Individual Contractor - Early childhood development consultant, WCARO, Dakar Senegal

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

TORs cb signed TORs WCAR ECD Consultancy_13 Aug 2020-adv.pdf

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, an Education

Background

Early childhood development (ECD) is a cross-cutting area, in support of the acceleration of results defined by each KRCs, especially during the first 1000 days of life but not limited to it given that the construction of foundational early learning competences tends to go beyond the first 1000 days . It is mainly related to KRC1 (Immunization), KRC2 (stunting), KRC3&4 (access and quality education ), KRC5 (Child marriage), KRC7 ( birth registration), KRC8 (Open defecation). Despite the fact that West and Central Africa experienced rapid economic growth since 2000 (circa 5% p.a.), children in the region are still facing multiple deprivations affecting their full development and limiting the human capital development of countries. According to UNICEF WCAR, in 2019, the region continued to experience high levels of stunting with 32.7 of 0-5 years affected, 42 % of maternal deaths, 4/10 girls married before 18 years, only 30% of 3-6 years accessing early learning services and more than 40% of 0 to 5 years not reaching their full development. Stunting and wasting alongside persistent poverty and rising inequality are manifestations of highly unequal and exclusionary development processes that have left the majority of people and children behind.

How can you make a difference?

Objectives

The objectives of this consultancy are:

1. To generate knowledge and evidence on interventions that work in ECD, with a particular focus on multi-sectoral approaches
2. Develop, implement and monitor a regional multi-sectoral framework, strategy and programming guidelines for the early years (0-3, 3-5, 6-10 years) guided by the respective global and regional sectoral strategies and the global nurturing care framework.
3. Provide a mapping of existing partnerships for ECD at regional and country levels, including roles of different partners, with lessons and opportunities for multi-sectoral collaboration at regional and country levels.
4. Facilitate UNICEF WCAR’s participation and contribution to the global ECD Evaluation led by UNICEF New York.

Deliverable and schedules

Deliverable

Due date

% Payment

Inception report with detailed activity plan

15 Oct 2020

10%

Analysis report including mapping of interventions and partners as well as documentation of effective interventions (case studies on countries experiences)

31 Nov 2020

20%

1st Draft ECD Framework, Strategy, Guidelines (including Parenting strategy)

31 Dec 2021

20%

Final Draft ECD Framework, Strategy, Guidelines (including Parenting Strategy)

30 Janv 2021

10%

Progress report on rolling out of regional guidance tools with TA to 3 countries (webinars, training on guidance tools produced, field visits)

30 June 2021

20%

Final Report of rolling out the ECD regional Framework, Strategy and guidelines over 6-month period with regional and country experiences.

29 Aug 2021

20%

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

• An advanced university degree in Developmental Psychology, Education, Social Sciences or Public Health.
• At least 8 years of experience in the area of ECD advocacy, awareness, programme management and programme design

• Relevant professional work experience at national and international levels in the social development field, and specifically in early childhood development within health and nutrition systems.

• Experience in and knowledge of community based and or multisectoral programs and Central Africa region.

• Ability to work independently.
• Excellent analytical, communication, writing skills in both French and English language.
• Experience in and knowledge of UNICEF programs at the country and/or regional levels
• Experience in and knowledge of health & nutrition systems and policies (e.g. national policy/strategy/budgeting development processes) would be an added advantage.
• Familiar with UN System and UNICEF policy and programme procedures
• Fluent in both French and English

For every Child, you demonstrate fair chance

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and 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

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 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.