Deadline: 16-Feb-2026
UNICEF Generation Unlimited is seeking an implementing partner to design and pilot a secure, partner-branded digital credentialing pathway that enables young people to receive, store, and share verified learning credentials across education and employment systems. The initiative focuses on youth employability, skills recognition, and trusted digital identity, ensuring credentials are portable, interoperable, and governed by strong consent and data protection standards.
UNICEF Generation Unlimited Digital Credentialing Pathway Initiative
UNICEF Generation Unlimited (GenU), with its global network of public, private, and youth-led partners, is launching a pilot initiative to modernize how young people access and use learning credentials. The project aims to address structural barriers that prevent youth from translating skills and learning outcomes into real employment and livelihood opportunities.
This opportunity seeks an implementing partner to co-design and test a digital credentialing and wallet experience that strengthens transitions from learning to earning while safeguarding youth data and consent.
Program Focus Areas and Strategic Priorities
This initiative operates at the intersection of livelihoods, youth employability, and technical and vocational education and training (TVET). The primary focus areas include:
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Digital credentialing and verifiable credentials
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Youth employability and workforce readiness
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Recognition of skills, learning outcomes, and achievements
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Digital identity and consent-based data governance
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Interoperability across education, employment, and opportunity platforms
The program prioritizes solutions that are scalable, standards-aligned, and adaptable to diverse legal and regulatory environments, especially where minors are involved.
Why Digital Credentialing Matters for Youth
Many learning certificates and skill records remain trapped in fragmented, siloed systems. This limits their usefulness when young people apply for jobs, enroll in further education, or access entrepreneurship opportunities.
Digital credentialing addresses these gaps by enabling:
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Portability of learning records across platforms and borders
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Trust and verification for employers and institutions
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Learner control over when and how credentials are shared
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Interoperability using open standards
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Reduced credential fraud and data loss
By unlocking trusted, verifiable credentials, this initiative supports equitable access to opportunities and strengthens youth economic inclusion.
Core Concept: LearnerID Digital Credential Wallet
At the center of this initiative is a partner-branded digital credentialing and wallet experience known as LearnerID. LearnerID enables young people to securely receive, store, manage, and share verified credentials within a partner-managed environment.
Key design principles include:
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Alignment with open standards for verifiable credentials
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Consent-driven data sharing and governance
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Age-appropriate safeguards for minors
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Optional integration with YoID and the Yoma marketplace
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Learner choice and opt-in at every stage
Credentials are initially issued and stored within a trusted partner environment, ensuring compliance with local data protection and child safeguarding requirements.
How the Initiative Works
The project follows a phased and structured implementation approach.
Phase 1: Discovery and Co-Design
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Assess readiness of Generation Unlimited member organizations
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Map learner, educator, and guardian journeys
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Identify legal, technical, and operational constraints
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Define consent pathways and age-of-consent transitions
Phase 2: Framework and System Design
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Develop skills frameworks and credential taxonomies
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Design credential templates aligned with open standards
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Define governance, consent, and data protection models
Phase 3: Product Development and Integration
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Build minimum viable products for:
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Learner-facing credential access
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Member organization credential issuance
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Enable secure credential storage and verification
Phase 4: Testing and Pilot Rollout
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Conduct user testing with youth and partner organizations
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Pilot credential issuance, validation, and sharing
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Test opt-in transitions to broader opportunity platforms
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Monitor engagement, usage, and outcomes
Who Is Eligible to Apply
Eligible applicants typically include:
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Digital identity and credentialing solution providers
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Education technology and workforce platforms
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Organizations with experience in verifiable credentials
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Consortia with expertise in youth programs and data governance
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Entities capable of operating across multiple legal jurisdictions
Applicants must demonstrate technical capacity, youth-centered design expertise, and strong data protection and consent management practices.
What the Implementing Partner Will Do
The selected partner will:
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Co-design the LearnerID experience with UNICEF GenU
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Develop credential issuance and wallet solutions
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Ensure compliance with open standards and governance requirements
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Support pilots with selected GenU member organizations
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Collect and analyze usage and engagement data
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Document lessons learned and scalability pathways
Close collaboration with UNICEF Generation Unlimited and ecosystem partners is essential throughout the project lifecycle.
Common Challenges and Practical Tips
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Overlooking consent transitions: Design for age-of-consent changes early to avoid system redesign later
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Ignoring interoperability: Use open standards to prevent platform lock-in
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Underestimating legal diversity: Account for varying child data protection laws across countries
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Complex user journeys: Keep learner and guardian experiences simple and intuitive
Successful implementations prioritize usability, trust, and flexibility from the outset.
Frequently Asked Questions
What problem is UNICEF Generation Unlimited trying to solve?
The initiative addresses fragmented and non-portable learning credentials that limit young people’s access to jobs, education, and opportunities.
What are verifiable digital credentials?
They are tamper-proof, digitally signed credentials that can be independently verified and securely shared by learners.
Is this solution intended for minors?
Yes. The design explicitly includes safeguards, consent pathways, and governance models appropriate for minors and guardians.
How does LearnerID integrate with other platforms?
Integration with YoID and the Yoma marketplace is optional and only occurs when learners explicitly opt in.
What standards will the credentials follow?
The solution will align with open, globally recognized standards for verifiable credentials and digital identity.
Is this a global or country-specific initiative?
The pilot will operate in selected locations but is designed for global scalability across diverse contexts.
Conclusion: Building Trusted Pathways from Learning to Earning
This UNICEF Generation Unlimited initiative represents a strategic step toward modernizing youth credentialing systems worldwide. By enabling portable, trusted, and consent-driven digital credentials, the project strengthens employability, skills recognition, and access to opportunity for young people. Implementing partners play a critical role in shaping a scalable model that connects education, work, and digital identity in a safe and inclusive way.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.
