Consultancy: Programme Consultant - South Africa - Req. #582912

UNICEF; New York (NY); Remote; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international children's organization seeks a Programme Consultant to provide technical support for the Early Childhood Care and Education Outcomes Fund in South Africa. This role involves project oversight, risk management, and the preparation of reports and meeting notes. Candidates should have at least 5 years of project management experience, with a degree in a relevant field. Fluency in Sepedi, IsiZulu, or IsiXhosa is a plus. This position offers remote work flexibility.

Benefits

Attractive compensation and benefits package

Opportunities for professional and personal development

Qualifications

• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in project management and delivery.
• Experience with innovative finance, particularly outcomes funds, is desirable.
• Fluency in Sepedi, IsiZulu or IsiXhosa is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Support project implementation and delivery oversight.
• Maintain timelines, identify risks and mitigation strategies.
• Prepare governance meeting support packs and meeting notes.

Skills

Project management

Problem solving

Communication

Education

University degree in International Development, Public Policy, Education, Business, Economics, Political Science, Finance or related

Job description

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.

Vacancy Announcement: Consultant

Consultancy Title: Programme Consultant - South Africa

Section/Division/Duty Station: Education Outcomes Fund - PRETORIA

Duration: September 1 2025 to August 30, 2028

Home/ Office Based: NYHQ/ Remote

BACKGROUND

Purpose Of Activity/Assignment: Provide technical support to EOF for the delivery of EOF’s Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Outcomes Fund in South Africa.

Scope Of Work

The consultant will support EOF’s team in relation to its ECCE (Early Childhood Care and Education) outcomes fund in South Africa, which is expected to launch in November 2025 and continue implementing until December 2028.

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

• Support project implementation and delivery oversight, and support the implementing partners to solve complex problems that may arise.
• Maintain timelines, identify risks and mitigation strategies, and escalate issues as needed.

Deliverable 1: 6 quarterly milestone tracking reports, 12 updates to risk register, 6 summary performance reports

• Deliverable 2: 11 governance meeting support packs prepared, 11 sets of meeting notes and action items
• Deliverable 3: 18 bi-monthly grantee query and coordination logs, summary of recurring themes/issues

Deliverable 4: 12 operational workshops, workshop decks and short summaries

• Deliverable 5: 9 site visits, 9 visit reports, annual safeguarding summary report
• Deliverable 6: 8 data coordination and evaluation memos, 3 roundtable notes capturing DBE-evaluator alignment

Deliverable 7: 6 implementation guidance notes

• Deliverable 8: 1 field-based reflections input note per year, 6 grantee spotlight briefs
• Deliverable 9: 6 cost verification support logs, 3 process documentation checklists or SOPs

Deliverable 10: 3 programme delivery contribution packs, coordination with EOF central team on finalization of the programme

• Deliverable 11: Drafted communications calendar and asset tracker for 2025–2026, draft and quality assure at least 3 third-party content products

Qualifications

• Education: A University degree in International Development, Public Policy, Education, Business, Economics, Political Science, Finance or related, is required.
• Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required: At least 5 years’ experience in relevant professional experience in project management and delivery.

Desirable requirements: Experience with innovative finance, particularly outcomes funds, is desirable. Fluency in Sepedi, IsiZulu or IsiXhosa is desirable.

Requirements

• Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, are encouraged to apply.