Back National Consultant – Public policy expert for the development of the National Strategy for Family and Demography, and accompanying ex-ante analysis

The Position:

On 15 April 2025, the newly elected Prime Minister, in his exposé, announced the development of the National Strategy for Family and Demography, the first comprehensive national document aimed at defining clear goals, measures, and institutional responsibilities to support families and enhance demographic resilience in Serbia. In line with this vision, the Government of the Republic of Serbia, spearheaded by the Ministry of Family Welfare and Demography, has launched the development process for the National Strategy for Family and Demography, including the accompanying ex-ante analysis and Action Plan. These strategic documents will be developed in accordance with the Law on the Planning System, drawing upon existing policy assets (such as the Birth Promotion Strategy and the related ex-post analysis), as well as contributions from other relevant sectoral policies. The Ministry of Family Welfare and Demography has already developed a work plan for the overall documents development, with implementation set to begin in the summer of 2025 and conclude by October 2026. The process will unfold in several phases:

Planned activities for 2025:
● Mapping of existing demographic-related policies across sectors;
● Preparing the ex-ante analysis of the National Strategy for Family and Demography;
● Confirming the type of the strategic document with the Republic Secretariat for Public Policies.
 

Planned activities for 2026:
● Developing the National Strategy for Family and Demography;
● Developing the accompanying Action Plan;
● Organizing consultations and public hearings with relevant stakeholders;
● Finalizing the documents in line with comments and suggestions from public consultations;
● Upon finalization of the documents, the National Strategy for Family and Demography and accompanying Action Plan will be submitted to the Ministry of Family Welfare and Demography for further approval procedure within the Government of Serbia.

Job Purpose:
To ensure coordinated development and oversight, the Ministry of Family Welfare and Demography will establish a Working Group, composed of relevant state institutions and administrative bodies, the academic community, and civil society organizations, which will contribute to the preparation of these documents. Additionally, a National Council for Family and Demography will be formed as a high-level advisory body. The Council will serve to assess demographic trends in Serbia, provide strategic guidance, validate key documents, and ensure cross-sectoral coordination in addressing demographic challenges. 

The Ministry of Family Welfare and Demography will receive technical support throughout the process from the UNFPA CO Serbia, in collaboration with other international partners and other UN organizations as appropriate.

UNFPA will, in line with its mandate, knowledge, and expertise in the domain of demography, provide technical assistance to contribute to the successful completion of this important policy initiative. This support will include the following elements, but not only: international knowledge and best practices from other countries that can serve as critical references to the Government of Serbia in this process. This will be facilitated by active engagement of the UNFPA Eastern Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (EECARO), which provides technical backstopping and expertise from other countries, such as: Demographic Strategy of Armenia for 2024–2040, National Demographic Strategy of Ukraine for 2024-2040, Population and Development Policy Priorities in Moldova - Concept Paper, and others. Furthermore, the UNFPA EECARO will provide support in capitalizing the EU’s Toolbox for Action developed to support countries in defining their responses to demographic challenges, as well as in using the UNFPA Demographic Resilience Programme that contains useful tips and practices in this domain.

Best practices and program models from various countries implemented by UNFPA and other international partners will also be brought into this process to inspire the strategy development process and the introduction of concrete and novel approaches. To illustrate, models piloted under the regional programme Expanding Choices: Gender-Responsive Family Policies for the Private Sector in the Western Balkans – Phase 2 implemented by UNFPA across the region, will serve as a useful model. Building on these specific models, the new National Strategy for Family and Demography is expected to capture and institutionalize good practices in gender-responsive family policies and evidence-based policies. It will focus on strengthening support systems for families—through improved work-life balance, engaged fatherhood, and shared caregiving responsibilities—while also expanding choices and opportunities for individuals, particularly women, both within and beyond the family setting. 

Finally, to support the the lead Ministry of Family Welfare and Demography in convening the entire process, UNFPA will recruit a team of five national consultants with relevant expertise to complement the capacity of the Cabinet of the Ministry of Family Welfare and Demography: i/ process convener, ii/ demography expert, iii/ public policy expert, iv/ public finance expert, and v/ social policy and economy expert. 

