Details
Mission and objectives
UNICEF works to protect the rights of children and adolescents. UNICEF's programme focuses on the needs of the most vulnerable children in the areas of education, child protection, health care, social policy, adolescents and youth, in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Context
UNICEF is seeking a motivated and committed International UN Volunteer to support its work in early childhood development in Türkiye, supporting more than 9 million young children and their families. Children need early childhood support because the experiences they have in the first years of life shape the foundations for their health, learning, behavior, and well-being throughout childhood and into adulthood. This period is a one-time window of opportunity that cannot be fully compensated for later.
UNICEF Türkiye’s Early Childhood Development (ECD) Programme supports national systems to ensure that all young children—particularly those affected by poverty, displacement, disability, or social exclusion—can survive, thrive, and realize their full developmental potential from pregnancy through the early years of life. The programme applies a multisectoral and systems-strengthening approach in line with the Nurturing Care Framework. Through multisectoral programming, systems strengthening, and partnerships, UNICEF ECD Programme support building an equitable human capital development to ensure that no child is left behind.
The ECD Programme collaborates closely with line ministries, municipalities, academia, civil society organizations, and international partners to support policy development, coordination across sectors, capacity-building of the ECD workforce, and scaling up of evidence-informed and inclusive ECD models. Since 2024, country is developing a new model for provision of Early Childhood Services, enabling timely identification of risks or disabilities and ensuring comprehensive support.
The International UN Volunteer ECD Associate role gives a unique opportunity to the programme by providing programme implementation support, including assisting with planning, implementation, monitoring, and documentation of ECD interventions; supporting partner coordination and cross-sectoral collaboration; contributing to data collection, analysis, and reporting; and helping integrate global best practices and UNICEF standards into country-level programming. Through this assignment, the ECD Associate will support advancing equitable, high-quality ECD services, generating knowledge to inform sustainable national policies and programmes and making a difference in quality of life and developmental outcomes of young children in Türkiye.
UNICEF Türkiye’s Early Childhood Development (ECD) Programme supports national systems to ensure that all young children—particularly those affected by poverty, displacement, disability, or social exclusion—can survive, thrive, and realize their full developmental potential from pregnancy through the early years of life. The programme applies a multisectoral and systems-strengthening approach in line with the Nurturing Care Framework. Through multisectoral programming, systems strengthening, and partnerships, UNICEF ECD Programme support building an equitable human capital development to ensure that no child is left behind.
The ECD Programme collaborates closely with line ministries, municipalities, academia, civil society organizations, and international partners to support policy development, coordination across sectors, capacity-building of the ECD workforce, and scaling up of evidence-informed and inclusive ECD models. Since 2024, country is developing a new model for provision of Early Childhood Services, enabling timely identification of risks or disabilities and ensuring comprehensive support.
The International UN Volunteer ECD Associate role gives a unique opportunity to the programme by providing programme implementation support, including assisting with planning, implementation, monitoring, and documentation of ECD interventions; supporting partner coordination and cross-sectoral collaboration; contributing to data collection, analysis, and reporting; and helping integrate global best practices and UNICEF standards into country-level programming. Through this assignment, the ECD Associate will support advancing equitable, high-quality ECD services, generating knowledge to inform sustainable national policies and programmes and making a difference in quality of life and developmental outcomes of young children in Türkiye.
Task description
The UN Volunteer will be part of the Early Childhood Development Section at the UNICEF Türkiye Country Office. The assignment contributes to initiatives that strengthen systems and expand access to essential services for early childhood development and parenting support.
Under the direct supervision of ECD Manager, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
• Support in implementation of cross-sectoral ECD programme, including support with digital solutions for parenting and child development support.
• Assist in coordination with government counterparts, municipalities, and partners to promote a multisectoral approach to ECD.
• Assist with organizing meetings, trainings, workshops, and field visits related to ECD activities.
• Support organization of key events, including National and International Breastfeeding Weeks, Parenting Month and the National Congress in Early Childhood in September, 2026.
• Support internal and external reporting, presentations, and communication materials for the ECD Section.
• Support monitoring, data collection, and documentation of programme results, including contributions to progress reports, briefs and development of the first data collection tool for ECD centers.
• Contribute to documentation of good practices, lessons learned, and knowledge products.
• Support inclusion focused activities targeting vulnerable groups, including refugee children and children with disabilities.
• Provide administrative and operational support as required.
During the first month of the assignment, the UN Volunteer will work closely with his/her direct supervisor to finalize an agreed-upon work plan. The work plan should outline key objectives and activities and include regular check‑ins with the supervisor to review progress and receive performance feedback.
Under the direct supervision of ECD Manager, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
• Support in implementation of cross-sectoral ECD programme, including support with digital solutions for parenting and child development support.
• Assist in coordination with government counterparts, municipalities, and partners to promote a multisectoral approach to ECD.
• Assist with organizing meetings, trainings, workshops, and field visits related to ECD activities.
• Support organization of key events, including National and International Breastfeeding Weeks, Parenting Month and the National Congress in Early Childhood in September, 2026.
• Support internal and external reporting, presentations, and communication materials for the ECD Section.
• Support monitoring, data collection, and documentation of programme results, including contributions to progress reports, briefs and development of the first data collection tool for ECD centers.
• Contribute to documentation of good practices, lessons learned, and knowledge products.
• Support inclusion focused activities targeting vulnerable groups, including refugee children and children with disabilities.
• Provide administrative and operational support as required.
During the first month of the assignment, the UN Volunteer will work closely with his/her direct supervisor to finalize an agreed-upon work plan. The work plan should outline key objectives and activities and include regular check‑ins with the supervisor to review progress and receive performance feedback.
At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.