National Consultancy to support Early Childhood Intervention with a focus on Children with Disabilities or Developmental Difficulties (Bulgarian nationals only)
Job no: 539151
Position type: Consultancy
Location: Bulgaria Division/Equivalent: CEE/CIS
School/Unit: Bulgaria
Department/Office: Sofia, Bulgaria
Categories: Early Childhood Development, Consultancy
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, childhood.
The Country Program Action Plan for the period 2018-2022 signed between UNICEF and the Government of Bulgaria, places special focus on enhancing support to children with developmental difficulties and disabilities during early childhood with a view of enabling them to develop to their full potential. Programatic interventions draw on a twin-track approach for ensuring the rights of children with disabilities and aim to contribute to: 1) strengthening relevant national systems and policies in health, education, social and child protection to ensure that they deliver support to children with disabilities or developmental difficulties and their families in an inclusive way, and uphold their rights; and 2) expanding services that address the specific needs of children with disabilities or developmental difficulties and their families.
Special attention is devoted to improving early childhood intervention for children with developmental difficulties and disabilities, with a focus on the first 3 years of life. As part of a global partnership between UNICEF and H&M Foundation, over the period January 2019 - June 2021 UNICEF in Bulgaria will develop, test and evaluate in two selected municipalities of the country a system approach to early childhood intervention. The approach will support a seamless process for: 1) identification of developmental difficulties using standardised tools through relevant health, social and educational services; 2) assessment of child's strengths and weaknesses; 3) delivery of early childhood intervention, including support for transition to inclusive education, and 4) and communication for addressing negative stereotypes and social norms against children with disabilities. The envisaged activities include establishment within existing social services of ECI teams and their training, capacity building for different professionals - health care professionals, ECI professionals, and others, improving cooperation and coordination between different service providers, communication and awareness raising activities. The approach developed will be also tested in 3 more municipalities as part of the project aiming to pilot EU Child Guarantee in Bulgaria. The project is EU funded and it is expected to end in June 2021.
How can you make a difference?
Under the guidance and supervision of the UNICEF ECD Officer, in coordination with other UNICEF Programme Officers (in particular Education Officer and Communication for Social Change) and in partnership with national partners, local authorities, schools and other relevant national and local stakeholders, the Consultant will support the development and implementation of UNICEF's program activities related to early childhood intervention and support for parents of young children with disabilities.
The Consultant will be expected to carry out the following specific tasks:
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have...
The assignment will take place from April to October 2021 for an initial period of 6 months with a possibility of extension upon successful performance. The Consultant is expected to have frequent travels outside Sofia - to the sites of UNICEF interventions.
For every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
To view our competency framework, please visit here.
Click here to learn more about UNICEF's values and competencies.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.
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:
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
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.
Advertised: Mar 25 2021 FLE Standard Time Application close: Apr 15 2021 FLE Daylight Time
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This vacancy is archived.