Call for Interest: International Child Protection Systems Strengthening, Policy Development and Facilitation Consultants – ROSTER

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a fair chance

UNICEF is a United Nations agency that promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child. Together with partners, UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, for the benefit of all children, everywhere.

Since 1948, UNICEF has been working with the Philippine government and civil society to promote and protect the rights of Filipino children. UNICEF works on long-term development programmes and supports the government during the onset of emergencies in the following areas: Education; Health; Nutrition; Disaster Risk Reduction; Adolescent Development; Emergency Response; Peacebuilding; Social Policy; Child Protection; and Water, Sanitation & Hygiene.

We also provide supply and logistical support in the above areas.

Purpose of the Activity/Assignment:

UNICEF Philippines is inviting applications from qualified international consultants to join a roster of senior Child Protection specialists who can provide high-level technical assistance to support child protection systems strengthening, policy development, strategic planning, institutional reforms, and capacity development initiatives.

The selected consultants will form part of a pre-qualified roster and may be engaged on a needs basis to provide specialized expertise that is not readily available in-country. Assignments may include technical advisory services, policy development, systems assessments, facilitation of high-level consultations, capacity strengthening, research, documentation of global good practices, and development of strategic frameworks and implementation tools.

The roster will be valid for a period of 30 months. Inclusion in the roster does not guarantee immediate engagement nor any future contractual relationship with UNICEF. Consultants will be contracted based on programme requirements, funding availability, consultant expertise, and availability.

Background:

UNICEF Philippines supports the Government of the Philippines in strengthening child protection systems to prevent and respond to violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation, and harmful practices affecting children.

Current priorities include implementation of the Child Protection Systems Strengthening (CPSS) Strategy, strengthening governance and coordination mechanisms, enhancing child protection workforce capacities, improving case management and referral systems, promoting meaningful child participation, strengthening safeguarding systems, advancing alternative care reforms, and improving monitoring and accountability mechanisms.

To complement national expertise and bring global perspectives, UNICEF seeks to establish a roster of international consultants who can provide specialized technical assistance, facilitate knowledge exchange, and support the adaptation of international good practices to the Philippine context.

To ensure timely access to specialized technical expertise, UNICEF seeks to establish a roster of consultants with expertise in child protection policy development, systems strengthening, strategic planning, facilitation, research, and technical writing.

Scope of Work:

Consultants may be engaged to provide one or more of the following services:

A. Child Protection Systems Strengthening

• Provide strategic advice on the design, implementation, and monitoring of child protection systems strengthening initiatives.
• Support development, review, and refinement of national and sub-national CPSS strategies and implementation plans.
• Conduct systems assessments, benchmarking exercises, and institutional reviews.
• Support development of governance, coordination, financing, workforce development, and accountability mechanisms.

B. Policy Development and Reform

• Support drafting and review of child protection laws, policies, strategies, frameworks, standards, and guidelines.
• Conduct comparative analyses of international policies, standards, and practices.
• Develop policy recommendations informed by international evidence and lessons learned.
• Support alignment of national policies with international child rights standards.

C. Technical Advisory and Capacity Development

• Provide technical advisory services to UNICEF, government counterparts, and partners.
• Design and facilitate high-level consultations, workshops, strategic planning sessions, and learning events.
• Develop training curricula, capacity development frameworks, and learning materials.
• Mentor and coach government counterparts and technical working groups, where appropriate.

D. Research, Documentation and Knowledge Management

• Conduct reviews, studies, assessments, and evaluations.
• Document international good practices and lessons learned.
• Produce technical reports, policy briefs, discussion papers, and knowledge products.
• Support dissemination and utilization of evidence for policy and programme development.

Child Safeguaring:

* International consultants may facilitate consultations, workshops, assessments, validation activities, and other processes involving children and adolescents. The duration and extent of contact will depend on the specific assignment.

Child Data Role:

Consultants may review, analyze, manage, or transmit child-related information, including consultation outputs, assessment findings, case studies, and other child protection data, in accordance with UNICEF safeguarding, confidentiality, and data protection standards in accordance with UNICEF policies and data protection requirements.

Work Assignment Overview

Deliverables/Outputs

Typical Assignment Area 1:
Policy, guideline, manual, toolkit, or strategy development

Deliverables:
• Inception report
• Consultation plan
• Draft technical document
• Validation workshop report
• Final approved document

Typical Assignment Area 2:
Facilitation of workshops and consultations

Deliverables:
• Workshop design and agenda
• Facilitation materials
• Workshop proceedings
• Summary of findings and recommendations
• Final workshop report

Typical Assignment Area 3:
Research, assessment, or systems-strengthening support

Deliverables:
• Assessment framework
• Data collection tools
• Draft assessment report
• Validation presentation
• Final report and recommendation

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

Minimum Qualifications and Experience Required:

• Advanced university degree in Social Work, Sociology, Development Studies, Public Administration, Public Policy, Human Rights, Law, Psychology, Education, International Development, or related field.

Years of Experience/ Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required*:

Work Experience:

5 years

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:

• At least 10 years of progressively responsible international experience in child protection, social welfare, human rights, public policy, governance, or related sectors.
• Demonstrated expertise in child protection systems strengthening.
• Proven experience supporting national policy, legislative, or institutional reform processes.
• Demonstrated experience developing strategies, frameworks, guidelines, standards, and implementation tools.
• Experience facilitating high-level consultations and multi-stakeholder processes.
• Strong analytical, technical writing, facilitation, and communication skills.
• Familiarity with international child rights standards and global child protection frameworks.
• Previous experience with UNICEF, UN agencies, governments, development partners, or international NGOs is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated knowledge of child safeguarding principles and ethical standards for engagement with children.
• Excellent written and spoken English.

HOW TO APPLY:

Qualified candidates are requested to complete an online candidate profile in http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/ by 09 October 2026. Only applications sent through the e-recruitment portal under Job Number: 595908 will be considered.

All candidates are requested to submit:

• A cover letter expressing clearly describing relevant experience in humanitarian coordination, emergency preparedness and response, WASH programming, information management, or cluster coordination.
• Daily and monthly professional fee rates
• Three (3) professional references with contact details
• Availability period (from _____ to ____)
• Any portfolio of professional work (e.g., samples or links to relevant work products, publications, reports, coordination products, assessments, or similar outputs where available) as applicable.

Applications with incomplete requirements will not be considered.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.

All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

Remarks:

Individuals engaged under a consultancy will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants. Consultants are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.