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UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to Early Childhood Education 

The purpose of the assignment is to support and provide guidance to the Ministry of Social Policy, Demographics and Youth (MoSPDY) and the Bureau for Development of Education (BDE) to revise the Early Learning and Development Standards and develop a new national Early Childhood Education Curriculum for children age 0 to 6 in North Macedonia.

How can you make a difference? 

Background:

Early childhood education (ECE) plays a crucial role in laying the foundation for a child's long-term educational attainment and overall development. Yet, despite a steady increase in coverage over the last two decades, ECE enrollment rates in North Macedonia are still worryingly low. Approximately 15% of children 0 to 35 months are enrolled in childcare, compared to EU target of 45%. For children aged 36 to 59 months, only 46% currently enrolled in preschool institutions1, far below EU targets of 96% enrollment by 20302. Moreover, challenges remain in achieving equitable access and quality in ECE, especially for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, Roma children and children with disabilities.

In addition to issues of equity and low enrollment rates, there are also concerns about the quality of early childhood education and the extent to which young children are acquiring the skills and knowledge to prepare for school and life-long learning. The results from the Measuring Early Learning Quality and Outcomes (MELQO) study report from 2024 indicate that more than 60% of children approaching school age (aged 5-6) do not demonstrate school readiness, especially regarding early literacy and numeracy, and these results correlate with students’ performance in international testing in higher grades (TIMSS, PISA). Moreover, the MELQO report also indicates the need for additional support for teachers to implement play-based learning, and to stimulate free play and autonomy.

Over the past decade the Ministry of Social Policy, Demographics and Youth (MoSPDY), in partnership with UNICEF, EU and the World Bank, implemented a series of system-strengthening initiatives in the ECE sector. These efforts have led to the development of standards and competencies for preschool professionals, development of a licensing and certification procedure for ECE professionals, and the enhancement of staff capacities. Additionally, comprehensive learning materials have been developed focusing on Social and Emotional Learning, Constructive Play, Inclusive ECE, environment and climate change, and healthy nutrition.

To further enhance the quality of early childhood education, MoSPDY and BDE, with support from UNICEF are initiating the development of a new ECE Curriculum and revision of the Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS). This process will aim to align the curriculum and standards with the latest research and international best practices, while systematically integrating existing local ECE resources developed with support from UNICEF, the World Bank and the EU. The new curriculum should be based on learning through play and should mainstream inclusion, gender equality, social and emotional development, healthy nutrition habits, environment and climate change. It should also promote stronger engagement of parents and the community. To support effective implementation of the new curriculum, UNICEF will also support training for preschool professionals, along with mentorship and peer learning opportunities through communities of practice / professional learning communities.

The current Early Learning and Development Standards, developed with UNICEF support and adopted in 2009, outline the expected developmental milestones for preschool-aged children across various domains. These standards served as the foundation for the development of the national early childhood education curriculum (referred to, in Macedonian, as the Early Learning and Development Programme), adopted in 2014 and implemented in all preschools nationwide.

The ECE Curriculum links the Standards to the goals and expected outcomes for each age group, providing examples of activities that could be implemented. However, the document is lengthy and challenging to navigate and use. As a result, many preschool teachers, especially those less experienced, often struggle to operationalize and apply the curriculum effectively in daily practice and in playroom settings.

Scope of work:

The consultancy aims to support and guide the MoSPDY and BDE in revising the Early Learning and Development Standards and developing a new national Early Childhood Education Curriculum in North Macedonia.

The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

- Develop a clear vision and conceptual framework for the new ECE curriculum
- Lead and coordinate a team of national ECE experts in revising the Standards and drafting the new curriculum
- Develop manuals and tools to support curriculum implementation
- Revise the templates for the pedagogical documentation to align with the new curriculum
- Develop a detailed plan and protocols for the roll-out of the curriculum in preschools
- Develop and deliver training for master trainers
- Develop a framework and instruments for monitoring, evaluation and quality assurance.

Expected detailed deliverables and timeframe can be accessed here:  Detailed deliverables.pdf

The work will be conducted in close collaboration with the Working Group convened by the BDE, consisting of national experts from academia and experienced practitioners. The consultant will also provide other complementary local technical assistance, to ensure international best practices are successfully anchored in the local context.

The expected duration of the consultancy is 18 months. It will be conducted remotely, with the possibility for up to four in-country visits (up to five days each).

Payment schedule:

Payment 1: after delivery of assignments 1-4, January 2026
Payment 2: after delivery of assignments 5-8, August 2026
Payment 3: after delivery of assignments 9 -12, March 2027

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

Minimum requirements:

- Master’s degree in early childhood development and education, education, social sciences, psychology or other related fields
- A minimum of ten years of experience and expertise in Early Childhood Education and Care, curriculum development and implementation, and/or assessment, teaching and learning.
- Proven experience in collaborating with education authorities (Ministries of Education, Agencies, Teacher Training Institutions), with a strong preference for work conducted in similar contexts and in the region.
- Experience in education reform and policy making
- Experience in coordinating consultative processes Knowledge of cross-cutting themes to be integrated into the curriculum, including inclusion, gender mainstreaming, social and emotional learning, play-based learning, environment and climate change, and healthy nutrition.
- Interpersonal and relationship building skills
- Ability to communicate effectively and concisely
- Experience with managing/coordinating a team of people from different backgrounds and cultures.
- Fluency in English, with a demonstrated track record of producing high-quality written work in English.
- Previous experience working with UNICEF will be considered an asset.

To apply, please upload the following documents:
- Most recent CV
- Cover letter
- Financial proposal in USD indicating Gross daily fee and travel costs

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

[add the 8^th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role]. 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:  

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.