Aninver Development Partners SL (www.aninver.com) is looking for a Policy and Systems Strengthening Specialist for a education, governance consultancy assignment financed by UNICEF in Sudan.
Aninver Development Partners is seeking an expert Policy and Systems Strengthening Specialist for a prospective UNICEF-supported governance and education initiative in Sudan. This programmatic assignment addresses severe institutional and technical capacity constraints within the education sector, focusing on restoring core system functions and enhancing evidence-based decision-making in a complex operational environment.
The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in linking technical outputs to national policy frameworks, ministry mandates, and broader education reform priorities. Working collaboratively across federal and decentralized levels, the specialist will help establish resilient institutional structures to support sector coordination, governance, and accountability over an 18-month duration.
Aninver is preparing a proposal for this assignment. The selected expert will be part of the proposed team; the engagement is conditional on the contract being awarded to Aninver. The full Terms of Reference for the position are shared with shortlisted candidates.
Objectives of the assignment
- Strengthen governance frameworks and institutional reform mechanisms across federal and decentralized education authorities.
- Link technical project outputs directly to national policy frameworks and ministry mandates.
- Improve sector coordination, accountability, and policy dialogue among education stakeholders.
- Support the implementation of national education strategies and institutional strengthening initiatives.
Scope of work
- Conduct rapid assessments of planning and governance capacities at federal and state levels.
- Translate overarching education sector priorities into costed operational plans and aligned frameworks.
- Establish and strengthen federal-state coordination platforms and multi-stakeholder dialogue mechanisms.
- Integrate gender equality, disability inclusion, and climate resilience into policy and planning processes.
- Strengthen internal workflows, planning cycles, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for institutional efficiency.
- Support targeted technical assignments including policy reviews, financing, and curriculum-related reforms.
Your role as Policy and Systems Strengthening Specialist
- Provide expert technical advisory support on education policy development and institutional reform to government counterparts.
- Ensure seamless integration of technical project outputs with national policy frameworks and Ministry mandates.
- Engage with government institutions and development partners to strengthen governance, accountability, and sector dialogue mechanisms.
- Facilitate structured consultations, workshops, and stakeholder engagement activities with federal and sub-national actors.
- Contribute to the design and implementation of institutional capacity development plans.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure high-quality deliverables across all project workstreams.
Requirements
- Education: Advanced university degree in Education Policy, Public Policy, Public Administration, Development Studies, or related discipline
- Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in education policy development, governance frameworks, sector coordination, and institutional reform
- Languages: Fluency in English required; Arabic recommended
Desirable
- Prior professional experience working in fragile or conflict-affected contexts, preferably in Sudan or similar settings.
- Familiarity with Global Partnership for Education (GPE) or UNICEF-supported programmes.
An experienced policy and governance professional with a strong background in institutional reform and education sector coordination in fragile contexts, possessing advanced academic qualifications and fluency in English.
Assignment details
- Location: Sudan
- Financed by: UNICEF
- Sector: Education, governance
- Estimated duration: 18 months
- Contract: individual consultancy (conditional on award)
About Aninver Development Partners
Aninver is an international development consulting firm headquartered in Spain. It supports governments, development banks, UN agencies and bilateral donors with feasibility studies, technical assistance, evaluations and capacity building across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Asia-Pacific, working with a network of international and national experts.
Why apply
- Join a multidisciplinary team on a UNICEF-financed project in Sudan.
- Individual consultancy: flexible, output-based engagement with an experienced proposal team.
- Your CV stays in Aninver's expert network for future assignments that match your profile.
How to apply
Sign in (or create a free account) and upload your CV in English. Add your LinkedIn profile, indicative daily rate and availability to speed up the assessment. Aninver will contact the shortlisted candidates.
Frequently asked questions
Is the position confirmed? The engagement depends on the contract being awarded to Aninver. Shortlisted experts are included in the proposal with their consent.
Can I apply if I am not based in the country? Yes, unless the requirements say otherwise; relevant regional experience is an asset.
What happens with my CV? It is used to assess your fit for this and future positions and is not shared with third parties without your consent.
