Technical assistance for the Development of a Technical Guide and Operational Tools to Country Offices and Pre-primary Workforce on Early Childhood Education and Sustainability, LAC Region

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For every child, Education

In the first years of life, children establish the cognitive, emotional, and social foundation upon which they can build their futures. Early childhood is the most significant developmental period of life. A child who is stimulated, continuously engaged in interactive activities, hugged, comforted, and spoken to is more likely to fully develop cognitive, language, physical, emotional, and social skills; all of which are vital for success in school, in the community and subsequently in life.

UNICEF advocates for and promotes an integral approach to early childhood development (ECD) that includes, early learning and quality education programmes, maternal and child nutrition, protection, health care interventions and family support services. Providing children and their caregivers adequate multisectoral interventions and special services is determinant for their present and future wellbeing.

Studies in many countries and from different disciplines show that participation in Early Childhood Education Programs (ECE) lead to higher levels of primary school enrolment and educational performance, which consequently have a positive effect on employment opportunities later in life. On the contrary, children who do not enter school in a timely manner and lack the necessary opportunity to develop the skills to learn constructively are more likely to fall behind or ultimately drop out of school, often perpetuating a cycle of poverty.

Across the LAC region, enrolment in ECE has increased substantially since 2000, including among children under 3 years of age. This trend in preschool attendance, however, is inconsistent amongst countries. Some countries have very high coverage and attendance rates, while others are very low. National average also often hides significant disparities between regions and groups. Children in the lowest quintiles, with disabilities, living in rural areas, and/or are part of indigenous communities are at a particularly high disadvantage.

The COVID-19 pandemic is having an impact on global and country-level economies, which is affecting national budgets and the income of families. In addition, most countries in the region have closed schools, and remain closed in at least 19 countries. Where schools have been opened, it has been in specific localities, reaching low coverage figures. In this context, families and young children are experiencing unprecedented challenges and risks. For that reason, since the beginning of the pandemic, UNICEF Regional Office (LACRO) has been providing to LAC Country Offices technical support, sharing information, and facilitating knowledge-sharing. The priorities and key actions of response and recovery in ECD and ECE are:

1. Support families in managing the crisis so that they can provide a nurturing care environment to young children; 2. Strengthen and support to early childhood professionals (including pre-primary workforce) to adapt and contextualize services and support to families; 3. Generate evidence and advocacy strategies to ensure and prioritize investment in early childhood, as well as the strengthening of comprehensive services and social protection mechanisms to meet the needs of the most vulnerable families, including migrant populations; 4. Planning the transition to full reopening (post-Covid19) of ECD, including ECE services.

From the priorities and key activities mentioned above, the assistance to Country Offices on planning the transition to full reopening ECE services is an urgent action to address the ripple effects of Covid-19, such as the socio-economic impacts, as well as variety of other growing risks, including climate change and environmental degradation, that are hampering our ability to respond to both the current and future crises.

Green and Safe ECE centers – Resilient Learning, goes far beyond infrastructure and includes access to renewable and sustainable forms of energy, digital connectivity and curriculum that is more attuned to the evolving needs of the growing green economy. Education provides children with the skills, resources and abilities to harness their strengths, creativity and desire to create a better, more sustainable world around them and for their communities.

Therefore, UNICEF LACRO plans to hire an experienced consultant to develop a technical guide and operational tools to Country Offices and Pre-primary Workforce on Early Childhood Education and Sustainability. The opportunity we have is to ‘reimagine’ a world that makes children safer today, as well as tomorrow. The world has an unprecedented opportunity to put in place the solutions that respond effectively to COVID-19 now, but that also strengthen the systems to better respond to future crises – whether they be pandemics or disasters. It is an opportunity that is more cost-effective and a better investment – one has higher returns and benefits in the long run, whilst also guarding against deeper threats that must not be ignored. These are the opportunities that truly pay off in terms of recovery, job opportunities, and better conditions in schools and health care facilities.

