Technical Officer for Early Childhood Development

Job Advertisement

Position Title: Technical Officer for Early Childhood Development
Location: Geneva
Country: Switzerland
Deadline Date: Not specified

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. Established on April 7, 1948, WHO's mission is to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve vulnerable populations. With over 7,000 employees in more than 150 countries, WHO operates in various regions to address global health challenges and improve health outcomes. The organization focuses on universal health coverage, health emergencies, and promoting healthier populations, aiming to ensure that every person can access quality health services without financial hardship.

Job Overview:
The Technical Officer for Early Childhood Development will play a crucial role in supporting WHO's mission to improve health and well-being for women, newborns, children, adolescents, and aging populations. This position involves providing technical advice on national policies and strategies, integrating evidence-based interventions into health sector plans, and developing practice tools to enhance the capacities of the health workforce. The officer will also conceptualize and develop managerial and monitoring tools, coordinate capacity strengthening efforts, and contribute to the continuum of nurturing care for children aged 0-9 years. The role requires collaboration with various sectors, including nutrition, education, and child protection, to build partnerships and advocate for effective implementation of early childhood development initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide technical advice on national policies and strategies for early childhood development in collaboration with national authorities.
• Support the integration of evidence-based interventions into multi-sectoral early childhood development and health sector plans.
• Develop evidence-based practice tools to strengthen the health workforce's capacity to support nurturing care for child development.
• Establish a continuum of well care contacts for children aged 0-9 years and their caregivers within health and school health services.
• Conceptualize and develop managerial and monitoring tools, contributing to costing and cost-effectiveness analysis.
• Coordinate capacity strengthening efforts for planning, implementation, and monitoring of early childhood development initiatives.
• Advise on knowledge gaps and research priorities, contributing to the design of research projects.
• Commission systematic reviews and synthesize evidence to inform guidelines and policies.
• Oversee the global research agenda and support the integration of early childhood development impact measures in ongoing research activities. 1
• Lead the development and dissemination of knowledge products and facilitate global working groups. 1
• Build technical partnerships with UN agencies, donors, and research institutions to advocate for early childhood development initiatives. 1
• Develop proposals and mobilize resources to advance the technical knowledge base globally.

Required Qualifications:

• First level university degree in social or medical sciences from an accredited university.
• Advanced degree (master's level or above) in childhood development, child psychology, pedagogy, or education.
• Specialization in international curriculum development, teaching, and learning with a focus on child development is desirable.
• Strong knowledge and skills in early childhood development policies and evidence-based interventions.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a first level university degree in social or medical sciences from an accredited institution, along with an advanced degree (master's level or above) in a relevant field such as childhood development, child psychology, pedagogy, or education. A specialization in international curriculum development and teaching with a focus on child development is considered desirable, enhancing the candidate's qualifications for this role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 10 years of professional experience in early childhood development, with at least 5 years of experience working with the health sector to advance early childhood development initiatives. Candidates should have experience in designing, implementing, and monitoring programs in low or low-middle income settings. Additionally, experience in developing practice tools, conducting program evaluations, and mobilizing resources is essential. Familiarity with WHO and other UN bodies, as well as experience in managing multi-stakeholder working groups, is desirable.

Languages:
Expert knowledge of English is essential for this position. Intermediate knowledge of French is desirable, as it may facilitate communication and collaboration in a multilingual environment.

Additional Notes:
This position is subject to WHO Staff Regulations and Rules. The remuneration for the position starts at an annual base salary of USD 92,731, with additional benefits including a variable post adjustment, annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children. The WHO is committed to diversity and inclusion, encouraging applications from women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of underrepresented Member States. Candidates may be required to provide proof of vaccination as part of the recruitment process. The WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.