Early Childhood Intervention Consultant, Sofia, Bulgaria, 16.7 months, (National Consultancy), Remote with travel

Organizational Context

UNICEF operates in over 190 countries and territories, dedicated to saving children's lives, defending their rights, and helping them fulfill their potential from early childhood through adolescence. We are committed, passionate, and proud of our work, viewing the promotion of every child's rights not just as a job, but as a calling. UNICEF fosters diverse opportunities for professional and personal development.

Job Purpose

The Early Childhood Intervention Consultant will provide high-level strategic and technical expertise to UNICEF Bulgaria and its national partners. The primary objective is to support the sustainability, institutionalization, and future scale-up of the Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) system within Bulgaria. This role is crucial for strengthening the national capacity to deliver essential services to young children, particularly those most vulnerable. The consultant will play a key role in shaping policies, developing frameworks, and ensuring that ECI initiatives are effectively integrated into the national social services infrastructure, ultimately contributing to improved child development outcomes and the realization of children's rights across the country.

Responsibilities

The consultant will be responsible for providing strategic and technical guidance to UNICEF Bulgaria and national partners to enhance the Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) system. This includes developing and implementing strategies for the sustainability and institutionalization of ECI services, ensuring their long-term viability and integration into national frameworks. The role involves supporting the scale-up of ECI programs, identifying opportunities for expansion and improvement. The consultant will contribute to policy development, creating national strategies, roadmaps, and policy frameworks that align with best practices in early childhood development and intervention. They will also be involved in the development of methodological and technical resources to support the implementation and evaluation of ECI services, programmes, and modules. Furthermore, the consultant will work closely with government institutions, municipalities, academia, and professional organizations to foster collaboration and strengthen the overall ECI ecosystem. This includes advising on systems strengthening and institutional development processes to ensure effective service delivery and impact for children.

Work Experience

Minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional experience in early childhood development, early childhood intervention, disability inclusion, education, health, or social services. Experience in policy development, systems strengthening, institutional development, or service reform processes is also required. Experience working with national and local government institutions, academia, and professional organizations is essential.

Skills

Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) services development, implementation, evaluation, or institutionalization, National strategy and policy framework development, Systems strengthening, Institutional development, Service reform processes, Stakeholder engagement (government, academia, professional organizations), Strategic planning, Technical resource development, Project management, Policy analysis, Child development expertise, Disability inclusion

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