About the Role
UNICEF is seeking an Individual Consultant to design a Gender-Transformative Childcare Model in Nairobi, Kenya. The consultant will integrate Feminist and Gender Frameworks, such as 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 assignment and proposed models must align with UNICEF's Gender Policy 2021-2030 and Action Plan 2026-2029, emphasizing targeted investments in adolescent girls' health, nutrition, education, skills, and protection, while promoting norms change and male involvement.
Key Tasks
- Literature Review and Contextual Analysis: Conduct background research and baseline contextual analysis on childcare systems, policies, and the care economy.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Facilitate participatory research, co-creation, and stakeholder engagement processes involving caregivers, adolescents, communities, and key partners.
- Risk Assessment and Safeguards: Identify key risks and integrate child rights, gender, and disability-inclusive safeguards.
- Design of the Childcare Model: Formulate a comprehensive, gender-transformative, community-based childcare model and operational framework.
Minimum Requirements & 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.
- Experience applying gender-transformative, disability-inclusive, and child rights-based approaches in programme design.
- Experience facilitating participatory research, co-creation, and stakeholder engagement processes.
Knowledge, Skills & Academic Qualifications
- Advanced degree in Gender Studies, Social Policy, Development Studies, Child Development, Public Policy, or related field.
- Experience in designing gender-responsive social protection/childcare programmes or feminist economics in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Experience working with adolescent populations, including adolescent mothers and disability-inclusive programming.
- Strong analytical, research, and facilitation skills.
- Familiarity with the Kenyan social protection system is an asset.
- Excellent communication skills and fluency in English and Kiswahili.
- Experience working with UNICEF, UN agencies, or similar organizations is an asset.
