In alignment with UNICEF’s Gender Equality Action Plan, UNICEF’s Adolescent Girls’ Programme Strategy, and UNICEF’s Strategic Plan ‘adolescent girls accelerator’ commitments, UNICEF is seeking a consultant to support the adolescent girls’ agenda. Specifically, this consultancy will focus on: - 1. Delivery of policy briefs and analytical tools to support UNICEF country teams to best advance at-scale programmes for adolescent girls - 2. Undertake costing analysis in at least 6 contexts with UNICEF country teams to support at-scale delivery models - 3. Develop at least 4 robust investment cases, using methodologies appropriate to the context, to support financing of programme models for adolescent girls that are delivered at-scale and secure sustainable resources to continue

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, the right to HOPE! 

Vacancy Announcement: Consultant

Consultancy Title: Adolescent Girls Investment Case & Costing Consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station:  Global Programme Division, Gender Section

Duration: September 2025 to March 2027

Home/ Office Based: Nairobi/ Remote

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Gender Equality Action Plan (UGEAP), 2026-2029, outlines the organization’s key commitments to advancing gender equality and the empowerment of all girls and women. Building on UNICEF’s comparative advantages, lessons learned from prior Action Plans, as well as evidence of proven strategies to effect change at scale in the lives of girls and women, this UGEAP sets targets to enhance girls’ and women’s access to quality services across all five programmatic targets of the Strategic Plan. A special emphasis is placed on boosting investments to advance the well-being, leadership and agency of adolescent girls, recognizing that investments in this age cohort yield multiple dividends for every child, their families and societies. UNICEF’s role in convening partners and influencing budgets, policies and systems is underscored, both for greater national ownership and long-term impact. As an organization, UNICEF will lead by example, adhering to sustained financial expenditure for gender equality, robust measures for monitoring and reporting on progress to achieve programmatic targets, and nurturing safe, equitable and empowered workplaces.

The GPD Gender Equality team provides strategic leadership and guidance on UNICEF’s Gender Policy 2021-2030 and UGEAP, working closely with our network of staff to support UNICEF to deliver on its commitments in the UGEAP and Strategic Plan 2026-2029 – including targeting commitments to adolescent girls in each sectoral area and through multisectoral, at-scale programming for adolescent girls. From 2022-2025, much progress has been made in implementing UNICEF’s Adolescent Girls' Strategy with millions of adolescent girls reached through under the pilot programmes under the POWER4Girls Initiative umbrella; a new Global Girl Leaders Advisory Group launched; a new Adolescent Girls’ Data Portal; new research programmes kickstarted, and more. But more is needed to spearhead and institutionalize focused work on adolescent girls rights in a holistic way – and to ensure progress against commitments to adolescent girls in UNICEF’s new Strategic Plan, under which adolescent girls will be a priority ‘accelerator.’ The gender team oversees global initiatives including and supporting a large portfolio country programmes, under the POWER4Girls umbrella initiative, working to promote adolescent girls’ wellbeing, empowerment and leadership through multisectoral models, particularly on skills, protection and health. Our priority in 2026-2029 is to focus on scaling up and sustainable financing of the ‘best buys’ in proven policy solutions and programme solutions that advance UNICEF’s targets for tangible changes in adolescent girls’ lives .

In alignment with UNICEF’s Gender Equality Action Plan, UNICEF’s Adolescent Girls’ Programme Strategy, and UNICEF’s Strategic Plan ‘adolescent girls accelerator’ commitments, UNICEF is seeking a consultant to support the adolescent girls’ agenda. Specifically, this consultancy will focus on:

- 1. Delivery of policy briefs and analytical tools to support UNICEF country teams to best advance at-scale programmes for adolescent girls

- 2. Undertake costing analysis in at least 6 contexts with UNICEF country teams to support at-scale delivery models

- 3. Develop at least 4 robust investment cases, using methodologies appropriate to the context, to support financing of programme models for adolescent girls that are delivered at-scale and secure sustainable resources to continue

Scope of Work:

The consultant, under the supervision of the Senior Advisor, Gender Equality will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Support scaling strategy for the adolescent girls agenda, contributing a summary of what we know about effective pathways to scale and the benefits and limits of multisectoral programming

• Support development of analytical tools that can help to test whether a programme is suitable for scale based on best practice, learning and commitments under the UNICEF UGEAP, Strategic Plan and beyond for adolescent girls

• Support at least x6 COs with costing their programme initiatives, including basic costing analysis of a design and an update costing analysis at mid-point into implementation, analysis of the cost-effectiveness of the model proposed and readiness to scale

• Support at least x 4 COs with investment cases for their programmes – could be a diversity of models depending on country specific need e.g. an investment case outlining known evidence on the region for these approaches; an investment case outlining the affordability of the model vis-a-vis other options; an investment case projecting results based on relevant impact evaluations/systematic reviews/other; return on investment, briefs outlining co-financing options with national authorities. These could be informed by existing cost-benefit ratio analyses, literature reviews and other evidence reviews, as relevant

• Write summary learning brief of different ways to undertake costing analysis and investment cases, and how to identify key entry points within national planning and budget cycles to make these cases (x2 briefs) for the adolescent girls accelerator agenda. 

