International ECD Senior Advisory Consultant, Early Childhood Development section, 5.5 months, ECARO O/P Istanbul (Internationals only) Home-based

Inform CELFF’s strategic direction and partnership approaches for ECD.

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UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund

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Application deadline 10 days ago: Thursday 2 Jul 2026 at 20:55 UTC

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Overview

Inform CELFF’s strategic direction and partnership approaches for ECD.

You have:

  • PhD in education, international development, psychology, human development, child development or another relevant technical field
  • 15 years minimum of relevant professional experience in strategic advisory roles leading regional/global initiatives and high-impact programs
  • Experience in innovative finance deals (structuring, operationalization, MRV)
  • Proven track record in high-level partnership engagement with governments, IFIs, DFIs, bilaterals, multilaterals and donors, particularly with the EU
  • Demonstrated experience in partnering with the European Commission and other relevant EU institutions
  • Demonstrated experience in designing and facilitating high-level convenings and technical workshops
  • Strong communication, negotiation and strategic leadership skills
  • Fluency in English
  • Progressive experience in a UN system agency or organization

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Contract Duration- 5.5 months

Working arrangement: Home Based

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

TERMS OF REFERENCE

UNICEF’s Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECARO), in partnership with the UNICEF ECD Centre of Excellence, is seeking a Senior Advisory Consultant to inform CELFF’s strategic direction, country engagement, and partnership approaches within the context of this leveraging agenda for ECD. The consultant will guide relevant teams, while working collaboratively with the ECD Centre of Excellence, to ensure strategic coherence and effective country-level demonstrations, and contribute to a robust, pragmatic roadmap to scale key initiatives, including CELFF, to advance outcomes for young children.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: External ToR TMC0003118 r.pdf

Minimum requirements:

  • Education: PhD in education, international development, psychology, human development, child development or another relevant technical field
  • Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:
    • 15 years minimum of relevant professional experience in strategic advisory roles leading regional/global initiatives and high-impact programs, preferably in early childhood development / early childhood education, social impact
    • Experience in innovative finance deals (structuring, operationalization, MRV)
    • Proven track record in high-level partnership engagement with governments, IFIs, DFIs, bilaterals, multilaterals and donors, particularly with the EU.
    • Demonstrated experience in partnering with the European Commission and other relevant EU institutions
    • Demonstrated experience in designing and facilitating high-level convenings and technical workshops.
    • Proven track record in shaping and deepening programmatic engagement, initiating thought leadership dialogues, envisioning and executing a pipeline of strategic publications (including white papers, policy briefs, reports)
    • Strong communication, negotiation and strategic leadership skills.
    • Fluency in English.
    • Progressive experience in a UN system agency or organization.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

  • An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
  • Cover letter
  • A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template) Financial proposal TMC0003118 r.docx

Remarks:

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Potential interview questions

Can you describe a successful strategic partnership you've developed? This assesses your partnership management skills. Provide a clear example, mentioning your role and the outcomes achieved.
How do you approach innovative financing in development projects? The interviewer wants to know your understanding of finance in ECD. Pro members can see the explanation.
Describe a time you facilitated a workshop. What was the outcome? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What strategies do you employ to engage high-level stakeholders? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you ensure inclusivity in your partnerships? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What role does communication play in your advisory work? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Share an example of a high-level convening you organized. What were the key takeaways? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What methods do you use to keep your knowledge current in child development? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 19 days ago - Updated 10 days ago - Source: unicef.org