Consultant in Education that Protects against Violence, Brasilia (remote), Brazil, [10 months].

The consultancy will be carried out within the framework of the Education that Protects against Violence strategy (www.unicef.org/brazil/educacao-que-protege). Since 2019, UNICEF has been developing and sharing methodologies on the role of the school community in preventing and responding to violence, and supporting governments in the development of policies and the strengthening of services so that education becomes a protective factor against violence. More specifically, the consultant will support the project “Education Systems for an Education that Protects”, which will be implemented with seven education systems (municipal and state) to strengthen their institutional capacities for the prevention of and response to violence, drawing on recently launched resources (www.unicef.org/brazil/relatorios/redes-de-ensino-por-uma-educacao-que-protege). In addition, the consultant will contribute to strengthening the Education that Protects strategy within the scope of the UNICEF City Agenda (www.unicef.org/brazil/agendacidadeunicef) and the School Success Pathways strategy (https://trajetoriaescolar.org.br/).

SCOPE OF WORK:

Objective 1: Support the implementation of the project “Education Systems for an Education that Protects”, which will be carried out with seven education systems (municipal and state) to strengthen their institutional capacities for the prevention of and response to violence. Technical advisory support will be provided to the selected education systems for an approximate period of 10 months, covering the following stages: (i) self-assessment of institutional capacities (Assessment Matrix, link), (ii) development of an action plan, (iii) implementation of the action plan, and (iv) reassessment through a new application of the self-assessment tool. UNICEF will coordinate the entire process through joint action between the national office and the offices in Rio de Janeiro, Recife, Belém, and Boa Vista. The consultant will be expected to work throughout the implementation of the planned stages, supporting the local teams of the offices. Among the education systems to be engaged, there will be three capital cities (in the Southeast, Northeast, and North regions), two municipalities in the interior of Pernambuco, one municipality in the interior of Pará, and one state education system in the North.

Objective 2: Support the implementation of the Education that Protects strategy within the scope of the UNICEF City Agenda 2025–2028, with a focus on strengthening the institutional capacities of eight education systems for the prevention of and response to violence. The consultant will support UNICEF offices according to the level of engagement of the capital cities, which may vary. Capital cities participating in the City Agenda include: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Recife, São Luís, Fortaleza, Manaus, and Belém.

Objective 3: Support the strengthening of the integration between the Education that Protects strategy and the School Success Pathways (TSE) strategy. The consultant will support actions with the TSE implementing partner and with the states implementing the strategy to mainstream protection-related themes. Currently, TSE is present in eight states; however, actions will be intensified in three of these states (Rio de Janeiro, Amapá, and Sergipe, subject to change).

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DELIVERABLES

1. Work Assignment overview 1: Guidance and support actions carried out with local offices to strengthen the agreement and alignment of Education that Protects actions for 2026/2027 with municipal and/or state education secretariats.

1.1. Deliverables/Outputs: Report synthesizing the guidance and support actions carried out with local offices to strengthen the agreement and alignment of Education that Protects actions for 2026/2027 with municipal and/or state education secretariats.

Specifications:

• Participate in meetings with local offices and the national office.
• Develop and/or enhance general presentation materials for the strategy and engagement narrative, with a focus on supporting the offices’ dialogue with education secretariats.
• Develop and/or enhance a monitoring spreadsheet (Monitoring Tool 1) for office-level actions related to the Education that Protects strategy.
• Produce the report.

1.2. Deadline (final deliverable date): July, 2026

1.3. Estimate Budget (% and budget estimated): 5%

2. Work Assignment overview 2: Develop an implementation plan for a community of practice.

2.1. Deliverables/Outputs: Implementation plan for a community of practice developed, including the methodology, agenda, and identification/prospecting of invited participants.

Specifications:

• Review and analyze models of communities of practice and/or city labs.
• Develop a proposed methodology, agenda, and list of invited participants.
• Develop an outline/syllabus and an external presentation document.
• Participate in co-creation and validation meetings with UNICEF.
• Produce the implementation plan.

2.2. Deadline (final deliverable date): July, 2026

2.3. Estimate Budget (% and budget estimated): 5%

3. Work Assignment overview 3: Design methodology for in-person workshops and online training sessions.

3.1. Deliverables/Outputs: Methodology designed for in-person workshops and online training sessions, including all required supporting tools and materials (presentations, facilitation guides, invitations, etc.).

