Local Consultancy – PFM expert on Costing of mandatory preschool services, Yerevan, Armenia, (7 months, Home-based)

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For every child, the right to peace

The purpose of this assignment is to develop costing scenarios for the transition to mandatory enrolment in preschool education for children aged 5-6 years old including current situation and the new suggested models/scenarios, considering infrastructural, demographic and other needs. The analysis will assist the government in effective financial planning for one-year mandatory preschool services before school entry ensuring equitable access for all children.

How can you make a difference? 

Armenia faces a growing demand for affordable, accessible quality childcare and early learning services, particularly for children aged 0-6 in rural and disadvantaged communities. Access to early childhood education and care (ECEC) remains a challenge: only 39.1% of children aged 0-5, 73.6% of children aged 3-5, and 4.1 % of children under 3 years of age are enrolled.

Limited infrastructure, fiscal constraints, and demographic pressures such as out-migration and declining fertility have made it difficult to expand provision at the pace required. At the same time, early childhood education services are a critical enabler of women’s labor force participation and inclusive economic growth, directly supporting Armenia’s social protection and education reform agendas.

The State Programme for Development of Education until 2030 underscores the need for increasing access, quality, and inclusion at preschool level, including a target of at least 95% enrolment of children aged 3-5 in preschool services by 2030 and expanding of preschool education infrastructure by 500.

At the same time, preschool education is not compulsory in Armenia. As part of reaching higher enrolment rate in preschool education, there have been discussions of potentially making one year before school mandatory for children aged 5-6 years old by 2030.

The scope of work of the PFM expert includes review of available documentation (including policy and legal documents, concept notes, budgetary programmes  and standards governing budget allocation, revenue collection, per capita cost calculations, and expenditures across all government levels (central, regional, and local), MTEF submissions), international analyses, conduct of costing and cost comparison for universal preschool education provision for 5-6 years-old, while taking into account the specific needs of various vulnerable groups, demographic trends and infrastructural needs, assessment of the financial burden on the state budget and cost projection with various  financing scenarios. The expert will work closely with UNICEF and MoESCS, MoF, MLSA, MTAI, as well as other counterparts, throughout the process, including initial presentation and validation of findings and submission of the final report. The detailed tasks are presented in the “Work Assignment overview” section of the ToR.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  PFM Consultant_preschool TOR template VA.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

Minimum requirements:

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility jobs-near-me.org UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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Remarks:  

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates with disability are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

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