UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.
Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.
And we never give up.
For every child, better start in life.
Context:
Kosovo has strengthened its legislative and normative frameworks for inclusive ECE in Kosovo with the passing of the Law on ECE. The Law provides the grounds the diversification of forms of ECE service provision for increasing access and enhancing the quality, inclusiveness, and equity of ECE programmes, while mandating mandatory pre-primary education one year prior to start of primary education, starting from academic year 2024-2025. By-laws that support the operationalization of the Law are being developed, with three by-laws drafted and expected to be finalized and endorsed, and a fourth initiated. Among others, the by-laws are expected to enable scaling up of existing diverse ECE models (such as community-based centers), while regulating and supporting introducing of mixed financing schemes, such as through public-private partnerships models.
However, access and quality of ECE constitute a challenge for Kosovo putting human capital development at risk. The increased strategic prioritization and investments in ECE have led to an increase in gross enrolment rate (GER) in ECE, as indicated by administrative data, from 7.2% in 2023 to 8.9% in 2024 for children aged 0-4, and from 35.9% in 2023 to 36.8% in 2024 for children aged 3-53. Despite the introduction of mandatory pre-primary education in Kosovo starting with the 2024–2025 academic year, national enrolment rates for 5-year-olds have declined from 88% to 83%. This highlights systemic issues and local variations that hinder universal access, requiring urgent investigation and remedial action.
Children in rural areas in Kosovo are three times less likely to be enrolled in ECE services compared to their peers in urban areas, where enrolment rates are the highest. Additionally, vulnerable communities such as Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian as well as children with disabilities are the most deprived of these education opportunities, lacking adequate caregiving and support for early education. MICS data show that only 8% of 3–4-year-old children from Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities are enrolled in preschool education, compared to 15% of their peers in the general population.
Job organizational context:
This position is under the supervision of the Early Childhood Development Officer. The selected consultant is expected to coordinate and work closely with the respective UNICEF Kosovo team and other engaged expertise working in public finance for children initiatives carried out by UNICEF Kosovo.
Objectives and Expected Results:
To support the central government and selected municipalities in Kosovo in identifying and addressing barriers to universal access to pre-primary education (age 5), while strengthening data systems and local planning capacities for sustainable ECE service expansion for children aged 0–6.
The engagement has three specific objectives:
- To analyze the key institutional barriers preventing universal enrolment of 5-year-old children in pre-primary education, despite the legal mandate introduced in the 2024–2025 academic year, and to develop practical, actionable recommendations for implementation by central and local governments.
- To support selected municipalities in developing a realistic and costed plan for expanding Early Childhood Education services for children aged 0–6, using a mixed-modality approach that includes public provision, public private partnerships, and community-based models.
Expected Results:
- A comprehensive analysis and identification of barriers to universal enrolment of 5-year-olds in pre-primary education completed with focus on three municipalities, with clear, actionable recommendations provided to central and local authorities for immediate and medium-term implementation.
- Costed municipal plans for expanding access to ECE services for children aged 0–6 developed and finalized for selected municipalities, including viable public, public-private, and community-based service delivery models tailored to local needs and resource capacities.
How can you make a difference?
Description of the Assignment:
The assignment will start with a series of meetings with the Early Childhood Development Officer and other relevant UNICEF Kosovo team members, to provide updates and clarifications on the assignment, updates on the work ongoing, initiate work-planning, and ensure access to key resources, on a shared folder.
In coordination with the UNICEF Kosovo team, the consultant will contact and schedule meetings with the key representative in technical and decision-making positions within the central and local government institutions, as well as service providers for pre-primary and preschool services. The consultant will conduct data collection and analysis, to develop contextual outlooks, using the core social and macro-economic indicators for each of the countries involved in this initiative, including the basic figures from the government budget (total government spending, debt, borrowings ceilings, others); and the broader financing landscape including ODA.
