Early Childhood Development Situation Analysis National Consultant Job at UNICEF

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.1 Desk review of existing ECD policies, strategies, guidelines, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs),and frameworks, and document their utilization.

1.2 Literature review of best practices in ECD programs in the Eastern and Southern African Region and low-middle-income countries.

1.3 Conduct key informant interviews with key sectors implementing or interested in ECD on the functionality of current policies/guidelines to gather insight for revision. The interviews should seek to understand the scope and clarity of the policy/guidelines in terms of content coverage, user-friendliness, and alignment with the main national and global Agenda such as Agenda 2050, Zanzibar
Development Plan (ZADEP 2022-2026), Africa Union Agenda 2063 and the SDGs.

1.4 Document achievements, promising practices, and areas for improvement.

Objective 2: Conduct and lead the mapping of ECD models and stakeholders (government and nongovernment)
implementing ECD interventions in Zanzibar, including their geographical locations, working approach, organization capacity, and scope of work as well as the budget allocation for ECD interventions.

Specific tasks include:
2.1 Develop a template and methodology for stakeholder mapping.
2.2 Conduct thorough mapping of the government and non-government stakeholders implementing or supporting ECD interventions, support to caregivers and community systems and document their geographical locations, scope of work and organization capacity.

2.3 Mapping of existing ECD models for scale-up in line with the five components of the Nurturing Care Framework, along with any inclusion and gender considerations in programming.

2.4 Prepare a comprehensive report with geo maps to show the distribution of stakeholders and identified promising ECD models, outlining the gaps, successes and conditions for sustainable implementation in Zanzibar.

Objective 3: Assess the ECD situation of children 0 –8 years and provide an analysis of ECD indicators and
their trends across various socio-economic and demographic variables.

Specific tasks include:
3.1 Review and analyze the available data, including national surveys, research studies and routine program
data, to determine the situation of children

3.2 Conduct key informant interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs) or other participatory approaches proposed by the consultant, to complement the secondary information and data obtained from the literature review.

3.3 Document the findings using analysis with various socio-economic backgrounds as part of the
consultancy report.

Objective 4: Determine the existence of ECD coordination and monitoring mechanisms and their
functionality.

Specific tasks include:

4.1 Through document reviews and key informant interviews determine the existence of ECD coordination and monitoring mechanisms, how they were formulated, and their functionality.

4.2 Gather the opinion of the stakeholders on whether and how such mechanisms should be established
and provide recommendations.

Objective 5: Develop and share a comprehensive ECD situation report that encompasses key observations on the coverage of interventions, sectoral priorities, best practices, challenges, and recommendations for improving the ECD situation, and to inform the development of a multi-sectoral ECD program in Zanzibar.

Specific tasks include:
5.1 Draft a comprehensive ECD situation report that encompasses information gathered on objectives 1
through 4.

5.2 Share the draft report with UNICEF and the ECD Technical Working Group (TWG) led by the MCDGEC for
inputs.

5.3 Refine the report by incorporating the inputs from UNICEF and the ECD TWG.

5.4 Share the revised report to a wider stakeholder group for technical validation and finalization.

5.5 Submit the final drafts of the report to UNICEF and MCDGEC

Work Assignments Overview Deliverables/Outputs Delivery deadline (time allotment and time period) Estimated Budget
Inception phase: Outline detailed methodology and approach for the assignment, data collection instruments, timeline and contact
time with the various stakeholders. The inception report should be presented to UNICEF and the government for review, input, and validation
Inception report and power
point presentation
1 week (within the 2nd week of the contact) 20%
Review, Analysis, and Development phase:
In depth desk review of available guidelines/policies/SOP, literature, review of
budgetary allocation and current coordination
and monitoring mechanisms and key informant interviews, analysis, and report writing.
Policy analysis Report and
power point presentation
highlighting existing policies,
ECD budgetary allocation,
strengths, weaknesses, and
areas for improvement in the
policy areas

The report should be

presented to UNICEF and the
ECD TWG for review, input,
and validation.
2 weeks (within the 4th week of the contract) 40%
ECD stakeholders mapping
Conduct mapping of ECD stakeholders and document their geographical locations, scope of work, and organization capacity
Comprehensive report of the stakeholder’s mapping
The report should be presented to UNICEF and the ECD TWG for review, input, and validation
2 weeks (within the 6th Week of the contact 20%
Finalization Phase :
Consolidate all reports and synthesize the comprehensive consultancy report that includes executive summary, background, chapters on policy/guidelines, stakeholders mapping, budgets, coordination, and monitoring mechanisms. Additionally, the report should include key recommendations for various levels and sectors.
Prepare and make presentations of the SitAn full report to stakeholders drawn from various government and non-government partners for review, input, and validation.

Incorporate inputs from stakeholders to finalize the report. The final report should be presented to UNICEF and the government
Comprehensive ECD situation analysis report submitted to UNICEF and MCDGEC

2- Page policy brief on ECD models in the context of Zanzibar

3 weeks (end of 8th week of the contract 20%
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Advanced education (Master’s degree in ECD, health, or other relevant social sciences education background with a minimum of 8 years experience in ECD-related programs
A clinical background in nutrition, counselling or child health is preferred.
Understanding of the government organization hierarchy of technical structure for effective coordination and delivery of multi-sectoral agenda.
Strong understanding of ECD relevant policies, nurturing care framework, ECD agendas, and priorities.
Experience engaging in research, analysis, and technical report writing.
Proven record of grant or contract management.
Proven track record of effectively leading a team and with highly effective time and people management skills
Excellent communication skills with fluency in English and Kiswahili is required.
Previous experience of working on similar assignments in Tanzania/East Africa is desirable.