Technical Support Consultant for Early Childhood Education and Care Expansion

Provide technical support to local governments in Bosnia and Herzegovina for planning and implementing the expansion of early childhood education and care. Facilitate development of five-year expansion plans and implementation of locally contextualized initiatives to increase equitable access to quality ECEC.

Responsibilities

• Provide sustained technical support for local expansion planning and implementation of early childhood education and care in four municipalities/cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Facilitate development of five-year ECEC expansion plans and implement one locally contextualized, co-funded expansion initiative in each municipality/city.
• Collaborate with local administrations, education authorities and other relevant social-sector authorities to coordinate decisions on provision, financing, staffing, affordability and inclusion.
• Adapt and apply UNICEF's existing planning methodology, examples from other cities and costing tools to local circumstances.
• Strengthen municipal ownership and help translate agreed priorities into practical projects and sustainable public financing.
• Support implementation of innovative local-level initiatives to increase ECEC enrolment, including development of subsidy models for families, partnerships with private providers or other measures to improve public financing for children and expand access.
• Coordinate with UNICEF’s PPP expert for specialist financing and public-private partnership advice.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Economics, public finance, public policy, public administration or another relevant discipline.
• At least 4 years of relevant professional experience in local policy or development planning, public financing and support to municipal project implementation.
• Experience supporting project implementation, budget monitoring and reporting, preferably involving grants or transfers to public authorities.
• Fluency in English and Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian.
• Knowledge of local government institutions and public budgeting processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Ability to coordinate diverse public-sector counterparts, organise consultations and provide practical technical guidance.
• Ability to implement local-level projects, including funds utilization monitoring and implementation quality assurance.
• Strong ICT skills, including the use of MS Office.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong facilitation skills and ability to work independently and proactively.
• Excellent professional writing skills.
• Prior work experience with UNICEF or other UN organization is an asset.

Skills

• Local Policy Development
• Public Financing
• Municipal Project Implementation
• Project Implementation Support
• Budget Monitoring
• Financial Reporting
• Grants Management
• Local Government Knowledge
• National Budgetary Processes
• Stakeholder Coordination
• Consultative Meeting Facilitation
• Technical Guidance
• Funds Utilization Monitoring
• Implementation Quality Assurance
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Professional Writing
• Facilitation Skills

Languages

English, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian