Batch Recruitment - Early Childhood Development (ECD) Specialist, P-4, Programme Division, New York Headquarters (63814/63815)

The field of Early Childhood Development (ECD) has seen a growth in evidence and policy attention, both within UNICEF and externally in the past years.  Strong advances in evidence, specifically neuroscience, have demonstrated the influence of multiple sectors on early brain development and function and evidence in economics, has demonstrated that ECD is one of the most cost-effective interventions for poverty alleviation and a high return on investment. Nearly 250 million children globally under five years of age in low and middle income countries will face inequalities and not reach their developmental potential because they grow up facing a wide range of risk factors (stress that could be toxic), most notably poverty; poor health, including HIV/AIDS and malnutrition, high levels of family and environmental stress and exposure to violence, neglect, exploitation and inadequate levels of care and learning opportunities. In order to address these conditions of adversity and give every child the best start to life, UNICEF aims to strengthen programmes and policies to deliver results at scale. In order to meet the higher expectations of UNICEF’s leadership on ECD programming at the global level, the ECD Section in UNICEF Headquarters is extending its existing Human Resources capacities through the recruitment of two Early Childhood Development Specialists, level P-4, to support our section, as follows: 1. Early Childhood Development Specialist, P-4, Post 63814 2. Early Childhood Development Specialist, P-4, Post 63815

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children's rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world.

For every child, a childhood

The field of Early Childhood Development (ECD) has seen a growth in evidence and policy attention, both within UNICEF and externally in the past years.  Strong advances in evidence, specifically neuroscience, have demonstrated the influence of multiple sectors on early brain development and function and evidence in economics, has demonstrated that ECD is one of the most cost-effective interventions for poverty alleviation and a high return on investment. Nearly 250 million children globally under five years of age in low and middle income countries will face inequalities and not reach their developmental potential because they grow up facing a wide range of risk factors (stress that could be toxic), most notably poverty; poor health, including HIV/AIDS and malnutrition, high levels of family and environmental stress and exposure to violence, neglect, exploitation and inadequate levels of care and learning opportunities.

In order to address these conditions of adversity and give every child the best start to life, UNICEF aims to strengthen programmes and policies to deliver results at scale. In order to meet the higher expectations of UNICEF’s leadership on ECD programming at the global level, the ECD Section in UNICEF Headquarters is extending its existing Human Resources capacities through the recruitment of two Early Childhood Development Specialists, level P-4, to support our section, as follows:

1. Early Childhood Development Specialist, P-4, Post 63814
2. Early Childhood Development Specialist, P-4, Post 63815

For more information, please visit https://www.unicef.org/earlychildhood/

How can you make a difference?

1.  Post 63814, Early Childhood Development Specialist, P-4

The ECD Specialist (Post 63814) will be involved in planning, developing and managing global implementation of Early Childhood Development (ECD) Programmes, including support to (a) scaling up national programmes towards achieving results contributing to all relevant development goals and effectively supporting UNICEF’s equity agenda; (b) leveraging resources in support of ECD policy and practice, partnerships, as well as advocacy; (c) coordinating with all outcome areas as indicated in the Office Management Plan (OMP) child survival and development, basic education and girls' empowerment, child protection, HIV/AIDS, inclusive programming, social cohesion and safe and clean environments and social policy. Forging linkages to enhance synergy, propel innovation, and multi-sectoral planning and policy development for early childhood development.

This will involve:

• Providing new evidence of the effectiveness of various ECD intervention models through evaluations, documentation, annual reporting, assessment of best practices and accountabilities. Coordinating effective dissemination of best practices and linkages with professional organizations. Supporting global knowledge-building efforts with strong links to Policy/Practice, Partnerships, and the Resource Mobilization Groups. Harmonize ECD research, M&E and dissemination plans across the organization, and main partners.
  
  
• Promote inter-sectorality in programming to locate entry points for ECD. Strengthen collaborations across sectors to enable strategic input of ECD. Identify opportunities where ECD can strengthen sectoral effectiveness and efficiency. Find sustainable ways to link ECD with local governance and leadership. Bring in perspectives from other sectors to improve ECD programmes and policies. Develop and manage inter-sectoral partnerships that will enable a holistic approach to ECD.
  
  
• Plan, monitor and leverage support for increased investment in ECD. Contribute to placing early child development on the agenda of major forums, and provide ECD specific, high quality, and timely inputs to the inter-agency working group on implementing SDGs and major partnerships. Participate in various international/national meetings and workshops.
  
  
• Provide technical support to field offices in ECD programme implementation. Engage with the field to support scale up of programmes lead periodic updates of guidance materials for field offices.
  
  
• Plan, monitor and report ECD unit activities. Monitor the programme - implementation, overall commitment, expenditure and liquidation of programme funds in accordance with the programme budget allotments (PBA). Takes necessary action for the optimum use of programme funds.

2.  Post 63815, Early Childhood Development Specialist, P-4

In close collaboration with relevant sectors, the ECD Specialist (Post 63815) is responsible to coordinate the design, development, planning, implementation, monitoring and of ECD programme with a specific focus on emergencies, peacebuilding and Family Strengthening. The Specialist contributes to achievement of concrete and sustainable programs/projects results on ECD related programs/projects according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM) and UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework. The specialist will contribute to more sharpened and strategic programmes that address risks  associated with emergencies related to conflict, climate change and global demographic shifts through migration and urbanization. 

This will involve:

• Technical leadership in ECD programming
• Strategic management, monitoring, and delivery of results on global ECD programs
• Advisory services, quality oversight, and support
• Advocacy, networking and partnership building
• Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in education, public administration/health, economics, psychology, sociology or other social science field is required. 
  
  
• A minimum of eight (8) years of relevant professional experience in social planning and management in early childhood development and related areas, at the national and international level, some of which preferably was served in a developing country is required.
  
  
• Relevant experience in early childhood and related areas, program/project development, and management in a UN system agency or organization is an asset.
  
  
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
  
  
• Fluency in English (verbal and written) is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

In addition, for Post 63815, Early Childhood Development Specialist, P-4:

• Experience in ECD programme design and implementation across development and humanitarian contexts is recommended.
  
  
• Familiarity with risks that result from emergencies related to conflict, climate change and global demographic shifts through migration and urbanization is highly desirable.

REMARKS: Please note applications for these positions may also be reviewed/assessed for inclusion into Early Childhood Development Talent groups to broaden the pool of candidates to meet the Organization and ECD Section’s future needs.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

Our core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

This position is classified as “rotational” which means the incumbent is expected to rotate to another duty station upon completion of their tour of duty,

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.