Barbora Vaněk
Na Revine 9, Bratislava
Summary
With over 20 years of experience, I am an experienced education specialist, focused on inclusive education in Slovakia. My career includes contributions to UNICEF as an Education & ECD Specialist in emergency settings, supporting governmental partners on refugees’, as well as Roma inclusion. As a member of inter-sectoral technical groups, I have worked on initiatives to improve educational outcomes for vulnerable groups. My expertise includes field research, methodological skills in developing guides, and co-authoring a desegregation methodology with the Ministry of Education. I led the Education Action Plan with the Slovak Government Office for Roma Communities. My networking skills are demonstrated through active involvement in expert groups, inter-governmental committees, and NGO alliances. I possess strong research capabilities, both desk and field, focusing on vulnerable communities. My pedagogical skills include training and lecturing, providing methodological support, and conducting trainings for disadvantaged participants. Additionally, I am skilled in advocacy, project management, and evaluation, with a proven track record in presenting technical outcomes at public roundtables, conferences, and technical committees. I am passionate about creating inclusive and equitable educational environments that empower vulnerable communities. My commitment to social justice and inclusion motivates me to seek collaborative solutions. I believe education transforms lives and through my work I wish to make a positive impact, enhancing a better future for all children.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Education and ECD Specialist [NO-3] – full time
UNICEF Refugee Response Office
Bratislava
01.2023 - 01.2025
- Technical assistance and support to program development, planning, management, monitoring and delivery of results: - Delivery of the WP 2024 [Carpathian Foundation, City of Bratislava, NIVAM] and development of the WP 2025 [NIVAM], including benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNICEF/UN system indicators provided, to ensure fulfilment of residual humanitarian needs in the area of Education, ECD and ADAP in 2024/2025.
- Contribute and lead in programme reviews with government and other counterparts to assess progress of partnerships and to engage stakeholders to take required action and interventions to achieve results.
- Provide technical support to MoE’s technical working groups.
- Leadership, networking and partnership building: - Support to programme outreach and communication plans related to delivery of the results for children.
- Build and sustain effective working partnerships with government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve and sustain results on education, ADAP and ECD/ECE programmes.
- Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building: - The capacity of education stakeholders is supported and continuously mapped (needs) and reflected as required (trainings and other capacity building methods are developed, delivered, monitored and evaluated).
- Knowledge management in EDU, ECD and ADAP agenda is enhanced through close collaboration with RO section teams, EDU and ADAP consultant and ECD specialist.
- Technical support to TSI on Roma desegregation in education: - Support the design and development of the TSI project proposal, activities, budget and results framework.
- Co-lead (or support) regular consultations with MoE to ensure effective and efficient implementation of TSI activities.
- Provide technical support for the implementation of the inception phase, including documentation, governance structures, etc.
- Support the establishment of required implementation partnerships and consultancies.
Early Childhood Development/Early Childhood Education Individual Contractor – full time
UNICEF Refugee Response Office
Bratislava
01.2022 - 01.2023
- Refugee Response Office - working in Emergency, support to immediate interventions for Ukrainian children and their families in ECD and ECE, such as establishment of partnerships, establishment of ECD and Learning Hubs, establishment of grant-giving scheme to support local municipalities and NGOs to deliver learning opportunities for youngest children.
- Working closely with other teams, such as Child Protection, Health, Municipal Engagement, Social Policy in designing and delivery of ECD services.
- Contributing to the preparation and updating of the situation analysis for the development, design and management of ECD/ECE related programmes/projects and activities.
- Research and report on development trends (educational, social, health etc.) and data for use in programme/project development, management, monitoring, evaluation and delivery of results, including consultancy on national systems functioning, reforms and policies conducted.
- Technical and operational support to programme/project implementation which includes consultancy with the local and national governments and other relevant partners, strengthen existing ECE/ECD coordination structures across multiple sectors (health, education and child social protection) for the response to the refugee crisis, ensuring that no parallel systems are created in the process.
- Providing technical and operational support to government counterparts, CSO partners, UN system partners and other partners/donors on the application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices on ECD/ECE related issues to support implementation and delivery of results.
