Applications are hereby invited from suitably qualified candidates (Kenya Nationals) to fill the above Temporary Appointment in UNICEF Kenya Country Office (KCO), Programme Section.
Purpose: Under the general guidance of the Deputy Representative and based in the UNICEF Nairobi Office, the encumbent will support cross-sectoral Outcomes of the country programme, specifically Output 1 C4D, Outcome 3 – PME; Outcome 4; Outcome 7 – Health; Outcome 8 – Nutrition; Outcome 9 – WASH; Outcome 11 – ECDE.

Justification.
Besides ushering in a new political and democratic dispensation, the Constitution of Kenya 2010 lays down a normative and structural framework for the protection of human rights in Kenya. The Constitution has a comprehensive Bill of Rights which sets out both the general rights extending to citizens in general and those of specific groups including children, the youth and persons with disabilities. The mini Bill of Rights for children is set out at Article 53. Departing from the conventional limitations on socio-economic rights, Article 53 of the Constitution creates immediate obligations upon the State to fulfil socio-economic rights of children. The Constitution in the Fourth Schedule effectively devolves the delivery of healthcare, education, nutrition and shelter to all children within the ambit of ECD irrespective of budgetary implications. Additionally, in tandem with international children’s rights, the new Constitution establishes in Kenyan law internationally acclaimed principles on the rights of children such as the best interests of the child as a paramount consideration in every matter concerning children.

The GOK-UNICEF Country Programme (2014-2018) is built around three strategic shifts that are directly related to promoting the rights and development of the most vulnerable children with ECD positioned as a major underpinning, crosscutting and multidimensional factor. The three strategic shifts to which ECD is cardinal are:
1. Embedding all children’s and adolescent’s rights within the reformed governance system;
2. Modelling service delivery approaches to reach the most vulnerable children, focusing on high-burden counties, informal urban settlements and adolescents, and building capacity for scaling up successful approaches; and
3. Strengthening resilience of systems, communities and households in the face of recurrent types of crises.
However, since the launch in 2006 of the National Early Childhood Development Policy Framework and the National Early Childhood Development Service Standard Guidelines, there have been challenges in the implementation of the policy and enforcement of the standards in Kenya. Some of the challenges that have been documented include:
— Dissemination of the National ECD Policy Framework: the framework was not widely disseminated and consequently some of the stakeholders expected to be implementing the policy framework and service standard guidelines were not well versed with the content. Not enough copies were printed and thus ran out soon after the national launch.
— Leadership/Ownership: with the understanding that ECD is multi-sectoral in nature incorporating several players in ensuring provision of comprehensive ECD services for children, the issue of leadership/ownership has arisen. Clarification has been elusive on who is in charge of comprehensive ECD, who is held responsible for policy implementation, who takes the lead role and who coordinates the line ministries.
— Resourcing:there continues to be experienced inadequate resourcing of ECD programmes both in terms of financial and human capital. This is true for the line ministries as well as for the coordination entity, the NCCS, which have had to rely heavily on partners to fund their ECD activities.
— Relevance: the National ECD Policy Framework is currently not aligned to the Constitution of Kenya (2010) and fails to reflect current the regional descriptions and demographics. The framework also fails to take cognizance of government’s development blueprint, the Kenya Vision 2030.
— Coordination:there is a lack of proper working coordination mechanisms between the line ministries and the NCCS.This has hindered the efforts of NCCS to provide leadership and coordination given that NCCS is the legally mandated coordination entity.
— Devolution: since the launch of the National ECD Policy Framework the landscape has tremendously changed. The Constitution of Kenya (2010) places major emphasis on devolution and decentralization of powers previously concentrated at the national level. The constitution devolves power to the 47 counties and specifically makes ECD (childcare services and pre-primary) the mandate of the County. These realities need to be reflected in the National ECD Policy Framework.
In the recognition that the scenario on the national landscape replicates within its sectors, UNICEF KCO has launched an initiative to break down the silos that exist among the sectors and solidify ECD as a crosscutting issue in which all outcome teams have a stake. Motivated by the knowledge that science can be used to better achieve results for children, UNICEF KCO seeks to integrate its internal science, practice and policy communities to foster advances in ECD that benefit the causes of all outcome areas and bring ECD to the forefront of the 2014 – 2018 Country Program agenda in the awareness that the holistic nature of ECD makes it everybody’s business.
UNICEF KCO is therefore seeking the services of a qualified and competent professional to support the coordination of its office-wide Child Rights and ECD initiatives.

