UNICEF / Published Jun 23, 2026

Early Childhood Development (ECD) Associate

On-site3. Good health and well-being

Location: Türkiye; Ankara
Duration: 365 days; Possible extension
Deadline: Jul 19, 2026; 4 days left
Assignments: 1; available position(s)
Expected start: Sep 12, 2026
Volunteer category: Associate UCoS from Apr2026; International

Sustainable Development Goal

3. Good health and well-being

Assignment

What the volunteer will do

Mission and objectives

For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF believes that all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfil their potential – to the benefit of a better world. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

Context

UNICEF is seeking a motivated and committed International UN Volunteer to support its work in early childhood development in Türkiye, supporting more than 9 million young children and their families. Children need early childhood support because the experiences they have in the first years of life shape the foundations for their health, learning, behavior, and well-being throughout childhood and into adulthood. This period is a one-time window of opportunity that cannot be fully compensated for later. UNICEF Türkiye’s Early Childhood Development (ECD) Programme supports national systems to ensure that all young children—particularly those affected by poverty, displacement, disability, or social exclusion—can survive, thrive, and realize their full developmental potential from pregnancy through the early years of life. The programme applies a multisectoral and systems-strengthening approach in line with the Nurturing Care Framework. Through multisectoral programming, systems strengthening, and partnerships, UNICEF ECD Programme support building an equitable human capital development to ensure that no child is left behind. The ECD Programme collaborates closely with line ministries, municipalities, academia, civil society organizations, and international partners to support policy development, coordination across sectors, capacity-building of the ECD workforce, and scaling up of evidence-informed and inclusive ECD models. Since 2024, country is developing a new model for provision of Early Childhood Services, enabling timely identification of risks or disabilities and ensuring comprehensive support. The International UN Volunteer ECD Associate role gives a unique opportunity to the programme by providing programme implementation support, including assisting with planning, implementation, monitoring, and documentation of ECD interventions; supporting partner coordination and cross-sectoral collaboration; contributing to data collection, analysis, and reporting; and helping integrate global best practices and UNICEF standards into country-level programming. Through this assignment, the ECD Associate will support advancing equitable, high-quality ECD services, generating knowledge to inform sustainable national policies and programmes and making a difference in quality of life and developmental outcomes of young children in Türkiye.

Task description

The UN Volunteer will be part of the Early Childhood Development Section at the UNICEF Türkiye Country Office. The assignment contributes to initiatives that strengthen systems and expand access to essential services for early childhood development and parenting support. Under the direct supervision of ECD Manager, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: - Support in implementation of cross-sectoral ECD programme, including support with digital solutions for parenting and child development support. - Assist in coordination with government counterparts, municipalities, and partners to promote a multisectoral approach to ECD. - Assist with organizing meetings, trainings, workshops, and field visits related to ECD activities. - Support organization of key events, including National and International Breastfeeding Weeks, Parenting Month and the National Congress in Early Childhood in September, 2026. - Support internal and external reporting, presentations, and communication materials for the ECD Section. - Support monitoring, data collection, and documentation of programme results, including contributions to progress reports, briefs and development of the first data collection tool for ECD centers. - Contribute to documentation of good practices, lessons learned, and knowledge products. - Support inclusion focused activities targeting vulnerable groups, including refugee children and children with disabilities. - Provide administrative and operational support as required. During the first month of the assignment, the UN Volunteer will work closely with his/her direct supervisor to finalize an agreed-upon work plan. The work plan should outline key objectives and activities and include regular check‑ins with the supervisor to review progress and receive performance feedback.

Requirements

Eligibility and qualifications

Age: 18 - 80
Required experience: 1 years
Education: Bachelor's degree
Nationality: Open to all nationalities

Languages

EnglishRequired

Fluent

Areas of expertise

Project management, programme development, strategyCommunity developmentEmergency preparedness, crisis response

Skills and experience

Demonstrated interest or experience (up to three years) in: - Understanding of early childhood development principles, nurturing care, and age appropriate learning - Demonstrated interest in Early Childhood Development (ECD), including a commitment to promoting nurturing care, positive parenting, and inclusive services for young children and their caregivers - Interest or prior experience supporting Early Childhood Development (ECD) initiatives, including programme support, community-based activities, research, monitoring, or coordination related to young children and families Skills in: - Strong coordination, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills - Ability to work collaboratively with diverse partners, including adolescents and young people - Excellent writing, documentation, visualization and analytical skills - Data management and basic data analysis skills (e.g. organizing datasets, tracking indicators, supporting reporting) are considered an asset - Basic understanding of digital platforms (mobile apps, web tools, learning management systems) - Ability to work with developmentally appropriate, inclusive, and safe digital solutions

Competencies and values

Accountability Adaptability and Flexibility Building Trust Client Orientation Commitment and Motivation Commitment to Continuous Learning Communication Creativity Empowering Others Ethics and Values Integrity Judgement and Decision-making Knowledge Sharing Leadership Managing Performance Planning and Organizing Professionalism Respect for Diversity Self-Management Technological Awareness Vision Working in Teams

Notes

Additional information

Living conditions and remarks

The UN Volunteer will be stationed in Ankara, the capital city of Türkiye. Ankara offers a high quality of life in a safe, organized, and culturally rich environment. As a diplomatic and administrative hub, the city hosts numerous international organizations and embassies. The city provides a comfortable living experience with well-developed infrastructure and access to modern healthcare, education, and recreational facilities. Its central location within Türkiye also makes it easy to travel to other regions of the country, offering opportunities to explore Türkiye’s rich history, natural landscapes, and cultural diversity. With its combination of professional opportunities, cultural life, safety, and accessibility, Ankara offers an enriching and supportive environment for an international UNV assignment, enabling volunteers to focus meaningfully on their contribution to adolescents and young people while enjoying daily life in the city. The UN Volunteers are responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. The Summary of UNV Entitlement (International Associate): All paid in USD currency - Current Monthly Living Allowance (MLA): USD 2,105 - Private insurance: Health, dental, life, and dismemberment coverage by CIGNA - Entry allowance (one-time payment): USD 3,500 - Dependent allowance and insurance are provided based on eligibility criteria - Exit allowance: USD 225 per month, and upon the satisfactory completion of assignment - Annual leave: 2.5 days accrued per calendar month - Free access to different learning platforms and the UN & UNV network Notes: 1) The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward, or salary in exchange for the volunteer work. 2) It's important to note that UNV assignments are volunteer assignments, not employment. The purpose of the allowances and entitlements paid to UN Volunteers is to enable UN Volunteers to sustain a secure standard of living at the duty stations in line with United Nations standards without incurring personal costs. 3) You can check full entitlements at the duty station: https://app.unv.org/calculator 4) Please read the complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos For assignments with UNICEF, mandatory: In addition to duty station specific vaccine requirements, appointments 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 appointment. It does not apply to UN Volunteers 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 contracts.

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. UNV is committed to diversity, human rights, and individual dignity.

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