The level of detail or depth of each workstream, as well as the timeline of implementation, will be re-assessed at the inception, based on few parameters, which will be decided based on the considerations below (see bullet points under the deliverables below). The assignment will cover the following workstreams:
- Identifying barriers to universal pre-primary enrolment
- In coordination with UNICEF and MESTI, select three municipalities representing diverse socio-demographic and ECE service provision contexts.
- Identify systemic and local factors contributing to under-enrolment, including:
- Inaccurate population projections due to unregistered residents.
- Incomplete EMIS data due to unlicensed/pending private providers.
- Geographic access barriers.
- Conduct structured data collection through document review, institutional data cross-checks, stakeholder interviews, and site visits.
- Provide municipality-specific and system-wide recommendations for addressing enrolment gaps.
[Estimated 60% of the assignment]
2. Planning and Costing for ECE Expansion in selected municipalities.
- Map the current ECE service landscape in selected municipalities, including public, private, and community models.
- Assess infrastructure, human resources, coverage gaps, and demographic trends, in close collaboration with expertise engaged by UNICEF in separate engagement.
- Work with municipal authorities to develop:
- Cost projections for each model (capital and operational costs).
- A phase implementation plan aligned with municipal budgeting cycles, and immediate steps to be undertaken for piloting of proposed options.
- Financing scenarios and potential funding sources.
[Estimated 40% of the assignment]
Deliverables:
Expected result 1
Inception meeting, internal consultations and inception report. The inception report (6-8 pages) should include, at least:
- The approach to the assignment
- Methodology
- A list of references that will be consulted
- A list of relevant stakeholders to be contacted (internal, external)
- Key considerations from workstream 1.
Expected result 2
Data collection and draft report. The secondary data will include laws, policies, datasets and their triangulation; whereas, primary data will include Key Informant Interviews, focus groups as needed, and site visits. UNICEF Kosovo will support the organization of meetings and logistics, and partake in meetings when possible and/or necessary. The draft report should include:
- Municipality-specific and system-wide recommendations for addressing enrollment gaps for pre-primary education
- Cost projections (capital and operational), financing scenarios and phased implementation recommendations for expanding access to ECE in selected municipalities municipality.
Deliverable 3
Finalized report (up to 25 pages), including:
- Final report with addressed comments following UNICEF and stakeholder review and validation
- Power Point presentation deck.
- Presentation of findings
Work Assignments Overview:
- Inception report finalized after integration of comments
- Deliverables: Inception meeting, internal consultations and inception report (12 working days)
- Data collections and analysis
- Deliverables: Data collection - KIIs, focus groups as needed, secondary, secondary data analysis (24 working days in two phases for work stream)
- Final report developed and finalized after integration of comments, with accompanying PPT deck
- Deliverables: Final report developed, hared for review and finalized with comments addressed. PPT deck developed and finalized with comments addressed. Presentation of the findings implemented with key stakeholders (15 working days, in two phases for work streams).
- Presentation of findings
- Present findings in joint stakeholder meetings (3 working days)
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:
- Master’s level educational background in economics, public policies, governance – or related fields; or alternatively, Bachelor with at least 10 years of relevant working experience;
- Five (5) years of relevant working experience in public policies in social sectors, public economics, public financial management, planning and budgeting;
- At least three (3) years of relevant working experience in conducting or supervising budget analyses, costing, financing strategies and, preferably, resource mobilization plans. Specific experience in the Early Child Education and Care (ECEC) – based on evidence of these works submitted in the application process – would be an asset;
- Experience in dealing with EU financing mechanisms is considered an asset;
- Previous experience of working with UNICEF or other UN agencies is considered an asset;
- Previous experience of working on assignments with the institutions at local and/or central government in Kosovo;
- Experience with Ministries of Economy and/or Finance is considered an asset
- Fluency in English and one of local languages is required.
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).
To view our competency framework, please visit here.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.
According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.
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.
Remarks:
Deadline for application is 19 May 2025 COB.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.
The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.