This strategic initiative builds on prior policy work, particularly the Birth Promotion Strategy, which was adopted in 2018 with the overarching aim of achieving a stationary population, ensuring that future generations are of equal size to current ones. The Birth Promotion Strategy outlined eight specific objectives: i/ reducing the economic burden of raising children; ii/ facilitating work-life balance; iii/ lowering the psychological cost of parenthood; iv/ preserving and improving reproductive health; v/ addressing infertility; vi/ promoting healthy motherhood; vii/ enhancing population education, and viii/ engaging local self-governments.

In line with the Law on the Planning System (2018), each strategy or program must include an Action Plan as an integral component, typically adopted simultaneously with the main document (Article 18). If adopted separately, the strategy must specify a deadline for the Action Plan, which cannot exceed 90 days from the date of adoption. However, the Action Plan for the 2018 Birth Promotion Strategy has not been adopted to date, representing a deviation from the legal framework. In 2023, the Ministry of Family Welfare and Demography initiated the development of a new strategy (initially titled the Parenting Support Strategy). The UNFPA CO Serbia supported this process by preparing the ex-post analysis of the Birth Promotion Strategy. In 2024, the newly appointed Minister of Family Welfare and Demography announced the intention to develop a more comprehensive strategic policy under a broader Demographic Resilience framework. This vision was reaffirmed with the establishment of the new Government in April 2025 and conveyed by the Prime Minister during his exposé on 15 April 2025, launching the process for the National Strategy for Family and Demography.

You would be responsible for:

Task 1. Support the Ministry of Family Welfare and Demography, in convening the work related to the development of the National Strategy for Family and Demography, and the accompanying ex-ante analysis and the Action Plan according to the work plan during 2025-2026:

Task 2. Carry out the mapping of existing relevant analyses covering both national and international legal and strategic documents, including laws, bylaws, policies, research studies, publications, and reports, related to demography and population policies, with a focus on public policy dimensions. The mapping analysis final report will identify the existing initiatives, overlaps, and gaps across sectors that impact demographic trends and family welfare in Serbia and align with international best practices. The document will be prepared in Serbian and submitted for quality assurance and review to the Ministry of Family Welfare and Demography, with a copy to the UNFPA CO Serbia and all other relevant entities through the Working Group.

Specific activities performed by the National Consultant will include:

Task 3. Lead the consolidation of the ex-ante analysis, ensuring the integration of strategic demography dimensions into the vision and framework of the National Strategy for Family and Demography and its accompanying Action Plan. The mapping analysis described under Task 2 will form part of the comprehensive ex-ante analysis.

Specific activities performed by the National Consultant will include:

Task 4. Lead the drafting of the National Strategy for Family and Demography, ensuring strategic policy coherence, alignment with national planning procedures, and integration of inputs from the ex-ante analysis and stakeholder consultations.
 

Specific activities performed by the National Consultant will include:

All documents developed under tasks 2, 3, and 4 will be written in Serbian and submitted for quality assurance and review to the Ministry of Family Welfare and Demography, with a copy to the UNFPA CO Serbia.

Task 5. Participate in the public hearings and consultations with relevant target groups and key stakeholders to ensure comprehensive input into the National Strategy for Family and Demography.
 

Specific activities performed by the National Consultant will include:

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered:

1st Deliverable, to be completed by 15 October 2025: A joint work plan and methodology for 2025–2026 is developed in Serbian, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Family Welfare and Demography and the Public Policy Secretariat, outlining key tasks, timelines, and stakeholders. The consultant provides public policy expertise in defining the structure and analytical scope of the National Strategy for Family and Demography, the accompanying exante analysis, and the Action Plan, ensuring consistency with the Law on the Planning System (2018).

2nd Deliverable, to be completed by 31 January 2026: A comprehensive mapping analysis is conducted and a final report is prepared in Serbian, identifying relevant national and international legal and strategic frameworks, policies, laws and by-laws, research, and reports related to demography, social policy, and economy. The report highlights existing initiatives, overlaps, and sectoral gaps affecting demographic trends and family welfare in Serbia, aligned with international best practices. The consultant contributes public policy expertise throughout the process and participates in stakeholder consultations, as appropriate. Active participation in the work of the Working Group is ensured. The final report is submitted to the Ministry of Family Welfare and Demography, with a copy to the UNFPA CO Serbia and other relevant parties via the Working Group. The consultant also participates in consultations with UN agencies in Serbia and international experts to integrate social policy and economic perspectives into the process.

