Early Childhood Development Local Expert

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, is a United Nations agency that works in over 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of children and ensure their well-being. The organization focuses on providing assistance to the most disadvantaged children, aiming to save lives, defend rights, and help children fulfill their potential. UNICEF operates with a mission to build a better world for every child, emphasizing the importance of early childhood development and health services, particularly in challenging environments.

Job Overview:
The Early Childhood Development Local Expert will play a crucial role in enhancing the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based, and family-centered Early Childhood Development (ECD) interventions in Kosovo. This position is integral to UNICEF's collaboration with the Ministry of Health under the 2021–2025 Country Programme, which aims to strengthen health and social service systems to provide equitable and quality ECD services. The expert will support the integration of health, nutrition, early stimulation, responsive caregiving, and protection components within maternal and child health services, focusing on vulnerable and marginalized communities. The role involves advancing evidence-based interventions for nurturing care, early detection of developmental difficulties, and responsive parenting, contributing to improved health and development outcomes for all children, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Early Childhood Development Local Expert include: 1) Supporting the Ministry of Health in operationalizing and scaling the implementation of the Guide for Monitoring Child Development and other nurturing care tools within primary healthcare services. 2) Providing technical expertise and coordination for the implementation and quality improvement of the Group Care for Parenting programme. 3) Enhancing intersectoral coordination mechanisms between health, social welfare, education, and community services to ensure integrated ECD service delivery. 4) Supporting equity-focused outreach initiatives to inform targeted interventions aimed at reducing disparities in child health and development outcomes. 5) Strengthening data systems for ECD and promoting the use of disaggregated data for decision-making. 6) Undertaking field visits to assess progress and provide technical support to partners and stakeholders. 7) Building and sustaining effective partnerships with health sector counterparts and stakeholders to enhance programme implementation. 8) Identifying and sharing lessons learned for knowledge development and capacity building.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in public health, pediatric health, family health, health policy and/or management, socio-medical, health education, nursing/midwifery, or a relevant technical field. A minimum of three years of professional experience in public health planning and management, early childhood development, or maternal and neonatal health care is required. Experience working in the health sector, particularly in early childhood development and maternal and child health in Kosovo or similar contexts, is considered an asset. Relevant experience within the United Nations system or international organizations is also advantageous. Fluency in English is mandatory, and knowledge of another official UN language or the local language of the duty station is a plus.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree in fields related to public health, pediatric health, family health, health policy and/or management, socio-medical studies, health education, nursing/midwifery, or other relevant technical disciplines. This educational foundation is essential to ensure that the candidate possesses the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively contribute to the objectives of the consultancy.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of three years of professional experience in relevant areas such as public health planning and management, early childhood development, and maternal and neonatal health care. Candidates with experience in the health sector, particularly in early childhood development and maternal and child health in Kosovo or comparable contexts, will be preferred. Additionally, experience within the United Nations system or international organizations is considered an asset, as it demonstrates familiarity with the operational frameworks and standards of such entities.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position. Knowledge of another official UN language and/or the local language of the duty station is considered an asset, as it can enhance communication and collaboration with local stakeholders and communities.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is expected to contribute to UNICEF Kosovo’s 2025 Annual Work Plan and will involve working closely with the Ministry of Health to strengthen integrated maternal, newborn, and child health services. The selected candidate will be responsible for ensuring that all deliverables are met in a timely manner and will be expected to adhere to UNICEF's values and principles. The position is not classified as a staff member under the UN regulations, and consultants will not be entitled to benefits such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage. The selected candidate must ensure that they have valid visa and health insurance for the duration of the contract. Additionally, candidates may be required to confirm their fully-vaccinated status against COVID-19 prior to commencing their assignment.