Report Writer Consultant - Private Sector Engagement UNICEF

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.
How can you make a difference?
UNICEF s fundamental mission is to uphold the rights of every child, everywhere. Guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Sustainable Development Goals, the Strategic Plan 2026 2029 places equity at the centre of its education work. The education programme offer is designed to ensure that every child and adolescent has access to quality, inclusive, and resilient learning opportunities. It prioritises three key transitions in a child s learning journey: readiness for school, acquisition of foundational and transferable skills, and preparation for life and work. These transitions underpin UNICEF s focus on equitable access, improved learning outcomes, and continuity of education in emergencies and fragile contexts.
Education systems are facing converging pressures. Learning outcomes remain off-track, with millions of children and young people not acquiring the foundational and transferable skills needed for today s economies. Public financing for education is increasingly strained. System capacities are misaligned with the pace of demographic, technological, and labour-market change.
With sharp cuts in aid from many donors, sustainable progress for children requires new approaches and partnerships, particularly with the private sector. The Strategic Plan commits to expand engagement with the private sector through fundraising, partnerships, advocacy and innovation, in recognition of the sector s growing role in the development of solutions for children, ensuring that contributions reinforce national efforts. Innovative financing and new forms of publicprivate collaboration can support Governments and communities to deliver for children.
There is growing recognition that the private sector has a significant and multifaceted role to play. Beyond traditional modes of engagement such as philanthropy or service provision there is an untapped opportunity for businesses to contribute to stronger education systems as employers, innovators, market actors, and partners in public policy (or in one word, brokers). Effective engagement can generate benefits for learning, expand future workforce readiness, and open pathways for sustainable market development.
UNICEF seeks to produce a report that provides a clear, evidence-based articulation of this opportunity. Specifically, the report will:
(a) outline the linkages between improved education outcomes and long-term economic and consumer-market growth;
(b) identify practical entry points for the private sector to engage as financiers, users, and brokers of education solutions; and
(c) recommend approaches to guide and strengthen public-private collaboration at global and country levels.
The report will serve as a foundation for UNICEF s agenda on next-generation engagement with the private sector in education. The report will position the organization to support governments and partners in mobilizing and leveraging private-sector capabilities for stronger, more equitable learning outcomes. The report will be launched during the first quarter of 2027 through a high-level event and targeted advocacy plan, with the participation of global education and private sector thought leaders and partners.
If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: TMC0002542 ToR.pdf
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have
Minimum requirements:
• Education :
• Master's degree, the preferred disciplines are: Education policy, International development, Economics/ development economics, Public policy or public administration, Business administration, Social sciences with education/development focus.
• Work Experience :
• Proven track record (at least 8 years or more) in writing, editing, and managing high-quality reports for international audiences is required.
• Prior experience in engaging with private sector stakeholders is required.
• Language requiremen t:
• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.
• Skills:
• Strong understanding of private sector engagement in education (e.g., CSR, PPPs, EdTech, skills development) is required.
• Familiarity with global education agendas (e.g., SDG 4) and key stakeholders is required.
• Excellent project management skills and deadline-driven delivery.
• Strong communication and synthesis abilities for policy and business audiences.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
Desirables:
• Experience in multi-stakeholder coordination, including private sector partners is preferred.
• Prior involvement in advocacy or report launches is preferred.
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,