National Consultancy-Early Childhood Development Consultant, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (full time, 6.5 months)

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, protection.

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does – in progress, in advocacy and in operations. The equality strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias of favoritism.

Early Childhood Development is one of the areas where inequalities are persisting in Mongolia and UNICEF’s work in demonstrating models for alternative early childhood development strategies and approaches to reach disadvantaged children in remote and rural areas continues in the country programme of 2017-2022.

How can you make a difference?

The purpose of this consultancy is to support the implementation of Early Childhood Development (ECD) programme of UNICEF Mongolia for 6.5 months during maternity leave of ECD officer. The ECD Consultant will report to Education Specialist. The consultant will provide professional and technical operation for ECD projects within the Country Program to delivery of results.

The Ministry of Education and Science (MoES) capacity to develop, budget, design and implement equity-focused, gender-sensitive policies, strategies, norms, requirements for early childhood development, primary and adolescent learning is enhanced.

1. Support the MoES to implement revised Integrated ECD policy and development programs for 1-2 and 2-3 years old children.
2. Support the MoES in implementing ECE laws and regulations including piloting nutrition education packages in the selected kindergartens and finalizing the package materials of teacher handbook, exercise book and two children’s stories.

3. Technical support for implementation of the Education Sector Contingency plan, collaboration and coordination with WASH, child protection and other relevant programme areas to support safe- school and kindergarten re-opening, and development of online and offline learning contents to strengthen distance learning at pre-primary and primary education level.

   Decentralized education authorities in target areas have improved capacity to increase access and utilization of quality, inclusive healthy ECD and primary education services.

4. Strengthen capacity of implementing IECD strategies at the focus areas through workshops and experience sharing activities including education, health, and protection service providers.

5. Improve quality of ECE services by capacity building of kindergarten managers, teachers, assistant teachers, and other staff.
6. Improve 4 kindergarten facilities in the target areas by renovating classrooms, kitchens, and WASH in collaboration with nutrition and WASH programs.
7. Continue parenting club activities in the selected kindergartens and expand it to the new kindergartens in the selected areas. Conduct public and community awareness activities on IECD in collaboration with communication, WASH, nutrition, and child protection programs.

Other duties including planning, fundraising, monitoring, quality assurance, and reporting

1. Ensure effective project management, effectiveness and monitoring for a defined set of performance standards and indicators as per VISION Manager’s Dashboard, Annual Management Plan, HACT monitoring for ECD components of Output 201 and 202.
   1. Grant management and reporting 45% by the 2nd quarter end; 70 % of its implementation as of 1 September.
   2. 100 % of HACT field monitoring reports to be submitted to HACT associate in each quarter.
2. Ensure timely preparation/submission of donor reports, HIS and proposals as well as reporting for ECD results in the RAM portal at mid-year reporting.
   1. All donor proposals, HIS and reports prepared and submitted on time :
   2. Progress and utilization report of Canada – 15 March 2022
   3. Contribution of ECD related results to Education Thematic Report – 24 March 2022
3. Ensure implementation of Emergency related works and duties and contribution to audio and interactive learning contents.
   1. Attending in Education cluster meetings
   2. Contributing for health-related trainings for kindergarten and school staff in collaboration with Emergency in Education consultant
   3. Support the audio and interactive content developments in collaboration with Education officer of Digital Transformation

Prepare and implement donor visits during the consultancy period.

Contract duration: 6.5 months- between 1 March 2022 to 15 September 2022

Type of engagement: Full-time, office based

ToR ECD_Consultancy Recruitment_ad.pdf

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

• A Postgraduate University Degree in education, public administration/health, nutrition, economics, psychology, sociology, human development, child development, family studies or other social science field is required
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in social development planning and management in early childhood development related areas at the international and/or in a developing country is required. Relevant experience in ECD related areas, program/project development and management in a UN system agency or organization is an asset.
• Fluency in English is required.
• Analytical and research skills and knowledge of ECD program.
• Strong relationship building skills with internal and external counterparts.
• Strong organizational 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 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.