UN VOLUNTEER DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT

Transcription

1 Preamble: UN VOLUNTEER DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that promotes volunteerism to support peace and development worldwide. Volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development and it benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for volunteerism globally, encouraging partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing volunteers. In most cultures volunteerism is deeply embedded in long-established, ancient traditions of sharing and support within the communities. In this context, UN Volunteers take part in various forms of volunteerism and play a role in development and peace together with co-workers, host agencies and local communities. In all assignments, UN Volunteers promote volunteerism through their action and conduct. Engaging in volunteer activity can effectively and positively enrich their understanding of local and social realities, as well as create a bridge between themselves and the people in their host community. This will make the time they spend as UN Volunteers even more rewarding and productive. 1. UNV Assignment Title: ECD Education Officer 2. Type of Assignment: International UN Volunteer 3. Project Title: Early Childhood Development (ECD) 4. Duration: One year 5. Location, Country: Kathmandu, Nepal 6. Expected Starting Date: 1 November Brief Project Description: Intermediate results 2.4 of UNICEF s country program ( ) states that, In selected districts and municipalities, young children (up to 5 years), especially those disadvantaged, have increased access to holistic developmental opportunities through parental education and child-friendly pre-primary education for improved school readiness. Capitalizing on the country s success in expanding children s access to pre-primary education/ecd, UNICEF supported districts will receive support to further strengthens their service provision capacity for ECD. Mapping of ECD centres in collaboration with local bodies will be used to ensure that the most disadvantaged communities (including marginalized ethnic groups/caste, children with disabilities and children affected by HIV) are served. Reflecting the results of the bottleneck analysis, DEO and local stakeholders capacity to provide quality early learning will be strengthened, including the improvement of convergence systems with other sectors such as health, nutrition, WASH, child protection and social policy coordinated by local governments. The expansion of parental education in order to strengthen knowledge and capacities of parents notably those of disadvantaged communities, will be another main focus. Male participation will be promoted in order to support men in taking more caretaking responsibilities. Nepal s extended School Sector Reform Plan (SSRP, ) suggests expansion of Early Childhood Education and Development (ECED) centers in marginalized communities supporting to school readiness and to the EFA goal-one. Over last few years expansion of ECD centers has been notable with 74% gross enrolment rate in 30,000 community ECD centre (around one million children). But the access of the low quintal family s children in the center is very limited. Moreover children in grade one with ECD experience limited (54%). The authorities, parents/caregivers need to aware on the importance of investment on ECD. Likewise the quality of ECED centers also needs to be improved through improving the systematic issues such as quality of training to ECD/teachers, institutionalization of the training system and dissemination

2 strategies for parental education especially among marginalized communities. Caregivers often provide only limited and rudimentary psychosocial care to young children in the home environment, and parenting programmes only reach a small percentage of families. 8. Host Agency/Host Institute: UNICEF Kathmandu, Nepal Organizational Context: The UN volunteer will be dealing/interacting with Government partners but also with non-government, civil society organizations. Among the government partners Ministry/Department of Education/ECD section, district based government s line agencies those dealing with Education, Protection, Health/Nutrition and Local Governance for an integrated ECD planning and implementation through local governments. The partners/organization also includes the I/NGOs and community based groups such as Save the Children, GIZ Nepal, National and district based Setogurans (local NGO) School Management Committees, ECD committees and Parents. The role of government partners is very important being in the driving seat. Likewise the NGO partners are mobilized for community empowerment and technical support to implement the national and district plan on ECD. The incumbent will be placed at UNICEF s Education section together with ECD/Education team. The IUNV will be working in close cooperation with the Early Childhood Development Specialist and the Education team under the overall direction of the Section Chief. Particularly the IUNV will be assisting in planning, capacity -building and monitoring to achieve the result of the ECD program ( ). The UN volunteer will be required to visit program districts (remote hills, mountains and low lands). The following organogram reveals where the post is located. Education Section Dr. Marilyn Hoar Chief Education L RR Sunil Pun Programme Assistant/Budget, finance & Administration G RR Sumon Tuladhar Education Specialist NOC OR Sabina Joshi Emergency Education Specialist NOC OR Marian Hodgkin Education Specialist L OR Purnima Gurung Project Off. Education NOB OR Shiva Lal Bhusal ECD Specialist NOC OR Education Officer P JPO ECD/Education Officer IUNV Type of Assignment Place: assignment with family

