Program Quality Assurance Consultant, Peshawar, Pakistan, 364 days

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For every child,
the right to get an education
The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, through the Elementary and Secondary Education Department (E&SED), in collaboration with UNICEF, is implementing the Multi-Year Work Plan (MYWP) 2025–2027 to strengthen the education sector's capacity to deliver equitable, inclusive, and quality education services. The MYWP aligns national and provincial education sector strategies and aims to address systemic challenges through evidence-based planning, cross-sectoral coordination, and sustainable implementation models.

Given the complexity and scale of the MYWP, there is a critical need for dedicated technical support to ensure its effective operationalization. This includes aligning annual operational plans with sector priorities, supporting upstream policy work, facilitating coordination among directorates and stakeholders, and ensuring quality assurance across program components. The scope of work also involves supporting the Education Sector Reform Unit (ESRU) in convening technical working groups (TWGs), Local Education Group (LEG) meetings, and donor engagements, while maintaining robust documentation and follow-up mechanisms.

How can you make a difference?
The Purpose of this consultancy is to provide strategic and technical support to E&SED and E&SED for the effective implementation, monitoring, and quality assurance of the MYWP 2025–2027. The consultant will facilitate sector coordination, strengthen planning and review processes, and ensure alignment between UNICEF-supported interventions and government priorities.

Task To Be Performed

• Strategic Planning and Operationalization of MYWP
• Sector Analysis & Quality Assurance
• Coordination & Stakeholder Engagement
• Policy Dialogue, Data, & Risk

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:
Program Quality Assurance Consultant -
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Education
Minimum requirements:**

• First University Degree (bachelor's or equivalent) in education, Development Studies, Public Policy, or a related field.

Work Experience

• At least 1 year of progressive experience in education innovation, early childhood education, or program coordination within government or development sectors.
• Demonstrated experience in managing cross-sectoral initiatives involving multiple stakeholders, including government, donors, and NGOs.
• Proven ability to introduce and scale innovative solutions in resource-constrained or complex education settings.
• Prior work experience with or a strong understanding of UN systems, donor-funded programs, and public-private partnerships.
• Experience in project management, coordination, and implementation of education or early learning initiatives.

Skills

• Strong coordination, leadership, and organizational skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities, including report writing, presentations, and stakeholder engagement.
• Technical knowledge of early learning systems, education reform, teacher training, and integration of technology into education.
• Proficient in digital tools for project management, research, and communication.
• Familiarity with the education landscape and policy environment in Pakistan, particularly in KP.

Language Requirements
Fluency in English (verbal and written) is required. Knowledge of another local language is an asset.

Desirables

• Familiarity with UNICEF operations and procedures.
• Knowledge of Pashto language.
• Previous experience working in UN or donor-funded education programmes in Pakistan.

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…

• Builds and maintains partnerships
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Works collaboratively with others

[
add the 8th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role
].

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

• Duration of the assignment is 12 months.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
• Applicants must submit a financial quotation indicating the consultant fee against monthly deliverables as part of the application.
• Consultant will be based in Peshawar and will be required to travel within the country as and when required.
• Consultant needs to produce a copy of their health insurance coverage at the time the contract is awarded.

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
women, minorities, persons with disabilities and other underrepresented groups
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.