Home-based Consultancy: Early Childhood Education (ECE) Systems Strengthening and Digital Platforms Content consultant

Consultant Programme & Policy

Overview

Support ECE systems strengthening and optimize digital platform content.

You have:

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Education, education technology, child development, social sciences, communications or other related field.
• Minimum five years of experience in ECE systems strengthening, the design and management of ECE materials and courses, management of eLearning and knowledge platforms, and developing or assisting in the delivery of on-line distance learning courses.
• Knowledge and expertise in the latest developments in ECE and digital education solutions in different social and national contexts of the ECA.
• Knowledge of the situation of young children in the ECA region.
• A good understanding of UNICEF’s work on ECD and in Supporting Families for Nurturing Care.
• A good understanding of UNICEF’s work on ECE.
• Excellent analytical and writing skills.
• Fluency in English required, knowledge of the languages of ECA region will be considered as an advantage.

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

Purpose of Activity/Assignment: The purpose of this consultancy is two-fold. 1. Playing an advisory and supporting role to national teams to implement the ECE Strategy, specifically related to ECE sector reform processes, through the use of the ECE Accelerator Toolkit (https://www.ece-accelerator.org/) and other relevant tools. 2. Working with countries Learning Passport teams to adapt and optimize content for their digital platforms to ensure that platforms are able to support broader ECE priorities in a meaningful way. An additional aspect of this consultancy is to develop a community of practice across the country offices working on both the Learning Passport and ECE system reforms and to document and share best practices.

Consultancy is home-based (within similar time zone to ECA Region) and part-time (125 working days between August 2021 and May 2022). No travels are foreseen.

How can you make a difference?

Scope of Work: Under the supervision of the Regional ECD Advisor and ECD Specialist, the consultant is expected to undertake the following tasks:

1) ECE systems reform advisory and support • Map needs and requirements of different user groups • Support countries to unpack and contextualize the ECE Accelerator Toolkit • Support national consultants with review of ToRs, analysis reports, recommendations, and action plan. • Where feasible support the facilitation of country reflection workshops. • Develop a community of practice among countries undergoing this work, creating a co-working Sharepoint site, document library and hosting of relevant webinars/sharing calls. • Coordinate activities with UNICEF ECE team in HQ and other regional offices to learn from best practices and share resources and updates.

2) Learning Passport Content Optimization • Building from the existing content mapping tool and content quality guidance, and in-line with the ADDIE guidelines, support country LP teams to prioritise and optimise their digital content for the LP. • Generate sample optimised content from existing ECE training modules. • Define and support establishing of the process for content adaptation, translation and sharing across countries • Develop and maintain digitalised learning content library that countries can adapt/translate/contextualise. • Provide support to countries to set up and populate digital platforms, strengthen interactivity of platforms and collaboration across countries • Contribute to broader Learning Passport activities related to platform promotion, M&E, user testing, launching and sustainability.

3) Support and coordination across CO (as needed) • Coordinate and support communication between COs and RO on ECE systems reforms as well as LP. • Coordinate development of workplans across countries, ensure synergy and oversee overall timeliness in implementation where relevant. • Manage any central/regional content to be shared and translated across countries • Coordinate and share best practices between relevant countries and other countries in the region with similar efforts.

Tasks/Milestone****Deliverables/Outputs****Timeline

1. Consultancy management

• Work plan developed jointly with ECD Specialist and approved by ECD Advisor

3 days

Within 2 weeks from start date

2. ECE Systems strengthening

• Mapping of needs of countries conducted
• ECE Accelerator toolkit synthesis developed
• Support calls conducted with countries on use of tools and process for reform acceleration activities (individual or grouped country calls).
• Country documents reviewed, progress supported, meaningful engagement with each phase of country’s analysis, reflection, action-plan development. (as relevant to country)
• Ongoing advisory support given to countries
• Mapping of the needs and available content
• Process established for content adaptation/translation and sharing
• Ongoing support provided to Cos with activity noted within monthly

80 days

Within 2 month from start date

2nd month onwards

Ongoing

3. Learning Passport Content Optimization

• Support countries to conceptualise, prioritise and adapt content.
• Provide hands on support to 3 countries to adapt/create selected content to formal suitable for digital learning as an example, and then support them in replicating this process.
• Maintain content mapping tool and content depository.
• Provide on-going guidance to local content development teams.
• Use experience supporting countries to input into Learning Passport initiative more broadly.

30 days

Within 1 months from start date

Ongoing

4. Support and coordination across CO (as needed)

• Activity noted within monthly status report

12 days

Ongoing

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Education, education technology, child development, social sciences, communications or other related field.
• • Minimum five years of experience in ECE systems strengthening, the design and management of ECE materials and courses, management of eLearning and knowledge platforms, and developing or assisting in the delivery of on-line distance learning courses. • Knowledge and expertise in the latest developments in ECE and digital education solutions in different social and national contexts of the ECA. • Knowledge of the situation of young children in the ECA region. • A good understanding of UNICEF’s work on ECD and in Supporting Families for Nurturing Care. • A good understanding of UNICEF’s work on ECE. • Excellent analytical and writing skills. • Fluency in English required, knowledge of the languages of ECA region will be considered as an advantage

How to apply: Qualified candidates are invited to apply online and duly complete the profile; provide the daily and overall fees; upload the requested in the profile documents including the P11 form.

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.

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.

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.

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Potential interview questions

Added 5 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unicef.org