Early Childhood Development Advocacy Specialist 110 views3 applications

WHO WE ARE:

Global Communities champions innovative solutions to complex challenges at the intersection of humanitarian assistance, sustainable development, and financial inclusion. We ensure our approaches are as dynamic and diverse as the communities we serve. We bring together local ingenuity and global insights to save lives and secure strong futures.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Global Communities, in partnership with key stakeholders, is implementing the EFFECTS Plus project, aimed at improving the well-being of children and families through integrated, evidence-based programming. The project focuses on health, nutrition, protection, and early childhood development (ECD) interventions to ensure that children not only survive but thrive.

Global Communities is seeking a full-time Specialist to serve as the technical lead for all ECD and Advocacy related components of the EFFECTS Plus project. The ECD and Advocacy Specialist will guide the design, adaptation and implementation of a bundled curriculum that promotes nurturing care practices while also addressing IPV and VAC. This role is essential in connecting ECD with gender-sensitive and family-centered approaches. The specialist will work closely with government counterparts such as nutrition officers, social welfare officers, CHWs, and partners to ensure that nurturing care for ECD activities are evidence-based, culturally appropriate, and effectively delivered. The ECD and Advocacy specialist will also provide ongoing technical support, participating in research activities as needed, and contributing to the national dialogues and evidence generation for policy change.

The position is based in Dodoma but will support program activities in Dodoma, Iringa, and Mara. The ECD and Advocacy Specialist will lead the technical design, implementation, and monitoring of ECD components within the EFFECTS Plus project. This role will provide thought leadership on early childhood interventions, build capacity among stakeholders, and ensure high-quality, contextually appropriate services that support holistic child development.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Technical Leadership & Program Design (35-40%)

• Lead the integration of ECD strategies across project components including health, nutrition, WASH, parenting, and protection.
• Provide technical guidance on curricula development, CHW training, caregivers group sessions, stimulation/play and communication activities, and responsive caregiving.
• Contribute to high level program implementation, by working closely with the national, regional and Council Health management teams, district based nutritional officers, Kivulini technical team, field supervisors and other key stakeholders to ensure effective delivery of gender-transformative bundled nutrition, IPV/VAC prevention and parenting behavior change interventions.
• Support the development of age-appropriate play materials and methodologies for children aged 0–3 years.
• Ensure high quality implementation of all bundled nutrition and nurturing care for ECD interventions across the three project regions, providing technical guidance.
• Identify and address challenges in nurturing care for ECD component implementation, making evidence-informed adjustments as needed to improve program delivery and outcomes.
• Actively participate and contribute to the revision and enhancements of national ECD/parenting guidelines, policies, and messages as needed and advocating for incorporation of EFFECTS plus evidence-based learnings.

Capacity Building and Coordination (10-15%)

• Train and mentor project staff, community health workers, and partners on ECD best practices.
• Develop training materials, job aids, and implementation guides tailored to local contexts.
• Provide expert technical support in adaptation of the EFFECTS Plus curriculum to ensure seamless integration of nurturing care for ECD component to improve child nutrition and development outcomes and IPV/VAC prevention outcomes.
• Lead high impact training of trainers on EFFECST Plus group-based nurturing care curriculum equipping GC field supervisors, Kivulini team and GoT representative with the skills needed to effectively train CHWs.
• Oversee the implementation of training to 360 CHWs, ensuring they are well equipped to deliver the structured group sessions effectively.
• Support the region/council Health management team and strengthen their capacity to progressively take on and manage program elements.
• Provide ongoing mentorship and supervision, offering coaching, quality assurance and strategic support to Kivulini team members and GC field supervisors, for improved training delivery and group sessions facilitation.
• Utilize data driven decision making by collaborating with the MEL team, enabling targeted interventions to improve project outcomes.
• Serve as a key technical point of two-way communication between GC and the GOT counterparts at national, regional and District/Council levels with all matters pertaining to ECD, ensuring smooth coordination, alignment of priorities and harmonization of any programmatic changes
• Ensuring evidence from the project and research findings including successes, lesson learned, and challenges are well documented and disseminated through relevant platforms at national, regional, and global levels to inform policy changes and programming.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) (15-20%)

• Collaborate with the MEL team to design ECD-specific indicators and tools.
• Contribute to assessments, baseline/midline/endline evaluations, and learning agendas.
• Support Documentation of lesson learnt and evidence-based insights to inform policy changes and program improvements.
• Document and disseminate lessons learned and best practices in ECD programming.
• In collaboration with MEL Manager and other project team members prepare monthly, activity, training, quarterly and annual narrative reports and any other report required by the project ensuring timely submission to the donor and GOT as required.
• Ensure accurate and comprehensive documentation of EFFECTS Plus activities, working closely with the MEL team to align reporting with program plan and tools.
• Support EFFECTS Plus formative research, baseline

survey, midterm reviews, and final evaluation as may be requested and planned, contributing valuable insights to improve program delivery and impact.

• Collaborate with the MEAL team to develop advocacy specific indicators and learning questions.
• Monitor and report advocacy activities, policy shifts, government engagement outcomes, and stakeholder responses attributable to project advocacy
• Document and share case studies, success stories and programming and policy wins to inform internal learning and donor reporting

Stakeholder Engagement and Advocacy (15-25%)

• Serve as a technical representative of the project in national parenting technical working groups (TWGs) and other multi-sectoral ECD platforms, contributing to policy dialogues and harmonization with national strategies.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders at all levels of

government, ensuring that EFFECTS Plus is aligned with national development goals and receives necessary support for scale-up.

• Advocate for evidence-based nurturing care for ECD interventions that incorporate gender equity and violence prevention strategies in collaboration with Advocacy specialist.
• Identify gaps in current policies and practices and opportunities related to nurturing care for ECD services and propose actionable solutions.
• Collaborate with relevant GOT ministries to facilitate the adoption and institutionalization of the EFFECTS Plus curriculum into national institutions.
• Collaborate with project leadership to ensure advocacy activities are fully integrated into annual work plans and donor reports.
• Other: (5%) Undertake all other duties as may be assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:

Education:

• Undergraduate degree in a related discipline and minimum of six years of related work experience or a minimum of 10 years of related work experience.
• Master’s degree or equivalent in Early Childhood Development, Nutrition, Education, Public Health, Social Work, or a related field preferred.

Experience:

• Minimum of 6 years of experience in ECD programming in low-resource or development contexts.
• Proven experience designing and implementing integrated ECD programs, especially in donor-funded projects.
• Experience with participatory methodologies and working with community structures.

Skills and Competencies:

• Deep understanding of holistic child development and caregiver support.
• Strong training and facilitation skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English [plus local language if
• relevant].
• Proficiency in data interpretation and adaptive programming.

Global Communities is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment, regardless of age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.