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 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. 

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

For every child, inclusivity

Background

From 0 to 8 years of age is the fastest period of a child’s linguistic, social-emotional, and physical development. Research shows that during this period, characterized as the early childhood years, most brain and language development is completed[1] This critical early period is when children start developing thinking, learning, speaking, questioning, self-regulating and social interaction skills. During these critical years of early growth and development, the connections in the brain are intensively established. Accordingly, the aim of early childhood education is to prepare children for social and school life by supporting basic development areas like mental, socio-emotional, language, motor skills and self-care. Research shows that education received during these years increases the development potential of children and has a positive influence on their preparedness for primary school and on their success level in school during formal education in the short and medium term. In the long term, early learning plays an operative role in the development of skills that determine sustainable outcomes in life.^[2] This influence, in turn, points to the strength of early childhood education in building human capital by investing in the individual starting during the first years of life.

UNICEF has initiated collaborations with various municipalities under the Rolling Work Plans between 2026 and 2027. These partnerships focus on strengthening municipal playrooms to deliver quality early childhood education (ECE) services for children, enhancing teachers’ professional development through targeted training programmes, and supporting parents and caregivers through interactive sessions on child development and parental engagement.

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose of the assignment: The individual consultants/experts are expected to support UNICEF and partner municipalities in the operationalization and effective functioning of playrooms to ensure they provide structured educational support for children. The consultant’s responsibilities will include assisting teachers in developing daily and monthly education plans, conducting on-site supervision visits, and providing constructive feedback during classroom observations. The consultants will also respond to teachers’ inquiries both remotely and in person and will be responsible for delivering face-to-face training sessions for teachers. Each consultant will be responsible for delivering the same set of deliverables, but for different municipalities. While there may be moments requiring close coordination, most of their tasks will be carried out independently.

Description of the Assignment:

The following table presents a tentative plan summarizing the tasks, deliverables, timeline, and estimated person-days. Each consultant will support municipalities, with assignments prioritized based on the proximity of their place of residence to the respective municipality. The contracted consultants/experts are expected to perform the tasks under the supervision of the UNICEF Early Childhood Education Officer.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  ToR 1_ ECE Expert for Municipal Support.docx

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

Minimum requirements:

• PHD degree in Early Childhood Education is required.
• At least 10 years of professional experience in early education and working with children, teachers, and families.
• At least 5 years’ experience in developing training modules and educational resources for teachers and administrators.
• Proven experience in developing training content and delivering training for ECE staff.
• Experience in designing targeted ECE programs for teachers is an asset.
• Experience in working with municipalities, ministries, international organizations, etc. will be considered as an asset.
• Excellent written and spoken Turkish.

Skills and personal traits: 

• Excellent communication, drafting and facilitation skills in Turkish.
• Ability to work with municipalities, CSOs and educators.
• Creative, organized, and able to meet deadlines.

Culturally sensitive with commitment to child rights and inclusivity

Applicants are expected to submit to UNICEF the following documents:

1. 1.  ToR 1_Financial Offer template 1_ECE Expertlst.docx
   2. CV and Cover letter
   3. Technical proposal. The minimum content for the technical proposal is:
      • A sample of relevant previous work (teacher training modules and ECE programme, developed and/or contributed by the candidate).

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:  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.