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

UNICEF seeks an individual consultant to design a gender-transformative childcare model in Nairobi. The role involves conducting a literature review, stakeholder engagement, risk assessment, and designing the childcare model, integrating feminist and gender frameworks such as the 5R model. The work will align with UNICEF's Gender Policy 2021-2030 and Action Plan 2026-2029.

• Literature Review and Contextual Analysis
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Risk Assessment and Safeguards
• Design of the Childcare Model
• Integrate Feminist and Gender Frameworks (e.g., 5R model) to design gender-responsive elements
• Align work with UNICEF's Gender Policy 2021-2030 and Action Plan 2026-2029

• 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.
• English and Kiswahili
• 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.
• 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.