Early Childhood Care and Development Advisor

Assignment Type:

Canadian International Volunteer

Eligibility Requirements:

Open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada only

Assignment ID:

VA-107095

Assignment Title:

Early Childhood Care and Development Advisor

Partner:

VTC Amman

Country:

Jordan

Duration:

6 to 12 months

Time Commitment:

Full-time

Assignment Context

Are you passionate about women’s economic empowerment? ? Do you have curriculum development and revision skills to share? 

As the Early Childhood Care and Development Advisor with the Vocational Training Corporation (VTC)  in Amman, Jordan, you will work with local implementing partners, training institutions, and the BUCRA team to strengthen the development and delivery of sustainable, affordable, and scalable childcare solutions that can enable women to enter into, and remain in, the workforce. In this role, you will support the project team and national partners in delivering and advising on policies and tools related to Early Childhood Care and Development service management and capacity building in Jordan.

Apply today and share your skills to make an impact on women’s economic empowerment in Jordan!

Roles and Responsibilities

• Review the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) training program curriculum to ensure adherence to Canadian best practices, market-driven, and gender-sensitive standards
• Stay updated on sector developments, oversee quality assurance, identify program gaps, and collaborate with teams and stakeholders to optimize implementation 
• Support technical capacity building, and provide mentorship, and training refreshment for instructors
• Support the development of childcare manuals and policies aligned with international and national standards 
• Ensure that a gender equality lens is consistently applied in the execution of all activities
• Undertake any other tasks assigned by the Country Director

• Participate in pre-assignment training
• Participate in at least 3 public engagement initiatives with Canadian audiences before, during, or after the assignment. Volunteers will be equipped with the tools, training, funds, and support to achieve these goals. Volunteers will also have to report on each of their public engagement activities through our Volunteer Information Portal. Virtual chats and individual check-ins can be booked with the Senior Public Engagement Officer throughout the course of their assignment and up to 2 years after to seek guidance and support with their public engagement activities
• Canadian volunteers are required to do at least one activity that contributes to meeting a fundraising target of $1,500. The minimum requirement is met by each volunteer using our Volunteer Information Portal to report having sent one message to their network about their volunteer assignment that includes the link to the WUSC Shared Impact Fund webpage. This message also counts as one of their three required public engagement activities. Volunteers will be supported with the tools, training, and support to achieve the fundraising goal
• Submit reports as required by the partner organization and by WUSC.

Experience and Qualifications

• Degree and/or formal training in early childhood development, education, social sciences, international development, or other relevant field
• Demonstrated experience in childcare and/or early childhood education required; ideal candidate will have both theoretical and practical experience
• Experience in developing curriculum/material related to ECCD programmes 
• Experience in developing childcare support services in coordination with a variety of stakeholders and partners
• Excellent judgment and problem-solving skills
• Strong communication, analytical, research, and writing skills
• Excellent capacity building skills, with demonstrated experience in effective training, coaching and facilitation
• Willingness to travel to the project’s targeted areas (i.e. field visits) when needed (and as security allows)
• Experience working or volunteering in the Middle East is an asset
• A commitment to gender equality, youth inclusion, and international volunteering
• Flexibility, adaptability, excellent interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity
• Experience with group facilitation and trainings, including content development considered an asset
• Experience living and working internationally considered an asset.
• Written and oral fluency in English.

Project Description

Burden of Childcare Reduced and Addressed for Women in Jordan (BUCRA – meaning Tomorrow in Arabic) is a 5-year initiative (2024-2029) designed to enhance the economic empowerment of women in Jordan. BUCRA takes a systems approach that engages and supports local stakeholders from government, training bodies, the private sector and communities to drive gender-transformative change that addresses the most pressing childcare issues preventing women from participating in the workforce in Jordan. BUCRA targets over 8,600 women in 7 regions. The approach of equipping key stakeholders to address systemic barriers will enable the impacts to be experienced by women throughout Jordan over the long term.

Partner Description

The Vocational Training Corporation (VTC) is a government body established under Temporary Law No. (35) of 1976 as part of Jordan’s development projects for 1976-1980, aimed at expanding workforce training and regulating the labor market. The VTC provides vocational preparation programs, workforce skill upgrades, and occupational safety and health consulting services. It also implements occupational skills tests at three levels (Craftsman, Skilled, and Semi-skilled) on behalf of the Technical and Vocational Skills Development Commission (TVSDC). With 35 institutes, 43 training sites, and a capacity for over 20,000 trainees, the VTC plays a crucial role in Jordan’s vocational education system.

Support Package

• Support and guidance from the WUSC Volunteer Mobilization Team prior to departure and from WUSC Country Team while on assignment
• Pre-departure training to learn about the volunteering for development program, gain practical skills for living and working in an intercultural context and network with other volunteers
• In-country orientation upon arrival in country of assignment
• Language training in country of assignment, where required
• Modest monthly living and accommodation allowance
• Airfare to and from the assignment country
• Visa/work permit
• Pre-departure medical exam
• Health insurance
• Vaccinations and antimalarial medication
• Criminal record verification
• Vacation leave entitlement
• Debriefing after completion of assignment
• An incredible opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to global development, enhance your professional skills and participate in an experience of a lifetime!

WUSC’s Safeguarding Policy

WUSC’s activities seek to balance inequities and create sustainable development around the globe; the work ethic of our staff, volunteers, representatives and partners shall correspond to the values and mission of the organization. WUSC promotes responsibility, respect, honesty, and professional excellence and we will not tolerate harassment, coercion and sexual exploitation and abuse of any form. Successful applicants will be required to sign off on the WUSC Code of Conduct and the Self-Disclosure Form. International and national volunteers will also be required to submit a criminal record verification.

WUSC is a signatory to the Cooperation Canada Leaders’ Pledge on Preventing and Addressing Sexual Misconduct. The pledge represents the shared commitment as Canada’s global development and humanitarian leaders to ensure the full implementation of practices and policies that will protect and respond to our own staff, volunteers and the communities we serve. We are committed to creating safe and respectful workplaces and programs that promote gender equality and are free from gender-based violence, including by addressing and responding to all abuse of power, holding people to account, and protecting the vulnerable. Read the full pledge.