International Consultant for Design and Facilitation of Training on Systems Strengthening for Child-Centred Recovery in Ukraine. 5 months, Kyiv, Ukraine, Internationals only, Home based

Consultant Programme & Policy

Overview

Design and deliver training for operationalizing child-centered systems strengthening in recovery contexts.

You have:

• Master's degree in public administration, public policy, international development, economics, social policy, political science or related field
• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in international development, humanitarian, or recovery programming
• Proven experience in systems strengthening, public sector reform, or governance-related programming
• Demonstrated experience in designing and facilitating high-level trainings or capacity-building initiatives, preferably for UN agencies or government counterparts
• Experience working in complex and/or conflict-affected contexts
• Prior experience with UNICEF or similar organizations is highly desirable
• Fluency in English (required)
• Knowledge of Ukrainian is an asset
• Strong expertise in systems strengthening and scaling approaches in social sectors (e.g. education, health, child protection, social policy)
• Solid understanding of the humanitarian–development nexus and recovery programming
• Experience in public finance, decentralization, and/or governance frameworks, including local-level systems
• Proven ability to translate strategic frameworks into practical tools and programme approaches
• Excellent facilitation, training, and adult learning skills, with a focus on interactive and practice-oriented methods
• Strong analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work in a multi-sectoral and multicultural environment
• Prior experience in Eastern Europe and/or Ukraine context
• Familiarity with UNICEF programming frameworks, CPDs, and Programme Documents (PDs)
• Experience supporting government systems, institutionalization processes, or policy reform
• Experience in developing replicable training packages or learning products
• Background as a senior UN practitioner (e.g. former Deputy Representative or senior programme lead)

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Contract Duration- 5 months

Working arrangement: Home Based

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 UNICEF Ukraine website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to Education

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) opened its office in Kyiv in 1997. Over the years, UNICEF has supported the Government of Ukraine in developing health, water and sanitation, education and protection programmes for children.

UNICEF has been providing life-saving support to children and families affected by the war in Ukraine. UNICEF works to fulfill the core commitments for children in humanitarian action, including access to education, psychosocial support, water and sanitation, mine risk education, maternal and child health.

Welcome to UNICEF Ukraine - YouTube

How can you make a difference?

Ukraine’s recovery is unfolding in a complex context of ongoing conflict, fiscal constraints, and EU accession reforms. While humanitarian response continues, there is a clear shift towards sustainable, government-led systems delivering services for children and young people at scale.

Under the CPD 2025–2029, UNICEF Ukraine is transitioning from direct service delivery to a systems-focused recovery approach, with greater emphasis on public financing, decentralization, and sectoral reform. This aligns with UNICEF’s Strategic Plan 2026–2029, which prioritizes catalytic, system-level impact.

Operationalization at field level remains uneven. Field Offices are required to manage more complex, multi-sectoral programmes and engage in systems strengthening, policy, and financing processes.

There is a need to strengthen a shared understanding of systems approaches and equip staff with practical tools to translate strategies into scalable, locally embedded programmes.

In this context, UNICEF Ukraine seeks to engage an external facilitator to design and deliver a contextualized, practice-oriented training for programme staff, aimed at operationalizing the shift from service delivery to systems and strengthening impact, coherence, and scale across the recovery programme.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: TMC0002014 External ToR p.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Master’s degree in public administration, public policy, international development, economics, social policy, political science or related field

• Work Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in international development, humanitarian, or recovery programming

• Proven experience in systems strengthening, public sector reform, or governance-related programming
• Demonstrated experience in designing and facilitating high-level trainings or capacity-building initiatives, preferably for UN agencies or government counterparts
• Experience working in complex and/or conflict-affected contexts

• Prior experience with UNICEF or similar organizations is highly desirable

• Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English (required)

• Knowledge of Ukrainian is an asset

• Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:

• Strong expertise in systems strengthening and scaling approaches in social sectors (e.g. education, health, child protection, social policy)

• Solid understanding of the humanitarian–development nexus and recovery programming
• Experience in public finance, decentralization, and/or governance frameworks, including local-level systems
• Proven ability to translate strategic frameworks into practical tools and programme approaches
• Excellent facilitation, training, and adult learning skills, with a focus on interactive and practice-oriented methods
• Strong analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills

• Ability to work in a multi-sectoral and multicultural environment

• Desirables:

• Prior experience in Eastern Europe and/or Ukraine context

• Familiarity with UNICEF programming frameworks, CPDs, and Programme Documents (PDs)
• Experience supporting government systems, institutionalization processes, or policy reform
• Experience in developing replicable training packages or learning products
• Background as a senior UN practitioner (e.g. former Deputy Representative or senior programme lead)

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.

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. 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.

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 (only acceptable in the format of the linked template) Financial proposal TMC0002014 p.docx
• A brief technical proposal outlining their understanding of the assignment, proposed methodology, and approach to designing and delivering the training
• A draft outline of the 3-day training agenda
• Examples of previous similar work (e.g. training materials, facilitation experience)

Remarks:

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.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 41 minutes ago - Updated 21 minutes ago - Source: unicef.org