Individual Consultant: Parenting Education Consultant (ECD)- Kathmandu, Nepal Country Office ( Only for Nepalese National)

Contract

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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 Nepal has been supporting the government of Nepal to implement the parenting programmes. Particularly, UNICEF Nepal has worked with Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Center for Education and Human Resource Development (CEHRD) in year 2016 to develop a major reference package on parenting education based on nurturing care framework to promote caregivers’ responsibilities and improve the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of caregivers for child development. Since then, UNICEF Nepal has utilized the package in over 700 communities reaching nearly 50,000 children. The package has been recognized as one of the best practices in the region by Asia Pacific Regional network for Early Childhood (ARNEC).

In 2022, the Parenting Education package was updated and further developed to ensure its up-to-date nature. The current package includes content from conception to age 8, covering the full spectrum of early childhood. The package consists of 33 topics, with new content on mental health, importance of play, and child friendly schools incorporated. The package is designed in a manner that it can be used flexibly, in different contexts, and be delivered by any literate person with even minor prior facilitation experience. Thus, in addition to teachers the content can be utilized by several contact platforms, namely health workers, Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Plan (MSNP) volunteers, counsellors, and social mobilizers, among many others etc. The package is modular, and hence can be adopted according to need and context. The package consists of a detailed Facilitator’s Guideline and pictorial cards that are closely linked with the existing topics. The package is designed in learner-centered manner, and it promotes active participation of the caregivers. Hence, the content utilization does not mandatorily require any specific training, though the government is planning series of training of trainers nationally. There is a certification system inbuilt in the package, with the expectation of increasing the motivation of the participants.

The consultant support is sought to promote the maximum utilization of this package in different sectoral platforms, including private sector based on UNICEF’s business for results strategy.

How can you make a difference?

Provide technical support to the government and UNICEF Nepal education section to promote maximum utilization of the Parenting Education package developed by Center for Education and Human Resource Development (CEHRD) with support from UNICEF Nepal; and related strategic documents by advocating and marketing the package amongst different stakeholders.

Key Functions/Day to Day Activities:

• Proactively meet and orient relevant stakeholders and advocate for voluntary use of the package

• Assist ECD task team in UNICEF and relevant stakeholders in the Government to strengthen parenting support mechanism for caregivers

• Develop M&E mechanism for parenting education package use

• Document best practices Detailed activities.

In accordance with established UNICEF policies, procedures and practice, the consultant will perform the following duties:

1. Consult and collaborate with relevant UNICEF sections, field offices, partners, and various ministries to ensure the full utilization of the existing parenting education package

2. Develop a detailed plan on the utilization of the existing Parenting Education modules in different sectoral platforms

3. Provide orientations/ trainings for the use of the existing package or link with other sectoral trainings

4. Assist and develop support mechanism for parenting education package users to take up the package

5. Conduct network meetings of the package users

6. Collaborate with partner organizations and M&E officer to develop a robust M&E mechanism to track users and beneficiaries

7. Develop various human-interest stories (case studies) based on field practice

8. Work with communication and social behavior change (SBC) section as per need to develop ongoing multimedia products

Duration of Contract: The total duration of the contract is for 11 months starting from 01 December 2022.

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks****Deliverables****Timeline****Proposed Fee (Nepalese Currency)- Development of detailed plan on the utilization of the existing Parenting Education package - Development and conduction of training to potential implementors

Submission of a detailed plan on the utilization of the existing Parenting Education modules through various sectoral platforms

• Submission of at least five reports of orientation or trainings to potential parenting education implementors/ dissemination points from different sectors

• Submission of monthly reports mentioning the progress and reach of parenting education package

By end Jan 2023 - Widening the reach and usage of the Parenting Education package in the context of different stakeholders

• Submission of monthly reports mentioning the progress and reach of parenting education package
• Submission of at least five reports of orientation or trainings to potential parenting education implementors/ dissemination points from different sectors (cumulatively 10)

• M&E mechanism and guidance developed

  By end May 2023 - Widening the reach and usage of the Parenting Education package in the context of different stakeholders

• Submission of monthly reports mentioning the progress and reach of parenting education package

• Submission of at least five reports of orientation or trainings to potential parenting education implementors/ dissemination points from different sectors (cumulatively 15)
• At least three human interest stories developed

• Submission of report of the Network meeting

  By end Sept 2023 To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education

Advanced university degree in Education, social sciences, or communications with profound understanding on Early Childhood Development and Parenting Education

Work Experience:

• At least 5 years’ experience in areas related to parenting education/ early childhood development and as a trainer

• Profound experience in advocacy, marketing, and communications

• Experience with private sector will be considered as an added advantage

Skills required:

• Existing linkages and coordination skills with government counterparts Special skills and/or knowledge required

• Good understanding of nurturing care framework

• Excellent command of both, Nepali and English language Competencies

• Demonstrated knowledge and thorough understanding on parenting education and programmes

• Strong analytical capacity and ability to quickly comprehend concepts and apply them in operational settings

• Proactive and strong skills in advocacy, and communication

• Ability to build strong relationships with external actors

• Excellent oral and written communication skills

• Excellent coordination and communication skills

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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 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:

Request to submit financial proposal as per deliverable in Nepalese currency.

Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Candidates from under-represented ethnic groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

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.

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.