Consultancy: Writer - Early Learning Publication & MICS 6 Advocacy Brief - Education Section, PD - NYHQ, Requisition# 506675

Under the supervision of the Early Learning Education Specialist and the Education Advocacy Specialist, the Consultant will provide technical assistance to the production of the Early Learning Publication and of the technical advocacy brief on the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 6 and the modules on Foundational Learning and Parental Involvement.

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.

Background & Rationale

The second target of SDG 4 is that, by 2030, ‘all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education’. SDG 4’s call for at least one year of pre-primary education prior to school entry is the first international commitment of its kind, and may represent a pivotal moment to spur national and global efforts to increase funding and political will. Early learning leads to better learning outcomes in the long run, levelling the playing field for all children, and improving education system efficiency. Yet in many countries, the subsector is still in its earliest stages of development and requires intensive support.

Early learning has become perhaps the most challenging subsector within education, with the biggest gap between the evidence base and practice. While it is increasingly clear that expansion of early learning services for the most vulnerable children is the single best investment available in the sector, the long awaited expansion has not yet occurred.

UNICEF has initiated a thorough publication focused on early learning.  The aim of the publication is to summarize the current state of pre-primary education globally, highlight ongoing challenges and opportunities in addressing SDG4.2 and offer data-driven/evidence based advocacy and policy recommendations that can strengthen UNICEF’s and other partners’ work in this area.

As a result, UNICEF looking for an experienced writer with excellent analytical and writing skills, and a good understanding of UNICEF’s work and of issues around early learning and pre-primary education.

The consultancy will mainly focus on:

1. Shaping and finalizing the narrative of the Early Learning Publication, including finalizing case studies and early learning data visualization.
2. Developing the policy recommendations and key messages from the Early Learning publication;
3. Drafting the Early Learning publication foreword;
4. Drafting of an advocacy brief on the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 6 and the modules on Foundational Learning and Parental Involvement. 

Purpose

Under the supervision of the Early Learning Education Specialist and the Education Advocacy Specialist, the Consultant will provide technical assistance to the production of the Early Learning Publication and of the technical advocacy brief on the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 6 and the modules on Foundational Learning and Parental Involvement.

The consultant will lead processes and support products related to:

1. Building on the draft outline and initial narrative of the Early Learning publication to finalize the narrative of the Early Learning publication, supported by finalized case studies and early learning data visualization.
2. Drafting the policy recommendations and key messages from the Early Learning publication, with support from the Early Learning Education Specialist and the Education Advocacy Specialist;
3. Supporting and reviewing the translation of the data into graphic visuals for the Early Learning report;
4. Drafting of an advocacy brief on the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 6 and on the modules on Foundational Learning and Parental Involvement. 

Expected results: (measurable results)

Tasks of the consultancy will deliver a finalized Early Learning Publication and a finalized MICS 6 Advocacy Brief on Foundational Learning and Parental Involvement. 

Duty Station: NYHQ 

Timeframe

Start date:       11 Sept 2017              

End date:        18 October 2017 

Key competences, technical background, and experience required Deadline

Key competences, technical background, and experience required:

• Advanced degree in international development, journalism, communication or related fields
• A minimum of 10 years of demonstrated experience in communication and editing
• Ability to synthesize complex documents into key messages
• Experience in drafting advocacy documents from research studies
• Experience with editing and proofreading UN documents and familiarity with UNICEF’s style and UN editorial manual desirable
• Excellent interpersonal skills and flexible attitude
• Strong interpersonal communication skills, good understanding of UNICEF and/or UN system, and of world affairs, current events and international development issues
• High level English essential
• French or Arabic desirable.

To view our competency framework, please click here. 

Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable).  Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.

Remarks

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.   

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.