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Early Childhood Development (ECD) Officer, NO-B (Honduras)

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.
For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.
Organizational Context and Purpose for the job
The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.
Purpose for the job: The ECD Officer reports to the Deputy Representative for supervision. The Officer provides professional technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the programming process for ECD programs within the Honduras Country Programme from development planning to delivery of results, preparing, executing, managing and implementing a variety of technical and administrative program tasks to facilitate program development, implementation, and program progress monitoring, evaluating and reporting.
Summary of key functions/accountabilities:
  • Support to ECD program development and planning
  • Program management, monitoring and delivery of results
  • Technical and operational support to program implementation
  • Networking and partnership building
  • Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
Support to ECD program development and planning
  • Conduct/update situation analysis and assessments on early childhood development related issues to establish evidence-based data to support holistic policy and program development and coordinated planning, implementation and monitoring of results of ECD related programs.
  • Contribute to the development/establishment of ECD program goals, objectives and strategies and results-based planning through research, collection, analysis and reporting of ECD related information/data for development planning and priority and goal setting.
  • Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes by executing/administering a variety of technical, program, operational and administrative transactions, preparing related materials/documentations and complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support program planning, results based planning (RBM) and monitoring and evaluating results.
  • Prepare required program documentations/materials/data to facilitate the program review and approval process.
Program management, monitoring and delivery of results.
  • Work closely and collaboratively with internal and external colleagues and partners to discuss ECD operational and implementation issues, provide solutions, recommendations and/or alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level intervention and/or decision. Keep record of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned.
  • Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, program reviews and annual reviews with government and other counterparts to assess ECD programs/projects and to report on required action/interventions at the higher level of program management.
  • Monitor and report on the use of ECD program 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 by management/stakeholders. Follow up on unresolved issues to ensure resolution.
  • Prepare regular/mandated ECD program/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of program progress.
Technical and operational support to program implementation
  • Conduct regular program field visits and surveys and/or exchange information with partners/stakeholders to assess progress and provide technical support, take appropriate action to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for resolution. Report on critical issues, bottlenecks and potential problems for timely action to achieve results.
  • Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on the application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices on ECD related issues to support program implementation, operations and delivery of results.
Networking and partnership building
  • Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with government counterparts and national stakeholders across relevant sectors through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate program implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve and sustain results on ECD programs.
  • Draft communication and information materials for CO program advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support resource mobilization for ECD programs.
  • Participate in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) meetings/events on programming to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on UNDAF operational planning and preparation of ECD programs/projects and to integrate and harmonize UNICEF’s position and strategies with the UNDAF development and planning process.
  • Research information on potential donors and prepare resource mobilization materials and briefs for fund raising and partnership development purposes.
Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
  • Identify, capture, synthesize and share lessons learned for knowledge development and to build the capacity of stakeholders.
  • Apply innovative approaches and promote good practice to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable program results.
  • Research and report on best and cutting edge practices for development planning of knowledge products and systems.
  • Participate as resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of stakeholders and partners.
Impact of Results
The efficiency and efficacy of support provided by the Officer to ECD program preparation and planning and implementation of programs, contribute to achievement of sustainable results on ECD programs. Success in ECD programs in turn contribute to maintaining/enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to provide program services for mothers and children that promotes greater social equality in the country.
Competencies and level of proficiency required (based on UNICEF Professional Competency Profiles)
Core Values
  • Commitment
  • Diversity and inclusion
  • Integrity
Core competencies
  • Communication (II)
  • Working with people (II)
  • Drive for results (II)
Functional Competencies:
  • Formulating strategies and concepts (I)
  • Analyzing (II)
  • Applying technical expertise (II)
  • Learning and researching (II)
  • Planning and organizing (II)
Recruitment Qualifications
Education:
A University Degree in education, public administration/health, nutrition, economics, psychology, sociology, human development, child development, family studies or other social science field is required.
Experience:
2 – 5 years of professional experience in social development planning and management in early childhood development related areas at the international and/or in a developing country is required. Relevant experience in ECD related areas, program/project development and management in a UN system agency or organization is an asset.
Language Requirements:
Fluency in English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.
Candidates must be citizen of Honduras to be considered eligible for this post. Please note that the National Officers (NOs) are locally recruited staff and therefore, candidates are personally responsible for any travel and accommodation arrangements.*
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.