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, education.

Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) is one of the most powerful investments in a child’s future and a key driver of social and economic progress. Expanding access to quality ECEC services not only enhances educational outcomes and social inclusion but also stimulates economic growth. In Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), every USD invested in ECEC is estimated to generate a seven-fold return through higher future earnings and increased female labor force participation. However, significant financial gaps persist—an additional USD 77 million annually is needed to achieve universal enrolment for children aged 3 to 6.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

Despite the clear benefits, ECEC enrolment rates in BiH remain alarmingly low. Only 42 percent of children aged 3 to 5 participate in early education, and just 59 percent are enrolled in the year before primary school. This limited access is largely due to infrastructural constraints, inadequate investments, and regional disparities, with long waiting lists highlighting the urgent need for expansion.

To address these challenges, this engagement will first support 20 municipalities/cities in conducting a situation analysis and needs assessment for ECEC service expansion. Based on the findings, two municipalities/cities (one in Federation of BiH and one in Republika Srpska) will be selected and supported with this engagement in developing comprehensive ECEC expansion plans, to be further adopted by the local governances. The initiative will prioritize increasing access to ECEC, particularly for marginalized and vulnerable children, by leveraging innovative financing solutions, strengthening policy frameworks, and mobilizing stakeholders to drive sustainable change.

How can you make a difference? 

The consultant will be responsible for the following key tasks: 

A. Situation analysis and needs assessment: The consultant should conduct a concise assessment of the current ECEC landscape in 20 municipalities, including:

• Existing capacity for both public and private ECEC provision, including the capacity for provision of inclusive ECEC services This includes existing human resources, physical infrastructure (number, size, and conditions of facilities), and service delivery capacity (maximum enrollment potential, child-to-staff ratios, resources for inclusive education).  
• The availability of qualified ECEC workforce in the municipalities/cities for ECEC expansion and potential bottlenecks in hiring or retaining staff.
• Enrollment rates, access gaps, and service demand, with particular attention to marginalized groups (such as children from vulnerable backgrounds, children with disabilities, and those in rural/remote areas).
• The affordability of services for families based on family income, for different socio-economic groups.
• Public and private financing structures and financing trends for ECEC.
• Policy and legislative frameworks at the municipal/city and cantonal/entity levels for ECEC (including health and social policy sectors when it comes to provision of ECEC services for vulnerable children).

The analysis should identify key challenges and opportunities for ECEC expansion, including recommendations for improving financing mechanisms. Upon the findings and the interest of the local governance, UNICEF will select two municipalities/cities for further support in the development of the ECEC expansion plans. The local governance interest implies the readiness to engage in partnership with UNICEF and a multiyear commitment to increase funding for ECEC through co-matching modality. The methodology for situation analysis should include predominantly dissemination of online questionnaires for municipal/city stakeholders.

B. Development of ECEC expansion plans:   The consultant will collaborate with multisectoral working groups designated for each municipality/city to develop comprehensive, costed, and time-bound ECEC expansion plans with clearly defined objectives and implementation roadmaps. These plans should incorporate innovative financing models, such as public-private partnerships (PPPs), blended financing approaches, multi-sector and multi-level public co-financing, donor contributions, and private sector investments, while also maximizing existing municipal resources, such as repurposing available local premises for ECEC services. The plans should introduce alternative and flexible ECEC service models , tailored to local legislative and contextual needs to ensure long-term sustainability, and emphasize the efficient use of financial, workforce, and infrastructural resources. The plans should encompass the short-, mid-, and long-term phased approach for expansion, focusing on high need areas first.  Additionally, the plans should include a monitoring framework with key performance indicators (KPIs) for tracking progress and propose a mechanism for ongoing monitoring and evaluation, including community feedback loops, ensuring accountability and continuous improvement in service delivery.  This task should be delivered through a co-design approach in close collaboration with the local working groups.

C. Stakeholder engagement and capacity building: The consultant should facilitate consultations with the wider group of stakeholders to integrate inputs to the ECEC expansion plans. This includes policymakers from social policy, health, and local governance sectors, ECEC service providers, teachers, parents, civil society organizations, and the private sector. The consultant should also provide one training per municipality/city on resource mobilization strategies and best practices in ECEC financing and governance.

The consultant shall not make use of any unpublished or confidential information obtained during the course of the assignment without prior authorisation from UNICEF.  The products of this consultancy are not the property of the consultant and cannot be shared without the permission of UNICEF. The consultant shall respect the local norms and refrain from interfering in the country's political affairs. UNICEF remains the owner of the deliverables and UNICEF rules and regulations apply on intellectual property will be applicable where necessary.

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

• University degree in Economics or Public administration. 
• At least 5 years of experience in public sector planning or public finance.
• Strong background in innovative financing and municipal budget planning.
• Experience conducting situation analyses, needs assessments, and data-driven policy recommendations for governments.
• Knowledge of the local context in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the early childhood education and care sector.
• Excellent capacity building and facilitation skills.
• Teamwork sills, ability to manage multiple tasks, and meet deadlines effectively.
• Fluency in B/H/S and English.

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 here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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. 

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.