Individual Consultancy - National Framework for Health Promoting Campuses

JOB DETAILS

Type of contract : Consultant Contract

Level :  Level 2 - Middle

Hiring Unit : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station : Nairobi

Work location : Remote

Duration of contract : 3 months

Hiring open to : External candidates

Application deadline (Midnight UTC+3 Time) : 31/08/2026

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

OVERVIEW

UNESCO is seeking an individual consultant in Kenya to support the implementation of the O3PLUS Project – Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future PLUS  in the role of Individual Consultant to develop a National Framework for Health Promoting Campuses, for Higher and Tertiary Education Institutions (HTEIs) in Kenya.

The O3PLUS Project seeks the development of a comprehensive, evidence-based framework to scale up sexual and reproductive health (SRH) initiatives in Higher and Tertiary Education Institutions (HTEIs) across Kenya.

This framework will guide HTEIs in adopting and contextualizing O3PLUS best practices into an institutional approach that promotes the education, health, and wellbeing of young people. It will standardize and strengthen governance and health service delivery, enhance student engagement and foster safe, inclusive, and supportive campus environments. Through this work, campuses will be better equipped to advance health, gender equality, and academic success for learners nationwide.

UNESCO’s Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (O3 PLUS) project seeks to ensure that young people in higher and tertiary education institutions (HTEIs) in Kenya realize positive health, education, and gender equality outcomes through sustained reductions in new HIV infections, unintended pregnancy and sexual and gender-based violence thus enabling  them to reach their full educational potential and contribute more effectively to the development of the country and region as graduates, professionals, and young leaders.

Long Description

While the O3PLUS achievements provide a strong foundation, scaling up of the O3 plus interventions nationally requires a coherent, institutionalized approach to ensure sustainability, consistency, and impact across all HTEIs. This underscores the need for a National Framework for Health Promoting Campuses embedded under the Okanagan Charter and Limerick Plan of Action. This will provide clear standards, strategic priorities, and implementation guidance for integrating health and wellbeing into campus systems.

Rationale for a National Framework for Health Promoting Campuses

Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) remains a critical determinant of young people’s health, academic success, and overall, well‑being in Kenya. With more than half of Kenya’s university population aged 18–24, higher education institutions provide a strategic platform for delivering comprehensive SRH information, services, and life skills that enable young people to transition safely into adulthood. Building on the positive outcomes and lessons from the current project implementation; scaling up to additional HTEIS is both timely and essential. The O3 plus project has indicated that the model is effective, adaptable, and ready for scale-up to benefit a larger student population in enhancing students’ knowledge and life skills regarding SRH, improving uptake of campus‑based health services, establishing safer, more supportive learning environments through strengthened policies and anti‑GBV campaigns and increased student engagement via digital platforms and social accountability tools.

Kenya’s pursuit of a National Framework for Health-Promoting Campuses seeks to address systemic gaps and unify fragmented initiatives into a coherent, scalable, and sustainable approach aligned with global standards. At present, Higher and Tertiary Education Institutions (HTEIs) lack a standardized framework for health promotion. The O3PLUS project has demonstrated effective models such as policy enhancement, peer education, youth-friendly services, and campus-based awareness programs—these efforts can be easily replicated to other institutions to respond to the emerging needs of youth and friendly SRH information by young people; ensuring that they are fully accepted and sustained in higher education health promotion programs.

ASSIGNMENTS

Long Description

3.2 Stakeholder Consultations

Facilitate panel discussion and conduct consultative engagements, including Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), during the National Stakeholders Forum organized by UNESCO in Machakos, Kenya, in September 2026. Engage a diverse range of stakeholders—including Higher and Tertiary Education Institutions (HTEIs), line ministries, civil society organizations (CSOs), and other key partners—to capture and document emerging themes, insights, and outcomes from the forum, thereby generating practical evidence on existing capacities, institutional gaps, good practices, and feasible implementation pathways across different institutions, while fostering inclusive and meaningful participation from all stakeholders.

3.3.  Framework Development

Drawing on the evidence review and National Stakeholder Forum outcome, develop a draft national Health-Promoting Campuses Framework. At a minimum, the framework should provide a contextually grounded definition of what a health-promoting campus means in Kenya; articulate guiding principles in SRH; identify priority domains and action areas; set out minimum standards for institutions; describe institutional roles and responsibilities; outline a phased or tiered implementation pathway suited to different institution types; and establish mechanisms for monitoring, accountability and quality improvement. The framework should integrate with existing national systems and institutional structures where relevant. The specific domains, standards and indicators should be determined through the consultancy process.

