National Individual Consultancy – Revision and Update of Basic Technical Standards for ICT Tools in Education Systems in Bosnia and Herzegovina 2027–2029, 35 working days, Remote

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The purpose of this consultancy is to provide advanced technical expertise to the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina to revise, update, and draft the new Basic Technical Standards for ICT Tools in Education 2027–2029.

The consultant will ensure that the updated standards transition into a performance-based and functional framework rather than a rigid hardware list. The resulting document must be practical, technologically neutral, socio-economically viable, and inclusive of emerging educational domains such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and environmental sustainability. The standards must also upgrade the 2021 security baselines, which focused on local firewalls, antivirus software, automatic updates, and basic content filtering, into modern functional requirements. Driven by the transition to universal, high-speed school connectivity, the revised framework should shift from individual device protection to centralized security management, whether cloud-based, hybrid, or regionalized, robust student data privacy, and network-level threat mitigation.

The consultant will be responsible for the following main tasks:

Conduct a comprehensive review of the current 2021 standards document. Identify technical bottlenecks, obsolete parameters, including in desktop, notebook, and server configurations, and procurement limitations caused by rigid hardware metrics. Map out areas that must be converted into functional and performance-based specifications.

Identify and analyze emerging technological trends relevant to the 21st-century classroom. This includes modernization of cybersecurity and online safety, technical capabilities of internal school networks, frameworks for the safe and pedagogical integration of Artificial Intelligence tools in schools in line with UNESCO guidance for generative AI in education and research, and strict protocols for electronic waste management and eco-friendly disposal of IT equipment.

Review successful European Union and regional models of performance-based educational ICT standards. Adapt these methodologies to the specific socio-economic, infrastructural, and administrative context of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Develop the initial draft of the new ICT standards. The draft should abandon rigid component-based metrics, such as fixed GHz or GB limits, in favor of an operational, performance-driven framework that ensures long-term technological neutrality, socio-economic viability, and structural scalability across various school sizes.

The consultant will structure the draft around the following functional areas:

Facilitate consultation processes with educational authorities, academic institutions, and civil society organizations across Bosnia and Herzegovina. Systematize, analyze, and consolidate all qualitative and quantitative feedback into the draft. The consultant will develop the methodology for consultations, which includes 16 ministries of education and equivalents in Bosnia and Herzegovina, ITU, UN, EU Delegation, mobile network operators, academia, and the private sector. UNICEF will provide support with relevant institutions to collect inputs, including provision of contacts, follow-up if needed, and organizational support for required online meetings.

• Specific experience within the educational technology or EdTech sector is highly advantageous. Prior experience working with public education institutions, ministries of education, international organizations, or development partners in Bosnia and Herzegovina or the wider region would be an asset.

Edit and finalize the comprehensive proposal for the Basic Technical Standards 2027–2029, formatting it as a clear and authoritative guideline ready for institutional adoption.

The final document developed by the consultant must be modular, written in clear and technically precise language in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, and delivered in both textual and tabular formats, ready for integration into tender documentation of ministries of education in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Inception Report and Gaps/Trend Analysis

A detailed report mapping the deficiencies of the 2021 standards document, international best practices, and technical recommendations for current technology trends and innovations relevant to improving educational systems. The deliverable will be deemed completed only upon formal review and written approval by the contract manager.

First Draft of the Updated Functional ICT Standards 2027–2029

A comprehensive, performance-based draft document ready to be shared for institutional and public consultation. The deliverable will be deemed completed only upon formal review and written approval by the contract manager.

Final Technical Standards Document and Consultation Report

The final, approved version of the standards incorporating stakeholder feedback, accompanied by a report on how inputs were addressed through activities to gather feedback on the first draft and communicate with representatives of educational institutions, academic institutions, and civil society organizations. The deliverable will be deemed completed only upon formal review and written approval by the contract manager.

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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.

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. 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.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Advertised: 27 Aug 2026 Central European Daylight Time
Applications close: 10 Sep 2026 Central European Daylight Time

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