3 11. Description of tasks: Under the direct supervision of NOC- Early Childhood Development Specialist the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: Provide technical support to governmental and non-governmental partners for the the development/planning/implementation of strategies and activities related to Early Childhood Development. Collaborate with potential government and non-government partners including GIZ Nepal to implement the PE through participatory learning centers and cooperatives. Support for the dissemination strategies of ECD Parental Education, National ECD Guidelines, Curriculum, and Minimum Standards for ECD centers, Early Learning Development Standards (ELDS) and parental education (with focus on UNICEF-Nepal s C4D strategy). Manage and consolidate the ECD mapping survey with local partners/research consultancy on the quality delivery of ECD services in UNICEF supported districts, in close coordination with Department of Education/ECD section. Prepare reports or parts of proposal/documents as necessary on ECD. Analyze program implementation reports and evaluates in relation to established program recommendations and plans of action. Reports the outcome of analyses and proposes corrective actions. Undertake ongoing monitoring visits to project sites namely in the area of ECD, but also in other areas of education. Assesses local conditions and resources, and monitors UNICEF inputs and activity outputs. Coordinate and communicates with local counterpart authorities, partners and with UNICEF field offices on the formulation/implementation of the project, including the flow of supply and nonsupply assistance. Contribute to other duties related to the effective implementation of the education programme (including participation in coordination meetings etc.). Assist in the identification of necessary supplies for programme implementation. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to: Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark IVD); Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities; Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

4 12. Results/Expected Output: Provided support to facilitate that the national and district plans of MOE/GON have increased investment on ECD including Parental Education. Analytical reports with corrective actions are produced periodically. Reports /proposals as and when needed are in place. ECD mapping report developed A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed. Volunteerism supports increased access of the marginalized through equity based quality ECD programme in Nepal. 13. Qualifications/Requirements: University degree in Education or Early Childhood Development. Minimum of three years of professional work experience in Education/ECD project administration, monitoring and evaluation. Good communication skills both spoken and written English is required 14. Living Conditions: Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, is in Phase 1 of the UN Security classification, but may change depending on the development of the security situation. Living conditions in Kathmandu are good. Situated in the lap of the Himalayas, Nepal is a landlocked country characterized by great geographic variety. The placement will be in Kathmandu where there are adequate living conditions. Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, is in Phase 1 of the UN Security classification, but may change depending on the development of the security situation. Living conditions in Kathmandu are good. Kathmandu is the capital city located at an altitude of 1,300 meters (4,300 feet) above the sea level. As a center of tourism, Kathmandu offers a wide variety of different restaurants, hotels and entertainment ranging from modest to high standards. Kathmandu also offers a wide variety of apartment and housing options at very reasonable rates. 15. Conditions of Service: A 12-month contract; monthly volunteer living allowance (VLA) intended to cover housing, basic needs and utilities, equivalent to US$ 1760 for single person, US$ 2010 for person with one dependant, and US$ 2210 for person with two or more recognized dependants; settling-in-grant (if applicable); life, health, and permanent disability insurance; return airfares (if applicable); resettlement allowance for satisfactory service. 16. Application Procedure: If you have not yet registered in the UNV database, please apply by registering your profile at Important: Once you have created your UNV account by validating your address, please complete all sections of your profile.

5 Go to Special Recruitment section on the left menu, click on the Edit button and select the advertisement code 14FFGER_NEP from the drop down list. Please do not forget to click the Update button. If you are registered in the UNV database, please update your profile at: click on the Special Recruitment option on the left menu, then click on the Edit button and select the advertisement code 14FFGER_NEP. Application deadline is 30 November 2014.