National Consultancy: Integrated Early Childhood Development Coordinator, Lebanon Beirut, 245 days within 11.5 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, hope

Lebanon is currently facing multiple compounded emergencies - including the Beirut blast, a financial crisis, increased poverty, and Covid19 transmission – that have resulted in increased vulnerability of the youngest children and their families across the country and which requiring an urgent and robust response strategy for Early Childhood Development that bridges both emergency and development contexts.

In 2020, UNICEF Lebanon Country Office (LCO) developed an Early Childhood Development (ECD) Strategy Recommendation Paper to examine the situation of early childhood development in Lebanon in both development and emergency contexts, and to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats facing young children. The outcome of the Strategy Paper is a set of recommendations for the UNICEF Lebanon’s policy and programmes within a life-cycle approach and holistic integrated ECD Nurturing Care Framework, which was launched at the 71st World Health Assembly in May 2018. ECD is instrumental for the achievement of SDG 4, which states that by 2030 countries should “ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education”.

A mapping exercise conducted by UNICEF LCO revealed that, although the Office has implemented activities across many sectors which have encompassed young children in the 0-6 age group, this has been by default rather than by design. Moving forward ECD programming within UNICEF Lebanon requires (a) greater focus on the youngest children in vulnerable situations, (b) more precise definition and targeting of the vulnerability of 0-6 years old and their families, (c) greater integration of multisectoral interventions designed around the child, (d) greater diversification of delivery modalities and platforms, (e) more data and evidence on ECD, (f) greater focus on families and communities around ECD, (g) greater advocacy on creating a unified definition of ECD across actors and an enabling environment, and (h) greater financing and investment for ECD programming.

In response to the aforementioned challenges, the design of a multisectoral, holistic, integrated ECD Programme is under development by a Senior ECD Consultant for the current and next Country Programme (2023-2027).

The consultancy is intended to contribute to the operationalization of the Integrated ECD Multisectoral Programme to be implemented by UNICEF LCO. The Integrated ECD Coordinator consultant reports to the Deputy Representative and works under the lead of the Senior ECD Consultant, in coordination with the Social Behavioral Change Chief of Section.

The consultant will be initially providing backstopping coordination and technical support across UNICEF Sections, progressively supporting the implementation of the ECD Multisectoral Programme once its Operational Plan has been approved. More specifically, the consultant should deliver the set of products and tasks listed below:

1. Consolidated Operational Report on the ECD Framework and ECD Work Plan preparations
2. Gap Analysis Note on areas to be evaluated under the Monitoring & Evaluation Framework
3. Consultations Report on ECD evidence generation
4. Mapping Document of Partnerships for the ECD Programme
5. Editorial Plan for the elaboration of the ECD Briefing Package
6. ECD Coordination Report on the Campaign ‘‘First 1000 days of crisis and its impacts on children campaign”.
7. Implementation Report of the Integrated ECD Programme Framework and ECD Action Plans

How can you make a difference?

Work Assignment Expected Results

Milestone task

Deliverables

Timeline Coordinate activities supporting the preparation of ECD programmatic documents.Consolidated Operational Report on the preparation of the ECD Framework and ECD Work Plan40 daysAnalyze informational gaps of the ECD M&E Framework.Gap Analysis Note on areas to be evaluated under the Monitoring & Evaluation Framework20 daysSupport the organization of consultative meetings on ECD evidence generation.Consultations Report on ECD evidence generation50 daysMap potential partners for UNICEF’s ECD programme.Mapping Document of Partnerships for the ECD Programme20 daysProvide assistance to the development of institutional materials on ECD.Editorial Plan for the elaboration of the ECD Briefing Package15 daysSupport the preparation and launching of ECD campaigns.ECD Campaign Coordination Report on the Campaign ‘‘First 1000 days of crisis”35 daysCoordinate activities in support of the roll-out of the ECD Programme Framework and ECD Action Plans.Implementation Report of the Integrated ECD Programme Framework and ECD Action Plans65 daysto view detailed tasks and deliverables, open the attached document: 2022_SSA_C4D_National_ECD_Coordinator_ToR.pdf

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

• Masters University degree in Child Development, other related field experience is required.
• A minimum of eight (8) years of experience in humanitarian emergencies with significant field experience working on ECD interventions in technical and/or coordination role. Demonstrated experience in developing ECD plans, programmes and budgets and ECD strategies in humanitarian contexts.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team in a challenging and highly fluid and complex environment, flexibility and ability to handle ambiguity and constant change.
• Ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines
• Relevant experience in a cross-sectoral ECD coordination role in a UN system agency or similar organization is considered as an asset.
• Good analytical skills and knowledge of quantitative, qualitative and participatory research methodologies and analysis on ECD.
• Excellent facilitation, organization and planning skills.
• Proven information management and data skills (Excel, PowerPoint, MS word) in the areas of multi-modal, cross-sectoral data collection, data visualization, including mapping and M&E.
• Proven skills and knowledge of project management / cycle and family engagement for ECD.
• Demonstrated excellent English written and oral communication skills and the ability to clearly and accurately convey information.
• Fluency in English and Arabic is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is considered as an asset.

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.