Early Childhood Education Specialist, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Fixed Term-P4)

UNICEF Ethiopia Country Office is looking for seasoned professional in providing technical expertise and guidance in early childhood development and more specifically, in early learning and school readiness.

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, a great start- because Early Moments Matter!

UNICEF has been working in Ethiopia for the last 65 years supporting the national and regional efforts towards the progressive realization of the rights of children and women.

We do this by supporting the achievements of the Growth and Transformation Plan II as well as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through our programmes in Health, Nutrition, WASH, Child Protection, Education and Social Policy and Evidence on Social Inclusion.

Together with the Ethiopian Ministry of Education, we work to address the causes of lack of access, participation and completion of basic and lower secondary education including challenges of enrollment, gender and geographical disparities, quality, completion and dropout rates, school environment and capacity to implement sector plans

UNICEF recognizes that early childhood development (ECD) is one of the most important predictors of future social capital and national productivity. Integrated investment in the early years- through early child hood education, parenting skills, psychosocial stimulation and social protection, health, nutrition and WASH services can help fortify a child’s future

How can you make a difference?

Under the overall guidance and direction of the Chief, Education Section, the Specialist supports in managing the early childhood education and cross- section integrated early child hood strategy/operationalization. The job will contribute to knowledge development/innovation and developing and preparing early child hood education and integrated early childhood development cross-sectoral models for scalability and policy expertise. The  Specialist provides authoritative technical guidance/operational support throughout all stages of programming to facilitate the management and delivery of results on strengthening national systems to improve outcomes and to promote universal access to and equitable and inclusive early childhood education, especially for children who are marginalized, disadvantaged and excluded in society. The specialist will also work on providing technical / operational expertise on integrated early childhood development to ensure equitable access to investments in the early years.  .

The Specialist contributes to achievement of concrete and sustainable programs/projects results according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM) and UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Management and advisory support to the Chief 

• Provide advice to the Chief in establishing the annual work plan including developing strategies and determining priorities/targets and performance measurements. Coordinate work progress monitoring and ensure results are achieved according to schedule and performance standards and report to Chief critical issues for timely action.
• Provide technical assistance/advice to colleagues in the Section on all aspects of programming and implementation to enable colleagues to achieve program/performance objectives
• Perform the full duties of the Chief in his/her absence.

2. Program development and planning

• Plan and/or provide technical assistance and operational support to the preparation/design and conduct/update of situation analysis to ensure that current comprehensive and evidence based data on early childhood education issues are available to guide UNICEF’s strategic policy advocacy, intervention and development efforts on integrated early child hood and to set program priorities, strategies, design and implementation plans.
• Keep abreast of national/regional/international development priorities on integrated early childhood development including education to enhance program management and delivery.
• Participate in strategic program discussion on the planning of education programs/projects. Formulate, design and prepare programs/projects proposal for the sector, ensuring alignment with the overall UNICEF’s Strategic Plans and Country Program and coherence/integration with UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDF), regional strategies and national priorities, plans and competencies.
• Establish specific goals, objectives and strategies and implementation plans for the sector/s using on results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM). Prepare required documentations for program review and approval.
• Work closely and collaboratively with internal and external colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies and to determine national priorities/competencies to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results.
• Provide authoritative technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes to ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of programs/projects with other UNICEF sectors and achievement of results as planned and allocated.

3. Program management, monitoring and quality control of results

• Plan and/or collaborate with monitoring and evaluation initiatives to establish benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNICEF/UN system indicators, to assess/strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results in education programs.

• Participate in major monitoring and evaluation exercises, program reviews and annual reviews with government and other counterparts to assess progress and to engage stakeholders to take required action/interventions to achieve results.
• Prepare/assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths/weaknesses in program and management, identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
• Monitor programs/projects to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution.
• Plan, monitor and control the use of program resources (financial, human, administrative and other assets) certifying/verifying compliance with organizational rules, regulations and procedures, donor commitments and standards of accountability and integrity. Ensure timely reporting and liquidation of resources.
• Submit/prepare program/project reports to donors and other partners to keep them informed on program progress and critical issues.

4. Advisory services and technical support

•  Provide technical advice to key government officials, NGO, UN system and other country office partners on policies, strategies, best practices and approaches on education and other related issues to support program development planning, implementation and delivery of results.
• Coordinate/ensure the availability of technical experts (with Regional Office/HQ) to ensure timely support throughout all stages of programming/project processes.
• Participate in strategic discussions to influence policy and agenda setting for combating poverty and all forms of discrimination against women/children by advising on and advocating strategies and approaches to promote universal access to and equitable and inclusive education and integrated early childhood development for children in the country.
• Prepare policy papers, briefs and other strategic program materials for management use, information and consideration.
• Participate in country discussions on early childhood development interventions in  emergency preparedness, programming and contingency planning to ensure proactive and appropriate response are in place to meet onset of emergencies nationally or other designated locations.

5. Advocacy, networking and partnership building

• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships through networking and advocacy with local/national governments, UN system agency partners, donors, internationally recognized institutions, NGOs, funding organization, research institutes and private sector to reinforce cooperation and/or pursue opportunities to promote goals and achieve sustainable and broad results on integrated early child hood development including early years education.
• Prepare communication strategies and implementation plans and activities for maximum communication impact and outreach to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances for sustainable results and support fund raising for UNICEF and Country Office integrated early childhood development programmes and emergency interventions.
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in inter-agency (UNCT) discussions and planning on education and related issues to ensure organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNDAF process in development planning and agenda setting. Collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues UNDAF planning and preparation of programs/projects including emergency preparedness

6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Promote critical thinking and innovative approaches and good practices for sustainable integrated early childhood development, including early childhood education  programs/projects initiatives through advocacy and technical advisory services.
• Keep abreast, research, benchmark, introduce and implement best and cutting edge practices on integrated early childhood development management and information systems. Institutionalize and disseminate best practices and knowledge learned.
• Contribute to the development of policies and procedures and introduce innovation and best practices to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programs and projects.
• Organize/plan/implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders to promote sustainable results on integrated early child hood development  and related programs/projects

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have

• An Advanced University Degree in education, economics, psychology, sociology or other social science field is required or equivalent work experience
  *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible relevant work experience in programme planning, management, and/or research in education/ integrated early child hood development at the international level
• Experience working in the UN system agency or UN organisation is an asset. Familiarity with emergency response is an asset
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset

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.

The technical competencies required for this post are Leading and supervising ,Formulating strategies/concepts,Analyzing,Relating and networking,Deciding and initiating action and Applying Technical Expertise

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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 to become a part of the organization.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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