Senior Programme Planning and Coordination Consultant for 2027 Annual/Rolling Work PlanninCaribbean Multi-Country Programme, Barbados, 6 Months (Remote)

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For every child, the right to education

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Background and Rationale

UNICEF will begin implementation of the Caribbean Multi-Country Programme (MCP) 2027-2031 on 1 January 2027. The Multi-Country Programme Document (MCPD) and its Results and Resources Framework (RRF) were approved by the Executive Board in September 2026 and must now be translated into coherent, prioritized and implementation-ready annual/rolling plans across the 12 programme countries.

The MCP architecture is founded on nationally owned priorities, sector plans and partnerships. Country-level priorities and jointly developed, government-endorsed work plans will serve as the primary building blocks for achieving MCP-wide outcomes, while regional and multi-country approaches will add value through shared solutions, efficiencies and collective action.

The work-planning process will take place during a period of organizational transition, as existing programme arrangements are consolidated into one Caribbean MCP and colleagues move into or out of posts. The process must therefore safeguard institutional continuity while enabling programme and operational readiness workstreams to advance in parallel in areas of convergence. It must maintain a clear line of sight to the approved MCPD/RRF; combine common regional and multi-country approaches with appropriate country differentiation; and reflect ongoing grants, donor conditions, partnership commitments, planned budgets and implementation responsibilities.

UNICEF is therefore seeking a senior consultant to provide time-bound technical support for strategic planning and coordination of the MCP work-planning process. The consultant will work closely with the Representative, Deputy Representative, Assistant Representatives, Thematic Leads and the Caribbean Steering Committee, together with PME, programme, operations and designated knowledge-management colleagues.

Purpose of the Consultancy

The purpose of the consultancy is to design, facilitate and document a structured, time-bound planning process and produce a quality-assured 2027 annual/rolling work-planning package for the Caribbean MCP. The assignment requires specialized expertise in multi-country planning, results architecture, indicator alignment, country differentiation, budget integration, programme coding, facilitation and transition management.

The consultant will prepare the practical planning architecture and VISION-ready coding package needed for work planning, budgeting, monitoring and reporting across the 12 programme countries. UNICEF management and designated staff members will retain responsibility for all strategic decisions, approvals, system authorization, entry or approval of information in corporate systems, and subsequent management of programme implementation.

Specific Objectives

• Support finalization of the new MCP planning process by ensuring that the results architecture and indicators remain directly derived from the Executive Board-approved MCPD/RRF and aligned with the Global Monitoring Framework (GMF).
• Develop key interventions and activities that combine regional and multi-country coherence with appropriate differentiation across the 12 programme countries.
• Prepare and validate the outcome-output-key intervention structure, associated PIDB coding and indicative budget architecture for configuration in VISION by authorized UNICEF personnel.
• Coordinate the end-to-end MCP work-planning process, including methodology, calendar, templates, consultations, facilitation, documentation and quality assurance.
• Ensure that annual and rolling work plans are jointly developed with government counterparts and remain anchored in national priorities, sector plans and commitments while contributing to the collective outcomes and results of the Caribbean Multi-Country Programme.
• Ensure that annual and rolling work plans are directly aligned with MCPD priorities, outputs, indicators, implementation strategies and the RRF, with a clear line of sight from activities to expected results.
• Identify and organize the data, baselines and indicator metadata required for planning, monitoring and reporting through an integrated MCO monitoring framework.
• Promote coherence across countries and programme components, including common approaches and regional public goods, while avoiding fragmentation, duplication and inconsistent coding.
• Support the Deputy Representative, Assistant Representatives, Thematic Leads and programme teams in translating strategic priorities into realistic, costed and implementation-ready annual and multi-year work plans.
• Review ongoing grants, donor conditions, reporting requirements and partnership commitments and ensure that they are appropriately reflected in work plans, timelines and accountabilities in collaboration with designated UNICEF staff.
• Support PME and knowledge-management colleagues in documenting planning assumptions, management decisions, risks, dependencies and handover information to maintain continuity as staff transition into and out of posts.

How can you make a difference? 

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the Terms of Reference here:  ToR Senior Programme Planning and Coordination TMS text.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have:

Minimum requirements:

Education: Master’s degree in international development, public policy, strategic planning, programme management, social sciences or a related field.  

Work Experience:

• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in strategic planning, programme design, results-based management or programme management.
• Demonstrated experience supporting UNICEF country programme planning, work planning, CPD/CPMP processes, results frameworks or programme coordination and work planning.
• Strong knowledge of results-based management and the ability to translate strategic frameworks into implementation-ready plans.
• Experience facilitating complex multi-country or multi-stakeholder planning processes.
• Experience working with donor-funded programmes, partnership commitments and grant deliverables.
• Experience supporting organizational transition, handover planning or knowledge management processes is an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Spanish or Dutch would be an asset, depending on country needs.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:

• Excellent strategic thinking, facilitation and coordination skills.
• Strong writing and synthesis skills, with ability to produce clear planning tools and management-ready documentation.
• Ability to work across sectors, countries and teams, and to manage ambiguity in a transition environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to engage senior managers, thematic leads and technical colleagues.

Desirables:

• Knowledge of the Caribbean context is highly desirable.

For every Child, you demonstrate Care

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

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 reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. 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.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal (Talent Management System):

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
• Cover letter 
• A separate financial proposal  Financial proposal Senior Programme Planning and Coordination Consultant for 2027 TMS.docx 

Remarks:  

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.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.