Sierra Leone Senior Consultant, EOF, Freetown, Sierra Leone, 3 months, (Remote) #591897

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfil their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. UNICEF is 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.

Purpose Of Assignment

Education Outcomes Fund (EOF) is due to launch a new Outcomes Fund in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) in Sierra Leone in June 2026. This new programme is building upon the existing partnership with the MBSSE and aims to improve the access and quality to ECCE services of children between 3-5 years old through establishing new community-based centers.

Scope Of Work

EOF requires a consultant to provide strategic and technical expertise to the delivery of EOF’s outcomes fund in Sierra Leone. EOF, including its programs and personnel, will transition to being hosted by UNOPS from 01 August 2026.

Minimum requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in political science, economics, finance, business, education, international development or a related field. Master’s degree is preferred but not required.
• Work Experience: A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in a relevant area. This includes education, international development, public policy, think-tanks, charity, or management consulting. Experience in programme management, preferably in an international development or global education context. Experience working in Sierra Leone, preferably in the education sector.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English.

Desirables

• Experience with innovative finance, particularly the design and implementation of outcomes funds is strongly preferred.
• Experience with basic education, early childhood care and education (ECCE) or skills-for-employment is strongly preferred.
• Experience working in Africa or the Middle East is preferred.
• Experience in evaluation design or management is preferred.
• Fluency in French, Arabic or Spanish is preferred.

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. 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 reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.

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.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
• Cover letter
• A separate financial proposal

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. All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.