Current vacancies

 2025-02-03 TOR_ ECD_ National Consultant_for posting.docx

Early identification and intervention can prevent death or disability and enable children to reach their full potential. With UNICEF advocacy efforts, Turkmenistan has demonstrated a strong political will to improve mother and child health and establish early identification and intervention services. Since 2007, the country has made significant progress in establishing the early identification of developmental delays and early intervention (EI) among children aged 0-42 months. Strong political will helps establish a solid policy niche. Currently, all ECD activities in the country are regulated by the cross-sectorial National ECD Strategy and Action Plan for 2020-2025 and the National Healthy Mother—Healthy Child—Healthy Future Strategy for 2021-2025.

UNICEF plays a key role in supporting Government efforts to introduce ECD and EI services. The Ministry of Health and Medical Industry (MoHMI) and the Ministry of Education are leading the national efforts to establish the country's early intervention services.

Upon the Ministry of Health's request, UNICEF facilitated the development of the Human Resource Development Roadmap in 2014 to develop the healthcare professionals’ potential to deliver developmental care to the population and the Standards for providing early intervention services to be applied nationwide. Every district has opened an ECD center reporting to MoHMI. The MoHMI initiated the development of services in ECD demonstration areas. With the initiation of intensive capacity building, operationalization of the developed standards, and building a system of referrals within the health system, 30% of the country's districts provide early identification of developmental delays among children aged 0-42 months at the primary health care level.

For every child, health 

How can you make a difference? 

The National Consultant is expected to perform the below specific tasks in collaboration with the UNICEF team and international experts:

Provide technical guidance and support to the national partners in strengthening early childhood development in the country.

Provide technical support to the initiatives in ECD.

Field monitoring visits to support capacity building and monitor BFHI.

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

• Advanced University Degree in Medicine, preferably with a specialization in pediatrics with previous training in ECD background is highly desired.
• Proven experience in providing consultancy services in developmental pediatrics and early interventions.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in one of the above areas with ECD focus, in particular;
• Knowledge of the Guide for Monitoring of Child Development Package (GMCD) and experience in its use in daily practice, knowledge of the electronic GMCD is an asset;

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:  

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.