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National consultant for inclusive preschool education in Uzbekistan

Apply now Job no: 585193
Contract type: Consultant
Duty Station: Tashkent
Level: Consultancy
Location: Uzbekistan
Categories: Education, Early Childhood Development

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!

Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) is one of the priority areas of UNICEF’s Country Programme in Uzbekistan. At national level, UNICEF is supporting the Government of Uzbekistan to advance inclusive education reforms across preschool and school education within the framework of the SmartED Project, jointly financed by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE).
 
Within preschool education, UNICEF is working with the Ministry of Preschool and School Education (MoPSE) to design, pilot, and validate inclusive preschool models. The initiative aims to ensure that all children, including those with disabilities, developmental delays, or from marginalized backgrounds, can access and participate in high-quality early learning.
 
The inclusive preschool modelling initiative includes:
 
1. Development of an Inclusive Education Programmatic Framework (IEPF) for preschools, outlining standards, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and support mechanisms for inclusive preschool education; and
2. Piloting of the IEPF and related mechanisms in 10 preschools across Uzbekistan to generate evidence for national scale-up.
 
The process involves establishment of Preschool Inclusion Groups (PIGs), development of Preschool Improvement Plans, and introduction of specialized learning resources, assistive tools, and inclusive teaching methodologies. Capacity-building programmes will be delivered to preschool staff on inclusive pedagogy, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), individualized planning, early intervention, child protection, and whole-school approaches.
 
Considering the importance of the integrated ECD approaches UNICEF Uzbekistan office is also supporting the Government of Uzbekistan in the development of the first National ECD Strategy to strengthen cross-sectoral approach to implement evidence-based strategies and make policy decisions that enhance the quality of services available in three key sectors: health, education, child protection and more broadly social welfare. This will include development of the mechanisms for implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the strategy to ensure its effectiveness and sustainability.
 
An International Consultant has been engaged to provide technical support in the development of the National ECD Strategy, focusing on defining objectives, scope, and methodology for a multi-sectoral approach. The strategy aims to optimize nurturing care inputs, promote healthy child development, foster sustainable societal growth, and enhance resilience to climate change and environmental risks.
 
To facilitate effective coordination between the International Experts and various stakeholders, a National Consultant is required to provide technical support to the experts and the ECD and Inclusive Working Group. The National Consultant will work under the overall supervision of UNICEF’s Early Childhood Education and Development Specialist and in close collaboration with the International
Consultants and National Programme Officer (Inclusion) and MoPSE counterparts to ensure quality implementation, contextual adaptation, and effective coordination at national level.
 
Scope of Work
 
Purpose:
The National Consultant will provide technical and coordination support for the implementation and piloting of the Inclusive Education Programmatic Framework (IEPF) in 10 preschools, as well as coordinate work on the development of National ECD Strategy. This includes facilitating consultations, conducting needs assessments, supporting capacity- building, contextualizing materials, monitoring pilot implementation, and contributing to evidence generation and refinement of the framework for national scale-up.
 
Description of the Assignment and Tasks:
The assignment is expected to start from November 2025 to December 2026.
 
The Consultant is expected to:
  1. Provide coordination and technical support to the development and implementation of the Inclusive Education Programmatic Framework (IEPF) for preschools, ensuring alignment with national standards, Preschool Curriculum, and Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS).
  2. Support organization and facilitation of stakeholder consultations, working group meetings, and validation workshops with MoPSE, national institutions, and partners for co-design and endorsement of the IEPF.
  3. Facilitate conducting field-based needs assessments in 10 pilot preschools to identify gaps in infrastructure, resources, and staff capacity; assist in forming and capacitating Preschool Inclusion Groups (PIGs).
  4. Provide technical guidance to pilot preschools in developing and implementing Preschool Improvement Plans focused on inclusion and support mechanisms.
  5. Co-facilitate capacity-building workshops and mentoring sessions for preschool teachers, special educators, psychologists, and administrators on inclusive pedagogy, UDL, individualized planning, and use of assistive technologies and inclusive TLMs.
  6. Monitor and document pilot implementation, collecting data on accessibility, participation, learning environment, and staff capacity development in pilot preschools.
  7. Contribute to analysis and documentation of lessons learned, challenges, and best practices to inform refinement of the IEPF and national scale-up.
  8. Coordinate translation, contextualization, and adaptation of training materials, guidelines, and tools developed by the international consultant to the Uzbekistan context and inclusive education terminology.
  9. Prepare technical inputs and progress reports summarizing key achievements, gaps, and recommendations throughout the consultancy.
  10. Supporting in coordinating the work of the ECD cross-sectoral Working Group by organizing regular meetings (online and offline), facilitating discussions, and ensuring proper exchange of information and data collection.
  11. Assisting in collecting feedback, comments, and recommendations from the ECD Working Group and other stakeholders to be submitted to the International Expert.
  12. Provide technical guidance and ongoing consultation to UNICEF, the Ministry of Preschool and School Education, and national institutions to ensure quality, coherence, and sustainability, and to support alignment with broader inclusive education and early childhood development reforms.
Management
National Consultant will work under direct supervision of Early Childhood Education and Development Specialist and work in daily coordination with the Education Officer (Inclusion), International Consultants, as well as in cooperation with national stakeholders MoPSE, and local education authorities.
 
