UNICEF Bulgaria is seeking a Consultant

UNICEF Bulgaria is seeking a consultant to support the adaptation and implementation of two digital learning solutions, which are part of the Early Childhood Development section’s portfolio. The consultant will support the continued adaptation and implementation of the mobile application for parenting Bebbo, as well as closely collaborate with external key stakeholders from the health, social and education systems, academia and civil society for the successful scale-up of Bebbo’s reach among professionals. They will also support the content adaptation of a learning platform for professionals for the provision of early childhood intervention in cases of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

In relation to the Bebbo application, the consultant will support the forthcoming new updates of the application’s content and its integration into routine services and UNICEF’s programmatic work. Experience from similar initiatives in other countries shows that focused efforts are needed to promote the mobile application among parents of young children. Especially important are the direct communication activities with which UNICEF Bulgaria is engaged and the reaching of specialists in the fields of healthcare, education and social care, who can promote the application to the parents they serve. Often, the advice of a trusted professional has more weight than looking at advertising or printed materials, so the success of the mobile application requires the involvement of doctors, nurses, teachers, social workers and professionals who work directly with children and families. Thus, the consultant will focus on the following interrelated areas of work:

1) Support the continued content adaptation of the Bebbo parenting mobile application, including a wide range of content on pregnancy and birth, which is forthcoming in 2025.

2) Support Bebbo’s integration into routine services, including health, social and ECEC services in Bulgaria.

In relation to early childhood intervention, the consultancy assignment is going to support the implementation of early intervention for children with ASD. Therapists and early intervention specialists will be trained in the implementation of early intervention for ASD through the use of a specific platform, Autism Navigator, which has been selected for use by UNICEF Head Quarters through the global initiative, of which the Bulgarian Country Office is part. Prior to launching the platform and enrolling specialists in the courses therein, UNICEF CO needs to engage in a process of adaptation of the platform for Bulgaria. The adaptation involves the translation and adaptation of the content in the platform, which is in English and will be machine-translated into Bulgarian. Thus, the consultant will be responsible for the following main tasks:

1) Undertake a review and correction of the machine-translated content of the Autism Navigator platform into Bulgarian.

2) Undertake the adaptation of the content for the Bulgarian country context, including by ensuring that the recommended practices are in line with the national context, legislation and practices within the health, social and educational systems.

The assignment is envisaged to take place between 01.02.2025 and 31.12.2025.

Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications by 26 January 2025 to the following e-mail bgrecruitment@unicef.org, indicating they are applying for “Consultant to support the adaptation and implementation of digital learning solutions “. The applicants should provide a CV in English, a proposed fee for the whole assignment or a daily fee in Bulgarian leva, as well as any additional supporting documents relevant to the application. Only short-listed applications will be moved to the next stage.