\\nJob no: 567479\\n
\\nContract type: Consultant\\n
\\nDuty Station: Vienna\\n
\\nLevel: Consultancy\\n
\\nLocation: Switzerland\\n
\\nCategories: Education, Early Childhood Development\\n
\\n

\\n

**This is a re-advertisement in order to expand the candidate pool. Previous applicants need not reapply as their original application will be duly considered.**

\\n
\\n

\\n

UNICEF works in some of the world\\xe2\\x80\\x99s toughest places, to reach the world\\xe2\\x80\\x99s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

\\n

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

\\n

And we never give up.

\\n

For every child, hope.

\\n

Purpose of Activity/Assignment

\\n

UNICEF is seeking a consultant to be the technical lead for the work surrounding improvement and development of early childhood development and care (ECEC) workforce quality and conditions in Austria. The consultant must be based in Austria and fluent in both English and German.

\\n

Background

\\n

In Austria the provision and oversight of early childhood education and care (ECEC) is split according to the Austrian constitutional law. The federal government (\\xe2\\x80\\x9cBund\\xe2\\x80\\x9d) - in particular the Ministry for Education, Science and Research - is responsible for the standardised training of ECEC professionals at Training Institutes for ECEC; the financing of childcare facilities as well as the organization (e.g. the definition of framework conditions) are primarily the responsibilities of the \\xe2\\x80\\x9cL\\xc3\\xa4nder\\xe2\\x80\\x9d (provinces) and the municipalities.

\\n

There is currently a very high demand for ECEC and a shortage of provision. With an 89.9% ECEC participation rate of children between 3 years and compulsory schooling age in 2019, Austria was below the EEA target of 96% by 2030. The Austrian participation rate for 4-year-olds is at the EU average, above average for 5-year-olds, but considerably lower for 3-year-old children (-11.3 pps). The share of children under the age of 3 attending formal childcare increased considerably from 9% in 2009 to 22.7% in 2019. Meeting this growing need is a challenge due to low numbers of ECEC staff. The reasons for this lack of staff are various, and due to missing profound data, also not fully understood. However, annecdotal evidence suggests:

\\n

• \\n
• There are differing staffing and employment conditions for ECEC staff across L\\xc3\\xa4nder (provinces) and the municipalities including differences in salaries and salary schemes (Austria has over 60 different schemes), group sizes, the professional staff-child ratio, and service-related matters such as preparation time without direct child services.\\n
• There is persistent gender inequality in the sector. In 2020/21 only 3% of employees in ECEC services were men.\\n
• The qualification is not percieved to be attractice, especially for male students, which is certainly also strongly influenced by the low level of recognition of the profession in society and the low salary.\\n

\\n

ECEC services face a clear shortage of professional staff, which was made more profound due to the COVID-19 pademeic which increased uncertainty and educator streeses. Due to this shortage, a competition between public and private employers takes place to the disadvantage of children. Salary differences between private and public employers and the high demand for ECEC professionals applicants can choose their employer based on salary and other indicators like framework conditions. If one of these employers enhances its conditions, ECEC staff switches the workplace, causing a high fluctuation in less attractive ECEC services. This situation will worsen as more than a quarter of current employees will retire in the next 10 years. Austrian studies (such as \\xc3\\x96IF) forecast that by 2025, 860 managers, 2,450 qualified elementary teachers (educators) and 2,000 assistants will be needed in the ECEC sector. Staff struggled with oversized groups, lacking coordination with colleagues, administrative challenges and keeping a reasonable work-life balance. To counteract to this trend Austria foresees higher investments in ECEC within the National Recovery and Resilience Plan for the development of elementary education.

\\n

The EU Commission and UNICEF are supporting the Austrian authorities in addressing some of these challenges through a technical support project which seeks to strengthen ECEC workforce quality and conditions.

\\n

This will be achieved through the following outcomes:

\\n

• \\n
• Outcome 1: The Austrian authorities have gained extensive knowledge of the current status of the ECEC sector and implications for staffing.\\n
• Outcome 2: The Austrian authorities at federal and province level have jointly developed a Model Framework for ECEC Staffing Quality and Conditions, to serve as a template/best practice for adaptation and adoption at the province, as well as a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for quality control and coordination of ECEC.\\n
• Outcome 3: Austrian authorities (federal and province level) agree on a detailed implementation strategy on the improvement of framework conditions and recruitment in ECEC, including a nationwide action plan and a roadmap for implementation.\\n
• Outcome 4: Based on concepts and recommendations developed by the project, the Austrian authorities (federal and province level) conduct a national communication and advocacy campaign aimed at increasing uptake of the ECEC profession
  UNICEF is seeking an ECEC expert with experience in workforce development to support this programme in Austria.\\n

\\n

Scope of Work

\\n

1. Lead the development of a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for the Model Framework for ECEC Staffing Quality and Conditions currently being developed.

