VACANCY NOTICE NO. PER/VN/2016/004
The Office of United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Rwanda and the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF) are inviting applications from suitably qualified Rwandan nationals to fill the following vacancy:
Title
ECD Advisor on Policy, Monitoring and Evaluation Consultancy
Purpose
Support MIGEPROF in coordinating the implementation of the national ECD policy and ECD Strategic Plan, in partnership with all ECD stakeholders and monitor and evaluate its implementation.
Location
- Kigali, Rwanda (to be based in MIGEPROF)
- ECD Specialist- UNICEF
Duration
Initial six months, with a possibility of renewal
Start Date
October 2016
Reporting to
Permanent Secretary of MIGEPROF.
Date of Issue
10 September 2016
Application Close Date
18 September 2016 at 17:00
I. ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT, BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE FOR THE JOB
Organizational Context:
The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to support the Government of Rwanda in its promotion of children’s rights through programs, advocacy, and operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates the commitment to children’s rights into a commitment to action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have the opportunity to survive, develop, and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias, or favoritism. Every child should have an equal chance in life in all social, political, economic, civic, and cultural dimensions. There is growing evidence that investing in ECD, health, education, and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential and will lead to sustained growth and stability of the country.
Background:
Early Childhood Development has emerged as one of the priority areas for development in Rwanda. The national Early Childhood Development Policy and its Strategic Plan was approved by Cabinet in May 2016, providing a framework to ensure a holistic and integrated approach to the development of young children. The integrated approach to ECD within the national Policy Framework calls for inter-sectoral coordination from the Education, Health, Nutrition, Hygiene & Sanitation, Child Protection, and Social Protection sectors. The Policy also calls for community-based approaches for the development and management of ECD services at the local level. The leadership for early childhood programming and coordination lies within the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF).
MIGEPROF has identified a need for technical support from an ECD policy and M&E advisor to work directly with MIGEPROF management and staff members responsible for the ECD programme. The main purpose of this assignment is to support MIGEPROF and ECD stakeholders in coordinating the implementation of the national ECD policy and ECD Strategic Plan and to monitor and evaluate its progress.
Purpose of this Job:
Under the guidance of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, the ECD Advisor on Policy, Monitoring and Evaluation will support MIGEPROF and ECD stakeholders in coordinating of implementation of the national ECD policy and ECD Strategic Plan and will monitor and evaluate its implementation.
II. JUSTIFICATION, OVERALL OBJECTIVE, EXPECTED DELIVERABLES AND RELATED DUTIES/TASKS
Justification:
The technical capacity of this position is required by MIGEPROF during this current critical phase of planning and developing mechanisms to ensure the implementation of the ECD Policy and Strategic Plan. The ECD Advisor on Policy, Monitoring and Evaluation will be based within MIGEPROF full time to directly work with and strengthen the capacity of MIGEPROF’s ECD team in coordinating the implementation of the ECD Policy and Strategic Plan and in providing relevant monitoring and evaluation support..
Overall Objective and Specific Tasks:
The overall objective of the ECD Advisor on Policy, Monitoring and Evaluation is to provide support to MIGEPROF in their role as the coordinator of the implementation of the ECD Policy and Strategic Plan, and to provide a quality control leadership role to the development process of the ECD M&E framework. The following key tasks are expected:
- Provide a detailed roadmap and framework for effective implementation of the National ECD Policy and Implementation Plan;
- Provide strategic and technical advice to the Ministry on matters relating to the implementation of the ECD policy and strategic plan;
- Contribute to the ECD Policy performance and implementation framework periodic reviews
- Contribute to the development of long-term ECD goals, objectives and strategies to achieve them
- Provide advisory services on ECD coordination and reporting mechanisms from the district to national levels
- Provide strategic advice to the Ministry on research, monitoring and implementation of Early Childhood Development programmes
- Liaise with stakeholders and other institutions regarding relationships with the Ministry in order to ensure coherence, consistence and harmony in interpretation and implementation of the ECD Policy;
- Provide advice, technical briefs and recommendations on matters relating to ECD; analyse and summarize the contents of files for approval by the Minister;
- Oversee the activities of Monitoring and Evaluation of ECD Policy Implementation;
- Coordinate the design of the ECD database and review data collection tools;
- Assist in developing draft work plans and other planning, monitoring and evaluation instruments;
§ Consolidate Districts and partners reports on ECD implementation on a quarterly basis.
