UNICEF Daily Or Weekly Situation Report (Country)

UNICEF Office: Programme Division, New York Headquarters Consultancy Assignment: Master Trainers: ECD kits for Emergency and Post- Conflict Programmes

Background and Rationale Young children’s survival, well-being and development are dependent on close relationships and strong emotional attachments to their parents or other caregivers. Play, which is essential for children's learning and growth, should be the daily “work” of children. It fosters learning, growth and development. In emergencies, young children experience strong emotional reactions; they are less able to face uncertainty and adversity and have fewer internal coping resources than adults. It is crucial to establish a safe environment where young children can interact with others and caregivers, feel secure, play, and have access to early learning and psychosocial development activities.

In recent years, UNICEF ECD Unit has been actively involved in these efforts, paying particular attention to the youngest children, and advocating for effective mainstreaming of ECD into programming and policy activities. One concrete entry point for ECD programming is through child friendly spaces and preschools that include early-learning, stimulation, play and recreational materials for young children. To address this, UNICEF NYHQ ECD Unit has developed tools including an ECD Kit which was piloted in seven countries (Chad, Liberia, Congo Brazzaville, Jamaica, Guyana, Maldives, and Iraq). The ECD Kit is a box containing play materials for early- learning and psychosocial developmental needs of children from birth to age six. It aims to provide a range of activities to encourage the development and social interaction of children (playing, drawing, story-telling, numeracy, etc.).One key recommendation from the pilot experiences -further confirmed at the Global Consultation on Early Childhood Development held in New York on 28 August-1 September 2006 and through continuous feedback from ECD and emergency experts- is that training and guidelines are essential for effective and safe implementation of the ECD Kit.

As a result, an ECD Training Package was suggested for immediate implementation. This package aims to guide ECD field practitioners on how to implement appropriate responses in order to meet the holistic needs and diverse rights of young children in emergency and transition settings. In addition, the training includes basic information on early child development as well as strategies for using the ECD Kit with groups of young children from birth to age 6 also included in the package are suggestions for setting up an appropriate environment for organizing children in groups and practical information on how to order, store and refill the ECD Kit, as well as ideas on how to procure the ECD Kit locally using low-cost resources.

UNICEF is seeking eligible candidates (individuals or institutions) to carry out such training when and where needed. This ToR will outline the purpose of assignment, major deliverables and minimum qualifications of candidates.

Purpose of the Assignment The purpose of the assignment is to support the implementation of ECD activities in emergencies and in post- crisis settings by developing the capacity of UNICEF staff and partners in the effective use of the ECD kit, and in the delivery of related interventions.

Specific tasks include: Provide UNICEF staff and other partners with relevant background knowledge on ECD concepts, practices and tools, with a view to provide a solid foundation for the effective use of the ECD kit. And also cover the logistical and managerial, and monitoring and evaluation aspects of the kit. Build the capacity of implementers at different levels to ensure that the ECD kit is appropriately and effectively utilized in emergency and post-crisis settings. They should deliver a UNICEF-developed training package composed of two levels of curricula, targeting coordinators and facilitators:

Coordinators: ensure they acquire the required understanding of (i) the purpose and overall programmatic objectives of the ECD-kits, (ii) of adequate practices for the effective utilization of the kits, and (iii) of their roles and responsibilities in ensuring that facilitators and caregivers understand and make adequate use of the kits to reach and benefit the target population.

1 Facilitators: ensure they develop an in-depth understanding of the ECD-kit and of their effective utilization; and acquire the competences to train and supervise caregivers on the safe and effective use of the ECD kit and on related ECD activities (based on existing activity guide for caregivers); enable facilitators’ ability to organize ECD trainings and to coach caregivers.

Deliverables To adapt the ECD Training Package to specific needs of children and families in a given context of emergency and transition. At least 20 days per year of imparted training to UNICEF staff and relevant partners in emergency and post- crisis settings, on the effective use of ECD kit and related interventions.

Detailed reports describing the training activities implemented in the field, including feedback from training participants and recommendations with a view to finalize the ECD-kit training package. Expected Outcome National partners and implementers are able to assess ECD challenges, opportunities, practices and tools, and initiate ECD activities in emergencies and transition situations. UNICEF country teams are able to rapidly deploy ECD-kits and train caregivers on the use of the kits in emergency and post-transition settings, and to ensure that the right target groups are reached. Coordinators have access to training material to effectively organise orientation workshops for facilitators, and are able to undertake quality control, monitoring and supervision on the use of the kits and other ECD related activities at a programme level. Facilitators gain ECD knowledge and skills; they have access to training materials to effectively organise training for caregivers; and are able to undertake quality control, monitoring and supervision on the use of the kits and related ECD activities. Caregivers gain ECD knowledge and skills; they have access to supporting materials to effectively organize activities with young children in emergency and in transition situations.

Duration The selected candidates will be expected to be on the assignment for a total of 30 days per year (including the 5-day orientation in New York, time for training preparation and reporting, and official travel time). The training programme expected to start in March 2011/April 2011. The first field assignment (to be organized on teams of three trainers) is expected to start immediately after completion of the training in New York.

Direct Supervisor

Overall supervision by the chief of the ECD Section, UNICEF NYHQ, day-to-day supervision by the Emergency Specialist for ECD, UNICEF NYHQ.

Qualifications or specialized knowledge/experience required

Minimum Masters Degree in Education, Psychology, Child Development or related fields; At least 8 years of teaching and/or training experience, and knowledge of active and participatory adult teaching and learning methods. ; Be willing to travel on short-notice, and to provide training in diverse and difficult emergency and post-crisis settings; Strong communications skills (oral and written); Language competences: Proficiency in English is required. Working knowledge of other UN languages will be considered an asset; Knowledge and experience in emergency programmes, and/or ECD in Emergencies will be considered an asset; International experience in the provision of training for UN agencies and INGOs on child development will be considered an asset.

Health Statement and Certificate of Good Health

Insurance and Good Health Certificates to be provided by the consultant

2 How to apply

Qualified candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, CV and UN Personal History Form (P-11) (which can be downloaded from our website at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_53129.html) to [email protected] with subject line “ECD Kit Trainers” by 4 March 2011. Please indicate your ability, availability and daily rate to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications without a daily rate will not be considered