The war in Ukraine has triggered the fastest growing refugee crisis since World War II. UNICEF is involved in the emergency response by supporting the national government and local partners in delivering assistance and protection services, in Poland.
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, results
The war in Ukraine has triggered the fastest growing refugee crisis since World War II. The overwhelming majority of refugees are women and children, often separated from husbands and fathers who remained in Ukraine; older people; and significant numbers of unaccompanied children, including those from state care facilities.
Local and national authorities have established reception facilities at border crossing points to receive new arrivals and are providing life-saving assistance, including accommodation, food, and other basic needs, as well as onward transport for those moving to urban centers. In the reception centers, information is also provided on the asylum process and temporary protection, as well as on the risks of trafficking. Access to basic rights and services, such as health, has been facilitated. Steps have already been taken to foster protection and inclusion into national systems, such as for health and education. Referral services are being scaled up, focusing especially on case management and protection of unaccompanied children and those evacuated from boarding schools, institutions and other alternative care arrangements, survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), victims of trafficking, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
How can you make a difference?
The Specialist supports the coordinated development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of ECD programmes/projects within the Country Programme. The Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes to facilitate the administration and achievement of results on ECD related programmes/projects. The Specialist contributes to the achievement of concrete and sustainable results on ECD related programmes/projects 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. Support to ECD programme/project development and planning
▪ Support the preparation, design and updating of the situation analysis and assessments
on ECD related issues to establish evidence-based data to support holistic policy and
programme development, as well as coordinated planning, implementation, and
monitoring of early childhood development programmes/projects within the country
programme.
▪ Keep abreast of national, regional and international development priorities to identify
opportunities where ECD can enhance inter-sector partnership, integration and linkages.
▪ Participate in CO programme discussion to determine areas for ECD
integration/intervention. Contribute to the formulation, design and preparation of the
Country Programme to ensure integration of ECD in a holistic manner across programme
areas and to ensure alignment of ECD programmes with MSTP, UNICEF’s Strategic
Plans 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 ECD
programmes/projects using results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM).
Prepare required ECD documentations for programme review and approval.
▪ Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and
methodologies and to determine national priorities/competencies to ensure the
achievement of concrete and sustainable results.
▪ Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming
processes to ensure ECD integration, coherence and harmonization with other UNICEF
programme sectors and achievement of results as planned and allocated.
2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results on ECD programmes
▪ Plan and/or collaborate with internal and external partners to establish monitoring
benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNICEF/UN system indicators to
assess/strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and
sustainable results on ECD programmes.
▪ Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual
reviews with government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine
required action/interventions to achieve results.
▪ Prepare/assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths/weaknesses
in programme management, identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for
development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
▪ Actively monitor ECD programmes/projects through field visits, surveys and/or exchange
of information with partners/stakeholders to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and
potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant
officials for timely resolution.
▪ Monitor and verify the optimum/appropriate use of ECD programme resources (financial,
administrative and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules,
regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity
and ensuring timely reporting and liquidation of resources.
▪ Prepare ECD regular/mandated programme/project reports for management, donors and
partners to keep them informed of programme progress.
3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation
▪ Provide technical guidance and operational support to government counterparts, NGO
partners, UN system partners and country office partners/donors on interpretation,
application and understanding of policies, strategies, processes and best practices and
approaches on ECD to support programme management, implementation and delivery of
results.
▪ Participate in programme meetings including programme development and contingency
planning to provide technical and operational information, advice and support.
▪ Draft ECD policy papers, briefs and other strategic programme materials for management
use, information and/or consideration.
4. Networking and partnership building
• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with relevant government
counterparts, national stakeholders and global partners/allies/donors/academia through
active networking, advocacy and effective communication to build capacity, exchange
knowledge/expertise and to reinforce cooperation to achieve sustainable and broad
results on ECD programmes.
• Prepare communication and information materials for ECD programme advocacy to
promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and promote increased investments
in ECD programmes and projects.
▪ Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) discussions
and planning on ECD related issues to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues
on UNDAF planning and preparation of programmes/projects ensuring organizational
position’s, interests and priorities on ECD are fully considered and integrated in the
UNDAF process in development planning and agenda setting including emergency
preparedness.
5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
▪ Apply/introduce innovative approaches and good practices to build the capacity of
partners and stakeholders and to support the implementation and delivery of concrete
and sustainable programme results on ECD.
• Keep abreast, research, benchmark and implement best practices on early childhood
development. Assess, institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.
▪ Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure
optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable ECD programmes and projects.
• Organize and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of
clients/stakeholders to promote sustainable results on ECD related programmes/projects.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
- An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: education, public administration, public health, nutrition, economics, psychology, sociology, human development, child development, family studies or another relevant technical field.
- A minimum of five years of professional experience in social development planning and management in early childhood development related areas is required. Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset. Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
- Fluency in English is required. Knowledge Russian or a local language is an asset.
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).
To view our competency framework, please visit here.
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. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.
Remarks:
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.
Eligible UNICEF National Officer (NO) and General Service (GS) Staff Members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to the above Temporary Appointments, which are dedicated to L3 Response, may be able to retain a lien on their existing post for the duration of this TA.