UNICEF Seeks International Consultant to Support Youth Entrepreneurship Programme in Zimbabwe – Apply By 25 June 2026

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced a consultancy opportunity for an International Consultant to support the implementation of the UPSHIFT methodology as part of an entrepreneurship programme targeting Youth Community Health Workers (YCHWs) in Zimbabwe. The assignment will be based in Harare under a remote-plus-travel working arrangement and will run for approximately 8.5 months.

The consultancy aims to strengthen entrepreneurship, innovation, and livelihoods among young community health workers by equipping them with practical skills to develop sustainable income-generating ventures. Applications are open until 25 June 2026.

About the Consultancy

UNICEF Zimbabwe Country Office is seeking an experienced consultant to provide technical support in adapting and rolling out the UPSHIFT methodology. UPSHIFT is a youth-focused social innovation and human-centred design approach that empowers young people to identify challenges in their communities and develop innovative solutions.

The consultancy seeks to create an entrepreneurial cadre of Youth Community Health Workers capable of generating sustainable livelihoods while continuing to contribute to community health systems.

The initiative is particularly relevant in contexts where government support for community health workers may be limited, helping improve motivation, retention, and performance among youth health practitioners.

Key Objectives of the Assignment

The consultant will support UNICEF Zimbabwe in contextualizing the UPSHIFT methodology to local realities and strengthening entrepreneurship development among youth.

The assignment aims to:

• Promote entrepreneurship and innovation among Youth Community Health Workers
• Strengthen livelihood opportunities for young people
• Support the development of sustainable income-generating ventures
• Enhance youth participation in social innovation initiatives
• Build capacity among stakeholders implementing youth entrepreneurship programmes
• Contribute to improved community health outcomes through innovative youth-led solutions

Position Details

Key information about the consultancy includes:

• Position: International Consultant – UPSHIFT Methodology Support for Youth Community Health Workers
• Organization: UNICEF Zimbabwe
• Duty Station: Harare, Zimbabwe
• Contract Type: Consultancy
• Duration: 8.5 months
• Working Arrangement: Remote with travel requirements
• Functional Areas:
  • Adolescent Development
  • Education
  • Youth Empowerment
  • Entrepreneurship Development

Educational Requirements

Applicants must possess:

• A Master’s degree or other advanced qualification in:
  • Social Innovation
  • Business Development
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Or a related field

Candidates with strong academic backgrounds and specialized expertise in youth innovation and enterprise development are encouraged to apply.

Professional Experience Requirements

To be considered for the role, candidates must demonstrate substantial experience in youth empowerment and entrepreneurship programming.

Required experience includes:

• At least five years of progressively responsible professional experience in:
  • Youth empowerment
  • Entrepreneurship development
  • Social innovation
  • Skills development
  • Livelihoods programming
• Proven experience adapting and implementing UPSHIFT or similar human-centred design methodologies
• Experience designing and delivering Training of Trainers (ToT) programmes
• Capacity-building experience with:
  • Government institutions
  • Civil society organizations
  • Youth-led organizations
• Experience supporting employability and income-generation initiatives for adolescents and young people
• Familiarity with low-resource or developing-country contexts

Experience working with United Nations agencies, international NGOs, governments, or development partners is considered highly desirable.

Skills and Technical Competencies

UNICEF is looking for a consultant with strong technical expertise and stakeholder engagement capabilities.

Desired competencies include:

• Expertise in youth social innovation and entrepreneurship
• Strong understanding of human-centred design (HCD) methodologies
• Experience adapting global learning tools to local contexts
• Knowledge of experiential learning approaches
• Strong facilitation and mentoring skills
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and partnership-building abilities
• Experience in livelihoods development and social enterprise programming
• Strong analytical and report-writing skills
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple assignments simultaneously

Knowledge of community health systems and the role of Community Health Workers in strengthening primary healthcare delivery will be an added advantage.

Language Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate:

• Fluency in written and spoken English

Additional language skills considered advantageous include:

• Shona
• Ndebele
• Other local languages relevant to Zimbabwe

Preferred Qualifications

UNICEF has indicated that preference may be given to candidates with:

• Experience working in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Familiarity with Zimbabwe’s development context
• Experience supporting youth-centred and gender-responsive programming
• Knowledge of community-based development approaches

These qualifications will strengthen a candidate’s ability to effectively contextualize the UPSHIFT methodology within local communities.

Application Requirements

Interested candidates must submit the following through UNICEF’s Talent Management System (TMS):

• Updated curriculum vitae (CV)
• Cover letter
• Separate financial proposal using the prescribed UNICEF template

Applicants are encouraged to ensure that all documentation is complete and submitted before the closing date.

UNICEF’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

UNICEF continues to promote equal opportunity employment and encourages applications from candidates of diverse backgrounds.

The organization welcomes applications from:

• Women and men
• Persons with disabilities
• Neurodivergent individuals
• Candidates from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds

Reasonable accommodations are available throughout the recruitment process for qualified candidates requiring support.

Safeguarding and Recruitment Standards

UNICEF maintains strict safeguarding and ethical standards across all recruitment processes.

The organization has a zero-tolerance policy regarding:

• Sexual exploitation and abuse
• Sexual harassment
• Abuse of authority
• Discrimination
• Any conduct inconsistent with United Nations principles

Successful candidates will undergo comprehensive reference checks and background verification processes before appointment.

Important Dates

Applicants should take note of the following deadline:

• Vacancy Announcement Date: 11 June 2026
• Application Deadline: 25 June 2026

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further stages of the selection process.

Conclusion

The UNICEF consultancy presents an important opportunity for experienced social innovation and entrepreneurship professionals to contribute to youth empowerment and community health systems in Zimbabwe. By supporting the implementation of the UPSHIFT methodology, the selected consultant will play a key role in equipping Youth Community Health Workers with entrepreneurial skills, innovative thinking, and sustainable livelihood opportunities that can create lasting impact within their communities.

For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and WPChannel

Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.

Related