ECD Programme Support Individual Contractor (ECARO, Geneva). Full-time office-based (if possible) or home-based within similar time-zone

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, hope

The UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (ECARO) supports work in 22 countries, coordinating regional efforts and supporting the local efforts of Country Offices across the region. Our ambition is to get the entire region working together - as one - on behalf of its most vulnerable children. With a special commitment to meeting the unique rights of young children ECARO endeavours to support targeted and coordinated efforts to mainstream Early Childhood Development (ECD) principles in health, nutrition, education, child protection, and emergency planning and response. Furthermore, building on the robust corpus of evidence on early childhood development, UNICEF promotes implementation and scale-up of evidence-based, and effective multi-sectoral packages aimed at ensuring that all children, including the most vulnerable, reach their development potential.

Recognizing that different age groups of children, as well as children who develop differently, require specific packages of services and support, the ECARO approach to ECD is composed of four distinct and mutually inter-dependent and reinforcing pillars: a) Nurturing care in health care systems; b) Quality inclusive preschool education c) Early intervention and inclusion of children with disabilities and d) Parenting support.

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of the consultancy

Within the framework of the current UNICEF ECARO work plan, ECARO ECD Section is looking for a junior ECD professional to provide programme support across the mentioned four pillars with a strong focus on 1) overall program support and coordination of events, webinars etc. 2) ECD reporting and monitoring of results across various projects 3) proposal and concept note development and 4) knowledge management, communication and visibility within the Section.

Scope of work and specific tasks

Under the supervision of the Regional ECD Advisor and in close collaboration with the team of specialists, the Individual Contractor is expected to undertake the following tasks:

Tasks:

1. Program technical support and coordination across the ECD Pillars

• Provide input and technical support to section-wide initiatives of the portfolio.
• Lead on specific thematic pieces of work in support of results across the portfolio
• Support the preparation of the regional thematic meetings to seek feedback, roll out guidance and/or share best practices.
• Support ongoing webinars and events organized with partners

2. Reporting and monitoring of results

• Support the coordination process across the section of ECD reporting (RAM, annual reports, CPDs etc).
• Support M&E Specialist by preparing reports, dashboards and informative documents ready to disseminate, across key initiatives

3. Proposal development

• Support the development of proposals for new partnerships and opportunities
• Develop draft concept notes for new initiatives based on feedback and inputs from the section
• Help respond to donor queries and pull relevant data or part of reports
• Support the preparation of partnership events

4. Knowledge management and communication

• Support the team’s growing sharepoint library and ensure regular review and sharing of resources
• Support the development of communication materials that may be needed across the team
• Work as a liaison with designers and editors to ensure timely finalization of products that have a coherent look and feel
• Support the regional quarterly newsletter with resources and best practices from across the region to support regional collaboration and visibility of ECD work.

Specific deliverables:

Tasks

Deliverables

Timeline

1. Program support and coordination across the ECD Pillars

• Timely input and techcnial support to section-wide initiatives of the portfolio.
• Timely and effective support with the preparation of the regional thematic meetings
• At least two thematic webinars/events organized with partners
• Finalization of the ECD parenting guidance

Continuous during the duration of the contract

2. Reporting and monitoring of results

• Effective support and coordination across the section of ECD reporting (RAM, annual reports, CPDs etc).
• At least 3 section /donor reports finalized
• Timely support with ongoing presentations and dashboards across key initiatives

Continuous during the duration of the contract

3. Proposal development

• At least three proposals /new partnerships supported
• Finalization of the ECD fundraising pack
• Timely response to donor queries

Continuous during the duration of the contract

4. Knowledge management and communication

• Ongoing maintenance of the ECD Regional Office sharepoint library
• Timely development of communication materials for the section
• Timely finalization of section technical products
• 3 issues of the regional quarterly newsletter published

Continuous during the duration of the contract

Reporting and supervision

The Individual Contractor will report to the Regional ECD Adviser and work closely with the ECD specialists and other consultants.

Duration of Assignment

The Individual contractor is required on a full- time basis for a period from 20 December 2021 to 20 November 2022. The individual contractor will work five days per week from Monday to Friday and observe the same working hours as the Regional Office.

It should be noted that selected candidate will be responsible for arranging for their own health and medical insurance. This consultancy does not provide any other benefits other than the consultancy fee and 1.5 days leave entitlement per month. Selected consultant will be responsible for complying with local tax requirements and any tax liabilities that may arise as a result of the consultancy with UNICEF.

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

• Advanced university degree in social sciences, education, international development or other related field, preferably with some specialized training in development studies.
• At least 3 years of work experience in the field of Early Childhood Development - early education, social or health services for young children and families
• Previous experience in similar tasks with the UN agencies or international NGOs working on ECD/E is mandatory.
• Strong interest in Human Rights, especially Child Rights, Women's Rights and the Rights of Children with Disabilities.
• Good knowledge digital and online tools development.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication in English. Knowledge of another official UN language is considered as an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines.
• Familiarity with UN and international NGOs programming.

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.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

• Self-starter, with ability to multi-task and work to deadlines,
• Analytical and conceptual thinking,
• Attention to details,
• Able to work in a multicultural setting
• Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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.

To Apply:

Interested candidates are invited to apply online and duly complete the online profile. Please indicate your fees (profiles without fees will not be considered). Upload your CV and/or UN P11 form (P11 will supersede the CV).

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.