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For every child, the right to hope.

Many countries in Europe and Central Asia (ECA) are increasingly focusing on expanding or strengthening their provisions for early childhood intervention (ECI) for children at risk of or with developmental delays and disabilities in line with contemporary, evidence-based principles and practice. Building strong and effective early childhood intervention systems, however, involves a paradigm shift in how ECI is conceptualized, organized and delivered from practice and system level perspective. Currently, in all countries in the region early support for children with developmental difficulties is shifting from solely medical approach to the one based on the science of child development, the child’s family context and holistic needs. The shift to the new contemporary perspective on ECI, requires building a cross-sectoral ecosystem that supports services, practices and policies that build on partnership with parents and are guided by the family priorities, strengths and needs. These services should deliver individualized and holistic support for enhancing child development and functioning in the child’s natural environments.

Recognizing the value of ECI for children, families and communities alike, UNICEF Regional office for Europe and Central Asia (ECARO) established a Regional ECI Network to build the region's core technical capacity for ECI policy and practice, and to support country-level efforts to develop national, evidence-based, family-centred ECI systems. The Regional ECI Network now brings together more than 150 members from 24 countries and territories — 101 representing national governments and partners, and 55 UNICEF staff — and until now was coordinated by UNICEF ECARO. A regional Technical Advisory Group (TAG) of 15 international ECI experts are convened by ECARO, to provide voluntary technical guidance to the Regional ECI Network's members and activities.

In order to ensure sustainability of the Regional ECI Network and increased ownership by the countries, within the changing international environment and the need to preserve Network’s relevance to the countries that are at the frontier of ECI reform, with the need to build on comparatively mature and better-resourced public systems, ECARO has recommended transfer of Network’s leadership to one of the countries. Serbia, as part of ECA region, has been recognized as optimal hosting country for the future functioning and development of Regional ECI Network because of several reasons: achieved results in expansion and intersectoral cooperation in provision of ECI services; strong in-house capacity on ECI in UNICEF Serbia and the establishment of the IECDI as a regional hub for exchange of knowledge and good practices in ECI among the countries.

How can you make a difference?

The key priority areas of UNICEF ECI programming and therefore the established Regional ECI Network are broadly defining the Scope of Work of the consultant and include the following objectives:

Raising awareness and building shared understanding of the importance of ECI and advocacy at regional, sub-regional and national level to enhance commitment and investment in ECI services.

Building national mechanisms and structures to facilitate collaboration across health, education and social welfare sector to ensure coordinated approach to ECI and the needs of families.

Technically supporting Governments and professionals for policies, strategic plans and/or legislation, including the development of guidelines and procedures, service, personnel and performance standards, funding mechanisms.

Strengthening capacity building of ECI practitioners across sectors, development of system for professional development pre and in-service, including engagement with Academia and other relevant actors.

Strengthening capacity building of medical professionals (paediatricians, nurses and other professionals at the primary healthcare (PHC) level) to identify developmental delays early and participate in provision of ECI services through provision of health care, monitoring, outreach, timely referral etc.

Introduction and scale up of innovations in ECI, including for electronic record, data collection, assistive technologies and remote ECI provision.
Increasing and strengthening partnerships between key stakeholders such as national and local policy actors, institutions, academia, professional associations, civil society, parental associations and parents themselves in supporting quality ECI system.

These objectives would be achieved through the following actions:

Facilitating cooperation and knowledge sharing across the countries in the region, policy/professionals/parents’ specific cross-country connections and exchange, to strengthen policy making and practice aligned with the family-centred principles.

Ensuring timely updates on regional and global advancements in ECI policy and practice, along with access to relevant evidence, research, and technical materials;

Creating a mechanism for obtaining customized technical guidance on context specific challenges/issues, enriched by the shared expertise within the network and the TAG’s international expert group.

Supporting capacity building opportunities for the members of the network.

Keeping update on the ECI system development in the member countries and initiating and technically supporting multi and/or inter-country activities that can respond to the needs of specific/group of countries, including fundraising opportunities.

Strengthening partnerships around the Regional ECI Network.
Technically supporting IECDI to co-lead the network with UNICEF Serbia and become regional and subregional ECI hub, including supporting national and local capacities to advance their policy and practice and readiness to demonstrate good practice examples to countries in the region Supporting Serbia inter-sectorial participation in the Regional ECI Network and fulfilment of national priorities through their engagement within the network.

