Consultant to support the local implementation of UNICEF Global Early Childhood Intervention Model, Sofia, Bulgaria, 22 months

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, commitment.

In 2023, UNICEF Bulgaria has started the implementation of the second phase of the Global Model for Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) System approach. The focus of this phase is on evaluation of the Model. The evaluation will formally start in July 2024 and systematic data will be collected throughout a period of twelve months during the implementation of all elements of the Model: screening for early identification of development delays, provision of family centered and transdisciplinary ECI services to families and their children with a focus on children aged 0-2 years.

How can you make a difference? 

The overall goal of this consultancy is to support the implementation of the second phase of UNICEF programme on Piloting a Global Model for a System approach to ECI in Bulgaria. The assignment will encompass technical support to the UNICEF Bulgaria Country Office (CO) according to specific technical needs in introducing and strengthening the system approach to ECI with a focus on development of regulatory framework, quality standards, and funding mechanisms for a sustainable and at scale provision of Early Childhood Development (ECD) and ECI services, knowledge management and capacity building, systematic data gathering and evidence generation, technical support for creating knowledge and influencing negative attitudes and social norms towards children with developmental disabilities and their families, and supporting CO’s advocacy efforts around early childhood intervention services and their organization.

For a detailed assignment overview, please refer to the attached document.

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

• Master’s degree or higher in one or more of the following areas: pre-school pedagogy (early education), pedagogy, special pedagogy, social science, child psychology or another relevant field.
• Excellent understanding of the contemporary conceptual framework on ECD and early childhood intervention for children with developmental difficulties and disabilities.
• Very good understanding of the national policy framework and institutional arrangements relating to early childhood intervention.
• Experience in social and behavioural change interventions.
• Experience in project management.
• Familiarity with UNICEF policies and strategic documents related to ECD and ECI is considered an advantage.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to manage partnerships across diversity of stakeholders.
• Respect for cultural diversity and human rights.

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. 

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. 

Remarks:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

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. 

 Assignment Overview ECI.docx