UNICEF Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECARO) is looking for a qualified Early Childhood Education Consultant to develop an as is analysis of the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) system in Lower Saxony and a report on good practices from European countries’ systems.

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, a champion.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment

UNICEF is seeking a consultant with a strong research background to develop an as is analysis of the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) system in Lower Saxony and a report on good practices from European countries systems which have successfully developed approaches to support outcome-oriented competence development in ECEC settings to establish and improve a systematic implementation of outcome-oriented pedagogy in Lower Saxony.

Scope of Work

With funding from the EU Commission, DG REFORM, under which UNICEF has been contracted to provide technical support, UNICEF will be working with the national authorities of the Federal State of Lower Saxony to create a framework for outcome-oriented ECEC in order to improve the approaches and competences of ECEC staff to support young children’s acquisition of socio-emotional competences, early literacy and numeracy, and facilitating their transition to primary education. This will be achieved through the following key activities:

Evidence generation

UNICEF will support the Federal authorities in gaining extensive knowledge of the current status of the ECEC sector through: a) “As-is” analysis of current practices on the systematic support of competence development in early childhood education and care and the transition to primary education in Lower Saxony; b) Analysis of good practice from other European countries.

Framework development and testing

UNICEF will develop a framework for supporting outcome-oriented competence development in ECEC and facilitating the transition to primary education. The framework will be piloted in selected ECEC institutions.

Recommendations for framework adoption

UNICEF will draft a report with final recommendations for implementation and dissemination of the framework by the Federal authorities.

As part of this project UNICEF is seeking a consultant with an Early Childhood Education and research background to develop in six months an as is analysis of the ECEC system in Lower Saxony, as well as a comparative study that identifies European countries which have successfully developed approaches to support outcome-oriented competence development in ECEC settings.

The two documents will build on each other and will be used to:

• Understand the existing processed, policies, frameworks the competences, information and resources that they both have and require, and their adoption or otherwise of outcome-oriented approaches to ECEC.
• Understand the processes taken in systems that have established outcome-oriented ECEC with a focus on pedagogical interventions and learning environment.
• Inform the development of outcome-oriented ECEC Framework considering the relevant good practices in other European countries.
• Demonstrate good examples and approaches to monitoring and evaluation, including self-evaluation within the context of outcome-oriented ECEC systems.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Undertake a comparative study on European best practices/ good practices on developing approaches to support outcome-oriented competence development in ECEC settings.

• Through desk review and engagement with key ECEC experts identify long-list of European countries who have successfully worked to develop approaches to support outcome-oriented competence development in ECEC settings.
  • Conducting desk research as well as engaging with key ECEC experts in the region to find most noteworthy country examples.
• Develop a short-list of countries for a more detailed documentation based on impact of reforms undertaken and comparable governance structure to Germany/Lower Saxony. Further considerations for the short list should include:
  • Countries that have a strong outcome-oriented ECEC system (curriculum, support system for professional development of pedagogues and leaders, monitoring and evaluation, etc.).
  • Countries that combine social pedagogical approaches with a focus on holistic child outcomes, including socio-emotional competences, early literacy and numeracy.
  • Countries that have successfully established processes and tools for monitoring and evaluation (including internal M&E) of the process quality.
  • Countries that have demonstrated strong alignment between ECEC and primary education and have effective systemic partnerships between ECEC settings and primary schools for supporting smooth transitions.
  • Countries with good examples of strong and well-regulated ECEC systems of high quality – ideally where impact (child outcomes) is evident.
  • Countries with best possibilities for transferal of knowledge and practice to Lower Saxony.
• Develop a final report on European best practice/ good practices with a focus on undertakings that could be replicated in Lower Saxony.
• Assist the lead consultant with country peer exchange opportunities including hosting an online learning session summarising findings from the report.

2. Draft an “As-is” Analysis of current practice on the systematic support of competence development in early childhood education and care and the transition to primary education in Lower Saxony

• The methodology for the study should comprise a primary and secondary data collection and analysis through:
  • A desk review of existing frameworks and policies
  • The development and launch of a survey to ECEC providers, including pedagogues and support staff, to gather information about the current approaches and tools being used, the competences, information and resources that they both have and require, and their adoption or otherwise of outcome-oriented approaches to ECEC.
  • Focus groups discussions and key informant interview with key stakeholders.
• Through the above, develop a final report on the status of the ECEC system in Lower Saxony, with a focus on the existing current practices on the systematic support of competence development in early childhood education and care and the transition to primary education

Work Assignment Overview

Estimated Duration of the Contract

52 working days between December 2024 and April 2025.

Consultant’s Work Place and Official Travel

The Consultant will be remote/home-based with no travels foreseen.

Estimated Cost of the Consultancy & Payment Schedule

Payment will be made on submission of an invoice and satisfactory completion of the above-mentioned deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs are incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines. All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.

Please submit a professional fee (in USD) based on 52 working days to undertake this assignment.

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

• Master’s degree in Education, social studies and development, public health and/or medicine, nutrition, psychology, human development, child development, families’ studies or another relevant technical field
• Five (5) years minimum of relevant professional experience in early childhood education and care or education research and policy is required.
• Proven background in researching topics on ECEC and/or ECD and Education.
• Knowledge of different European ECEC systems is required.
• Experience of the German ECEC context is an asset.
• Understanding of ELDS, school readiness and teacher’s competencies is considered an asset.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Fluency in German and English is essential.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS), and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most marginalized children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family 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:

Please include a full CV and a Cover Letter in your application. Additionally, indicate your availability and professional fee (in USD) to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a professional fee will not be considered. 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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.