Education Specialist (Early Childhood Education), NO-3, Fixed Term, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (For Ethiopian Nationals only)

This opening expired 1 year ago. Do not try to apply for this job.

UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund

Open positions at UNICEF
Logo of UNICEF

Application deadline 1 year ago: Thursday 30 Jun 2022 at 20:55 UTC

Open application form

Contract

This is a NO-3 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-3 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

UNICEF has been present in Ethiopia for 65 years and its history is closely tied to Ethiopia’s gradual transformation into a modern economy with strong aspirations for middle income status by 2025.

With a staff of more than 400 and a field presence in each of the country’s eight regional states, our programme in Ethiopia is one of the largest UNICEF programmes globally.

UNICEF works to support national efforts to ensure the realization of the rights of children and women through improved child survival, development and protection. Over the past six decades UNICEF has established strong relations with the government of Ethiopia, bi-laterals, donors, development partners and civil society.

How can you make a difference?

The Education Specialist (Early Childhood Education) reports to the Chief of Section for guidance and general supervision. The Specialist supports the coordinated development, planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of Early Childhood Education (ECE) programmes/projects within the Country Programme. The Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes to facilitate the administration and achievement of results on ECE related programmes/projects. The Specialist also contributes to the multisectoral planning, implementation, and monitoring of the integrated ECD as a focal person from the section.

The Specialist contributes to the achievement of concrete and sustainable results on ECE related programmes/projects according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM) and UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework.

1. Support to ECE programme/project development and planning

  • Prepare, design and update the situation analysis and assessments on ECE related issues to establish evidence-based data to support policy and programme development, as well as coordinated planning, implementation, and monitoring of early childhood education programmes/projects.
  • Mobilize resources for ECE programming by prparing logical, coherent, and consistent project design/project proposals that incorporate evidence, theories of change/results frameworks, logframes, and budgets.
  • Keep abreast of national, regional, and international development priorities to identify opportunities where ECE/ECD can enhance inter-sector partnership, integration and linkages.
  • Establish specific goals, objectives and strategies and implementation plans for the ECE programmes/projects using results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM).
  • Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results on ECE.
  • Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes to ensure ECE integration, coherence and harmonization with other education programme areas and achievement of results as planned.

2. Programme management, monitoring, and delivery of results on ECE programmes

  • Plan and/or collaborate with internal and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNICEF/UN system indicators to assess/strengthen performance accountability, coherence, and delivery of concrete and sustainable results on ECE programmes.
  • Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual reviews with government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve results.
  • Prepare/assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths/weaknesses in programme management, identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention.
  • Actively monitor ECE programmes/projects through field visits, surveys and/or exchange of information with partners/stakeholders.
  • Monitor and verify the optimum/appropriate use of ECE programme resources (financial, administrative, and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments and ensuring timely reporting and liquidation of resources.
  • Prepare ECE regular/mandated programme/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.

3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation

  • Provide technical guidance and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, and country office partners/donors on interpretation, application and understanding of policies, strategies, processes and best practices and approaches on ECE.
  • Participate in programme meetings including programme development and contingency planning to provide technical and operational information, advice and support.
  • Draft ECE policy papers, briefs and other strategic programme materials for management use, information and/or consideration.

4. Networking and partnership building

  • Engage with donor technical teams to market UNICEF’s ECE programming and innovations, with the goal of seeking donor financial support for the expansion or continuation of such programming and for piloting innovations or taking such interventions to scale.
  • Prepare communication and information materials for ECE programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and promote increased investments in ECE programmes and projects.
  • Build and sustain effective partnerships with relevant government counterparts, national stakeholders and global partners/allies/donors/academia through active networking, advocacy and effective communication to achieve sustainable and broad results on ECE programmes.
  • Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency discussions and planning, coordination forums/platforms on ECE related issues.

5. Innovation, knowledge management, and capacity building

  • Organize and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of stakeholders to promote sustainable results on ECE related programmes/projects.
  • Apply/introduce innovative approaches and good practices to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders to improve, access, quality, and equity in ECE.
  • Keep abreast, research, benchmark and implement best practices on early childhood Education.
  • Contribute to the development and implementation of policies, strategies, standards, and play-based curriculum to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable ECE programmes and projects.

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

  • An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in one of the following fields is required: education, early childhood education, public health, nutrition, economics, psychology, sociology, human development, child development, family studies or another relevant technical field. *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
  • A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in social development planning and management in early childhood development/early learning related areas is required.
  • Strong programme design skills, including capacity to prepare logical, coherent, and consistent documents that incorporate evidence, theories of change/results frameworks, log frames, and budgets. Experience writing successful donor proposals and donor reports.
  • Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
  • Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
  • Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

Core Competencies

  • Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
  • Works Collaboratively with others (1)
  • Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
  • Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
  • Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
  • Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
  • Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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.

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. Our active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Remarks:

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

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unicef.org