Call for Interest: National 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 national and international consultants to join a roster of Child Protection specialists.

The selected consultants will form part of a pre-qualified roster and may be engaged on a needs basis to support the development of child protection policies, strategies, guidelines, manuals, toolkits, operational procedures, capacity-building materials, and systems-strengthening initiatives. Consultants may also be engaged to facilitate consultations, workshops, assessments, strategic planning exercises, and policy development processes at national and sub-national levels.

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, availability of funding, consultant expertise, and availability.

Purpose:

UNICEF 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. This includes support to the implementation of the Child Protection Systems Strengthening (CPSS) Strategy, the National Plan of Action for Children, Executive Order No. 79 on the MAKABATA Programme, the Revised National Case Management Protocol for Cases of Child Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation and Discrimination (CANE+D), alternative care reforms, strengthening data systems, child participation, safeguarding, and other sector priorities.

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. Policy, Strategy and Technical Document Development

• Develop, review, revise, or update child protection policies, strategies, guidelines, standards, protocols, operational procedures, manuals, and toolkits.
• Develop technical briefs, concept notes, discussion papers, advocacy materials, and knowledge products.
• Develop results frameworks, theories of change, implementation plans, monitoring frameworks, and performance indicators.
• Conduct desk reviews, policy analyses, stakeholder consultations, and synthesis of findings.
• Support integration of child protection considerations into multi-sectoral policies and programmes.

B. Child Protection Systems Strengthening

• Support assessments of child protection systems and services.
• Facilitate development of national and sub-national CPSS plans and implementation frameworks.
• Support development of governance, coordination, workforce development, financing, service delivery, and monitoring mechanisms.
• Develop systems-strengthening tools, benchmarks, and assessment methodologies.

C. Facilitation and Capacity Development

• Design and facilitate workshops, consultations, validation meetings, strategic planning sessions, and learning events.
• Develop workshop materials, facilitation guides, presentations, and documentation reports.
• Facilitate stakeholder engagement processes involving government agencies, civil society organizations, development partners, and children where appropriate.
• Support consensus-building and documentation of recommendations and agreements.

D. Research, Assessment and Documentation

• Conduct qualitative and mixed-methods assessments, studies, and reviews.
• Analyze data and prepare technical reports and recommendations.
• Document good practices, lessons learned, and innovations in child protection programming.

Child Safeguaring:

* Consultants engaged under this roster may facilitate consultations, workshops, focus group discussions, validation exercises, assessments, and other activities involving direct engagement with children and adolescents. The extent of direct contact will vary depending on the specific assignment and may range from several hours to multiple days over the duration of the consultancy.

Child Data Role:

Consultants may, depending on the assignment, review, analyze, or handle anonymized or identifiable child protection data 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

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 5 years of progressively responsible experience in child protection, social protection, social welfare, human rights, public policy, governance, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience developing policies, strategies, guidelines, manuals, toolkits, or operational procedures.
• Demonstrated experience facilitating multi-stakeholder consultations, workshops, and strategic planning processes including with children and young people.
• Strong analytical, technical writing, and report-writing skills.
• Knowledge of child protection systems strengthening approaches and international child rights frameworks.
• Familiarity with Philippine child protection laws, policies, and institutional arrangements is highly desirable.
• Experience working with government agencies, development partners, UN agencies, or civil society organizations is an asset.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
• Ability to work independently and deliver high-quality outputs within agreed timelines.
• 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: 595909 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.