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, Health and Nutrition

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, advocacy, and operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

In Tajikistan the perspective of the rights of children is based legally in the International Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), ratified in 1993. The rights of children are protected in the Constitution of Tajikistan. There are several sectoral policies, strategies and programmes that are contributing to Early Childhood Development but these are mainly sector based and fragmented. Though the Government of Tajikistan has made important steps towards strengthening its ECD policy framework and numerous documents offering ECD services exist, some important challenges remain. Multi-sectoral nature of ECD is challenging, many of the enabling mechanisms for integrated service provision (that include health, nutrition, responsive parenting, early stimulation and safety and security) are not yet in place.
Investments in Early Childhood Development (ECD) programmes are a key entry point to providing holistic and integrated services to young children – in health, nutrition, nurturing care, water and sanitation, early learning and protection. And in doing so, laying the structural foundations for human and social development. There is a need to further strengthen coordination and synergy amongst different sectors and levels of government and service providers, including the collaboration of relevant government and international agencies and private stakeholders to develop common vision, set goals and targets, including preparation of a coordination action plan or national integrated early childhood development policy with adequate budget allocation to provide access to integrated ECD services.
Additionally, it would be necessary to compile all existing evidence generated on ECD based on Nurturing Care Framework with a strong focus on the importance of community health to improve child survival and development.
Considering the above, the key objective of this assignment is to develop a comprehensive and evidence-based advocacy package that effectively communicates the importance of investing in Early Childhood Development suitable to different stakeholders and platforms in Tajikistan.
The selected expert will also work closely with UNICEF Health and Nutrition team in the Country Office to ensure that the services provided are in line with UNICEF’s branding standards and guidelines, and child safeguarding principles. The selected specialist is required to use their own computer equipment and software.

How can you make a difference? 

DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

Duration: 90 working days between September 2025 - November 2025.
Supervisor: Early Childhood Development Officer, UNICEF Tajikistan.

TOR with detailed deliverables and concrete timeframes is at the following link  ToR Advocacy package Development.docx

The purpose of this assignment is to support UNICEF Tajikistan country office to develop a comprehensive and evidence-based advocacy package that effectively communicates the importance of investing in Early Childhood Development suitable to different stakeholders and platforms in Tajikistan.

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: University Degree in Management, Public Communications or other relevant fields.
• Work Experience: Demonstrated experience in managing relevant projects and ability to coordinate with multiple stakeholders, including government counterparts (e.g., MoHSP and MOES), technical consultants, and UNICEF teams, to ensure that the advocacy package is aligned with the government and national standards. Proven experience working on health -related or development -sector video content, preferably in areas such as early childhood development, parenting and education.
• Skills: Proven ability to produce video content in Tajik language, with capability to add Russian subtitles, and ensure content is culturally appropriate and technically accurate. Full availability to execute the assignment during the agreed period, with flexibility to adjust to coordination and review timelines.
• Competences:  Strong skills in analyzing and drawing conclusions based on information presented. Familiarity with local social and cultural context.
• Language Requirements: Excellent command of English/Russian/Tajik, with outstanding writing skills.

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

• CV and cover letter.
• Technical proposal describing approach/methodology to achieve the tasks of the TOR, workplan with concrete timeframes
• Financial proposal in TJS-all inclusive, indicting fee per day (Annex 3 to be completed). Annex 3 at the  Annex 3.docx
• Contact of three references.
• At least previously developed similar projects developed by the candidate or when candidate provided substantial inputs to the projects. 
• Applications without technical and financial proposals will not be considered.

Applications must be received in the system by 7 September 2025 on UNICEF website.

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.