Early Childhood Development

Early Childhood Development (ECD) refers to the development of children’s physical, motor, language, cognitive, and social-emotional fields from pregnancy to 8 years old. The most important stage is from pregnancy to 3 years old because the brain develops most rapidly during this period, with 80% of the adult brain weight developed during this stage. It not only determines the individual’s own development potential but also determines the competitiveness of human capital at the national level.

In China, nearly 17 million children under 5 years old are unable to reach their full potential, and at risk of early developmental delays and disability. Children in disadvantaged areas are particularly at risk of deprivation of healthcare access, early learning, welfare and protection. UNICEF believes that young children benefit most when the family plays full role in supporting ECD of children between age of 0-3. Enabling parents to provide sufficient nurturing care to their children calls for a wide range of policies and support from both the public and private sectors.

In country programme of 2021-2025, UNICEF is working with partners to increase investment in ECD care, promote parents’ knowledge, attitude and practices in ECD, and encourage governments to enact policies to support ECD for children through multi-modalities. UNICEF is now working together with National Health Commission, National Working Committee on Children and Women under State Council and National Rural Revitalization Administration in a National ECD Scaling-Up Programme to expand access to ECD for children aged 0-3, focusing on the frontline health facilities and providers’ capacities strengthening, to enhance parents and caregivers’ knowledge and skills in nurturing care for young children aged 0-3. This progreamme is now being implemented in 30 provinces in China.

Besides this, there are also other ECD programmes within various teams or sections. Recognizing the multi-disciplinary nature of ECD and the integral role of each section in UNICEF China office, a cross-sectoral ECD working group has been established to support the efficient implementation of country programmes and priorities related to ECD, ensuring the expected impact is achieved. The working group is operating in a coordinated manner under a common conceptual framework and with a unified voice. The working group collaboratively supports office-level events, including the ECD advocacy campaign, which is one of UNICEF’s key advocacy priorities in 2024. The campaign aims to drive awareness on the importance of ECD for young children and empower parents and caregivers with relevant knowledge and skills.

The ECD intern will report to the ECD programme officer (who is also the focal point of the ECD cross-sectoral working group) in Child Health and Development section. He/ She will provide management and technical support through this internship processes to relevant ECD programmes as well as ECD cross-sectoral relevant work.

The intern will contribute to the following specially:

• Provide management and technical support to ECD programmes
• Contribute to develop management plans and track progress
• Contribute to developing materials, including support in compiling documents and reports, translation of draft report, etc
• Participate in discussions with relevant internal colleagues and external partners
• Support logistic arrangement of relevant missions, events, conferences, meetings

Support ECD cross-sectoral relevant work:

• Support coordination and communication with internal sections and colleagues
• Support ECD cross-sectoral relevant events, especially the office level ECD advocacy campaign, and other joint ECD field visits or events, etc

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

• Be enrolled in a degree programme in an undergraduate (above 18 years old) or postgraduate study, majored in medicine, public heath, or early childhood development related majors.
• Have strong academic performance as demonstrated by recent university or institution records, or, if not available, a reference letter from an academic supervisor.
• Have no immediate relatives working in any UNICEF offices.
• Fluency in English and Mandarin is required.

Source: https://jobs.unicef.org/cw/en-us/job/571026