Foundational Learning in Humanitarian Settings Consultant, Amman, Jordan, Remote

Organizational Context

UNICEF operates in over 190 countries and territories, dedicated to saving children's lives, defending their rights, and helping them fulfill their potential from early childhood through adolescence. We are committed, passionate, and proud of our work, viewing the promotion of every child's rights not just as a job, but as a calling.

Job Purpose

The Consultant (Foundational Learning in Humanitarian Settings) will provide specialized technical expertise to strengthen UNICEF’s global work on foundational learning in humanitarian and crisis-affected contexts. Working under the supervision of the Senior Advisor, Education in Emergencies (EiE), and in close collaboration with the Foundational Learning team, this role is crucial for enhancing the quality and impact of educational programs for children in challenging environments. The consultant will contribute to developing and implementing strategies that ensure children in humanitarian settings receive essential learning opportunities, focusing on foundational literacy and numeracy skills, and supporting learning recovery and continuity.

Responsibilities

The consultant will provide specialized technical expertise to strengthen UNICEF’s global work on foundational learning in humanitarian and crisis-affected contexts. This includes developing and refining technical guidance, operational frameworks, tools, standards, and programmatic approaches related to foundational learning, literacy, numeracy, remedial education, accelerated learning, learning recovery, or continuity of learning. The role involves synthesizing evidence, operational learning, research findings, and promising practices into actionable recommendations and knowledge products for practitioners and policymakers. The consultant will support UNICEF, governments, UN agencies, NGOs, and development partners in designing, implementing, and assuring the quality of education and learning programs in emergency and resilience contexts. They will also work across thematic areas such as learning assessment, teacher development, gender-responsive and inclusive education, digital learning, and data systems. Facilitating technical exchanges, communities of practice, learning events, and multi-stakeholder consultations will be key, drawing on experience in low- and middle-income countries and fragile contexts.

Work Experience

Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in foundational learning, basic education, education in emergencies (EiE), humanitarian programming, learning assessment, and education systems strengthening.

Skills

Technical expertise in foundational learning, learning recovery, literacy and numeracy acquisition, education quality, and education in emergencies programming., Understanding of challenges and opportunities in delivering foundational learning in humanitarian settings., Knowledge of evidence-based approaches in pedagogy, teaching materials, teacher professional development, assessment, and data use., Strong analytical and research skills for synthesizing evidence into actionable guidance., Ability to develop high-quality technical guidance, frameworks, tools, reports, and learning briefs., Experience integrating risk-informed, crisis-sensitive, and resilience-focused approaches into education planning., Experience designing, implementing, advising on, or evaluating foundational learning programs in crisis settings., Experience generating, synthesizing, and translating evidence into actionable recommendations., Experience supporting UNICEF, governments, UN agencies, NGOs, and development partners., Experience working across thematic areas like learning assessment, teacher development, inclusive education, and digital learning., Experience facilitating technical exchanges and multi-stakeholder consultations., Familiarity with global education architecture and humanitarian coordination mechanisms.

Explore related opportunities