Scope of Work
The TA seeks to build cross-sectoral co-ordination systems, promote programme innovation, overcome gaps in knowledge, services and resources, and support the development of cost-effective programmes that are culturally appropriate through:
• Build co-ordination systems within the office that helps programme officers and specialists and field officers work together in teams to achieve the early childhood care and development goals.
• Prepare guidance notes on procedures, standards, regulations and legislation that will enable the development of comprehensive programmes centred around ECD in Kenya.
• Facilitate integration of ECD policy elements into the agenda of each outcome area so that they are considered routinely in decision-making, planning, programming and resource allocation processes.
• Together with technical specialists outline strategies and plans to respond swiftly and effectively to demands for ECD services, especially for vulnerable children and their parents through modelling in especially difficult situations (e.g. HIV, drought, conflict, etc.)
• Identify knowledge and capacity needs for internal and external constituents on child rights and ECD and draw up strategies for training, knowledge management and knowledge exchange with internal and external stakeholders.

RWP Outcome area covered
Outcome 1 – C4D; Outcome 3 – PME; 4 – Child Protection; Outcome 7 – Health; Outcome 8 – Nutrition; Outcome 9 – WASH; Outcome 11 – ECDE;

Expected Deliverables
• Comprehensive Road Maps and accompanying Action Plans for internal and external implementation
• Knowledge Management and Exchange platform on Child Rights and ECD – global and local best practices for staff in CO and Zos.
• Provide management, coordination and technical support to teams working on
• the internal advocacy package and capacity development of staff and counterparts on Child Rights and ECD
• the National ECD conference and support the completion of the report for release
• Documentation and consolidation of ECD models in Nairobi and Kisumu
• Advocacy sessions with county representatives on Child Rights and ECD in 20 counties
• Document initiatives undertaken for donor reporting and for lessons to be learnt for programme planning and advocacy.
Desired background and experience
• University degree in Social Sciences, Education or a related technical field
• At least 3 years of relevant work experience in promoting child rights to development- particularly in advocacy, policy, capacity building, programming and monitoring.
• Working experience in the area of HIV/AIDS and vulnerable children is an asset
• Capacity and experience in analysing information from multiple sources and packaging it for advocacy and training
• Good English writing skills
• Proficiency in Computer skills
Competencies:
i. Core Values (Required)
• Commitment
• Integrity
• Diversity and Inclusion
ii. Core Competencies (Required)
• Communication [Level II]
• Working with People [Level II]
• Drive for Results [Level II]
iii. Functional Competencies (Required)
• Analysing [Level I]
• Applying Technical Expertise [Level I]
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts (I)
• Learning and Researching (II)
Conditions (Important)
The contract will be a Temporary Appointment. Salaries and benefits will follow UNICEF regulations for NOC level positions

HOW TO APPLY:
Interested and suitable candidates should ensure they forward their applications along with their curriculum vitae, P-11 form (visit : http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc) – (Internal candidates should attach copies of their last two Performance Evaluation Reports), to:
The Human Resources Manager
UNICEF Kenya Country Office

Email address: kenhrvacanciesB@unicef.org
Please indicate Reference No. “KCO/PROG/2015-021” in the email subject.
“QUALIFIED FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY”
ZERO TOLERANCE FOR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE
UNICEF IS A SMOKE-FREE ENVIRONMENT