[Hiring] International Consultant - ECD and the Status of Pacific Young Children Report @AGORA

Role Description

As custodian to the Pasifika Call to Action, the Pacific Regional Council for Early Childhood Development (PRC4ECD) unites Ministers and Permanent Secretaries from education, health, finance, and social welfare in 15 PICTs, encouraging countries to tailor the Call to Action to their specific contexts. This role drives collaboration among leaders, policymakers, and program implementers to address gaps in health, nutrition, protection, care, and stimulation affecting the development of young children across the region.

• Aligns efforts with broader regional priorities, such as the 2050 Blue Pacific Strategy and the Pacific Culture Strategy.
• Strengthens national and regional ECD systems since 2017 through the Pasifika Call to Action.
• Focuses on integrated, cross-sectoral approaches combining health and nutrition interventions with parenting, responsive caregiving, and early stimulation.
• Develops the ECD Status of the Pacific Young Children Report in response to outcomes from the 2026 PIF Women Leaders Meeting and the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.
• Ensures readiness to contribute to the ECD standing agenda item on the Leaders’ Meeting agenda.

Qualifications

• Masters in Early childhood development, early childhood education, education policy and planning, public health, economics of education, or a closely related social science discipline.
• A minimum of twelve (12) years of progressively responsible professional experience in early childhood development.
• At least five (5) years in professional experience in programme planning, management, and research within the field of early childhood development.
• Demonstrated professional experience in Pacific Island Countries, including direct technical work with Pacific ministries and governments.
• Experience developing ECD plans and costed implementation plans.
• Experience bringing analytical publications to print-ready standard in collaboration with designers and copy editors.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.

Requirements

• Ability to translate systems analysis into ministerial-level policy recommendations and advocacy products.
• Excellent analytical writing in English for both technical and ministerial audiences.
• Proven ability to work remotely across Pacific time zones and engage government counterparts effectively.
• Work experience in other small island developing states of comparable scale and geographic dispersion is desirable.
• Familiarity with the Pacific Regional Council for Early Childhood Development (PRC4ECD) and the Conference of Pacific Education Ministers process.
• Experience facilitating multi-country validation and capacity-building processes.

Benefits

• Diverse opportunities for professional and personal development.
• Attractive compensation and benefits package.

Company Description

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. We are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed.

• Promotes the rights of every child as a calling.
• Welcomes everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture.