Consultancy, Development of a costed National Integrated Early Childhood Development (NIECD) Policy implementation plan, Windhoek, Namibia

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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.

For every child, quality early childhood development

How can you make a difference?

Scope of Work: Through a consultative and participatory approach with Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare (MGEPESW), the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture (MoEAC) and other relevant stakeholders develop a costed National Integrated Early Childhood Development (NIECD) Implementation Plan based on the reviewed NIECD Policy, IECD Framework and other relevant documents to IECD. • Conduct interviews and consultations with various key stakeholders on the NIECD Policy Implementation Plan. • Following the participatory consultations, develop a detailed costed implementation plan with timelines. • Support MGEPESW in the presentation of the costed implementation plan to NIECD committee for approval. • Support finalization of IECD coordination structures proposed in the draft policy, in consultation with the three line Ministries and the NIECD Steering Committee, and in light of provisions of the Child Care and Protection Act number 3 of 2015. The costed implementation plan should anticipate and incorporate timelines for transfer of ECD from MGEPESW to MoEAC.

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks/MilestoneDeliverables/OutputsTimelineEstimated Budget1. Familiarization with draft IECD policy and framework, and conduct interviews and consultations with various key stakeholders on the NIECD Policy implementation plan- Consultations and interviews completed

1 week (5 days)100% of payment based on agreed offer upon completion of deliverables2. Convene key line Ministries to review and agree on an IECD coordination structure and consult with the National IECD Steering Committee to finalize the coordination structure in the draft policy- Revised coordination structure build on consensus

1 week (5 days) 3. Develop a costed implementation plan following a participatory approach• Draft costed implementation plan with clear timelines shared and approved by UNICEF and MGEPESW3 weeks (15 days) 4. Validation meeting with key stakeholders• Validation meeting held and report shared and approved by the UNICEF and MGEPESW1 day 5. Incorporate comments from validation meeting• Final costed implementation plan2 days 6. Support presentation on costed NIECD implementation plan• Costed NIECD implementation plan presented and approved by the NIECD Committee1 day To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Master’s degree in Early Childhood Development, Education, or closely related field. A PHD in early childhood development is an added advantage
• A minimum 5 years of progressive work in ECD policy programme management and policy development.
• Experience in Early Childhood Development in the Namibian context is an added advantage
• Fluency in English and writing skills
• Have an extensive experience in ECD at a national and/or global level
• Experience developing costed implementation plans/strategies and policies
• Demonstrated experience of working collaboratively with government institutions, CSOs and international development agencies
• Excellent proficiency in computer and information technology skills, including word processing, electronic presentations, spreadsheets, email and the internet including highly proven capabilities of keeping electronic records and producing reports
• Demonstrated ability to produce high quality documents, reports, and tools.

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 here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

Administrative issues:

The selection and conditions of service of consultant will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s Policies and General Terms and Conditions for individual consultants/contractors.

No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant/contractor. Consultant/Contractor will be required to complete mandatory online courses (e.g. Ethics, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Security) upon receipt of offer and before the signature of contract.

Consultant/Contractor will be required to sign the Health Statement for consultants/contractors and to share an applicable proof of health insurance prior to taking up the assignment.

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant

How to Apply

Please submit expression of interest together with: • A cover letter, no longer than 1 page, and curriculum vitae showing how the consultant meets the required qualifications, experience and expertise. • Technical Proposal demonstrating the consultant’s understanding of the ToRs, the proposed methodology/approach and timelines for the respective deliverables. • A financial proposal/budget, which must inclusive of all activities and expenses related to the assignment, including relevant travel costs (except costs of workshops/meetings). • Examples of similar previous work may be requested during recruitment

Incomplete applications e.g. without financial/budget proposal will not be considered.

If you have not been contacted within 2 months of the closing date, please accept that your application was unsuccessful. Regret emails will be sent only to shortlisted/contacted candidates.

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.