UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfilling their potential.
Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.
And we never give up.
For every child, a better future
UNICEF works to ensure the rights of all children in the East Asia and Pacific Region. This means the rights of every child living in this country, irrespective of their nationality, gender, religion or ethnicity, to:
- survival – to basic healthcare, peace and security;
- development – to a good education, a loving home and adequate nutrition;
- protection – from abuse, neglect, trafficking, child labour and other forms of exploitation; and
- participation – to express opinions, be listened to and take part in making any decisions that affect them
How can you make a difference?
UNICEF Thailand Country Office is looking to strengthen our programme implementation on parenting of children in the early years. In addition, UNICEF WHO Thailand, and other partners aim to advocate, advocate for the increase investment for the government to improve access for parenting programmes, as well as to mobilize the multi-sectoral stakeholders to jointly agree upon and support the development of a strategic framework for parenting in Thailand. To support this effort, the ECD/Education Team of UNICEF is seeking a qualified consultant to:
1) Provide technical support with UNICEF’s programme implementation to support parenting for young children.
2) Provide technical support for UNICEF and partners’ effort to advocate the universal expansion of quality parenting programme for young children.
Work assignment and deliverables:
The consultant will perform the following assignments.
Assignment 1: Develop a policy brief on the need for Thailand to invest in universal parenting programmes.
The brief should provide the rational and evidence to advocate with high-level decision makers within the Ministry of Public Health and other related ministries. Direct reference to the Nurturing Care Framework should be included. Gender, inclusion, and equity should be included where appropriate. It should use examples of global good practice on delivering parenting programme to promote ECD, as well as drawing on evidence from Thailand where appropriate.
The tasks under this assignment include:
1. Review the available data, including the recent parenting programme reviews by WHO, and other documents.
2. Develop and present a first policy brief draft.
3. Incorporate the inputs from UNICEF, WHO, and other partners and finalize the policy brief.
The brief should be in English and Thai, around 6 pages in length, with all sources of information is properly referenced.
Expected deliverable: Policy brief on universal parenting programmes, in English and Thai.
Delivery Schedule: May 2025 (10 days)
Assignment 2: Development a draft of the parenting strategic framework through an inclusive and consultative process.
In order to coordinate and bring together the existing fragmented efforts on parenting, it is crucial that a national parenting strategic framework is developed to establish a common vision/goal for parenting programmes. The framework can outline the desired components of parenting programme for each age group, and clarify the roles and responsibilities of line ministries and local government actors. While the consultant can support the process and develop the draft framework. The process should be inclusive and consultative with the key ministries and stakeholders.
The tasks under this assignment include:
1. Develop the concept note on parenting strategic framework (why should it be developed, what it would include, and what would be the process to develop it) (Thai and English)
2. Coordinate with key partners such as WHO, DOMH, DOH, and other agencies to agree on the process for developing the parenting strategic framework.
3. Develop the outline of the parenting strategic framework for consultation.
4. Develop the first draft of the parenting strategic framework.
5. Support the preparation for the consultative process.
6. Incorporate the inputs from UNICEF, WHO, and other partners and finalize the framework.
7. Support the advocacy and dissemination activities.
Expected deliverable: 2.1 Concept note of on Parenting Strategic Framework (Thai and English), 2.2 First Draft of parenting strategic framework in Thai, 2.3 Final draft of the Parenting strategic framework
Delivery Schedule: July-December 2025 (70 days)
Assignment 3: Provide technical support to the Department of Health in implementing the Parents School pilot project.
UNICEF is currently supporting DOH with initiatives to improve the quality of and access to the Parents School, with implementation in 20 hospitals in 6 provinces. The tasks under this assignment include:
1. Provide technical support to support the development of information, education, and communication materials supported by UNICEF for dissemination in the Parents School
2. Conduct 6 field visits to monitor the progress of the implementation in the pilot hospitals.
3. Provide technical support to DOH in the finalization of guideline or handbook for Parents Schools for the nationwide dissemination.
4. Monitor the dissemination and use of the UNICEF supported materials
5. Develop 1 human interest story of health workers and beneficiaries for UNICEF communication and donor reporting
Expected deliverable: 3.1 Guideline for Parents School, 3.2 Trip reports, 3.3 Human interest story
Delivery Schedule: May- August 2025 (60 days)
Assignment 4: Provide technical and management support for the evaluation of the Department of Health’s parenting initiatives.
UNICEF will work with the Department of Health be commissioning the evaluation of DOH’s initiatives to support parenting, including Parents School, EMMM, DSPM, and Pink Book. The consultant is expected to provide support to ensure that the evaluation starts
The tasks under this assignment include:
1. Work with DOH to define the purpose and scope of the evaluation.
2. Develop the term of reference for the evaluation of the Department of Health’s parenting initiatives, including Parents School, EMMM, DSPM, and Pink Book, as well as other necessary documents for the Request for Proposal and selection.
3. Provide the coordination support between the Department of Health and the selected contractor for the evaluation
4. Conduct monitoring visit to monitor the data collection.
Expected deliverable: 4.1 TOR and accompanied documents such as technical response form, financial proposal, invitee list, 4.2 Trip report to monitor the evaluation
Delivery Schedule: June-December 2025 (40 days)
Assignment 5: Provide technical support for the Parenting communication campaign by the UNICEF Communication team.
The campaign aims to increase public advocacy on the importance of support to parents, including high-quality parenting programmes. The tasks under this assignment include:
1. Provide technical support to the Communication team to develop key messages and communication materials that support the public advocacy/ campaign.
Expected deliverable: Parenting campaign materials
Delivery Schedule: May 2025 (10 days)
The consultant will work at own premises, with 1 day per week at UNICEF office and a weekly online meeting with the contract supervisor to discuss the progress of the assignment.
Duration of Contract: May 2025 – January 2026 (190 working days)
Duty Travel: 7-10 domestic trips will be required.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Qualifications or specialized knowledge/ experience required
• Advanced degree in language, early childhood education, education or another relevant technical field.
• More than 5 years of working experience related to parenting, early childhood development, child development in Thailand.
• Good understanding of early childhood development, parenting, and issues affecting child health, nutrition, and developmental issues.
• Proven experience in producing policy documents, guidelines, and frameworks is desirable.
• Experience in working with key ministries related to ECD in Thailand.
• Experience in programme/ project management, and understanding of result-based management is an asset.
• Excellent oral and written communications in English and Thai is required.
Interested candidates are requested to submit CV, full contact information of minimum 3 references, availability, technical proposal, and financial proposal by 19 May 2025
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).
To view our competency framework, please visit here.
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UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.
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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.
Remarks:
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants. Consultants are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.
The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.
