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

For every child, support

Background

For over 70 years, UNICEF has been working in 190 countries and territories to promote the survival, protection and development of children, young people, and women. UNICEF is funded entirely by voluntary contributions and is committed to diversity and inclusion in all aspects of its work.

Since 2015, UNICEF has provided coaching, workshop and webinar design and facilitation services globally through contracted firms and individuals. Given positive feedback and increased demand, UNICEF's Division of People and Culture (DPC) is seeking to renew and expand this roster of qualified individual consultants.

Purpose

UNICEF is soliciting proposals from qualified individuals with expertise in one or more of the following service areas:

• Executive Coaching Individual and Team Coaching
• Design and development of learning interventions
• Facilitation of workshops, webinars, and other learning and development interventions
• Design and delivery of country and regional briefings for newly appointed Representatives and Regional Directors

How can you make a difference?

Key Tasks:

Under the coordination of the Integrated Talent Management Section, Division of People & Culture, selected consultants may be engaged to deliver one or more of the following:

• Executive coaching for senior staff, including leadership development, managing complex challenges, and supporting values-based culture.
• Individual and/or team coaching: goal setting, performance culture, development planning, accountability, growth mindset and behaviour change.
• Design and development of learning interventions (face-to-face and virtual) on topics such as leadership development, performance culture, career development, team effectiveness, as well as country and regional briefings.
• Facilitation of workshops and webinars tailored to the specific needs and culture of UNICEF offices globally, including Country and Regional briefings.
• Provision of a brief bi-annual summary of key themes, lessons learned, and recommendations based on services delivered.

Deliverables:

The consultant will be home-based. Travel may be required for specific assignments; in such cases, travel costs will be agreed at the time of individual contract issuance and reimbursed based on actuals.

The LTA will be for an initial period of two (2) years, with an option to extend for one (1) additional year on the same rates, terms and conditions, subject to satisfactory performance and continued need. The maximum total duration is three (3) years.

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

Requirements:

Applicants may apply to one or more categories. UNICEF will award an LTA to the highest-ranked candidates under each category. A candidate may hold an LTA in more than one category.

Note: Meeting the minimum qualifications below does not guarantee selection. All applications are subject to full technical evaluation.

Category 1: Executive Coaching

• Bachelor's degree in social sciences or relevant field.
• Certification from an internationally recognised professional coaching body (certificates to be included in the technical proposal).
• Minimum 8 years of post-qualifying experience providing executive coaching to senior leaders.
• Demonstrated track record working with C-suite or equivalent senior leadership.
• Evidence of continuous professional development in coaching.
• Experience in UNICEF, the UN Common System, or other international organisations is an asset.

Category 2: Coaching

• Bachelor's degree in social sciences or relevant field.
• Certification from an internationally recognised professional coaching body.
• Minimum 5 years of post-qualifying coaching experience.
• Experience in the UN Common System or international organisations is an asset.

Category 3: Design & Development of Learning Interventions

• Bachelor's degree in social sciences or relevant field.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in curriculum development and instructional design.
• Demonstrated knowledge of established learning theories and design methodologies.
• Experience designing interventions across topics such as leadership, performance management, and career development.
• Familiarity with Learning Management Systems, e-learning tools, and virtual classroom platforms.
• Expertise in Organisational Design and Development is an asset.
• Experience in UNICEF, the UN Common System, or other international organisations is an asset.

Category 4: Facilitation of Learning Interventions

• Bachelor's degree in social sciences or relevant field.
• Minimum 8 years of experience facilitating workshops and webinars.
• Proficiency with online collaboration tools and virtual classroom platforms.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience in UNICEF, the UN Common System, or other international organisations is an asset.

Category 5: Design and Delivery of Country and Regional Briefings

• Bachelor's degree in social sciences or relevant field.
• Minimum 8 years of experience researching and synthesising complex political, historical, social, and economic information into high-quality written or presentational outputs for senior audiences.
• Demonstrated experience delivering briefings, presentations, or advisory services to senior leaders at Representative, Director, or equivalent level.
• Strong command of at least one UNICEF programme region, with evidence of contextual expertise across multiple country or regional contexts.
• Proficiency with virtual delivery platforms and the ability to facilitate engaging, content-rich sessions within time-constrained formats.
• Prior experience in senior leadership within the UN Common System, including in a Representative, Director, or equivalent field-based capacity, is a strong asset.

Language: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Fluency in French, Spanish, Portuguese or Arabic is an asset.

Evaluation Criteria:

Selection will be based on a combined technical and financial evaluation in the ratio of 80:20. The technical evaluation will be conducted in two stages:

Stage 1 — Document Review (maximum 75 points): Evaluation of the cover letter, educational qualifications, relevant work experience, and work samples. Candidates scoring below 53 points will not proceed.

Stage 2 — Interview (maximum 5 points): Shortlisted candidates may be invited to an interview. UNICEF experience/context-fit may be assessed here.

Minimum qualifying score: 56 out of 80 (technical). Only technically qualified candidates will have their financial proposals considered.

Financial proposals will be assessed against UNICEF’s best value for money principles.

The LTA will specify a fixed day/session rate for the duration of the agreement. UNICEF does not guarantee any minimum volume of work. Payment will be made upon satisfactory completion of each assignment and submission of invoices.

When a specific assignment arises, UNICEF will approach LTA holders in ranked order. Consultants who are unavailable will be passed over for that assignment, without prejudice to future engagements. A separate contract will be issued for each assignment. Work should not begin, unless and until a contract is in place, signed by both parties, and fully funded.

Joint applications from multiple consultants will not be accepted. Each candidate is required to submit their proposal as individual service providers.

Consultants are responsible for determining and meeting any applicable tax obligations in their country of fiscal residence.

14. HOW TO APPLY

PART A — TECHNICAL PROPOSAL (submitted via online portal)

Upload the following documents through the online application portal:

In the online portal, enter "N/A" or "00" in any fee or rate fields. Do NOT enter financial information in the portal.

PART B — FINANCIAL PROPOSAL (submitted by email)

Please use this template to prepare your financial proposal.

Once completed, email your proposal (using the standard UNICEF Financial Proposal Template) in PDF format to: dhr-financial-proposals@unicef.org

• Include your full name in the PDF filename (e.g., "FinancialProposal_JohnSmith.pdf").
• The email subject line should read: "LTA Talent Development — Financial Proposal — [Your Name]".
• Submit one financial proposal covering all categories you are applying to.
• The financial proposal template is available here: UNICEF_LTA_Financial_Proposal_Template.xlsx

Applications missing either Part A or Part B, or which include financial information in the technical proposal, or which use non-UNICEF templates for financial proposal submission will be considered incomplete and will be disqualified from the selection process.

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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others

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:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

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.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

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.