Header

ECD Specialist (Policy Evidence and Scale Up)

Description
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
United Nations Children's Fund
Closing date: 25 Mar 2011
Location: United States of America (the) - New York

Purpose of the Position
You wil plan develop and manage global implementation of Early Childhood Development Programmes, including support to (a) scaling up national programmes towards achieving MTSP targets, contribute to all relevant millennium development goals and effectively supporting UNICEF's contribution to poverty reduction; (b) leveraging resources in support of developing ECD policy and practice, partnerships and mobilisation, as well as advocacy; (c) coordinating with outcome areas as indicated in the OMP and MTSP - child survival and development, basic education and girls' empowerment, child protection, HIV/AIDS and social policy. Linkages will be forged to enhance synergy and holistic planning and policy development for early childhood development.

Key Expected Results
You will plan, monitor and leverage support using evidence-based programming tools, as well as tools that measure interventions. Contributes to placing early child development on the agenda of major forums, and provides outcome specific, high quality and timely reporting on progress towards the MDGs and WFFC.

You will manage knowledge acquisition and analysis of programmes in Early Childhood Development in related MTSP functional areas through documentation, annual reporting, assessment of best practices and accountabilities. Coordinates effective dissemination of best practices and linkages with professional organizations. Supports global knowledge-building efforts with strong links to Policy/Practice, Partnerships and the Resource Mobilization Group.

You will provide input to the evaluation of new country programmes, including an assessment of current CCA/UNDAF indicators for ECD. Contributes to the formulation and monitoring of MTSP implementation.

You will monitor and analyse global trends and the work of key partners and leads periodic updates of guidance materials for field offices. You will write position papers for use in the development of the UNICEF global programme policy. You will participate in various international/national meetings and workshops.

Qualifications of Successful Candidate
Advanced university degree in any of the following: social sciences, public health, education, or other fields related to ECD

Eight years of progressively responsible professional work experience at the national and international levels in social development, management, monitoring and evaluation is required.

Fluency in English and in another UN language.

Competencies of Successful Candidate
Communicates effectively to varied audiences, including during formal public speaking.

Sets high standards for quality of work and consistently achieves project goals.
Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment.

Has good leadership and supervisory skills; co-ordinates group activities, ensuring that roles within the team are clear.

Analyzes and integrates potentially conflicting numerical, verbal and other data from a number of sources.

Negotiates effectively by exploring a range of possibilities.

Translates strategic direction into plans and objectives.

Quickly builds rapport with individuals and groups; maintains an effective network of individuals across organizational departments.

Contributes and tries out innovative approaches and insights.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.
How to apply
If you want a challenging career while improving the lives of children around the world UNICEF, the leading children's rights organization, would like to hear from you.

Visit us at www.unicef.org/about/employ to register in our new e-Recruitment system and apply to this and other vacancies, quoting E-VN-2011-000308. Applications must be received by 25 March 2011.

Please note that only candidates who are under serious consideration will be contacted.

In the selection of its staff, UNICEF is committed to gender balance and diversity without distinction as to race, sex or religion, and without discrimination of persons with disabilities: well qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
To apply
Applications and updated CV should be submitted to www.unicef.org/about/employ