The technical guidance and operational tools will be based in the following documents: 1. UNICEF (2020) Reimagining our Future: Building Back Better from COVID-19. Solutions to reduce the impact of COVID-19 can at the same time create a foundation for a greener, more sustainable future for children. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/documents/reimagining-our-future-building-backbetter-covid-19 2. UNICEF (2020) Guidance on the Importance of Quality in Early Childhood Learning and Education in Latin America and the Caribbean. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/lac/media/11066/file/Importance-Quality-ECE-LAC.pdf

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of the Job Under the direct supervision of the Regional ECD Manager, the individual consultant will develop and write a technical guide and operational tools on Early Childhood Education and Sustainability. The purpose of these documents is to inform UNICEF LACRO’s strategy on ECE and Early Learning, as well as to provide technical support to Country Offices and Pre-primary Workforce across the region.

Specific Tasks In particular, the technical guide will provide conceptual elements and a framework that clearly links ECE with sustainability, including why it is important to work with young children to raise awareness of climate change, care for the environment, and skills needed for a sustainable world.

The operational tools, will consider the roles that the following main aspects of ECE/Early Learning play in sustainability, offer concrete recommendations and clear indications of potential interventions for each factor, as well as how these categories contribute to quality ECD/Early Learning Programmes: i. Curriculum ii. Teachers/ECD facilitators (qualifications, competencies, training) iii. Learning environment (structural and process features) iv. Families and communities v. Other significant aspects/factors.

Expected Results •Develop a technical guide on Early Childhood Education and Sustainability •Develop operational tools on ECE and sustainability to be used by Country Offices and Pre-primary Workforce across the LAC region for each of the following categories: i. Curriculum ii. Teachers/ECD facilitators (qualifications, competencies, training) iii. Learning environment (structural and process features) iv. Families and communities v. Other significant aspects/factors • Submission of a Power Point Presentation based on the technical guide and operational tools.

Deliverables [estimated days and date]

Technical guide, 10 days, 20 November 2020 Operational tools, 15 days, 15 December 2020 Power Point Presentation, 2 days, 15 January 2020

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…

Education Advanced University degree in early childhood development, education, social sciences, international development or a related field. Work Experience • Eight years of professional work experience at the national and international levels in policy planning in a related field; • Demonstrated experience in the preparation and publication of books, journals, technical reports, papers and materials on topics related to early childhood development, international early learning standards, large-scale assessments and educational systems. Languages Fluency in Spanish and English is required. Knowledge of French or Portuguese will be considered an asset. Technical knowledge • Expert knowledge on early learning and pre-primary education; • Knowledge and experience in strategies to implement ECD Programs; • Experience in the consideration of sustainability in education plans, strategies, curriculum, etc. will be an asset. Other skills and attributes • Flexibility and adaptability to shifting conditions and work demands; • Capacity to communicate effectively and work collaboratively with RO and CO colleagues and external partners; • High level of Integrity and commitment to UNICEF's mission and professional values; • Analytical and conceptual ability, negotiating, communication and advocacy skills; • Strong organizational, planning, and analytical skills; • Good judgment, initiative, high sense of responsibility, tact and discretion; • Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and ability to establish harmonious working relations in a multicultural environment.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

Core values of care, respect, integrity, trust, and accountability. UNICEF competencies: building and maintains partnerships, demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness, drive to achieve results for impact, innovates and embraces change, manages ambiguity and complexity, thinks and acts strategically, works collaboratively with others and nurtures, and, leads and manages people.

Supervision: The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the ECD Regional Manager, and in close collaboration with the Education Officer.

Workplace: This consultancy will be home-based. There is no travel involved.

Start date: The estimated start date of this consultancy is 9 November 2020.

Duration: The estimated duration of this consultancy is 2.5 months.

How to apply: Application should be submitted online and should include: CV, cover letter and financial proposal. Qualified candidates are requested to submit daily and monthly fees in their financial proposal.

Remarks: 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.

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.

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.

Added 3 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: unicef.org