Tasks - Deliverables - Estimated timeframe - Days
 
Home-based
  1. Support contextual adaptation of IEPF, tools, and training materials developed by international consultants to national context, policies, and terminology - Reviewed and contextualized IEPF and tools (Uzbek/Russian versions) - October 2025- January 2026 - 15 days
  2. Support organization and facilitation of stakeholder consultations, coordination meetings and workshops with MoPSE, national institutions, and development partners - Consultation meetings and workshop materials, concept notes, presentations, press releases -Ongoing throughout the duration of the contract - 15 days
  3. Translate, localize, adapt key materials (baseline assessment tools, training packages, guidelines, or frameworks) into Uzbek and Russian, ensuring accuracy and contextual relevance - Translated/Adapted documents (Uzbek/Russian) - Ongoing throughout the duration of the contract - 15 days
Local travels (based on calendar)
  1. Facilitate conducting baseline assessment and support establishment of Preschool Inclusion Groups in 10 pilot preschools - Needs assessment report and PIG composition/roles - January-February 2026 - 10 days
  2. Provide ongoing technical guidance to preschools on Preschool Improvement Plans and inclusive support mechanisms - Preschool Improvement Plans, technical notes - March-September 2026 - 15 days
Home-based
  1. Provide technical input for capacity-building materials (TOT packages, blended learning modules, inclusive pedagogy tools) ensuring consistency with national preschool teacher professional development standards - Reviewed and contextualized training packages and online module outlines - April-June 2026 - 20 days
Local travel (based on training calendar)
  1. Co-facilitate capacity-building programme for preschool staff on inclusive pedagogy, UDL, individualized support, and assistive tools - Training reports and training packages: presentations, surveys - Ongoing throughout the duration of the contract - 15 days
  2. Monitor and document pilot implementation in 10 preschools and collect data for evaluation - Monitoring and field visit reports with data sets - Ongoing throughout the duration of the contract - 15 days
Home-based
  1. Contribute to final revision of IEPF and development of policy recommendations and technical report for national scale-up - Final technical report and input to policy brief - September 2026 -15 days
  2. Supporting in coordinating the work of the ECD cross-sectoral Working Group by organizing regular meetings (online and offline), facilitating discussions, and ensuring proper exchange of information and data collection - Meeting minutes; Monthly progress reports - Ongoing throughout the duration of the contract - 15 days
  3. Assisting in collecting feedback, comments, and recommendations from the ECD Working Group and other stakeholders to be submitted to the International Expert - Monthly progress reports - Ongoing throughout the duration of the contract - 10 days
  4. Provide technical guidance and ongoing consultation to UNICEF, prepare technical inputs and progress reports summarizing key achievements, gaps, and recommendations throughout the consultancy - Monthly progress reports - Ongoing throughout the duration of the contract - 15 days
  5. Other tasks as per the requests - Monthly reports - Ongoing throughout the duration of the contract - 5 days
TOTAL: 180 w.d
 
Please submit a professional fee (in USD) based on 180 working days to undertake this assignment, without travel fees as this will be reimbursed as and when they take place.
 
Local travel is required: At least 8 missions to regions. Each mission might require travel to at least 2 regions.

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

Minimum requirements:

  • Education: Advanced University degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: education, or any other social sciences.
  • Work Experience:
    • More than 5 years of professional and relevant experience in education, preferably in early childhood development, inclusive education, teacher training/capacity development.
    • Professional experience and expert knowledge in designing teaching and learning materials and providing capacity building activities;
    • Good analytical and writing skills.
  • Language Requirements: Excellent written and spoken skills in English, Uzbek and Russian.

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.

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.

Advertised: West Asia Standard Time
Deadline: West Asia Standard Time

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