\\n

• \\n
• Ensure co-creation in framework development through hosting series of working group meetings, based on the existing working group calendar.\\n
• Develop M&E Framework that includes key indicators related to staff-child ratios, staff composition (demographics), wages and benefits, schedules and workloads, qualifications, training and promotions, staff turnover, leadership and classroom conditions.\\n
• Develop a draft guidance document on indicator definitions, data collection processes, data sources and data gaps.\\n
• Validate the frameworks with the expert working group.\\n

\\n

2. Develop and implementation strategy for improving ECEC Framework conditions and recruitment.

\\n

Based on the finding from the research and the development phase of the project that has already taken place and the Frameworks that are being developed \\xe2\\x80\\x93 formulate a national implementation strategy for the Model Framework for ECEC Staffing Quality and Conditions.

\\n

• \\n
• Develop action plan of measures for strategy implantation.\\n
• Develop strategy roadmap.\\n
• Undertake extensive consultation on the strategy, action plan and roadmap with the expert working group.\\n

\\n

3. Contribute to programme management and monitoring meetings.

\\n

• \\n
• Join twice-monthly meetings with the project teams.\\n
• Join Project working group meetings.\\n
• Join ad-hoc meetings on the deliverables with UNICEF, the ministry, the institutional project partners and other relevant stakeholders as needed for the development of deliverables.\\n
• Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss operational and implementation issues, provide solutions, recommendations and/or alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level intervention and/or decisions.\\n

\\n

Work Assignment Overview

\\n\\n

Estimated Duration of the Contract

\\n

48 working days between 16 December 2023 and 15 August 2024

\\n

Consultant\\\'s Work Place and Official Travel

\\n

The Consultant will be home-based in Austria.

\\n

As part of this assignment, some local/in-country travels are foreseen. The consultant will arrange her/his travel as and when they take place, and related costs will be reimbursed per UNICEF travel policy.

\\n

Travel Clause

\\n

• \\n
• All UNICEF rules and regulations related to travel of Consultants apply.\\n
• All travels shall be undertaken only upon the prior written approval by UNICEF.\\n
• The consultant must be fit to travel, be in a possession of the valid UN BSAFE certificate, obligatory inoculation(s) and have a valid own travel/medical insurance and an immunization/vaccination card.\\n

\\n

Estimated Cost of the Consultancy & Payment Schedule

\\n

Payment will be made on submission of an invoice and satisfactory completion of the above-mentioned deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs are incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines. All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.

\\n

Please submit a financial proposal (in USD) in your application based on 48 working days to undertake this assignment. Please do not include travel fees as this will be reimbursed as and when they take place.

\\n

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have\\xe2\\x80\\xa6

\\n

• \\n
• Master\\xe2\\x80\\x99s degree or higher in the following disciplines: Education, social studies and development, public health and/or medicine, nutrition, psychology, human development, child development, families\\\' studies or another relevant technical field\\n
• Seven (7) years minimum of relevant professional experience in early childhood education and care, social development planning and management in early childhood development related areas is required.\\n
• Experience managing national programme implementation essential.\\n
• Extensive experience of the Austrian ECEC context.\\n
• Experience working with EU funded grants, and Ministry reform programmes.\\n
• Experience working on ECEC workforce development.\\n
• Experience working on M&E for ECEC.\\n
• Understanding of ECEC staffing and service conditions, teacher training and mentorship and tools/processes for measuring ECEC quality.\\n
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergencies is considered an asset.\\n
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.\\n
• Fluency in English and German is essential. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.\\n

\\n

For every Child, you demonstrate\\xe2\\x80\\xa6

\\n

UNICEF\\xe2\\x80\\x99s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS), and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

\\n

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

\\n

UNICEF is here to serve the world\\xe2\\x80\\x99s most marginalized children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family 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.

\\n

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.

\\n

Remarks:

\\n

Please include a full CV in your application. Additionally, indicate your availability and professional fee (in USD) to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a professional fee will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

\\n

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered \\xe2\\x80\\x9cstaff members\\xe2\\x80\\x9d under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF\\xe2\\x80\\x99s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

\\n

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

\\n

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

\\n