Consultant for Policy Development Support for Programme Convergence Budgets BEGIN (Early Childhood and Care Development) and Nutrition,Manila,Philippines, 17.5 Months. Remote.#595907

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.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to knowledge

How can you make a difference?

In 2025, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd), the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Council, and other key government stakeholders, undertook a comprehensive review of the Programme Convergence Budgeting (PCB) for Early Childhood Development (ECD), now referred to as PCB for Building Early Growth through Integrated Nurturing (PCB BEGIN), with technical support from UNICEF. The review examined the relevance, effectiveness, implementation experience, and institutional arrangements of the PCB mechanism, while assessing its potential to evolve from a coordination platform into a more budgeting strategy for advancing Early Childhood Development outcomes.

To support the Government of the Philippines in advancing these reforms, UNICEF seeks to engage a consultant who will work closely on strengthening the policy, operational, financing, monitoring, and accountability architecture required to sustain inter-agency convergence as an integral component of the country's public financial management system. The consultant will be working in close coordination and with technical oversight from the Department of Education and the ECCD Council, under the strategic oversight of the PCB Steering Committee and the Department of Budget and Management-Fiscal Planning and Reforms Bureau. It will also work closely with other agencies contributing in the PCB implementation such as National Nutrition Council (NNC), Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and other while maintaining oversight coordination with DepEd, the ECCD Council, and DBM to ensure coherence with existing nutrition governance and financing reforms.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  TMC0006049 External ToR.pdf

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

Minimum requirements: |(Qualifications/Experience/ Knowledge/Expertise/Skills)

• Education: Bachelors in in Economics, Business, Public Administration, Public Finance, the Social Sciences or a related field.
• Work Experience: At least 10 years of experience on conducting analysis or providing consultancy/research/advice to public institutions, decision-makers, experts and/or other relevant parties in PFM systems

Demonstrated experience in research, developing analytical reports, engaging stakeholders in policy discussions and follow-up recommendations

Advance degree (Masters) is an advantage combined with at least relevant 5 experience on public finance, public policies, social science research.

• Skills Strong analytical, technical writing, and documentation skills, with the ability to translate concepts into practical, user-friendly guidance

Proven facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills, including conducting consultations, workshops, and Excellent verbal and written communication in English

• Language Requirements: Fluency in English and Filipino is required
• Desirables: Prior knowledge of the Philippines budget and public finance systems, and the relevant PFMrelated laws, rules, regulations, and systems relevant to the child responsive PFM.

Demonstrated understanding and knowledge on child rights, Early Childhood Development, Nutrition, and/or researches on children is an advantage.

Prior engagement with government agencies and development partners particularly DBM, DEPDev, DepEd, ECCD Council, NNC, DOH, and UNICEF is an advantage.

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

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | 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.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
• Cover letter
• A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template) TMC0006049 Financial proposal.docx