoring inequalities affecting Indigenous, Afro-Brazilian, Quilombola, and other traditional communities.
• Development of a rationale for causal inference between UNICEF interventions and equity outcomes using public data and contextual knowledge.
• Case-based examples identifying indicators that can be used to interpret progress in equity-sensitive programming.
• An annex listing up to 10 complementary secondary indicators, each with:
• A causal linkage to RS6 objectives.
• Explanation of how it serves as a proxy for measuring ethnic-racial equity.

Deadline: September 30th, 2025

Estimated Budget: 25% of the contract value

Deliverable 2. Race and Ethnicity Mainstreaming Tools for the CO Annual Planning and Review processes 

The Consultant will attend the Mid-Year Review 2025 in August 2025 with the aim of reviewing results achieved together with the Goal Areas and Zonal Offices, to see corrective measures that allow the proper integration of race and ethnicity perspectives into the AWPs. The Consultant will moderate one session of the Mid-Year Review giving guiding lines for discussions between Goal Areas and Field Offices and will revise corrective measures proposed to ensure that corrective measures reflect race and ethnicity aspects.   

Based on discussions as part of MYR, and review of documentation available, the Consultant will develop a framework for the annual review analysis of the race and ethnicity dimensions, to periodically monitor results achieved and the integration of these equity perspectives in the Annual Work Plans from each of the 5 Goal Areas.[2]

Furthermore, to ensure that UNICEF work in the field with civil society integrates race and ethnicity perspectives, after reviewing a sample of 3 selected Programme Documents, the Consultant will develop a Programme Document Race and Ethnicity Checklist to ensure the integration of race and ethnicity dimensions, intersected by gender in each Programme Document.

Expected Results / Products 

• Framework for the annual review analysis of the race and ethnicity dimensions
• Programme Document Race and Ethnicity Checklist

Deadline: October 30th, 2025 

Estimated Budget:20% of the contract value

Deliverable 3. Mainstreaming gender, race and ethnicity in #AgendaCidade

After receiving the structure of results of AgendaCidade, the Consultant will review the structure of results, proposed indicators, and provide recommendations on gender, race and ethnicity aspects in #AgendaCidade, and disaggregation of data and data necessary to take place in case the data are missing. Identification of alternative data sources must be included, as well as triangulation of data from sources available through social media listening, big data and publicly available data at different levels.

Expected Results / Products

• A set of up to 15 actionable recommendations on gender, race and ethnicity aspects in #AgendaCidade 

Deadline: December 10^th, 2025 

Estimated Budget: 15% of the contract value

Deliverable 4. Develop training material

A one day training material for Chiefs of Goal Areas, Chiefs of Field Offices and CO relevant staff on race and ethnicity to enhance awareness on issues, come to conclusion on practical implications for the CPD as well as for the Workplan of the Gender, Race and Ethnicity Working Group.  The training shall feature aspects of planning and implementing the Country Programme considering institutional racism. sensitive to this issue and implement key initiatives, implementation platforms, and annual programmatic activities with integrated the perspective of race and ethnicity into them.

Expected Results / Products

• A one day training material for Chiefs of Goal Areas, Chiefs of Field Offices and CO relevant staff on race and ethnicity in Portuguese in a form of PowerPoint as well as other interactive material that the consultant will provide in a technical offer as response to these ToR 

Deadline: January 30^st, 2026.

Estimated Budget: 10% of total budget estimated

Deliverable 5. Implementation of training ‘Enhancing Awareness of Staff on Race and Ethnicity’

Conduct a training for UNCEF team (including PPT and relevant video) on institutional Racism and its impact on the Programmatic Implementation and Results.

The target audience of the training consists of Chief of Areas, Chief of Field Offices, and all participants of the Annual Review 2025.

The training shall consider capacity building event conducted by UNICEF Rio de Janeiro Office on racism as well as all materials presented as part of the capacity building.

The training shall pre-identify gaps in knowledge among staff on issues of integrating race and ethnicity in planning, monitoring and evaluation, through an approach suggested by the Consultant in the Technical Proposal. It may consider pre-survey, or structured bilateral conversations with CO staff. 

The technical proposal of the Consultant shall elaborate a preliminary scope, breadth of the training, approach and methodology including measurement of knowledge before and after the training.

Deadline: February 28^st, 2026.

Estimate Budget: 5% of total budget estimated

Expected Results / Products

• 1 day training conducted 

Deliverable 6. Strategic Partners Mapping for the Equity Focus of the Country Programme  

The Consultant will conduct strategic partners mapping for each of the 5 Goal Areas of the Country Programme disaggregated by the field presence of the UNICEF in the field. To arrive at the Strategic Partners Mapping, the Consultant will conduct Key Informant Interviews with each of the Goal Area Chiefs as well as with each of the Heads of Zonal Offices and will consultant strategic government partners.

The mapping will contain a set of actionable recommendations with a timeline (2-year framework) to complement the recommendations for 5 Goal Areas.

The Table of Contents of the Strategic Partners Mapping will be agreed upon with the Contract Manager, including any possible annexes.

 Deadline: May 30, 2026.

Estimate Budget: 35 % of total budget estimated

Expected Results / Products

 15 Page Strategic Partners Mapping excluding Annexes

DURATION OF CONTRACT: 12 months (August 2025 – July 2026)

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL: A financial proposal including the fee for the assignment based on the deliverables and number of days must be submitted. Consultants are asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum, administrative cost, travel cost and subsistence costs, as applicable.

TRAVEL PLAN: While no in-country travel is required, presence in Brasilia is critical for the deliverable 5 as well as for bilateral interviews in the CO to prepare deliverables 1-4. Therefore, if the consultant is based outside the city, all travel costs must be included in the consultant’s financial proposal: at least 4 trips to Brasília over the course of the consultancy, 5 working days each.

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENT

• Academic background in social sciences, social work, sociology, political science, communication, or related fields is required. A master’s degree in any of the related fields will be considered an asset.
• Strong background in Race and Ethnicity
• Common knowledge of monitoring and evaluation
• At least 15 years of professional and/or academic experience in ethnic-racial relations.
• At least 10 years of professional experience working with international organizations, public institutions, and/or government bodies, and/or civil society organizations.
• At least 3 years of professional experience providing consultancy services to international organizations, public institutions, government bodies, and/or civil society organizations in facilitation, monitoring and evaluation, technical assistance, and document analysis.
• Prior professional experience working with Indigenous and afrodescendents communities is considered an asset.
• Prior experience with United Nations policies and programmatic approaches is an asset.
• Fluency in Portuguese is mandatory. Advanced reading and writing in English is required. Fluency in speaking will be considered an asset.

UNICEF’S CORE VALUES: Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS)

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:  

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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 for ensuring 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.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.