Expected Deliverables:
§ Activity report and a forecast plan at the end of each month;
- Quarterly reports on the status of implementation of the ECD Policy and Strategic Plan;
- A summary of quarterly reports of ECD Implementation by districts.
- Finalizing and sharing minutes from ECD coordination and technical meetings
· Monitoring tools for implementation developed, tested, and used
Supervision and Place of Work:
The ECD Advisor on Policy, Monitoring and Evaluation will be based full-time in the MIGEPROF offices, in Kigali, Rwanda. MIGEPROF and UNICEF will be jointly responsible for supervising the incumbent and will be reporting to both the Permanent Secretary of MIGEPROF and UNICEF ECD Specialist.
III. SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES REQUIRED
Core Competencies:
· Effective oral and written communication skills
· Working with people and embracing diversity
· Drive for results
· Time management
Technical Competencies:
· Knowledge of results-based management and Logical Frameworks
· Knowledge of drafting operational plans;
· Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation models, systems, and tools;
· Coordination, planning, and organizational skills;
· Good analytical, negotiating, and advocacy skills;
· Confident decision-making skills;
· Good report writing and presentation skills;
· Good interpersonal skills;
· Computer literate
Other competencies and values :
· Good ECD sector planning knowledge/abilities, including a range of modalities for delivering ECD, strengthening linkages between different sub-sectors (e.g. Education, Nutrition, Child and Social Protection, Health, Agriculture and others), cost-effectiveness and efficiency issues, key institutional structures, components and processes, as well as governance issues in projects management.
· Good understanding of gender and inequity issues in relation to ECD and development and the application of gender / equity analysis to policy and planning in ECD
· Ability to support policy dialogue; translation of analytical findings and evidence into development programmes and policy discussions around equity and learning with partners, including government, development partners, CSOs and academia in relevant areas.
· Ability to develop close working relationships with all ECD primary stakeholders (government entities, development partners, the private sector, faith-based organizations, and NGOs) in order to establish a shared vision of the ECD programme and achieve its objectives;
· Ability to establish and maintain good working relations with the relevant government ministries, as well as other higher-level stakeholder groups;
· Support external interactions in ways that foster a joint learning process that identifies how the results for ECD could be improved to achieve sustainable impact.
· Ensure easy access to M&E reports and data and ensure they are shared with stakeholders in a timely manner
VI. RECRUITMENT QUALIFICATIONS
· Qualification and Experience: A master’s degree with 3 years of relevant experience or a Bachelor's degree with 8 years of progressive professional experience in education, early childhood development studies, social sciences, political sciences or other social science field is required.
· Language Requirements: Fluency in Kinyarwanda and English is required. Knowledge of French will be an added advantage
HOW TO APPLY:
FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO UNICEF RECEPTION:**
ü An application letter addressed to the Human Resources Specialist, UNICEF, P.O. Box 381 Kigali
ü Completed Personnel History form P11 forms (which can be downloaded from:
http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc) or available at UNICEF reception.
ü Completed resume/CV
ü Legalized photocopies of degrees, diplomas and certificate
ü Please apply online to rwajobs@unicef.org or submit your application documents to the UNICEF Reception.
The application has to include the financial proposal (All-inclusive monthly lump sum). Application without a financial proposal will not be considered.
*Please note that a**pplications which do not meet the specified minimum requirements or are received after the closing date will be rejected. Only short listed candidates will be contacted. Women are particularly encouraged to apply.*
UNICEF IS A SMOKE FREE ENVIRONMENT.
UNICEF IS COMMITTED TO GENDER BALANCE AND DIVERSITY WITHOUT DISTINCTION AS TO RACE, SEX OR RELIGION, AND WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. WELL QUALIFIED CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY
