Early Learning & Development Consultant, Pretoria, South Africa, 19 months (full time)

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, EDUCATION.

Education | UNICEF South Africa

The foundational years for education is defined in South Africa’s policies as the interventions through early learning, development and education from birth to nine years within the context of the National Development Plan (NDP) that sets education as a critical determinant of building national capabilities and states that this requires ‘quality early childhood development, schooling, college, university and adult education and training programmes’. The country’s Medium-Term Strategic Framework 2019 to 2024 affirms the aforementioned in Priority 3: Education, Skills and Health.

UNICEF provides key technical and financial support in early childhood development to the Department of Basic Education with a particular focus on the advancement of learning through play and the infusion of skills for a changing world in the curriculum. In particular, it will provide support towards key areas of the Department of Basic Education’s early childhood development programme and priorities.

This full-time consultancy will contribute to the implementation of work plan priorities through direct technical support to the Department of Basic Education. The consultancy will be based at the Department of Basic Education.

How can you make a difference?

The purpose of this assignment is to provide technical and related support to the Department of Basic Education’s Early Childhood Development Directorate on the implementation of early learning and development programmes.

Objectives:

a) To provide technical support for the implementation of early childhood development programmes through play-based pedagogies with particular emphasis on the implementation of the NCF and the CAPS.

b) To provide professional technical support for all technical task teams and coordination structures under the leadership of the ECD Directorate related to ECD.

c) To provide technical support to the staff in the ECD Directorate on the implementation of UNICEF supported programmes, such as ECDmobi and the P.L.A.Y. online course.

d) To provide technical support to the ECD Directorate on areas related to the implementation of the National ECD Policy as well as other related policies and legislation pertaining to early learning and development.

e) To assist the Director responsible for ECD at the DBE in the preparation of technical reports.

f) Any other duty that may be assigned by the Director responsible for ECD at the DBE related to the above purpose.

The consultant shall execute the assignment under the close supervision of the Director responsible for ECD at the Department of Basic Education and the Education Specialist (Early learning) at UNICEF with a focus on the following in relation to the objectives stated above:

a. Provide technical support to the ECD Directorate of the Department of Basic Education in the implementation of the programme of collaboration with UNICEF as spelt out in the work plan in relation to early learning and development, particularly post-function shift support.

b. Provide technical support and assistance as agreed with the Director ECD related to the APP on the following:

1. implementation and migration to the Department of Basic Education of the P.L.A.Y. online in-service training as to ensure that it is embedded and supported.
2. implementation of ECDmobi within the Department of Basic Education.
3. human resource development matters related to the early childhood development, inclusive of policy, planning and training on the NCF as to support the implementation of play-based learning.
4. the development of a quality assurance and improvement framework.
5. the development of basic standards and guidelines for quality assessment.
6. areas related to the implementation of the National Integrated ECD Policy as well as other related policies and legislation pertaining to early learning and development by the Department of Basic Education; and
7. engage with provinces, training institutions and implementing partners on matters pertaining to the technical assistance to be provided above or as otherwise agreed.

c. Assist the Director ECD in the preparation of technical reports related to the above areas. d. Collect and assemble data and background on matters pertaining to the technical assistance to be provided through this assignment and provides updated information on programme/project financial and administrative status for analysis and report purposes. e. Participate in planning and monitoring on matters pertaining to the technical assistance to be provided through this assignment to identity and analyse bottlenecks; recommends courses of action to supervisor and assist where necessary to implement recommendations in relation to play-based learning; and f. Any other duty that may be assigned by the Director ECD related to the purpose of this assignment.

Work relationships - The consultant will be managed by UNICEF and the day-to-day work of the consultant will be supervised by Director for Early Childhood Development. - UNICEF and the Department of Basic Education are jointly responsible for the monitoring of the implementation of this assignment and shall execute this in a professional and consultative manner throughout the term of the contract. - The consultant shall have no expectation for the extension of this contract nor for any continuation of the work associated with this assignment through part-time or full-time employment by the Department of Basic Education or UNICEF.

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

- A minimum of an advanced degree or equivalent in education, early childhood education, basic education, child psychology, social sciences or related technical fields

- A minimum of three years relevant professional work experience related to the objectives of this assignment in early learning, education, programme management in an education field, preferably in curriculum as well as sound analytical and policy experience.

- Knowledge of early learning and development and the ECD sector in South Africa is a requirement.

- Sound knowledge of current developments in the field of early learning and basic education, including a clear articulation of play-based learning across the education curriculum (NCF and CAPS).

- Good skills in Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel as well as excellent and concise writing skills.

- Excellent interpersonal skills, willingness to travel and a valid driver’s license, proactive and energetic approach to work and ability and commitment to work under tight timeframes.

- Only South African citizens will be considered for this assignment.

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:

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.