ABOUT THE COMPANY:

UNICEF was created with a distinct purpose in mind: to work with others to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child’s path. We advocate for measures to give children the best start in life, because proper care at the youngest age forms the strongest foundation for a person’s future

JOB SUMMARY

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.

Vacancy Announcement: Consultant 

Consultancy Title: Consultant for ECD Programme Guidance Revision

Section/Division/Duty Station: Early Childhood Development Section, Programme Division, NYHQ

Duration: 1 September 2024 to 15 November 2024

Home/ Office Based: NYHQ / Remote 

About UNICEF 

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world’s leading children’s rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection and development. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

Provide technical writing support for ECD Programme Guidance.

Scope of Work:

The objective of this consultancy is to support the ECD Team in revising its Programme Guidance in alignment with the ECD 2030 Vision Document. More specifically, this will include:

1.   Attending coordination and consultation meetings/calls with the ECD teams as required for required updates, instructions, and coordination.

2.   Revising, editing, and proofreading the document by incorporating inputs and feedback from the Nutrition and ECD Management and external editors, proofreaders, designers, etc.

3.   Finalizing Guidance with final proofreading for accuracy and quality checks, including designs and layouts.

4.   Briefing regional and country offices on the revised Guidance.

DELIVERABLES

1.      Final draft of ECD Programme Guidance

2.      Webinar/presentation on revised Guidance to regional and country offices

The consultant will be supervised by the ECD Specialist: Multi-sectoral Results Measurement and Management for guidance and direction while engaging with the entire ECD team including the Senior Advisor, Associate Director, Sections of the Programme Group (Nutrition, Health, Education, Child Protection, WASH, Social Policy), Regional Offices, Global Technical teams, etc.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

1. Incorporate the Nutrition and Child Development Management and external proofreaders/copy editors’ inputs/feedback into the draft, in close consultation with the ECD team.

• Revised draft of ECD Programme Guidance

September 30, 2024

2. Finalize Guidance by assuring alignment with ECD 2030 Vision and final proofreading for accuracy and quality checks, including designs and layouts, in consultation with the ECD team.

• Final draft of ECD Programme Guidance

October 15, 2024

3. Brief UNICEF Regional and Country Offices on revised Programme Guidance

• Webinar/ presentation on revised ECD Programme Guidance

November 15, 2024

Qualifications

Education:

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree) in Master’s degree in English, Public Administration, Education, Health, Economics, Psychology, Sociology, or other social science field. 

Work experience:

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

• Advanced knowledge of the field of ECD, early learning/education, or international education;
• At least 8 years of professional experience in the international development sector, with extensive experience in writing;
• Excellent analytical and report writing skills;
• Strong knowledge of UNICEF mission/goals, programmes, and policies;
• Ability to work on a tight deadline; and
• Previous Guidance writing experience, particularly with the United Nations, is strongly preferred.

Requirements: 

Completed profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system and

– Upload copy of academic credentials

– Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :

• • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability

– Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.

– At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.

– Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

How to Apply
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Good luck!