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Early Childhood Development Officer - Emergencies (P-2), # 00120122, PG-Nutrition and Childhood Development - ECD, NYHQ (6months)

New York City

  • Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
  • Location: New York City
  • Grade: Junior level - P-2, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Development Cooperation and Sustainable Development Goals
    • Humanitarian Aid and Coordination
    • Education, Learning and Training
    • Nutrition
    • Monitoring and Evaluation
    • Children's rights (health and protection)
    • Emergency Aid and Response
  • Closing Date: Closed

Under the supervision of the UNICEF ECD Specialist for Emergencies, the ECD Officer will support overall programme planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and fundraising efforts for the ECD in Emergencies (ECDiE) portfolio.

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.

UNICEF Program Group is currently undergoing organizational changes; therefore, the exact location of the post has yet to be determined. Selected candidates may be required to commence duties remotely until the location is confirmed. If reassigned or relocated to New York, candidates may be expected to relocate to a new location again during the initial contract or assignment period. When working remotely, the candidate will be required to agree on working hours with the Hiring Office, which may require inclusion of all or some of the NYHQ core working hours (10AM-4PM).

 Although an increasing number of countries around the world have been prioritizing ECD in their national development agenda, much remains to be done. Only 71% of children 36–59 months of age developmentally on track, and 57% of children in UNICEF Country Offices receiving early stimulation and responsive care as of 2021, both critical for young children to realize their full potential. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated a dire situation by causing large-scale disruptions of early childhood services, forcing parents and caregivers to become frontline responders with their own well-being also at risk. The global health crisis, compounded with one of care and learning, has highlighted the need to prioritize ECD, even in emergency, to address the increased demand for parenting support to sustain their own well-being and ability to provide nurturing care for children.

For every child, a hope….

Under the supervision of the UNICEF ECD Specialist for Emergencies, the ECD Officer will support overall programme planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and fundraising efforts for the ECD in Emergencies (ECDiE) portfolio. This position also works closely with other PG sections and Divisions, including Emergencies, Communications, Private Fundraising and Partnerships, and Public Partnerships Development (PPD) to promote the coherent approach toward achieving the CCC for ECD.

How can you make a difference?

Support development and planning of the ECDiE programme

  • Provide support to situation analyses and carry out assessments on ECDiE related issues.
  • Establish the evidence base to support holistic programme development, coordinated planning, implementation, and monitoring of the ECDiE programme.
  • Contribute to developing and establishing ECDiE programme goals, objectives, strategies, and results-based planning through research, data collection, analysis, and reporting of ECDiE related information
  • Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of ECDiE programming processes by executing/administering a variety of technical, programme, operational and administrative transactions, preparing related materials/documentation and complying with organizational processes and management systems to support programme planning, results-based planning (RBM) and monitoring and evaluating results.
  • Prepare required programme documentation/materials/data to facilitate the ECDiE programme review and related approval processes.

Provide technical and operational support for ECDiE programme implementation, monitoring and delivery of results

  • Provide technical and operational support to the ECD Team and partners to realize effective and coherent ECDiE programme implementation. Keep a record of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned.
  • Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises and programme reviews to assess the ECDiE programme progress and to report on required action/interventions.
  • Monitor and report on ECDiE programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets), verify compliance with approved allocation/goals, organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity. Report on critical issues/findings to ensure timely resolution. Follow up on unresolved issues to ensure resolution.
  • Provide technical inputs and operational support to quality assure the regular/mandated ECDiE programme reports, including the Humanitarian Action Results Report (HARR) and Global Annual Results Report (GARR), to elevate the visibility of the ECDiE programme.
  • Provide technical and operational support for the governance of the Early Childhood Peace Consortium (ECPC) and the implementation of its strategic action plan. Support the UNICEF Vice Chair’s representation in the ECPC through briefing notes, talking points, agenda setting and follow up actions
  • Monitor budgets, ensure timely liquidation of resources and prepare mandated project reports for donors to keep them informed of programme progress.

Support partnership building and resource mobilization

  • Support to sustain effective close working partnerships with relevant global/regional partners/allies/donors/academia to build capacity, exchange knowledge/expertise and reinforce cooperation to achieve sustainable and broad results on ECDiE programmes.
  • Support preparing technical and communication materials for the ECDiE programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and promote increased investments in ECDiE programmes and projects.
  • Contribute to inter-agency and inter-sectoral discussions and planning on ECDiE related issues to ensure UNICEF’s interests and priorities on ECDiE are duly reflected,  particularly in emergency preparedness and response plans.
  • Provide support to implement resource mobilization activities to effectively engage the prospective donor agencies while strengthening existing partnerships to augment the financial support for the ECDiE programme.
  • Support communication with donor agencies and contribute to proposal development and other relevant processes of partnership development.  

Support knowledge management and capacity building in ECDiE

  • Provide technical and operational support to integrate ECDiE knowledge management within the wider ECD team knowledge management structure.
  • Support researching and introducing innovation and best practices to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable ECDiE programme interventions.
  • Work closely with the ECD in Emergencies Specialist and other concerned colleagues/partners to coordinate inter-agency efforts on the knowledge and evidence mapping and generation.

 To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

  • Advanced university degree (Masters or higher) in the area of education, public administration, public health, nutrition, economics, psychology, sociology, human development, child development, and family studies are required.
  • A minimum of two (2) years of solid and responsible experience in social development planning and management in early childhood development related areas is required.
  • Strong technical knowledge on ECD issues (including but not limited to cross-sectoral approach, evidence-based approach, scalability issues, sustainable financing, data systems and advocacy issues) is desirable. 
  • Experience working in a developing country is considered an asset.
  • Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered an asset.
  • Strong understanding of and experience with global partnerships, coalitions/networks, and UN agencies is an asset.
  • Fluency in English (written and verbal) is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

To view our competency framework, please visit here and Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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.

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.

“UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/

For more information on remuneration and benefits, please visit UNICEF’s Entitlements’ page.  If you would like to find estimates for entitlements, you may use the online Salary Estimate Calculator

  • Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
This vacancy is now closed.
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