Child Guarantee Action Plan Development and Review for MOLSAF [Individual Contractor/Consultancy] – part-time
UNICEF consultant to ECARO Switzerland /National coordination centre/MOLSAF
Bratislava
07.2022 - 08.2022
- Provision of technical support to UNICEF’s Europe and Central Asia Office and the Government of the Slovak Republic in developing the European Child Guarantee and related Action Plan, as required by the Council recommendation establishing the European Child Guarantee and reflecting Ukrainian refugee response.
- Identifying possibilities to improve the measures proposed to address the needs of the most disadvantaged children, bringing the plan in line with national strategies.
- Improving the quality of the plan, in particular the indicators and targets proposed to monitor the implementation of the plan.
- Addressing the needs of Ukrainian refugee children, as well as specific related indicators and targets.
Roma inclusion in Education trainer, consultant, project manager – part time
eduRoma, NGO
Bratislava
01.2017 - 01.2022
- Providing training on inclusive education for schools and NGO representatives
- Facilitating focus groups with Roma parents and other stakeholders on access to pre-primary and primary school
- Research and publications in the area of inclusive education and pre-primary education, with particular focus on Roma children in Slovakia
Roma Children Inclusion in Pre-primary education Methodologist - Office of the Plenipotentiary of Slovak Government for Roma Communities -full-time
Office of the Plenipotentiary of Slovak Government for Roma Communities
Bratislava
01.2016 - 01.2022
- Coordinating development of the Education Action Plan for 2022 - 2024 for Roma Inclusion&Participation Strategy
- Creating methodology for implementing national project on Roma children inclusion in pre-primary education and early childhood development (https://www.romovia.vlada.gov.sk/narodne-projekty/np-primi-i-projekt-inkluzie-v-materskych-skolach/)
- Monitoring, data collection and evaluation of project outcomes, assessment of indicators at programme and project level
- Expert work/Coordinating expert groups/Participation in expert groups on inclusive educational policies including early childhood development and care, particularly of Roma children
- Building capacities/conducting trainings for pre-primary education teachers, school founders and NGOs working locally
[TSI] Researcher (junior) to support the assessment of the M&E component of the substitute care for children system in Slovak Republic [individual consultancy] – part time
UNICEF ECARO Switzerland
Bratislava
01.2020 - 01.2021
- Data collection – extracting data and information from case files, reports, data management systems, and other relevant sources.
- Analysis of data and information to identify trends, patterns, and areas for improvement.
- Preparation of reports and presentations to communicate findings and recommendations.
- Collaboration with stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of recommendations.
Roma inclusion in Education project coordinator/project manager/senior expert – full time
Open Society Foundation
Bratislava
01.2004 - 01.2016
- Managing and evaluation of programmes and coordinating projects focused on systemic changes regarding Roma inclusion into educational system in Slovakia
- Implementing the programmes and projects focused on early childhood education and care (e.g. RECI+ Report), multicultural education, inclusive education and de-segregation, child social and financial literacy (partnering the Aflatoun International, Netherlands), and social inclusion
- Managing and evaluation of EEA programmes on Democracy and Human Rights
Assistant to Public Defender of Rights – full time
Office of the Public Defender of Rights (Ombudsman)
Bratislava
01.2003 - 01.2004
- Assisting to Ombudsman in organising duties and visits, including responsible for international cooperation
Project assistant to develop Roma Language and Literature’s curriculum – part time
National Institute for Education
Bratislava
01.2003
- Assisting to project team developing Roma Language and Literature’s curriculum and its experimental verification within the school practice
Education
Postdoctoral Study -
Matej Bel University
Banská Bystrica, Slovakia01.2019
Philosophie Doctor Study (Ph.D.) - Adult Education
Matej Bel University
Banská Bystrica, Slovakia01.2018
Master Study (Mgr.) - Social work with Roma communities
Constantine Philosopher University
Nitra, Slovakia01.2002
Skills
- Mother tongue(s): Slovak
- Other language(s): English, French
- Excellent communication skills both in English and in Slovak, experience in moderating conferences and events, team management, experience in communicating with policy officials such as the Minister, Plenipotentiary, State Officials/Secretary, Commissioner of the Council of Europe, observers at OSCE
