Early Childhood Development (ECD) Policy Consultant, Apia, Samoa, 6 months

The UNICEF Pacific Field Office in Apia, Samoa, is seeking to recruit an Early Childhood Development (ECD) Policy Consultant for 6 months, to help UNICEF and the Samoan government to develop and implement a robust advocacy and communications plan, specifically targeting parents and community leaders.

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, education. 

In the Pacific we work in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu: These 14 Pacific island countries are home to 2.3 million people, including 1.2 million children and youth, living on more than 660 islands and atolls stretching across 17.2 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean, an area comparable to the combined size of the United States of America and Canada. Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are classified as Fragile States according to World Bank/OECD criteria.

All 14 Pacific Island countries and territories have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, but only a third are on track with reporting obligations. Explore the different areas of our work in the link provided here www.unicef.org/pacificislands.

Background of Assignment:

With the support of Australian High Commission in Samoa/DFAT, UNICEF is supporting Samoan government to develop a multi-sectoral framework for ECD and improve the provision of policies and services for young children and families.

While Samoan government has several programmes and services for young children, these are not coordinated well across ministries to ensure children are able to access a comprehensive package of services and a seamless continuum of care to achieve their full potential. The adversity that disadvantaged children face is complex: single sector solutions are insufficient. Coordinating across sectors has synergistic effects that results in improved development outcomes for young children and their families.

ECD is central to Samoa national development plan which sets out a long-term plan to trigger transformational change and position Samoa on a higher growth path, to ensure the needs of present and future generations are met, and that no one is left behind. The Government of Samoa is firmly committed to the advancement of human development. Therefore, its policies, resources and actions are focused on people: on ensuring that those living in Samoa have a long, healthy and fulfilling life. That means building capacities, expanding opportunities, and reducing vulnerabilities so that everyone has a decent standard of living, has a reasonable chance to pursue the life they desire, and can enjoy a peaceful and satisfying living environment.

How can you make a difference? 

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical assistance to the government of Samoa to strengthen their governance, coordination, and management of multi-sectoral ECD. Using transparent planning and participatory processes, the consultancy will undertake the following main activities:

• To design and implement a comprehensive assessment of the national enabling environment for ECD, including policies, regulations, programmes/services and stakeholders on ECD that will inform next steps on ECD in the country;
• To support the establishment and strengthening of a multi-sectoral ECD coordination mechanism in government (include development of terms of reference, interagency agreements, etc.);
• To develop relevant policy instruments on ECD, for example, National ECD Strategic Framework (as annexed to National Childcare and Child Protection Policy), that is comprehensive, multi-sectoral and properly resourced; This should be informed by extensive consultations with all relevant sectors, including but not limited to education, health, child protection, WASH, social welfare, etc.
• To develop an M&E framework on ECD that effectively monitors the situation of young children and generates data and evidence for effective decision-making.

The Consultant is expected to use participatory and consultative processes with Samoan government and other key stakeholders (CSO, NGO, development partners, community leaders, etc.), with a view to support government driven ECD improvements that are fit to context, relevant and sustainable.

Where appropriate, the consultant is also expected to foster connections between the ECD policy work and UNICEF support to a national ECD campaign, parenting and community engagement on ECD, and other ECD-related initiatives.

Please refer to the TOR below to view the activities, deliverables, timelines and payment schedule: 

TOR Link

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

• Education: Advanced degree in social policy, politics, development studies, human development, education, psychology, or a relevant field.
• Relevant experience may be considered in lieu of advanced degree
• Experience: Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in early childhood development, international development, public policy, or government, with proven experience delivering results on time and at high quality
• At least one member must have regional expertise or experience in the Pacific; Strong experience in Samoa considered an asset
• Previous experience with UNICEF or the UN an asset
• Language: Good written and oral communication skills, knowledge of local language an asset

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit here.  

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit an online application through the Talent Management System (TMS) that consists as a minimum of the following: 

• Profile/ CV 
• A financial proposal. The financial proposal should be a lump sum amount for all the deliverables, showing a break down for the following:
• Fees– based on the deliverables in the Terms of Reference
• Travel (economy air ticket where applicable to take up assignment if in country support is required, as well as any in country travel)
• Living allowance for international consultants
• Miscellaneous- to cover visa, health insurance (including medical evacuation for international consultants), communications, and other costs.

Regret emails will be sent only to shortlisted/contacted candidates. Applicants who have not been contacted within two months of the closing date, may accept that their application was unsuccessful.  

Remarks: 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.