Consultancy Title: Child Protection Consultant
Division/Duty Station: Child Protection/Programme Group, NYHQ
Duration: 01 October 2025 – 31 December 2027
Home/ Office Based: Remote
About UNICEF
If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines fordeveloping countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.
BACKGROUND
Purpose of ActivityThe Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (the Alliance) is a global network of operational agencies, academic institutions, policymakers, donors and practitioners that facilitates inter-agency technical collaboration on child protection in all humanitarian contexts. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) leads the Alliance with a rotating NGO, currently the International Rescue Committee. The Alliance sets standards and produces technical guidance for use by the various stakeholders, particularly field practitioners. Its mission is to support humanitarian actors to achieve high-quality and effective child protection interventions in humanitarian contexts, in both refugee and non-refugee settings. This is a critical moment for the Alliance to solidify strategic partnerships and elevate its advocacy work for the centrality of the child in all humanitarian action. The purpose of the assignment is to support the Alliance Secretariat with strategic partnerships, donor engagement, and advocacy activities
Scope of Work:
Under the supervision and guidance of the Senior Coordinator, Child Protection / Director of the Alliance for CPHA, the consultant will deliver the following tasks:
Task1: Support mapping and engagement with new CPHA donors and contribute to Alliance fundraising efforts:
- Support Senior Coordinator in their fundraising and donor engagement through development of talking points and briefing notes
- Support the convening and organisation of at least two Alliance donor reference group meetings
- Develop 3 tailored plans and pitch materials for three new CPHA donors
- Support the development of 3 concept notes for potential funding opportunities
- Update donor mapping and develop a donor engagement action plan
- Consolidate year-end donor update and engagement summary
Task 2: Spearhead and support interagency advocacy efforts that place children and their protection at the center of humanitarian action
- Facilitate and support update of the narrative report on the impact of crises on children and their protection for 2025, 2026 and 2027
- Provide support to 6 strategic events to better position child protection in the broader humanitarian sphere
- Support the development of the technical offer of support the Advocacy Working Group can provide
- Develop a briefing note on impact of funding cuts on child protection
- Support the technical review of five interagency advocacy products - Support the organization and facilitation of the 2026 and 2027 Annual Meeting for child protection in humanitarian action Task 3: Provide support to Senior Coordinator to ensure Children and their protection remain central in technical and strategic discussions shaping humanitarian reform and within cross-sectoral ways of working
- Support the development of a proactive vision for CP in humanitarian reform & UN80
- Support the organization and documentation of the mid-term and end-term reflection workshops for the Alliance Strategic Brief (2025-2026) Priorities 1, 2 and 3 (8 different events)
- Develop an FAQ on CP prioritisation in humanitarian reform
- Support Senior Coordinator in coordinating and consolidating advocacy inputs into inter-agency humanitarian architecture reform process, including the formation of the new Global Protection Cluster
- Develop and deliver advocacy products collaboratively with other sectors
- Support the process of developing Alliance's next strategy in 2026, associated events (such as the launch)
- Support 8 WX Sectors Advisory Group meetings and the workplan implementation against activities during 2026 and 2027
There’s currently no sufficient funding to cover all planned activities that continue until 2027. Some deliverables are planned to be completed if additional resources become available
Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:
Work Assignment Overview/Deliverables and Outputs/Delivery deadline
1. Coordinate and support update of the narrative report on the impact of crises on children and their protection for 2025 and 2026 and 2027
- Unprotected webpage and report updated
15 Nov 2025; 30 Sept 2026; 30 Sept 2027
2. Provide support to 9 strategic events to better position child protection in the broader humanitarian sphere
- 2 Strategic events supported
30 Nov 2025
- 2 Strategic events supported
31 March 2026
- 2 Strategic events supported
15 Nov 2026
- 3 Strategic events supported
15 May 2027
3. Support the development of the technical offer of support the Advocacy Working Group can provide
- 1 Technical offer developed and published
31 Oct 2025
4. Support Senior Coordinator in their fundraising and donor engagement
- Talking points/briefing notes developed for three strategic engagements
15 Jan 2026
- Talking points/briefing notes updated for three strategic engagements in 2027
20 March 2027
5. Develop a briefing note on impact of funding cuts on child protection
