Education Specialist (Early Childhood Education), (NOC), Lilongwe, Malawi #117120 (Open to Nationals of Malawi Only)

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…

UNICEF Malawi Country Programme (2019-2023) is aligned with the Government of Malawi’s Growth and Development Strategy (MDGS III) and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). The programme supports the Government of Malawi to meet its commitment to respect, protect and fulfil children’s rights in line with international conventions and standards. The country programme is guided by the principles of children’s rights, equity, gender equality, inclusion and resilience, and supports evidence-based, integrative and innovative programming. The vision is that ‘all girls and boys in Malawi, especially the most disadvantaged and deprived, realize their rights’.  The programme focuses on: early childhood (parenting, high-impact social services, early stimulation and learning), middle childhood and adolescence (learning, multi-sectoral services, active citizenship), communities (decentralized services and systems, community ownership, social norms), programme effectiveness (monitoring, evaluation, HACT, Innovation, Social Protection and Social Policy and External Communication.  The programme is based on ‘leaving no child behind’, realizing ‘rights for all children in Malawi’.

The Early Childhood Education (ECE) component is an integral part of overall ECD Programme in Malawi which aims at strengthened education system inclusive of high quality Early Childhood education (ECE) services. As Education Specialist (ECE) you will be at the forefront of  designing and supporting quality early learning/pre-primary education experiences in Community Based Care Centres (CBCC), homes and primary school classrooms, via quality curricula, teacher training modules, monitoring of learning and transition from pre-primary to primary.

How can you make a difference?

The Malawi Country Office offers an exciting and rewarding career opportunity for you to join our dynamic Early Childhood Development (ECD) unit under Nutrition section where you will be responsible for improving the quality of learning for pre-primary aged children (3-6 years) and to better prepare them, cognitively and psychologically, for seamless transition into primary schools.

In your role, you will operate in a matrix management structure, where you will directly and functionally report to the ECD Specialist and technically you will be guided by your matrixed supervisor, Education Specialist (Quality Primary Education). In the matrixed arrangement, while you will be functionally a member of ECD unit, you will be closely interacting with colleagues in Education section for technical guidance and support.

This job presents a unique and significant opportunity for a qualified, vibrant, motivated and committed person to be to contribute to the overall achievement of transformative results for children by delivering on the following key responsibility areas, but not limited to:

• programme development and planning for early learning 
• management, monitoring and delivery of programme results on early learning
• technical and operational support to programme implementation
• innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
• networking and partnership building.

You are however encouraged to read the attached and detailed job description  Classified JD Malawi__MLW21005_Education-Specialist-Early-Childhood-Education-ECE_NOC_2021.pdf in order to view the full role and its requirements.

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

Education:

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: Education, Early Childhood Development or Social Sciences.

Experience, Knowledge and Skills

• A minimum of five years of relevant professional work experience is required in Education and/or Early Childhood Education (ECE)
• Experience of having worked in the field of curriculum development, teacher training for pre-primary and primary education will be highly desirable.
• Understanding of Early Childhood Education financing mechanisms is required.
• Strong coordination skills required to facilitate strategic inter-ministerial collaboration to bring ECE agenda forward.
• Substantive knowledge of how to support the development of effective ECE programmes.
• Solid conceptual understanding of national government ECD policies, plans and strategies is required.
• Strong analytical skills relating to the analysis of national budgets and expenditure for Early Childhood Education advocacy is required.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as a strong asset
• Background and/or familiarity with emergency is considered as an asset

Language:

• Fluency in English, both written and verbal skills is required

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

Core Competencies

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1)

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

Functional Competencies

• Analyzing
• Deciding and initiating action
• Applying technical expertise

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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:

The position is not considered an elevated risk role. However, UNICEF reserves the right to conduct further vetting/assessment within the scope of child safeguarding as appropriate.

UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

The vacancy announcement is open to all candidates – both internal and external candidates