Readvertisement: Education Officer, NOB, Kyiv, Ukraine

Contract

This is a NO-2 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-2 contracts.

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

How can you make a difference?

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

Under the supervision of and in regular consultation with the supervisor, develop, implement and monitor country office programme on ECE/preschool education, including in the context of emergency preparedness and response. Responsible for the technical contribution to the development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the programme interventions to advance the well-being and education of young children.

KEY END-RESULTS

1. Timely and thorough analysis is made to identify new developments on ECE at international, regional and national levels and enhance ECE programming and planning.
2. ECE/preschool education plans address gender and inclusion components.
3. Substantive professional contributions are made to the formulation of education action plans their implementation and monitoring ensuring strong positioning of early years education and in compliance with UNICEF related ECE and ECD frameworks.
4. Collaboration with relevant sectors and coordination of workplans on ECE is enhanced for sustainable results for young children.
5. Effective analysis of available data regarding the evolving situation and its implications to the operation are timely provided.
6. Effective use of UNICEF resources is monitored for effective project delivery.
7. Substantive input and assistance are provided in the implementation of ECE plans of action and workplans.
8. Lessons learnt from intervention, programme and projects implementation are collected and analysed for adoption of the best practices and standards for longer-term interventions.
9. In the event of an emergency, prompt support is provided to design action plans and reach the population in need.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES and DUTIES & TASKS

Within the delegated authority and under the given organizational set-up, the incumbent may be assigned the primary, shared, or contributory accountabilities for all or part of the following areas of major duties and key end-results.

Technical leadership and support

• Contribute to the design and update the situation analysis and assessments on Early Childhood Education (ECE)/preschool education related issues to establish evidence-based data to support holistic policy and programme development.
• Provide technical advice and work closely with key counterparts, partners and colleagues to discuss strategies and methodologies and to determine national priorities to promote inter-sector partnerships and promotion of quality inclusive ECE.
• Contribute to preparation of ECE policy briefs and other programme materials for management use, information and consideration in programme planning.
• Participate in the Country Office and Education programme planning to determine strategic areas for ECE/preschool education integration.
• Keep abreast of national, regional and international development priorities to identify opportunities to enhance inter-sector partnership, integration and linkages for ECE.
• Work with counterparts and partners to develop interventions, programmes and projects on ECE in line with main policy and programmatic priorities.
• Prepare required documentations on ECE/preschool education for programme review and approval.
• Coordinate implementation and monitoring of ECE/preschool education programmes and projects.
• Contribute to major monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual reviews with government and partners.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes to ensure ECE integration, coherence and harmonization with the overall Education programme and other UNICEF sectors and achievement of results as planned and allocated.
• Participate in strategic discussions, meetings and other international, regional, national meetings and workshops to provide inputs to influence policy and agenda setting on ECE.

Management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Collaborate with monitoring and evaluation programme to establish performance indicators and strengthen delivery of concrete and sustainable results on ECE/preschool education programmes and projects.
• Prepare monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps in programme management and lessons learned and use knowledge gained for timely intervention to achieve goals.
• Monitor ECE programmes and projects to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and take timely decisions and actions to timely resolve issues.
• Plan, monitor and control the use of ECE programme financial and human resources, certifying and verifying compliance with organizational rules, regulations and procedures, donor commitments and standards of accountability and integrity.
• Ensure timely reporting and liquidation of resources.
• Submit/prepare ECE programme reports to donors and other partners to keep them informed on programme progress and critical issues.

Advocacy, networking and partnership building

• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships through networking and advocacy with government at national and sub-national levels, institutions, NGOs, research institutes, universities, and communities to achieve sustainable results for education of young children.
• Work closely with communication programme to prepare communication strategies, implementation plans and activities for ECE initiatives for maximum communication impact and outreach to promote awareness, establish partnerships and promote increased investments in ECE interventions.
• Participate in high level discussions and planning to ensure organizational position, interests and priorities on ECE are fully considered and integrated in the development planning and agenda setting process.
• Collaborate with partners and colleagues in planning and preparation of programmes/projects including emergency preparedness.

Emergency Preparedness and Response

• Identify and use formal and informal information to identify emergency implications to education of young children and to the implementation of ECE projects.
• Gather information on best practices in emergency situations for the adjustment of ECE plans.
• Assist supervisor and participate in the formulation of action plans in preparation and response to emergencies.
• Participate in the development and implementation of workplans for ECE in emergency projects. Undertake monitoring field visits to emergency project areas and carry out project administration. Prepare inputs for appeals, communication and advocacy on the needs of early childhood education in emergency.
• Collect and analyse lessons learnt from UNICEF's emergency operations experience on ECE and contributes towards adoption of the best practices and longer-term emergency interventions.

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building:

• Apply and introduce innovative approaches and good practice to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders and to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable program results for ECE.
• Keep abreast, research, benchmark and implement best practices in ECE management.
• Assess, institutionalise, and share best practices and knowledge learned.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of programme mainstreaming approaches to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable ECE programs and projects.

• Organize and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of partners and stakeholders to promote sustainable results on ECE and related programs/projects.

  QUALIFICATION and COMPETENCIES

1. Education

University degree in one of the following fields: education, psychology, sociology, human development, child development, ECE, social sciences or other related disciplines.

2. Work Experience

Two years of relevant professional work experience at the national and/or international levels in programme/project development, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation or administration.

Prior experience with programs supporting early childhood care and education as well as programs that support parents, children or front-line professionals is required.

Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.

3. Language Proficiency

Fluency in English and Ukrainian is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

4. UNICEF values and competency Required (based on the updated Framework)

i) Core Values

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability

Core Competencies

Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)

• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)

• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)[

  5. Technical Knowledge

a) Specific Technical Knowledge Required

(Technical knowledge requirements specific to the job can be added here as required.

• UNICEF policies and strategy to address ECE issues at international and national levels.

• Knowledge of global humanitarian issues, specifically relating to children and women, and the current UNCEF position and approaches.

• Knowledge of the principle of gender parity and equality.

b) Common Technical Knowledge Required

• The UNICEF mission statement; UNICEF Board policy papers and decisions.

• The Core Commitments for Children in Emergencies.

• The Convention on the Rights of the Child; Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women.

• UNICEF Program Manuals, policy guidelines, ExDirs, PROs; Country Programme documentation.

• UNICEF personnel, financial, supply and administrative rules, regulations and manuals.

• National development plans and policies; Guidelines and manuals from NGO/donor partners

• Annual work plan.

• UNDAF; The UN Humanitarian Reform; IASC documents, guidelines and materials on UN Humanitarian Reform and the cluster approach.

• Information & Communications Technology literacy, including skills and knowledge of office system applications, LAN, internet navigation, telecommunications, and data analysis.

• Gender equality and diversity awareness

c) Technical Knowledge to be Acquired/Enhanced (for the Job)

• Knowledge of local conditions and country legislation relevant to UNICEF programmes.

• UN common approaches to programmatic issues and UNICEF positions in international developing cooperation.

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability(CRITA)underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. 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 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.

Remarks:

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.