Individual Consultancy to Design a Gender-Transformative Childcare Model, Nairobi at UNICEF

Key Tasks:

• Literature Review and Contextual Analysis
• Stakeholder Engagement:
• Risk Assessment and Safeguards
• Design of the Childcare Model

In carrying out the above tasks, the Consultant will integrate Feminist and Gender Frameworks, e.g. by applying the 5R model (Recognise unpaid care as work; Reduce time spent on it through services; Redistribute responsibilities to males/households; Reward care providers via incentives; Represent caregivers in decision-making) to design gender-responsive elements. The work including proposals should align with UNICEF's Gender Policy 2021-2030 and Action Plan 2026-2029, emphasising targeted investments in adolescent girls' health, nutrition, education, skills, and protection, while promoting norms change and male involvement.

Minimum requirements:

Work Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in childcare, early childhood development, social protection, gender programming, child rights, public policy, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience in the design, implementation, evaluation, or strengthening of childcare, parenting, family support, or community-based care programmes.
• Strong understanding of childcare systems, care economy, unpaid care work, nurturing care, and child wellbeing frameworks.
• Experience integrating childcare interventions within social protection, education, health, livelihoods, or gender equality programmes. Demonstrated experience applying gender-transformative, disability-inclusive, and child rights-based approaches in programme design and implementation.
• Experience facilitating participatory research, co-creation, and stakeholder engagement processes involving caregivers, adolescents, and communities.

Language Requirements:

• English and Kiswahili

 Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:

• Advanced degree in Gender Studies, Social Policy, Development studies, Child Development, Public Policy, or related field.
• Experience in designing gender-responsive social protection or childcare programmes or feminist economics or unpaid care work, preferably in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Experience working with adolescent populations, including adolescent mothers and disability-inclusive programming.
• Strong analytical, research, and facilitation skills.
• Familiarity with Kenyan social protection system is an asset.
• Excellent communication skills; ability to engage diverse stakeholders, including males in gender dialogues.
• Experience working with UNICEF, UN agencies, or similar organizations is an asset.
• Experience in East Africa or comparable contexts is strongly preferred.

Desirables:

• Experience in designing community-based childcare models and care services.
• Experience integrating childcare within social protection, education, health, or livelihoods programmes.
• Experience working with adolescent mothers, young caregivers, and marginalized populations, including persons with disabilities.
• Experience developing costing frameworks, investment cases, financing strategies, or scale-up roadmaps for social services.

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 Template TMC0004762.xlsx

A detailed technical proposal not exceeding 20 pages (excluding annexes, e.g. for CVs):

• Understanding of assignment
• Proposed methodology/ approach to assignment
• Evidence of meeting the required qualifications (this may include links to or annexes of relevant past work and CVs of all consultants engaged as annexes)
• Draft workplan
• Proposed budget

Deadline: 31 Aug 2026 E. Africa Standard Time