Gender-Transformative Childcare Model

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United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

  • Career category: Programme/ Project design & management
  • Job type: Consultancy
  • Experience level: Other (specified in job description)
  • Organisation type: Inter-governmental
  • Remote option: No
  • Right to work requirements: Not specified
  • Remuneration: Remuneration not disclosed
  • Length of contract: Temporary/ Fixed-term
  • Deadline: 31/08/2026
  • Location: Kenya
Child protection/ Children’s rights Economic justice Education Food security & Nutrition Health
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.


TERMS OF REFERENCE
Key Tasks:
  1. Literature Review and Contextual Analysis
  2. Stakeholder Engagement:
  3. Risk Assessment and Safeguards
  4. Design of the Childcare Model

In carrying out the above tasks, the Consultant will integrate Feminist and Gender Frameworks, e.g. by applying 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 work including proposals should align with UNICEF's Gender Policy 2021-2030 and Action Plan 2026-2029, emphasising targeted investments in adolescent girls' health, nutrition, education, skills, and protection, while promoting norms change and male involvement.

Work 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. 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.

Language Requirements:
  • English and Kiswahili

 Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:
  • 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.

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