Tasks and Deliverables:

Develop annual plan of activities of the Regional ECI Network based on the needs of member countries and recommendations for strengthening the network through participatory process with countries;
Support IECDI establish internal mechanisms that can jointly with UNICEF co-lead the Network and activities related to the Network, with defined roles and responsibilities, and jointly develop annual plan for capacity building of the IECDI to co-lead network and become regional and subregional hub (including activities that can support national and local capacities to advance their policy and practice and readiness to demonstrate good practice examples to the countries in the region);
Organize jointly with IECDI, quarterly online meetings on themes identified by Network members and share new ECI resources across the Network - preparation of the meetings, communication with the members and COs’ focal points, development of the program, presentations, if needed, communication with potential speakers (as part of the annual plan);
- Support functioning of the Regional ECI Network:
- Facilitate the engagement of Regional TAG experts in the Network's work and maintain regular communication with members on resources, developments and collaboration opportunities;
- Regularly update the ECI resources in the Regional ECI Network database and share with countries;
- Update on the database on the ECI system development in the countries to guide priorities of the Regional ECI Network
- Promote the Regional ECI Network and establish new partnerships with the Network and IECDI as co-leader of the Network
- Strengthen targeted cross-country support and exchange mechanisms between policy actors, professionals and parents as part of the Regional ECI Network;
- Recognize and initiate new advocacy opportunities, research processes, joint fundraising opportunities and other activities between and with the group of countries, including through EU financial and technical assistance instruments.
Technically support strengthening of ECI national systems by contributing to development of ECI Law and ECI Roadmap in Serbia and other countries in the region, benefitting from the Regional ECI Network and TAG engagement (as part of the annual plan);
Strengthen technical capacity of ECI professionals across countries in the region through dedicated learning resources and training support organized through the network, through webinars (as part of the annual plan);
Develop/facilitate development of new regional policy briefs on the topics relevant to the countries in the Network (as part of the annual plan);
Provide, jointly with IECDI, direct technical support to the countries with resources, guidance and connections:
- on strategic and policy documents (concept notes, strategies, action plans, legislation, roadmaps, policy recommendations, model of ECI),
- financing and costing,
- professional development and service standards etc.
- review of documents, selection of available resources, technical support for national country level discussions, including program development and if requested presentations or input to the discussions, liaison with other countries.
Provide, jointly with IECD, technical support to ECI network in Serbia as per the draft plan developed;
Develop recommendations for sustainability of the Regional ECI Network beyond 2027.

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

Minimum requirements:

Educational background: Advanced degree in social sciences, social work, education, health, public health, child development, disability studies, or related field.

Professional experience in ECD/ECI and disability inclusion:

Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience in policy development, programme implementation, monitoring and evaluation related to ECD, ECI and inclusion of children with disabilities.
Technical expertise in contemporary ECI systems and family-centred approaches: Demonstrated knowledge of evidence-based ECI policies, services, workforce development, and systems strengthening.
Experience in national, regional/international cooperation and technical assistance: Experience supporting governments, institutions and partners in development of policies, legislation, standards, roadmaps, strategies, capacity building and knowledge exchange initiatives. Prior exposure to and engagement beyond one social sector (health, education and/or social protection) is required.
Knowledge of ECI and early inclusion in Serbia and Europe and Central Asia: Demonstrated familiarity with regional reforms, policies and stakeholders.
Communication and partnership-building skills: Proven experience facilitating networks, partnerships, multi-sectoral collaboration, webinars, technical exchanges and stakeholder engagement.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Fluency in Serbian and English is required.

Desirables:

Experience working with UNICEF, other UN agencies or international organizations.
Familiarity with Europe and Central Asia regional ECI initiatives and networks.
Membership or affiliation with recognized European or international professional associations in ECD, ECI, disability or inclusive education.
Knowledge of additional official languages used in the Europe and Central Asia region.
Demonstrated experience in resource mobilization, fundraising, EU-funded programmes, or regional advocacy initiatives.

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

The 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

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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.

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All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Coordinator of the Regional Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) Network