National Consultancy to support system strengthening of Integrated Early Childhood Development Interventions in Uganda, Kampala, 10 months

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 Background and Purpose

 In 2023, UNICEF supported the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MoGLSD) to conduct a review of the National Integrated Early Childhood Development (NIECD) Action Plan 2016-21. Findings from the review indicate that while the Government of Uganda is committed to enhance partnership and collaboration for effective IECD services in Uganda, and despite the efforts and achievements attained by MoGLSD and ECD line sectors; functional coordination remains inadequate as demonstrated by the limited capacities in terms of human resources, finances, inadequate mobilization, and inadequate elevation of engagement on ECD. As a multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder programme, it is critical that coordination is efficient and effective as it helps to identify inefficiencies, build on synergies, avoid duplication and ultimately support better child outcomes. However, it was noted that coordination and reporting, especially on ECD results, are infrequent, and not aligned to the country’s third National Development Plan (NDP III) reporting mechanism. It was also noted that there is no joint planning, monitoring, reporting, data management and utilization to better implement and inform ECD programming.

The review showed evidence of inactive and non-fully constituted membership on coordination committees, which was reiterated by stakeholders at the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Symposium in 2023. Findings also show that there are limited resources to facilitate national and district ECD coordination meetings, slow policy framework approval, lack of standardized policy guidance on childcare, and lack of systems and tools for ECD measurement, which hinders monitoring and reporting of results. Additionally, it was also highlighted that childcare for children under 3 years was an area of high potential to be looked into with major gaps in terms of information and guidance.

The review findings make a case for a re-vitalized and sustained system capacity strengthening, mentoring and support for strengthening multi sectoral coordination of ECD and supporting the delivery and implementation of the upcoming costed NIECD Strategy 2024-2030 within the NDP planning framework and the aspirations of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This consultancy will serve to strengthen the ECD system further in consolidating and making sustainable the gains from past support to ECD multi sectoral coordination. In 2023, UNICEF provided technical support to the MoGLSD through individual consultancy that worked to revitalize and institutionalize the National Technical Committee, bringing together technical officers from line Ministries including the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and National Planning Authority (NPA) which previously did not participate in the meetings. The consultancy also led the development of an ECD coordination sustainability plan and a multi-sectoral accountability framework which were discussed and approved by the National Technical Committee (NTC). The focus for 2024 will be to further strengthen the NTC to elevate issues and actions to line Ministry senior management meetings and ultimately make proposals to cabinet. It will also enable the scaling up of ECD coordination with sensitivity to the NDP and SDG frameworks leading to institutionalized, visible and responsive ECD multi-sectoral coordination that fosters mutual accountability across ECD line ministries and agencies.

It is against this background that UNICEF seeks professional services to provide technical assistance to the BEAD ECD team to support Government in addressing issues raised in the NIECD Policy Action Plan review and the development of the NIECD Strategy 2024-2030. The Consultant will also work in close collaboration with Zonal Offices as well as the UNICEF ECD Working Group to ensure integration of services across the sectors involved. The Consultant is also expected to work in close collaboration with MOGLSD, Ministry of Local Government (MOLG), Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), NPA, and OPM to ensure alignment to NDP, SDGs and integration of ECD services across the sectors involved.

Justification

The MoGLSD has made strides in system improvements through coordination at the technical level in line with the NIECD policy. With previous support from UNICEF, the ECD secretariat and NTC at the MoGLSD is now functional with linkages to key planning and coordinating entities of Government i.e. NPA and OPM. ECD coordination meetings are more regular with meaningful agenda, and an Accountability framework and sustainability plan for ECD coordination have been developed by MoGLSD. Additionally, the MoLG has put in place a Local Government ECD Review tool, a harmonized reporting template for ECD, and ECD is now included in the LG Inspection Manual.

However, despite these key developments, the review of implementation of the NIECD Action Plan (2016) and the ECD Situational analysis (2023) both highlighted the need for strengthened system support. This consultancy is proposed to support the development of the NIECD Multi-Sectoral Strategic costed action plan as well as elevate the work of the NTC to higher decision-making bodies in the MoGLSD. At the end of the consultancy, it is envisioned that ECD will be included as a contributor to human capital development and Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 agenda.

The planned consultancy is timely will give the necessary technical support as Government of Uganda embarks on preparations for the fourth National Development Plan 2025-2030 (NDP4) under which ECD will be a key thematic area, and the NIECD Strategy 0f 2024-20230.

 Specifically, the consultancy will:

1. Support ministry of Gender and Ministry of Local Government to develop and validate the new NIECD Costed Strategy 2024-30
2. Provide technical assistance to MoGLSD through mentoring and support on multi-sectoral coordination of ECD that is characterized by accountability and transparency according to agreed milestones and results in the NIECD Strategy 2024-30.
3. Support MoGLSD profile and elevate ECD as a contributor to HCD in alignment to the NDP3 and SDGs and make input into NDP4
4. Support MoGLSD develop guidance for childcare
5. Support the process of setting up a National ECD Network for Civil Society

Proposed major Tasks

1. Support development of the NIECD Costed Strategy 2024-30 with a focus on addressing the review findings and MTR of NDP III.
2. Provide technical assistance to the MoGLSD NTC to identify and elevate actions to the senior management and draft a cabinet memo
3. Institutionalize the ECD sustainability plan and the ECD accountability framework within the NIECD multi-sectoral costed strategy
4. Support MoGLSD to develop standard guidelines for childcare.
5. Support MoGLSD and OPM in profiling ECD as a contributor to HCD, NDP3 and SDGs.
6.  End of assignment on findings, challenges and recommendations

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

• Education background: Advanced university degree in education, social sciences, international relations, or any other related field
• Work-experience: A minimum of 10 years professional work experience in national level programme management and coordination of large-scale programmes/projects.
• Experience in development and/or implementation of policies in the social sector as well as in strengthening systems for effective service delivery is an asset.
• Relevant experience in a cross-sectoral ECD coordination role in a UN system agency or similar organization is considered as an asset.
• Experience in managing and coordinating inter-ministerial and/or inter-agency committees at the national level.
• Competencies skills: Builds and maintains partnerships (Level 1), Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (Level 1), Drive to achieve results for impact (Level 1), Innovates and embraces change (Level 1), Manages ambiguity and complexity (Level 1), Thinks, and acts strategically (Level 1), Works collaboratively with others (Level 1).
• Language skills. Excellent English skills required (oral and written) For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values 

UNICEF competencies required for this post are… 

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others (8) Nurtures, leads and manages people.  

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework 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. 

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. 

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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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. 

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable are encouraged to apply. 

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 are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. 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. 

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