- Project team management (from 3-9 people), organisation of the work of individual team members, evaluation and planning of activities, experience in the organisation of events (conferences, presentations, workshops and trainings)
- Leadership (as education specialist I led education-related agenda; as methodologist responsible for a team of 9 people in diverse regions of Slovakia)
- 5 years of experience working with UNICEF in different positions; 2 years in a position of Education & ECD specialist [NOC], working closely with Education, ECD and ADAP team in Slovakia, ADAP focal point
- 3 years of experience working in emergency – Slovakia Refugee Response office as consultant full-timer and NO-3 [education specialist]
- 20 years of professional experience working in inclusion of Roma, member of technical expert groups, focal point for the development of action plan for education under Strategy of Roma equity, inclusion, and participation by 2030
- More than 15 years of professional experience in education (manager of programmes, participating in creating policies, being a member of expert groups, methodological support to schools and regional workers, providing trainings/lectures, conducting research, developing guidelines, methodologies, member of technical groups)
- Experienced in educational policy making (policy cycle: formulation – implementation – evaluation), such as national strategies, moderating participative processes
- Experienced in local community development, such school action plans, peer groups, micro-regional meetings
- Experienced in networking, such as expert groups, inter-governmental committees, NGO sector alliances, public – non-governmental partnerships
- Experienced in working with marginalized Roma communities and in disadvantaged environment
- Skilled in conducting desk research and field research work (experiences in gathering data in vulnerable communities/settlements, experiences in conducting individual interviews and focus groups, analytical and interpretation skills)
- Pedagogical skills (trainer, lecturer), including trainings with disadvantaged participants
- Advocacy skills, evaluation of the project cycle, project management and evaluation
- Presentation skills (public debates, presentation of project outcomes and research studies, presentation at conferences, expert
- Computer literate
Languages
Mother tongue(s): Slovak, Other language(s): English (C1), French (B1)
DRIVING LICENCE
B
Timeline
Education and ECD Specialist [NO-3] – full time
UNICEF Refugee Response Office
01.2023 - 01.2025
Child Guarantee Action Plan Development and Review for MOLSAF [Individual Contractor/Consultancy] – part-time
UNICEF consultant to ECARO Switzerland /National coordination centre/MOLSAF
07.2022 - 08.2022
Early Childhood Development/Early Childhood Education Individual Contractor – full time
UNICEF Refugee Response Office
01.2022 - 01.2023
[TSI] Researcher (junior) to support the assessment of the M&E component of the substitute care for children system in Slovak Republic [individual consultancy] – part time
UNICEF ECARO Switzerland
01.2020 - 01.2021
Roma inclusion in Education trainer, consultant, project manager – part time
eduRoma, NGO
01.2017 - 01.2022
Roma Children Inclusion in Pre-primary education Methodologist - Office of the Plenipotentiary of Slovak Government for Roma Communities -full-time
Office of the Plenipotentiary of Slovak Government for Roma Communities
01.2016 - 01.2022
Roma inclusion in Education project coordinator/project manager/senior expert – full time
Open Society Foundation
01.2004 - 01.2016
Assistant to Public Defender of Rights – full time
Office of the Public Defender of Rights (Ombudsman)
01.2003 - 01.2004
Project assistant to develop Roma Language and Literature’s curriculum – part time
National Institute for Education
01.2003
Postdoctoral Study -
Matej Bel University
Philosophie Doctor Study (Ph.D.) - Adult Education
Matej Bel University
Master Study (Mgr.) - Social work with Roma communities
Constantine Philosopher University
Similar Profiles
Michal BiznárMichal Biznár
Communications officer at UNICEF Refugee Response OfficeCommunications officer at UNICEF Refugee Response Office
Laura BiscagliaLaura Biscaglia
GBV/Gender Officer at UNICEF - Migrant And Refugee Response In ItalyGBV/Gender Officer at UNICEF - Migrant And Refugee Response In Italy
Richard Jayson SarkarRichard Jayson Sarkar
IT Operations Assistant (ICT Unit) at World Food Programme (WFP), Rohingya Refugee ResponseIT Operations Assistant (ICT Unit) at World Food Programme (WFP), Rohingya Refugee Response
ADRIÁN DUHANADRIÁN DUHAN
Real Estate Assistant at MODI S.r.oReal Estate Assistant at MODI S.r.o
Matej KubinskyMatej Kubinsky
Residential Assistant at Loomis Chaffee SchoolResidential Assistant at Loomis Chaffee School