ECD: Early Childhood Development and Education Consultant, UNICEF East Asia and the Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO), Bangkok, Thailand, Job No

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 fulfilling 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, a better future

UNICEF works to ensure the rights of all children in the East Asia and Pacific Region. This means the rights of every child living in this country, irrespective of their nationality, gender, religion or ethnicity, to:

• survival – to basic healthcare, peace and security;
• development – to a good education, a loving home and adequate nutrition;
• protection – from abuse, neglect, trafficking, child labour and other forms of exploitation; and

• participation – to express opinions, be listened to and take part in making any decisions that affect them

  How can you make a difference?

UNICEF East Asia and the Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO) is seeking a contractor to support the ECE initiatives as well as the COVID-19 recovery agenda. More specifically: a) the early learning agenda, in particular the innovative financial mechanisms such as the Replenishment Model to scale up ECE; b) early learning and development assessments; c) advance in the region the ECE Accelerator Tool Kit and other global guidelines; d) the family-friendly policies and programming agenda and; e) development of regional goods for ECE and ECD.

The contractor will also contribute to EAPRO technical support on ECE to country offices; and support the preparation of EAPRO ECE and ECD annual report(s) and indicators.

Work Assignment:

The contractor will support the Education Regional Advisor and the ECD Regional specialist in the following:

• Support the country offices participating in the Replenishment Model to expand ECE in the EAP Region with the development and submissions of concept notes, revisions and analyses of documents for quality assurance. Lead the activities that the RO will have to implement based on models and guidelines from HQ. Follow up with HQ in the implementation of actions needed from RO and CO for process roll out during phase 1.
• Support the Regional Education Advisor and the ECD Specialist in the development of an overall regional position paper on early learning and development assessments where quality of services is also a key component. This activity entails desk review of existing development, early learning and quality measurements and assessments in the region, followed by strategy development to guide COs. This position paper will leverage current efforts existing in the region for development of these tools and motivate other countries to start working towards these measurements, advancing the agenda of the early years towards achieving SDGs.
• Support the Regional Education Advisor and the ECD Specialist in the effective roll out of the ECE Accelerator Toolkit, in particular in the capacity development component for Education Sector Planning in the region, in close collaboration with HQ. The contractor will advance needed actions to develop trainings for interested COs, including design as well as support to deliver the trainings.
• Support the Regional ECD Specialist, in its collaboration with Social Policy and the Children’s Rights and Business sections, in leading the Family-Friendly policies agenda, including the development of a regional mapping, the provision of technical advice to country offices, and other activities as needed, for the effective design and implementation of country-led initiatives with governments and businesses, as well as resource mobilization for COs. This responds to the global responsibility given to ECD in UNICEFs latest Strategic Plan, to report and coordinate efforts in the Regional Offices aligned around this important topic.
• SharePoint and files are updated monthly; and all requests form country offices, HQ and internal and external partners are tracked and follow up on assigned topics.
• All requests for develop issue briefs, summary reports, case studies and guidance notes on varied topics are concluded on time and with quality.
• The development and follow up of at least 3 fundraising proposals are supported.
• EAPRO ECD annual report, COVID-19 Response related reports, and revision of relevant indicators is achieved on time and with quality.

• Selected EAPRO efforts to collect and monitor data and evidence from the field is supported as requested.

  Work Schedule****: Please see attached ECD Consultant - Work Schedule.pdf

End Product(s): Finalized reports and documents as per agreed work assignments.

Duration of Contract: 1st May 2022 – 31st March 2023 (11 Months)

Working Location: The contractor will be based in Bangkok but will also work from home. The arrangement on the contractor’s working dates in the office will be discussed and in agreement with the supervisor. Regular supervisory meetings will be held with the Regional ECD Specialist.

Official Travel Involved: Travel may be required to regional countries previous coordination with the Regional Education Advisor.

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

• Advanced university degree in Social Sciences, Education or other related field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience working in international development or any other UN agencies.
• Fluent in English.
• A good understanding of Education and ECD indicators, policies and tools is needed.
• A good understanding of Education Sector Planning, learning and development assessments is needed.
• Previous experience working in issues relating to Early Childhood Development, Education/Early Learning.
• Strong experience in program/results management, monitoring and reporting.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and previous experience communicating with partners at different levels.
• Demonstrated ability in work planning and report preparation.
• Demonstrated skills in professional high quality writing in English.
• Experience working in the East Asia Pacific region highly desirable.
• Experience working for a United Nations organization an asset.

Interested candidates are requested to submit CV or P-11, full contact information of minimum 3 references, availability, and proposed monthly professional fee in USD by 4 May 2022****.

FORM P11.doc

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, 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

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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:

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 Contractors and Individual Contractors. Contractors 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.

UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

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.