Early Childhood Development Specialist (NOC), Temporary Appointment for 364 days, Windhoek, Namibia, # 129750 (for Namibia Nationals only)

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. 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 personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

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

For every child, free education

Integrated early childhood development services feature all components of nurturing care such as health, nutrition, protection and safety, opportunities for early learning and responsive caregiving. Early childhood interventions are in place through existing government services such as ante-natal clinics, social assistance grant, birth registration, subsidies to educarers at ECD Centres and pre-primary schools.

Integrated Early Childhood Development (IECD) in Namibia is guided by the National Early Childhood Development (IECD) Policy of 2007, and Child Care and Protection Act, 2015 (Act No. 3 of 2015). According to the IECD Policy, ECD covers the period from 0-8 years old (birth to Grade 3). The IECD Policy defines ECD as a set of integrated interventions aimed at holistic care, development, early learning, and protection of the child. According to the Policy, the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare (MGEPESW) leads initiatives for children from 0-4 years old. While Early Childhood Education services for the 5–8-year-olds, including one year of pre-primary education, as well as training and curriculum development are under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture (MoEAC). The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) is responsible for all aspects related to health and nutrition, including establishing standards for the monitoring of health, nutrition, growth, immunization, sanitation, and hygiene among young children in IECD facilities and home-based care settings.

How can you make a difference? 

The ECD Specialist will provide technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes to facilitate the administration and achievement of results on ECD related programmes/projects.  The ECD Specialist contributes to the achievement of concrete and sustainable results on ECD related programmes/projects according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM) and UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework. 

The ECD Specialist will be responsible for the following key functions/accountabilities:

1. Support to ECD programmes/projects development and planning
2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results on ECD programmes
3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation
4. Networking and partnership building
5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the full Job Description here:  GJP ECD Specialist NOC #129750 TA NCO2024.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: education, public administration, public health, nutrition, economics, psychology, sociology, human development, child development, family studies or another relevant technical field.

Work Experience:  

• A minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in social development planning and management in early childhood development related areas is required.
• Demonstrated experience in integrated multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder programming.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset

Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of a local language is an asset.

Desirables: Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency. 

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 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.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  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’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable marginalized communities are encouraged to apply.

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.

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.