Early Childhood Development (ECD) Consultant, National, Belarus - 7 months - Req

Consultant Programme & Policy

Contract

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Vacancy Announcement: Consultant

Consultancy Title: Early Childhood Development (ECD) Consultant, National

Section/Division/Duty Station: ECD, Programme, UNICEF Belarus CO

Duration: 12 July 2023 – 31 January 2024

Location: Remote/Home-based (with office visits upon request)

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. Over 75 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

UNICEF is the leading agency promoting the development of children, creating conditions conducive to the realization of their maximum potential, supporting families in the development and upbringing of children, including children with developmental delays and disabilities. One of UNICEF's main areas of work in support of Early Childhood Development is focused on strengthening Health systems and supporting quality accessible services to promote the full and holistic development of children.

The country experience of the UNICEF office proves the effectiveness of its interaction with key ministries and partners. In partnership with local stakeholders, UNICEF advances Early Childhood Development (ECD), Early Childhood Intervention (ECI), inclusive nutrition and breastfeeding, and Early Childhood Education (ECE). UNICEF has supported creation of the first 37 ECI-centers that were equipped with e-tools for assessment of development of young children, office equipment, toys and accessories; supported projects on inclusive education and ECE; provided capacity building for the specialists on inclusive feeding and nutrition; and conducted a participatory survey on barriers to breastfeeding. The working modality that helps to achieve sustainable long-term results includes:

• Provision to the Government and national partners with the necessary information resources,
• Bringing the best international experiences,
• Support of communication of officials, national experts, practitioners and academics with their colleagues from the other countries,
• Facilitation of cooperation and coordination between key ministries and partners.

The purpose of this consultancy is to support further development of ECD interventions including national ECI system, nutrition and breastfeeding.

Scope of Work:

Under direct supervision of the ECD Specialist/ ECD Chief a.i. and in close collaboration with other relevant programme section chiefs, the consultant will support UNICEF Country Office in the following:

1. Technical expertise improving young children’s Health and Nutrition within the following categories:

1. Promotion of breastfeeding practices across health system levels and scale up of the Baby Friendly Hospital network:

• Support MoH in scaling up the breastfeeding initiatives (including BFH initiative) with establishment of working group and assessment of BFHs;
• Support the finalization and dissemination plan of BF informational, educational and methodological materials for parents and

specialists.

2. Strengthen system of inclusive nutrition and responsive feeding for children with special developmental needs and disabilities:

• Support in capacity building of caregivers in responsive feeding across sectors (ECI service; palliative care; medical rehabilitation

services; baby homes and other residential institutions services);

• Support integration of inclusive nutrition/ responsive feeding into parenting counseling across all sectors of health system

3. Strengthen National Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) system:

• Conduct mapping and needs assessment of the network of ECI services
• Support development of normative package for universal development monitoring tools and screening use, including tools for ASDs
• Support the MOH in development of a normative package for ECI, including review and update of ECI standards and monitoring system, as well as possible synchronization with administrative and statistical data collection processes;
• Support establishing a system of in-service training for ECI specialists to deliver services;
• Establish a system of supervision for quality provision of ECI services;
• Support scaling up the ECI services on the basis of baby homes;
• Support Social Policy Officer in conducting ECI costing study.

B. Coordination with national partners and advocacy support in scaling up cross-sectoral approaches for ECD:

Overall office support from ECD section:

• Support in preparing programme and donor reports, and other reporting requirements in the office;
• Contribute to development of project proposals on thematic issues.

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

Deliverables/ Outputs / Delivery deadline

1. Support the finalization and plan the dissemination of BF informational, educational and methodological materials for parents

• Set of brochures on BF developed and methodological recommendations on BF for the specialists approved by the MoH – by 20 July 2023
• Dissemination plan coordinated with the MoH – 30 July 2023