- 1 Briefing note drafted and shared with key stakeholders
31 Dec 2025
6. Support organise at least six donor reference group meetings
- 2 Donor reference group meeting agendas prepared and group convened in 2025/2026
29 Feb 2026
- 4 Donor reference group meeting agendas prepared and group convened in 2026/2027
15 Sept 2027
7. Technical advocacy support: Review 10 products
- 5 products reviewed (incl. VP Working Paper) in 2026
31 March 2026
- 5 products reviewed in 2027
30 April 2027
8. Develop proactive vision for CP in humanitarian reform & UN88
- CP Humanitarian Reform Vision Document developed
30 April 2026
9. Support the organization of 8 mid-term and end-term reflection workshops for the Alliance Strategic Brief Priorities
- 8 workshops delivered (mid-term and final)
31 May 2026
10. Develop an FAQ on CP prioritization in humanitarian reform
- FAQ document finalised and published
31 May 2026
11. Develop and deliver three advocacy initiatives collaboratively with other sectors
- One advocacy brief finalised and disseminated
30 May 2026
- Two advocacy initiatives delivered collaboratively with other sectors
30 June 2027
12. Support the development of at least 6 concept notes for potential funding opportunities
- 3 concept notes finalized
15 Jul 2026
- 3 concept notes finalized
30 Aug 2027
13. Support the organization and facilitation of the 2026 and 2027 Annual Meeting for child protection in humanitarian action
- One donor session organised and four advocacy focused sessions supported in 2026
30 Jun 2026
- One donor session organized and four advocacy focused sessions supported in 2026
30 Jun 2027
14. Donor engagement: 3 tailored plans and pitch materials
- 3 donor engagement plans and 3 tailored talking points/presentations developed
15 Aug 2026
- 3 Donor engagement plans reviewed against progress and updated
31 Aug 2027
15. Support Senior Coordinator in coordinating and consolidating advocacy inputs into inter-agency humanitarian architecture reform process, incl the formation of the new Global Protection Cluster
- Advocacy input document and participation in 2 meetings
31 Oct 2026
16. Update donor mapping and develop engagement action plan
- 1 Donor mapping completed and action plan developed
30 Nov 2026
17. Facilitate year-end donor update and engagement summary
- 1 Donor update shared and summary document produced
31 Dec 2026
18. Support the process of developing Alliance's next strategy in 2026
- 1 Draft Strategy developed
31 Jan 2027
- 3 strategy launch initiatives conducted, including launch event and presentations
15 March 2027
19. Support Senior Coordinator oversee the Working Across Sectors Advisory Group
- 8 meetings held, workplan updated and progress against activities reported
31 Sept 2027
Expected Travel and DSA: Annual meeting; June 2026 or June 2027
Qualifications
Education:
Master degree in relevant field, preferably in Social Sciences, social work, public policy, international affairs/studies, or management The individual should be highly proficient in a range of PC/web applications, including but not limited to: MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, and MS OutlookKnowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:
Essential Technical Skills:
● At least 8 years of relevant experience in Development/Humanitarian sector (s), ideally at country/field locations.
● At least 5 years of experience in the field of Child Protection;
● Experience in inter-agency coordination is an asset;
● Experience in working in a highly collaborative environment;
● Familiarity with existing networks within the humanitarian and/or development sectors;
● Strong writing and editing skills in English;
● Familiarity with the Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action and other fundamental documents related to the CP sector is an asset;
Competencies:
● A commitment to and aptitude for attention to details
● Ability to work well and punctually under pressure
● Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to successfully interact with a diverse group of people and build consensus;
● Flexible work attitude, with the ability to follow direction and work independently across a virtual work environment;
● Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to independently track and follow-up on various tasks;
● Collaborative work style, with strong team-player attitude and ability to identify gaps and to take initiative to fill them;
● Ability and flexibility to operate remotely and across multiple time-zones
Requirements:
Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and
- Upload copy of academic credentials
- Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :
the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference. travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR. Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable. Indicate your availability- Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
- At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
- Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.
U.S. Visa information:
With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here
UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.
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.
The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.