Consultant Learning and Scaling), Education Outcomes Fund, remote

Consultant (South Africa, Learning and Scaling), Education Outcomes Fund, remote. Req#589171

Join to apply for the Consultant (South Africa, Learning and Scaling), Education Outcomes Fund, remote. Req#589171 role at Unicef CHAD

Join to apply for the Consultant (South Africa, Learning and Scaling), Education Outcomes Fund, remote. Req#589171 role at Unicef CHAD

About UNICEF
If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS.

UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

Apply now Job no: 589171
Contract type: Consultant
Duty Station: London
Level: Consultancy
Location: South Africa
Categories: Partnerships

Consultancy:
Consultant (South Africa, Learning and Scaling)
Duty Station: UNICEF Hosted Funds, Education Outcomes Fund
Duration: 01 February 2026 – 30 September 2026
Home/ Office Based:
Remote

BACKGROUND
In partnership with the South African Department of Basic Education (DBE), The Education Outcomes Fund (EOF) launched the South Africa ECCE Outcomes Fund (“Fund 1.0”) in December 2025. Over three years, five implementing partners (IPs) will open around 1.4k new Early learning programmes (ELPs) and support around 600 existing ones throughout the country. The Outcomes fund is a form of outcomes-based financing, wherein payment to IPs is dependent on their progress towards pre-specified target outcomes.

Under this model, EOF, IPs, and pre-financers providing working capital and performance management to the IPs, will frequently collect monitoring and evaluation data related to the interventions. Fund 1.0 was developed as a way to learn about how to improve ECCE quality, to provide space for innovation, and as an opportunity for the DBE to broaden partnerships with non-state ECCE providers.

Towards the scaling objectives of the 2030 ECD strategy and as outlined in the Bana Pele Blueprint, the DBE and EOF are interested in surfacing learnings from Fund 1.0 to inform the design of a future outcomes fund (“ELP Fund 2.0”). To support that effort, EOF is looking to collaborate with a consultant who will serve as a full‑time member of the South Africa country team, to lead the learning, scaling, and evidence synthesis agenda for Fund 1.0. EOF will transition out of UNICEF on or before 30th September 2026 to an another host.

The successful candidate is expected to be transitioned to the new host to continue supporting with the ongoing implementation of this program. Further details will be provided in the recruitment process.

Scope Of Work
The consultant will work with the EOF’s South Africa ECCE Outcomes Fund during Fund 1.0. The objectives of the consultancy are to:

• (i) shape Fund 2.0 by engaging with the DBE and national partners to determine key learning priorities and questions needed to launch Fund 2.0, including an analysis of the ECD market and opportunities for sector‑wide value addition.
• (ii) collaborate with IPs and their pre‑financers to surface learnings by leveraging IPs data collection throughout implementation; and through peer‑learning engagement.
• (iii) synthesize findings across all learning agenda pillars into coherent evidence and insights that can inform strategic decisions for the DBE and EOF during and after implementation.
• (iv) disseminate key learnings and influence the broader ECD ecosystem by sharing evidence with sector stakeholders, contributing to public dialogues, and strengthening coordination and collaboration across complementary…