Specifications:

• Develop a proposed methodology, agenda, and supporting materials (content) for in-person technical workshops under the project "Education Systems for an Education that Protects", and support the design of methodologies under the School Success Pathways and UNICEF City Agenda strategies.
• Develop a proposed methodology, agenda, and supporting materials (content) for online technical workshops under the project "Education Systems for an Education that Protects."
• Participate in co-creation and validation meetings with UNICEF.
• Develop the methodology document.

3.2. Deadline (final deliverable date): August, 2026

3.3. Estimate Budget (% and budget estimated): 8%

4. Work Assignment overview 4: Carry out guidance and support actions with local offices for the application of the institutional capacity self‑assessment matrix by education secretariats to prevent and respond to violence.

4.1. Deliverables/Outputs: Report synthesizing the guidance and support actions carried out with local offices for the application of the institutional capacity self‑assessment matrix by education secretariats to prevent and respond to violence, as well as for the development of the intervention plan.

Specifications:

• Develop and/or enhance facilitation guides for workshops to apply the self-assessment matrix, in coordination with local offices and considering the context of the project "Education Systems for an Education that Protects" and the UNICEF City Agenda.
• Act as co-facilitator in two (02) workshops: Recife and Amapá. Locations may change, while maintaining the estimated budget.
• Produce the report.

4.2. Deadline (final deliverable date): August, 2026

4.3. Estimate Budget (% and budget estimated): 15%

5. Work Assignment overview 5: Complete and update the monitoring spreadsheets 1 and 2, including a status overview of the territories, the capital cities participating in the UNICEF City Agenda, and the education systems within the School Success Pathways strategy.

5.1. Deliverables/Outputs: monitoring spreadsheets 1 and 2 completed and updated, including a status overview of the territories, the capital cities participating in the UNICEF City Agenda, and the education systems within the School Success Pathways strategy.

Specifications:

• Support UNICEF offices in systematizing the results of the workshops conducted in 2026 under the project "Education Systems for an Education that Protects" and within the scope of the UNICEF City Agenda, by developing and maintaining a monitoring spreadsheet with findings from the diagnostic processes (Monitoring Tool 2). This includes 1-2 meetings with each office.
• Systematize findings from the workshops related to the pilot application of the Education that Protects self-assessment matrix, conducted in 2025 under the School Success Pathways strategy, feeding Monitoring Tools 1 and 2.
• Collect from offices and organize supporting documentation (photos, attendance lists, evaluation forms).
• Update and populate the monitoring spreadsheets.

5.2. Deadline (final deliverable date): September, 2026

5.3. Estimate Budget (% and budget estimated): 10%

6. Work Assignment overview 6: Deliver synchronous online training sessions (workshops) for management and school teams in the territories participating in the project “Education Systems for an Education that Protects.”

6.1. Deliverables/Outputs: Six to ten (06–10) synchronous online training sessions (workshops) delivered for management and school teams in the territories participating in the project “Education Systems for an Education that Protects.”

Specifications:

• Facilitate workshops and/or reflective groups with selected schools, with a focus on capacity building and listening on topics related to the prevention of and response to violence.
• Facilitate workshops with representatives of education secretariats, covering topics relevant to the project.
• Document the activities, including evidence (photos, attendance lists, evaluation forms).

6.2. Deadline (final deliverable date): October, 2026

6.3. Estimate Budget (% and budget estimated): 10%

7. Work Assignment overview 7: Provide technical assistance to education secretariats, focusing on guidance related to the prevention of and response to violence.

7.1. Deliverables/Outputs: Report on the technical assistance provided to education secretariats, focusing on guidance related to the prevention of and response to violence.

Specifications:

• Provide on-demand technical assistance to education secretariats to address and clarify technical questions.
• Document the assistance provided, including date and topic.

7.2. Deadline (final deliverable date): November, 2026

7.3. Estimate Budget (% and budget estimated): 11%

8. Work Assignment overview 8: carry out guidance and support actions with local offices for the delivery of in-person workshops.

8.1. Deliverables/Outputs: report synthesizing the guidance and support actions carried out with local offices for the delivery of in-person workshops.

Specifications:

• Support UNICEF offices in planning the in-person workshops, including 1-2 meetings with each office, as needed and upon request.
• Act as co-facilitator in two (02) rounds of in-person workshops: Recife and Amapá. Locations may change, while maintaining the estimated budget.
• Collect from offices and organize supporting documentation (photos, attendance lists, evaluation forms).
• Produce the report.

8.2. Deadline (final deliverable date): December, 2026

8.3. Estimate Budget (% and budget estimated): 15%

9. Work Assignment overview 9: implement and document a community of practice, including participant mapping and mobilization, as well as facilitation of the sessions.

