International ECD Senior Advisory Consultant, Early Childhood Development section, 5.5 months, ECARO O/P Istanbul (Internationals only) Home-based

Organizational Context

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. UNICEF’s Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECARO), in partnership with the UNICEF ECD Centre of Excellence, seeks to advance outcomes for young children through strategic direction, country engagement, and partnership approaches.

Job Purpose

The Senior Advisory Consultant will play a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction, country engagement, and partnership approaches for the CELFF (Children's Early Learning and Family Fund) leveraging agenda within UNICEF’s Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECARO). This critical position involves providing expert guidance to relevant teams and fostering collaborative efforts with the ECD Centre of Excellence to ensure strategic coherence across all initiatives. The consultant will be instrumental in facilitating effective country-level demonstrations and contributing significantly to the development of a robust, pragmatic roadmap. This roadmap is essential for scaling key initiatives, including CELFF, with the ultimate goal of advancing positive outcomes and fulfilling the potential of young children across the region. The role also encompasses reinforcing UNICEF's commitment to early childhood development through high-impact programs and innovative finance deals, ensuring sustainable progress.

Responsibilities

The consultant will be responsible for providing senior advisory expertise to inform CELFF’s strategic direction, country engagement, and partnership approaches within the broader leveraging agenda for Early Childhood Development. This encompasses actively guiding relevant teams and fostering collaborative efforts with the UNICEF ECD Centre of Excellence to ensure strategic coherence and facilitate effective country-level demonstrations. A primary responsibility involves contributing significantly to the development of a robust and pragmatic roadmap, essential for scaling key initiatives like CELFF, thereby advancing positive outcomes for young children. The role also entails leading regional and global initiatives, as well as high-impact programs, specifically in early childhood development/education and social impact. Furthermore, the consultant will be involved in innovative finance deals, covering their structuring, operationalization, and monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV). High-level partnership engagement with diverse stakeholders, including governments, International Financial Institutions (IFIs), Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), bilaterals, multilaterals, and donors, particularly with the European Union, is a crucial aspect. Designing and facilitating high-level convenings and technical workshops, shaping and deepening programmatic engagement, initiating thought leadership dialogues, and envisioning and executing a pipeline of strategic publications such as white papers, policy briefs, and reports are also core duties.

Work Experience

A minimum of 15 years of relevant professional experience in strategic advisory roles leading regional/global initiatives and high-impact programs, preferably in early childhood development/education and social impact. Progressive experience in a UN system agency or organization is also required.

Skills

Strategic advisory leadership, Regional/global initiative and high-impact program leadership (ECD/ECE, social impact), Innovative finance deals (structuring, operationalization, MRV), High-level partnership engagement (governments, IFIs, DFIs, bilaterals, multilaterals, EU), Designing and facilitating high-level convenings and technical workshops, Shaping programmatic engagement, Initiating thought leadership dialogues, Executing strategic publications (white papers, policy briefs, reports), Strong communication skills, Negotiation skills, Strategic leadership skills

Explore related opportunities