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

1. Deliver policy brief on effective pathways to scale

Support scaling strategy for the adolescent girls agenda, contributing a summary of what we know about effective pathways to scale and the benefits and limits of multisectoral programming

Support scaling strategy for the adolescent girls agenda, contributing a summary of what we know about effective pathways to scale and the benefits and limits of multisectoral programming

30 October 2025

2. Support development of analytic tool on scale for COs

Support development of at least  analytical tools that can help to test whether a programme is suitable for scale based on best practice, learning and commitments under the UNICEF UGEAP, Strategic Plan and beyond for adolescent girls

30 December 2025

3. 2 briefs outlining costing analysis findings at country office level

Support at least x2 COs with costing their programme initiatives, including basic costing analysis of a design and an update costing analysis at mid-point into implementation, analysis of the cost-effectiveness of the model proposed and readiness to scale

30 January 2026

4.  2 briefs outlining costing analysis findings at country office level

Support at least x2 COs with costing their programme initiatives, including basic costing analysis of a design and an update costing analysis at mid-point into implementation, analysis of the cost-effectiveness of the model proposed and readiness to scale

30 March 2026

5. 2 briefs outlining costing analysis findings at country office level

Support at least x2 COs with costing their programme initiatives, including basic costing analysis of a design and an update costing analysis at mid-point into implementation, analysis of the cost-effectiveness of the model proposed and readiness to scale

30 May 2026

6. Undertake investment case for adolescent girls

Support at least x 1 COs with investment cases for their programmes – could be a diversity of models depending on country specific need e.g. an investment case outlining known evidence on the region for these approaches; an investment case outlining the affordability of the model vis-a-vis other options; an investment case projecting results based on relevant impact evaluations/systematic reviews/other; return on investment, briefs outlining co-financing options with national authorities

30 August 2026

7.Undertake investment case for adolescent girls

Support at least x 1 COs with investment cases for their programmes – could be a diversity of models depending on country specific need e.g. an investment case outlining known evidence on the region for these approaches; an investment case outlining the affordability of the model vis-a-vis other options; an investment case projecting results based on relevant impact evaluations/systematic reviews/other; return on investment, briefs outlining co-financing options with national authorities

30 October 2026

8.Undertake investment case for adolescent girls

Support at least x 1 COs with investment cases for their programmes – could be a diversity of models depending on country specific need e.g. an investment case outlining known evidence on the region for these approaches; an investment case outlining the affordability of the model vis-a-vis other options; an investment case projecting results based on relevant impact evaluations/systematic reviews/other; return on investment, briefs outlining co-financing options with national authorities

30 November 2026

9.Undertake investment case for adolescent girls

Support at least x 1 COs with investment cases for their programmes – could be a diversity of models depending on country specific need e.g. an investment case outlining known evidence on the region for these approaches; an investment case outlining the affordability of the model vis-a-vis other options; an investment case projecting results based on relevant impact evaluations/systematic reviews/other; return on investment, briefs outlining co-financing options with national authorities

30 January 2027

10.Produce x 2 briefs summarising learning from investment cases for adolescent girls

Write summary learning brief of different ways to undertake costing analysis and investment cases, and how to identify key entry points within national planning and budget cycles to make these cases (x2 briefs) for the adolescent girls accelerator agenda.

30 March 2027

Travel: Assume travel to x4 country contexts

Qualifications

(1) Education

· Advanced university degree (Masters or higher) in the social sciences (i.e. sociology, demography, psychology, political science, social policy or economics), public health, public policy, public administration, international development, or in an area relevant to UNICEF’s sectoral work (e.g. Health, Nutrition, WASH, Education, Child Protection, Social Inclusion, HIV/AIDs, etc.).

· Academic credentials and/or 5-10 years relevant applied experience in economics or social policy essential. Academic credentials and/or 5-10 years relevant applied experience in gender and/or adolescence desirable.

Language Proficiency:

· Excellent English oral and written skills; proficiency in another UN language (Spanish, French or Arabic) desirable.

Language Proficiency:

Excellent English oral and written skills; proficiency in another UN language (Spanish, French or Arabic) desirable.

(2) Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

· Minimum eight years of relevant professional experience and demonstrated track record of having undertaken and led substantive research on gender/adolescent girls outcomes in key areas that are the focus of UNICEF’s Gender Action Plan.

· Strong experience in the costing of social development interventions is required

· Experience extracting and interpreting effect sizes from multiple forms of impact evaluations

· Experience presenting costing and investment case data to policymakers and non-academic audiences

· Strong experience in statistical analysis utilizing large data sets, is as asset.

· Experience with qualitative data collection methods and  analysis techniques highly desirable.

· Demonstrated people management skills and the ability to forge and manage partnerships

· Proven experience drafting quality research outputs for different stakeholders and audiences is required.

· Experience working in a development setting, managing research is required.

· Relevant experience working with a UN system agency/organisation or government is considered as an asset.

· Demonstrated excellence in writing and verbal communication; experience with proposal writing an asset

Requirements: 

Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and

• Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :
  • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory 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.