9.1. Deliverables/Outputs: community of practice implemented and documented, with at least six (06) online sessions conducted, including participant mapping and mobilization, as well as facilitation of the sessions.

Specifications:

• Mobilize invited participants.
• Facilitate the community of practice.
• Document the activities, including evidence (photos, attendance lists, evaluation forms).

9.2. Deadline (final deliverable date): January, 2027

9.3. Estimate Budget (% and budget estimated): 11%

10. Work Assignment overview 10: Support for the implementation of evaluation activities (reapplication of the self-assessment matrix) and systematization of findings in accordance with Monitoring Tools 1 and 2.

10.1. Deliverables/Outputs: final report on the activity cycle, including support for the implementation of evaluation activities (reapplication of the self-assessment matrix) and systematization of findings in accordance with Monitoring Tools 1 and 2.

Specifications:

• Develop and/or enhance facilitation guides for workshops to support the reapplication of the self-assessment matrix within the context of the project "Education Systems for an Education that Protects."
• Support UNICEF offices in planning the workshops, including 1-2 meetings with each office, as needed and upon request.
• Collect from offices and organize supporting documentation (photos, attendance lists, evaluation forms).
• Update Monitoring Tools 1 and 2.
• Produce the final report.

10.2. Deadline (final deliverable date): February, 2027

10.3. Estimate Budget (% and budget estimated): 10%

DURATION OF CONTRACT:

10 months

TRAVEL PLAN

• Product 4: Two (02) trips, each with a total duration of three (03) days, including travel time, to Recife and Macapá. Costs should include airfare, accommodation, meals, and local transportation. Locations may be subject to change, while maintaining the cost estimates presented by the consultant.
• Product 8: Two (02) trips, each with a total duration of four (04) days, including travel time, to Recife and Macapá. Costs should include airfare, accommodation, meals, and local transportation. Locations may be subject to change, while maintaining the cost estimates presented by the consultant.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENT

• Completed undergraduate degree in fields such as Education (Pedagogy), Psychology, Social Work, Social Sciences, Law, Public Policy, or related areas. Postgraduate studies (specialization, master’s, or doctorate) in Education, Public Policy, Child and Adolescent Rights, or related fields will be considered a significant asset.
• A minimum of five (05) years of proven professional experience in areas related to education and the protection of children and adolescents from violence, considering the following:

• Demonstrated experience in providing technical assistance to municipal and/or state education secretariats.
• Experience in institutional capacity-strengthening projects, preferably with a focus on the prevention of and response to violence in the school context.
• Experience in the design and facilitation of workshops, training sessions, and capacity-building processes, both in-person and online.
• Experience in project monitoring and evaluation, including the development of instruments, data systematization, and preparation of technical reports.
• Experience working collaboratively with multiple teams and territories simultaneously.
• Experience in institutional dialogue with diverse stakeholders (government, schools, international organizations).

• Others requirements:

• Ability to participate in meetings and activities according to the schedules established by UNICEF and its partners.
• Adequate infrastructure for remote work (equipment and internet connectivity).
• Availability to undertake in-person missions in accordance with the agreed travel plan.
• Previous experience working with international organizations is desirable.

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

• Full proficiency in Portuguese (written and spoken).
• Intermediate knowledge of English will be considered an asset (for reading technical documents from UNICEF and international organizations).

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UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

GENERAL CONDITIONS: PROCEDURES AND LOGISTICS

• Consultant will work from home using own equipment and stationery. UNICEF will provide office space for consultative meetings when needed.
• Consultant’s, travel costs should be included in the consultant’s fee.
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant and mandatory courses are completed.
• Consultants will not have any representative, certifying, or approving authority, or supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget.
• The consultant will work remotely on a delivery basis.

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

• Costs indicated are estimated. Final rate shall follow “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee.
• 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.
• The payment will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.
• Financial proposals from local consultants shall be submitted in the local currency in effect at the time of submission. UNICEF will evaluate and contract based on this amount, which shall remain fixed and not subject to adjustment due to subsequent exchange rate fluctuations.

INSURANCE AND HEALTH COVERAGE

• The contractor is fully responsible for arranging, at his or her own expenses, such life, health, and other forms of insurance covering the term of the contract as he or she considers appropriate.
• The contractor is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members.

 RESTRICTIONS

• Consultants may not receive training at the expense of UNICEF.  Notwithstanding, consultants must complete the applicable mandatory trainings before the signature of the contract. 
• In case of government officials, the contract cannot be issued without prior written clearance by the Government​, or unless on leave without pay.

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 to ensure 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.

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.