Individual Consultancy to Develop a Community-Based Childcare Model, Mexico City, Mexico (7 months)

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

Context and Scope

Access to affordable and quality childcare remains a key challenge for low-income families in Mexico. Coverage is low—only 11% of children attend Early Childhood Care Centers (CAIs), and most beneficiaries belong to the wealthiest quintile. The majority of CAIs are located in non-marginalized areas, except for the CAIC model run by DIF, which has less than half of its centers in areas of medium to very high marginalization. This leaves children in poor, remote communities with the least access to care. 

The burden of care disproportionately affects women in informal employment. Over half (54.7%) of employed women in Mexico are informal workers—more than men. Without maternity leave, childcare services, or social protection, they face severe challenges in balancing work and caregiving. 

Relying solely on expanding existing models would take over a century to achieve universal coverage. Mexico urgently needs alternative care models that are accessible, affordable, community-based, and uphold high-quality standards. 

Several countries have successfully implemented home- and community-based care models. In France, Assistantes Maternelles provide regulated care in their homes with state oversight. Denmark’s Dagpleje offers municipal family care for up to four children under local supervision. Germany’s Kindertagespflege system supports trained caregivers in their homes, particularly for children under three. Chile’s Jardines Familiares and Canada’s Home Child Care follow similar models, combining professional training with community-based service delivery. 

These models offer promising, scalable solutions for contexts with limited public infrastructure and can help bridge Mexico’s childcare gap. 

Work Assignments Overview 

Analysis and Comparison of International Models 

Design of the Operational Model 

Development of Mixed Financing Schemes 

Define the Scaling Model 

Final Report 

*Each product must be delivered to UNICEF; it will be considered a final version after UNICEF's approval.  

**Estimated dates, final dates will be established once the contract is awarded. 

For more information, please check the terms of reference:  ToR IC to Develop a CommunityBased Childcare Model VA.pdf

Minimum Qualifications required: 

1) Education 

Bachelor’s Degree: Preferably in Business Administration, Social Entrepreneurship, Economics, Innovation, Finance, or related fields. 

Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Social Entrepreneurship, Economics, Innovation, Finance, or related fields. (Desirable) 

Training in Early Childhood Development and caregiving (Desirable). 

Doctorate (desirable) 

2) Work Experience / Knowledge / Skills 

Understanding of caregiving from the feminist perspective, early childhood development, including topics related to human rights, children's rights, and gender perspective. 

Experience blended financing schemes, variable pricing, cross-subsidies, and public-private partnerships to define affordable pricing aligned with the payment capacity of low-income households. 

Knowledge of the Mexican context and applicable regulations for childcare services, as well as familiarity with social programs, public policies, regulatory frameworks, and public budgets with a focus on early childhood, caregiving, early childhood education, and gender. 

Experience drafting executive and technical documents for international organizations, governments, or public institutions. Must present a technical document related to designing, evaluating, or implementing business models for the base of the pyramid and/or social policies, ideally in services targeting vulnerable populations.

3) Language

Evaluation Criteria 

1) CV and Work Experience Assessment.

2) Technical Proposal Assessment: 

A work plan and methodological proposal describing the approach and how the activities and deliverables outlined in the terms of reference will be achieved. 

A brief summary describing the main challenges or obstacles that a childcare scheme based in family or community settings may face when using financing mechanisms involving public-private partnerships, as well as strategies to avoid or mitigate their impact (maximum 2,500 words). 

3) Work Sample Assessment: A work sample of related documents, reports or publications. 

Please consult the following document for further detail regarding how to prepare your financial proposal:

The intention is to have a cost breakdown as detailed as possible. 

The economic proposal must be presented by the consultant indicating the COST PER DELIVERABLE, as well as the breakdown and explanation of the proposal, signed and in a letterhead. 

Costs must be considered for all project expenses.

Costs must be fixed for the entire project. 

Present your proposal in Mexican pesos; if you are a foreign provider, you must send your offer in US dollars 

You can review the following example to prepare your financial proposal:  Financial Proposal Template.docx

For more information, please check the terms of reference including working conditions and details:  ToR IC to Develop a CommunityBased Childcare Model VA.pdf

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. 

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Remarks:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts. 

For further information, please refer to the Individual Consultants General Terms and Conditions [ General Terms and Conditions Individual Consultants EN.pdf/ General Terms and Conditions Individual Consultants ES.pdf]