Quality Learning and Skills Development

Mission and objectives

UNICEF, also known as the United Nations Children's Fund, is a United Nations agency responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide. The agency is among the most widespread and recognizable social welfare organizations in the world, with a presence in 192 countries and territories. UNICEF's activities include providing immunizations and disease prevention, administering treatment for children and mothers with HIV, enhancing childhood and maternal nutrition, improving sanitation, promoting education, and providing emergency relief in response to disasters.

Context

Kenya's population stands at 53,330,978 (Kenya National Bureau of Statistics [KNBS], 2025). Children aged 0-17 years make up 41.3 per cent of the population, with 11.1 million girls (50.5 per cent) and 10.9 million boys (49.5 per cent). Adolescents - ages 10-19 years - account for 11.7 million (22per cent) of the total population, while youth 19-34 years are at 16.8 million (31.5 per cent). Kenya’s child population will peak in 2047, reaching over 28 million, offering a chance for a demographic dividend. People with disabilities account for 2.2 per cent of the population (almost 1.2 million people, an estimated 484,000 children, KNBS 2019 Census). Additionally, Kenya hosts approximately 870,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, of which 441,776 are in Dadaab, 309,944 are in Kakuma and 117,781 are in urban areas (UNHCR, 2025). In Education, the latest data from 2023 shows access to education improved, with the primary net enrolment (NER) rate at 89.1 per cent and secondary at 61.6 per cent, both exceeding targets and up from 2024 (78.1 and 54.1 per cent respectively). Learning outcomes were mixed: Grade 3 reading targets were met (50 per cent), but numeracy fell short at 52.4 against 76 per cent. The transition rate from primary to secondary was 86.7 per cent (target 88 per cent). Kenya continued its progress in analysing foundational learning assessment data to inform both education policy and classroom practices. However, programmes such as Free Primary Education, Junior secondary Capitation, school feeding, and support for Out-of- School Children are under-funded. Refugee education is still reliant on humanitarian actors and funding. Learners with disabilities and vulnerable groups lag-behind, and rising exam fees, lack of pre-primary capitation, energy insecurity, and limited digital infrastructure continue to hinder equitable access and learning. The UNICEF Kenya Education programme under the current country programme aims to contribute towards more children, including adolescents, particularly in deprived areas, learn and acquire foundational and transferable skills for the future.” To achieve these goals, the UNICEF education program emphasizes three key outputs: Output 1: The Ministry of Education and its partners at national and county level have strengthened capacities to engage with communities and provide equitable and inclusive access, retention and learning opportunities for all children, including adolescents. Output 2: The education system is better able to transform the delivery of quality basic education that rapidly improves learning outcomes and the development of transferable skills. Output 3: Children, including adolescents, affected by emergencies including refugees and asylum seekers have equitable access to safe and secure, inclusive and quality learning opportunities

Task Description

With the overall guidance of the Chief of Education (P4) and under the direct supervision of the Education Specialist – Quality and skills development (No3), the Volunteer will provide remote technical and administrative support to the Skills Development and Quality Learning portfolio. The assignment will contribute to knowledge management, documentation, and reporting by undertaking the following specific tasks: 1. Support Filing and Knowledge Management

• Organize programme documents, reports, presentations, and reference materials.
• Maintain a structured electronic filing system for Skills and Quality Learning activities.
• Develop and regularly update a repository of key programme resources. Deliverable: Updated and organized digital knowledge repository. 2. Support Reporting and Data Compilation
• Assist in compiling selected programme data from partner and project documents for routine Output 2 reporting.
• Help update simple summary tables and the quarterly achievements tracker using information provided by the team. Deliverable: Monthly data summary sheets and achievements tracker for output 2. 3. Support Documentation and Follow-Up
• Support scheduling and documentation of virtual meetings.
• Prepare meeting notes, action trackers, and follow-up matrices.
• Track progress on agreed actions and maintain records of key engagements. Deliverable: Meeting minutes and updated action trackers for assigned meetings.

Competencies and values

Living conditions and remarks