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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 education

Purpose of Activity/Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to enhance the quality of education for students of BA programmes - future educators specializing in early childhood and pre-school education - through the development of a Professional Development Programme for Academic Staff and a Capacity Building Master-Class Programme for Prospective Teachers.

With the initiative and support of UNICEF, state universities in Georgia have developed BA programmes in Early Childhood and Education and Care. In 2022, three state regional universities achieved programme accreditation, and the inaugural cohort of BA students in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) commenced their studies in the 2022-2023 academic year.

Although UNICEF has contributed to the development and translation of selected professional literature and has conducted several workshops with academic personnel, the relatively recent introduction of this sector within the Georgian academic community means that professional capacities, particularly among academic staff at regional universities, remain limited.

UNICEF aims to support universities to deliver quality BA education and enhance capacities for future ECEC teachers.

Scope of Work:

The main objective of the national consultant is to develop comprehensive two programmes, that will be used for professional development of academic personnel and capacity building of future teachers.

 

The consultant will work on two documents and is expected to perform the below tasks:

1. Professional Development Programme for Academic Staff

1. Identify universities who already have accredited BA in ECEC programme,
2. Develop the conceptual framework of the Professional Development Programme for Academic Staff,
3. Conduct working meeting(s) with respective academic staff to discuss the conceptual framework and contents/needs,
4. Develop a detailed programme based on the agreed conceptual framework,
5. Conduct workshop(s) with respective academic staff to finalize the programme,
6. Finalize the programme and submit to UNICEF.

2. Capacity Building Master-class Programme for Prospective Teachers

1. Conduct working meetings with prospective teachers to identify their capacity development needs,
2. Develop the conceptual framework of the programme and discuss with academic staff and students,
3. Develop a detailed programme based on agreed conceptual framework, finalize the programme and submit to UNICEF.

 

Work Assignments Overview

(total 40 working days)

Task 1: Identify universities (Georgia) who already have accredited BA in ECEC programme (Professional Development Programme for Academic Staff)

• Deliverable: Universities identified
• Timeline: September
• Days required: 1

Task 2: Develop the conceptual framework of the Professional Development Programme for Academic Staff (Professional Development Programme for Academic Staff)

• Deliverable: Conceptual framework
• Timeline: September
• Days required: 5

Task 3: Conduct working meeting(s) with respective academic staff to discuss the conceptual framework and contents/needs (Professional Development Programme for Academic Staff)

• Deliverable: Meeting materials, lists of participants, briefs of discussions
• Timeline: September–October
• Days required: 2

Task 4: Develop a detailed programme based on the agreed conceptual framework (Professional Development Programme for Academic Staff)

• Deliverable: Detailed programme draft
• Timeline: October
• Days required: 12

Task 5: Conduct workshop(s) with respective academic staff to finalize the programme (Professional Development Programme for Academic Staff)

• Deliverable: Meeting materials, list of participants, briefs of discussions
• Timeline: October
• Days required: 3

Task 6: Finalize the programme and submit to UNICEF (Professional Development Programme for Academic Staff)

• Deliverable: Finalized programme
• Timeline: October
• Days required: 2

Task 7: Conduct working meeting(s) with prospective teachers to identify their capacity development needs (Capacity Building Master-class Programme for Prospective Teachers)

• Deliverable: Meeting briefs, list of participants
• Timeline: October–November
• Days required: 2

Task 8: Develop the conceptual framework of the programme and discuss with academic staff and students (Capacity Building Master-class Programme for Prospective Teachers)

• Deliverable: Conceptual framework
• Timeline: October–November
• Days required: 4

Task 9: Develop a detailed programme based on agreed conceptual framework, finalize the programme and submit to UNICEF (Capacity Building Master-class Programme for Prospective Teachers)

• Deliverable: Finalized programme
• Timeline: October–November
• Days required: 8

Task 10: Develop the final report of the project and submit it to UNICEF

• Deliverable: Final report
• Timeline: November
• Days required: 1

Duration: 20 September 2025 – 20 November 2025

Travel: Field travel anticipated

Location: Home-based

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

Minimum requirements:

Minimum Qualifications Required

• Education: PhD in social science or humanities (education, psychology, public governance, or a related field).
• Experience: Minimum 5 years of academic experience in the Early Childhood and Preschool Education and Care (ECEC) sector.

Knowledge / Expertise / Skills Required

• Experience in developing ECEC programmes, training resources, and training modules.
• Familiarity with international best practices; experience working with international and national experts is an asset.
• Knowledge and understanding of the local ECEC and academic landscape of universities.
• Experience collaborating with the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth, local governments, Kindergarten Unions, academic personnel, and teachers.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Fluency in Georgian and working knowledge of English.
• Strong teamwork, networking, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

 

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 

 

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. 

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.

 

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.