Early Childhood Development Officer, NOA, Asunción, Paraguay

Contract

This is a NO-1 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-1 contracts.

BACKGROUND

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has a new cooperation program in Paraguay for the period 2020-2024, which will focus on the most vulnerable children and adolescents, such as those living in poverty, in rural areas, indigenous and disabled populations, promoting the guarantee of the fulfillment of their rights.

UNICEF's cooperation, which has a 5-year cycle, will provide technical assistance, knowledge and international experience, as well as non-reimbursable financing with own and donor resources for four programmatic axes: a) “First years”, which prioritizes integral development of girls and boys from 0 to 10 years old; b) “Adolescents”, which addresses the factors that determine the full development of people aged 11 to 17; c) “Generation of evidence for the strengthening of public policies, plans and programs”, which accompanies the actions; and d) “Program effectiveness”, which deals with coordination, management, monitoring and evaluation.

The country programme will rely on strategies such as evidence-based advocacy to influence public policy and decision-making that favor children, strengthening the capacities of government and civil society institutions, promotion of protective and healthy social practices and norms, promotion and application of innovation, evidence-based management and the promotion of a social dialogue on children´s rights with the participation of adolescents and key actors.

In line with the above, UNICEF's new cooperation program in Paraguay will guide its actions during the period 2020-2024 with a view to contribute to improving the situation of children and adolescents in the country.

For every child, rights

Key Accountabilities and Duties & Tasks

The ECD Officer reports to the Chief of Section or Programme Specialist for close guidance and supervision. The ECD Officer provides professional technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the programming process for the ECD programmes/projects through the application of theoretical and technical skills in researching, collecting, analyzing and presenting technical programme information while learning organizational rules, regulations and procedures to support the development and formulation of the ECD Programme within the Country Programme.

1. Support to ECD programme development and planning

• Research and analyze regional and national political, social and economic development trends having an impact on ECD. Collect, analyze, verify and synthesize information to facilitate programme development, design and preparation.
• Prepare technical reports and inputs for programme preparation and documentation ensuring accuracy, timeliness and relevancy of information.
• Facilitate the development/establishment of ECD programme goals, objectives and strategies and results-based planning through research, collection, analysis and reporting of ECD related information for development planning and goal setting.
• Provide technical and administrative support throughout all stages of programming processes by executing/administering a variety of technical programme transactions, preparing materials/documentations and complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support programme planning, results based planning (RBM) and monitoring and evaluating results.
• Prepare required ECD documentations/materials to facilitate the programme review and approval process.

2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results.

• Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to collect/analyze/share information on implementation issues, suggest solutions on routine programme implementation and submit reports to alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level intervention and/or decisions. Keep records of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual programme reviews with government and other counterparts and prepare minutes/reports on results for follow up action by higher management and other stakeholders.
• Monitor and report on the use of ECD programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets), and verify compliance with approved allocation/goals, organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity. Report on issues identified to ensure timely resolution by management/stakeholders. Follow up on unresolved issues to ensure resolution.
• Prepare inputs for programme/donor reporting.

3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation

• Undertake field visits and surveys and/or collect/share information with partners/stakeholders to assess progress and provide technical support to relevant officials for resolution. Report on critical issues, bottlenecks and potential problems for timely action to achieve results.
• Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on the application and understanding of UNICEF and ECD policies, strategies, processes and best practices to support programme implementation, operations and delivery of results.

4. Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve and sustain results on ECD programmes/projects.
• Draft communication and information materials for CO program advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances and support resource mobilization for ECD programmes/projects.
• Participate in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) meetings/events on programming to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on UNDAF operational planning and preparation of ECD programmes/projects, and to integrate and harmonize UNICEF’s position and strategies with the UNDAF development and planning process.
• Research information on potential donors and prepare resource mobilization materials and briefs for fund raising and partnership development purposes.

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Identify, capture, synthesize and share lessons learned for knowledge development and to build the capacity of stakeholders.
• Apply innovative approaches and promote good practice to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results.
• Research, benchmark and report on best and cutting edge practices for development planning of knowledge products and systems.
• Participate as resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education: A university degree in one of the following fields is required: education, public administration, public health, nutrition, economics, psychology, sociology, human development, child development, family studies or another relevant technical field.

Experience: A minimum of one year of professional experience in social development planning and management in early childhood development related areas is required. Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset. Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.

Language: Fluency in English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of Guarani is a plus

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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

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:

Availability to undertake field missions/trips on a regular basis and as required by the country programme is a condition of national officer professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the civil service.

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

**This post is for a National Officer; therefore, it is available only for Paraguayan candidates**