2026:UNICEF Zimbabwe UPSHIFT Consultancy: Empowering Youth Through Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship

UNICEF Zimbabwe has announced an exciting opportunity for an International Consultant to support the implementation of the UPSHIFT methodology within a youth entrepreneurship and community health program. The assignment focuses on strengthening livelihoods, motivation, and retention among Youth Community Health Workers (YCHWs) through innovation, capacity building, and entrepreneurship training.

This consultancy reflects UNICEF’s broader commitment to youth empowerment, social innovation, and sustainable community development in low-resource settings.

Understanding the UPSHIFT Programme

UPSHIFT is a global UNICEF innovation programme designed to equip young people with skills in problem-solving, entrepreneurship, and social innovation. It uses a human-centered design approach to help youth identify challenges in their communities and develop practical solutions.

In the Zimbabwe context, UPSHIFT is being integrated into youth community health systems to enhance engagement, improve retention of YCHWs, and create income-generating opportunities that strengthen both livelihoods and health outcomes.

The consultant will play a key role in adapting this global methodology to local realities, ensuring it is relevant, practical, and impactful.

About the Consultancy Role

The International Consultant will be based in Harare, Zimbabwe, with a flexible arrangement that includes remote work and travel. The contract duration is approximately 8.5 months, making it a short-term but high-impact assignment.

The role requires close collaboration with UNICEF teams, government partners, civil society organizations, and youth networks. The consultant will provide technical expertise in social innovation, entrepreneurship, and capacity building, ensuring that UPSHIFT is effectively implemented and scaled.

This is not a purely desk-based role. It involves field engagement, training sessions, and direct interaction with stakeholders to ensure successful implementation.

Key Responsibilities

The consultancy focuses on three main areas:

1. Technical Support and Methodology Roll-Out

The consultant will support UNICEF Zimbabwe in contextualizing UPSHIFT tools and adapting them for youth community health workers. This includes developing training materials, customizing toolkits, and ensuring alignment with local development priorities.

2. Capacity Building and Stakeholder Engagement

A major part of the role involves training and mentoring stakeholders. The consultant will design and facilitate Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions for government officials, NGOs, and youth organizations. This ensures long-term sustainability and local ownership of the programme.

3. Programme Development and Monitoring

The consultant will contribute to designing income-generating initiatives for YCHWs. This may include health-related entrepreneurial solutions or community-based ventures. In addition, the role involves monitoring progress, documenting results, and producing analytical reports to guide decision-making.

Required Skills and Experience

UNICEF is seeking candidates with strong academic and professional backgrounds in social innovation, entrepreneurship, or related fields. A master’s degree or higher is preferred.

Applicants should have at least five years of experience working in youth empowerment, livelihoods, or innovation programming. Experience with UPSHIFT or similar methodologies is highly desirable.

Other key requirements include:

• Strong facilitation and training skills
• Experience in human-centered design and participatory approaches
• Ability to adapt global frameworks to local contexts
• Experience working with UN agencies, NGOs, or government institutions
• Strong communication and report-writing abilities
• Knowledge of gender-responsive and youth-centered programming

Experience working in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Zimbabwe or similar environments, is considered an added advantage.

Why This Role Matters

This consultancy is more than a technical assignment—it is a youth empowerment initiative with long-term development implications. Youth Community Health Workers play a vital role in delivering essential health services at the community level, but they often face challenges related to motivation, income stability, and career growth.

By integrating entrepreneurship and social innovation, the UPSHIFT programme helps address these challenges while creating sustainable opportunities for young people. It also strengthens local health systems by improving retention and performance of frontline workers.

The consultant’s work will directly contribute to building more resilient communities, improving youth livelihoods, and supporting innovative approaches to public health.

Remote Work and Travel Reality

Although the role is advertised as “remote + travel,” it is important to understand that this is not a fully remote position. While some tasks can be completed from a home or remote setting, significant portions of the work require travel within Zimbabwe for training sessions, stakeholder engagement, and field implementation.

This hybrid structure is typical of development consultancy roles, where on-the-ground presence is essential for effective programme delivery.

Application Process

Interested candidates are required to submit a CV, cover letter, and financial proposal through UNICEF’s recruitment portal. The deadline for applications is 25 June 2026.

Applicants should ensure their documents clearly demonstrate relevant experience in youth programming, social innovation, and capacity building.

Final Thoughts

The UNICEF UPSHIFT consultancy in Zimbabwe represents a unique opportunity for professionals passionate about youth development, innovation, and social impact. It combines technical expertise with hands-on field engagement, making it ideal for experienced consultants seeking meaningful work in international development.

By supporting youth-led innovation and entrepreneurship, this role contributes to long-term solutions that improve both livelihoods and community health outcomes in Zimbabwe.

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