Long Description

3.4 Supporting Tools

Develop practical tools to accompany the framework, including an institutional self-assessment instrument that HTEIs can use to assess their current status and identify priority areas for action. The format and content of these tools should be determined based on stakeholder feedback during the consultancy.

3.5 Validation and Finalization

Facilitate the national validation forum organized by UNESCO for the draft framework, bringing together all the key stakeholders. Revise and finalize the framework and tools based on the feedback received and present the final framework to relevant government bodies and stakeholders for adoption.

CONTRACT DURATION

The consultancy will undertake a duration of 3 months.

Long Description

DELIVERABLES

Deliverables

• Deliverable 1. Inception Report including Desk review report with a summary on the findings on relevant global, regional and national frameworks, policies, tools and good practices including O3PLUS implementation model at the University of Nairobi and Kenya Medical Training College to establish a solid evidence base for the framework.
• Deliverable 2. Draft National Health-Promoting Campuses (HPC) Framework and Self-Assessment Tool, integrating findings from desk reviews, stakeholder consultations; workshop proceedings, panel discussions, and key informant interviews. The draft highlights institutional capacities, gaps, good practices, and recommendations, providing evidence-based insights to guide the development of a robust, contextually responsive national framework.
• Deliverable 3. Final HPC Framework and Self-Assessment Tool, incorporating validation feedback and ready for formal endorsement.

Long Description

Methodology

The proposed methodology for the development of the National Health Promoting Campus (HPC) Framework will follow a consultative, participatory and mixed approach- evidence-based approach, drawing on both documentary review, direct stakeholder engagement; through panel group discussion and individual interviews and validation forum. The proposed methodology should span across a 4-month duration and recognize the diversity of institution across Kenya’s HTEI system.

Operational, Reporting and Management of the assignment

The individual consult will work in close consultation with UNESCO throughout the duration of the assignment. This includes joint planning, regular check-in meetings, submission of draft HPC framework, organizing and facilitating a validation workshop of stakeholders for HPC framework and submission of the final HPC framework and assessment tool for review and input by UNESCO prior to finalization.

COMPETENCIES - Core (C) & Managerial (M)

• Communication (C)
• Accountability (C)
• Innovation (C)
• Knowlegde sharing and continuous improvement (C)
• Planning and organizing (C)
• Results focus (C)
• Teamwork (C)

For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

WORK EXPERIENCE

Long Description

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

Competencies

The consultant should demonstrate:

• Strong policy analysis and systems strengthening skills
• Ability to translate evidence and global frameworks into practical, nationally applicable guidance
• Excellent facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills, including with students and marginalized groups
• Sensitivity to gender equity, disability inclusion and cultural context
• Ability to manage a complex multi-stakeholder process and produce high-quality outputs within tight timeframes
• Commitment to participatory approaches and genuine co-creation with national stakeholders

LANGUAGES

Good understanding of English.

APPLICATION PROCESS

APPLICATION PROCESS

All candidates must complete an online application.

In addition, all candidates should submit the following documents:

   - An up-to-date Curriculum Vitae (CV) demonstrating relevant qualifications and experience

   - A Statement of interest indicating how your qualifications and experience make you suitable for the assignment;

  - A technical proposal indicating the approach including methodology and tools you will adopt to carry out the assignment including any input that may be required from UNESCO

   - A financial proposal for the cost of the assignment, expressed in KES

   - Requested reports and samples.

   - Two professional references with current contact details

Submissions should be sent to UNESCO addressed to Jane Kamau via j.kamau@unesco.org and cc to c.odumbe@unesco.org and j.kagai@unesco.org with the Subject line: KEN.HPC.2026.07_Technical and Financial proposal_Your name.

Long Description

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information, by the above deadline.

To apply, please visit the UNESCO Careers website. No modifications can be made to the application once submitted. 

The process may include pre-recorded video interviews and/or written assessments, interviews with a Panel, as well as reference checks. In addition, candidates may be requested to provide additional information which may be pertinent to the position’s qualifications.  

Please note that all candidates, whether selected or not, will be informed of the outcome of their application in due course. 

Short-listed candidates may also be added to Talent Pools; subject to their consent (i.e. Data Privacy Statement).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of personnel shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity.
• UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment.
• lndividuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.
• All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality.
• UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the hiring process.