3rd Deliverable, to be completed by 31 March 2026: The ex-ante analysis is finalized in Serbian, integrating the findings of the mapping analysis and incorporating demographic dimensions into the vision and framework of the National Strategy and Action Plan. The consultant leads the design and refinement of the report’s structure and format in alignment with the Law on the Planning System (2018), and actively participates in consultations with key stakeholders—including line ministries, independent bodies, the National Council for Family and Demography, UN agencies, and other institutions. Feedback from all stakeholders is systematically documented and integrated. The final document reflects national development priorities and relevant international best practices.

4th Deliverable, to be completed by 31 May 2026: The initial drafts of the National Strategy for Family and Demography is developed in Serbian. The consultant leads the development of the document's structure and format, ensuring consistency with the Law on the Planning System (2018) and relevant sectoral strategies. The drafting process is informed by the ex-ante analysis and input from stakeholder consultations and the Working Group. The consultant ensures that the content is comprehensive, evidence-based, and aligned with both national priorities and international best practices. The draft is submitted to the Ministry of Family Welfare and Demography and the UNFPA CO Serbia for quality assurance and review.

5th Deliverable, to be completed by 31 July 2026: The consultant actively participates in public hearings and consultations held in Belgrade, Novi Sad, and Niš, ensuring the inclusion of key target groups and diverse stakeholders such as government bodies, civil society organizations, and experts. Working in close coordination with the team of experts, the consultant helps systematically gather, analyze, and synthesize feedback. This input informs the revision and refinement of the Strategy, ensuring responsiveness to stakeholder needs and inclusion of a broad range of perspectives.
 

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  
 

University degree in law, social sciences, or related field. Master’s degree/PhD is considered an advantage.

Languages:

Fluency in local language is required.

Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:

The work will be carried out under the overall supervision and guidance of the experts from the UNFPA CO Serbia and relevant representatives from UNFPA EECARO, and with direct daily guidance and supervision by the designated focal point from the Ministry of Family Welfare and Demography, who will do quality assurance and formal approval of all above above-listed deliverables. In his work, the National Consultant - Demography expert will liaise closely with the Working Group for the development of the National Strategy for Family and Demography and the accompanying Action Plan, and with the team of four consultants/experts engaged in this process.
In the event of any delays in completing tasks, the National Consultant is expected to inform the experts from the UNFPA CO Serbia and the focal point from the Ministry of Family Welfare and Demography, providing reasons for the delay and proposing alternative actions or revised timelines for the completion of deliverables.

Supervisory arrangements:
The National Consultant will be directly supervised by the focal point from the Ministry of Family Welfare and Demography, who will be supported in this task by the UNFPA Population and Development Programme Analyst. Overall supervision of UNFPA work under this process is done by the UNFPA Serbia CO Head of Office.

Expected travel:

The National Consultant will perform activities in Belgrade. Travel can include relevant in-country travels supported by UNFPA CO Serbia, in accordance with the planned activities.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

 

Compensation and Benefits:

Payment will be made upon completion of specific tasks, submission of relevant deliverables, and certification of successful performance by the designated focal point from the Ministry of Family Welfare and Demography and the UNFPA Population and Development Programme Analyst, confirming that all deliverables have been finalized and accepted, by 15 August 2026. The consultancy fee will be paid in local currency, based on the UN operational exchange rate in effect on the date of payment, upon certification. All outputs produced under this consultancy will remain the property of UNFPA CO Serbia.
This consultancy is planned for a period of 11 months, in line with organizational policy, which limits individual consultant engagements to a maximum of 11 months within any 12-month period. Should there be a continued need, and following the mandatory one-month break in service, a new contract may be issued subject to satisfactory performance, availability of funds, and programmatic requirements. While it is anticipated that resources and processes for 2026 will be in place, please note that organizational
priorities, the start of a new programme cycle, or potential institutional changes may affect the continuation or structure of consultancy arrangements within the currently planned period. In the event of force majeure circumstances, UNFPA reserves the right to modify or adjust the process as necessary.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.