2. Conduct mapping and needs assessment of the network of ECI services

• Report on mapping of ECI services and needs assessment report – 31 July 2023

3. Support scaling up the ECI services on the basis of baby homes:

• 6 initial assessment visits to 6 baby homes with established ECI centers (2 days each) – July – September 2023
• 6 assessment reports with recommendations on improvement of ECI service delivery submitted to UNICEF – 30 September 2023
• Discussion and incorporation of the feedback from 6 selected baby homes in the assessment reports with recommendations on improvement of ECI service delivery – 15 October 2023
• Assessment of staff capacity of ECI centers at 6 baby homes – October 20, 2023
• Draft capacity building plan and budget for staff of ECI centers at 6 baby homes submitted to UNICEF – 30 October 2023
• Coordination of the capacity building plan for staff of ECI centers with administration of 6 baby homes – 15 November 2023
• Monitoring visits (6) to support of implementation of the capacity building plan for staff of ECI and recommendations on improvement of ECI service delivery through monitoring vis – January 2024

4. Support establishing a system of in-service training, both formal and out curricular, for ECI specialists to deliver services online and off-line

• Consultations and selection of information resources for faculties of the Belarussian State Medical University working on In-service educational course for specialists of ECI centers – September - December 30, 2023
• Review and comments to the draft of educational course for specialists of ECI centers – 30 January 2024
• Needs assessment report and capacity building plan on ECI for faculties of the Belarussian State Medical University (BSMU) developed in cooperation with BSMU – 30 November 2023

5. Coordination of ECI costing study

• Revised TOR for the 2nd stage of the costing study and comments on 2nd stage draft report of the costing study – 10 August 2023
• participation in working group meeting – 23 November 2023

6. Support MoH in scaling up the breast-feeding initiatives including BFH initiative, including assessment of BFHs

• Draft conceptual framework for breast feeding that based on the results of participatory survey on barriers to breastfeeding – 30 July 2023
• Draft concept paper for breast feeding based – 30 August 2023
• Evaluation and recommendation of the normative package for BHF initiative – 30 July 2023
• Evaluation of the joint electronic resource for the specialists on breastfeeding – 30 July 2023

7. Support integration of inclusive nutrition/ responsive feeding into parenting counseling across all sectors of health system

• Draft technical note on integration of Inclusive nutrition responsive feeding into parenting counseling across all sectors of health system – 30 September 2023
• Three (3) meetings with stakeholders – September -October 2023
• Final technical note on integration of Inclusive nutrition responsive feeding into parenting counseling across all sectors of health system submitted to UNICEF – November 2023

8. Support in preparing programme and donor reports, and other reporting requirements

• Suggestions to the RWP with Ministry of Health – 30 November 2023
• Suggestions to the RWP with Ministry of Social protection – 30 November 2023
• Review of IP report Final report on ECI e-counselling – 30 August 2023
• Two consultations on RAM and CSI indicators – 10 October 2023

9. Contribute to development of project proposals on thematic issues

• Project proposal with Theory of Changes (TOC) and detailed budget on ECI scaling up – October 20, 2023
• Project proposal for supporting children with ASDs with TOC and detailed budget – 15 December 2023

10. Support finalization of the UNICEF TOC on Nutrition;

• UNICEF TOC for Nutrition submitted – October 20, 2023

Travel (if required):

Consultant to provide estimated budgets for travels to project sites during the contract period (places, number of visits *rate per one visit* number of days of each visit)

Qualifications

1) Education

• Minimum Master’s degree in health, public health, social science, behavioural science, psychology, anthropology, pedagogy, education, early childhood development, international development, or other relevant fields

2) Work experience / Skills

• A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in ECD/ECI (Early Childhood Development / Early Childhood Intervention) services, including country level experience.

• Demonstrated experience in the design and implementation of ECD projects and concept papers

• Proven skills in analysis, synthesis, and ability to communicate complex issues clearly and succinctly both orally and in writing.

• Strong communication skills (written and oral) in Russian are required.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated experience working in a multicultural environment.

• Passion and demonstrated commitment to UNICEF’s mission and core values

• Background/familiarity with UNICEF’s ECD programme will be an asset.

3) Language Proficiency:

• Fluency in English and Russian is required.

Requirements:

• Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system (Talent Management System (TMS) profile)
• Upload copy of academic credentials

• Financial proposal to undertake the terms of reference that will include:

• All-inclusive (lump sum) costs for the deliverables noted above (per deliverable and total in USD).

• Travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or any travel is required as per TOR
• Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.

• Indicate your availability

• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.

• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory 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.

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

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.

Remarks:

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.

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Added 10 months ago - Updated 9 months ago - Source: unicef.org