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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, hope

UNICEF Ukraine

Background:

As adolescents and youth in Ukraine face significant challenges exacerbated by the ongoing conflict, UNICEF aims to support the Government to address young people’s urgent needs while laying the groundwork for their active participation in the country’s recovery and development. A recent UNICEF-led research "Investment Case on Youth" demonstrates the significant need to invest youth development, showcasing that every hryvnia invested in youth yields a return of 2.50 hryvnias by 2030.

UNICEF has prioritized support to the development and implementation of strategic and sustainable Ukrainian youth policy at national level and within different regions in its next Country Program (CPD) (2025-2029). Based on CPD commitments and a joint agreement with by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, UNICEF has committed to support the development of 5-year National Youth Policy Concept. It is envisioned as a national framework that will outline key priorities, objectives, and strategies for youth development, reflecting the importance of investments in youth as a driving force for Ukraine's future. The Concept will serve as blueprint for the development of State Social Program “Youth of Ukraine 2026-2030”.

Looking at youth as a driving force for Ukraine recovery and its human capital, UNICEF commits to support systems that ensure life chances for youth decent employment in the country. Youth employment is an important component of response to Ukraine's demographic challenges, like below-average youth population and the ongoing migration of young people. The formation and implementation of such systems is a collaborative process involving a wide range of stakeholders, including government agencies, international organizations, civil society groups, and youth representatives.

In addition to the national framework, UNICEF is implementing a localized youth policy model in selected priority Hromadas (municipalities). This model aims to create a supportive ecosystem for young people at the community level, promoting their social, economic, and civic development. This approach is aligned with Ukraine's decentralization efforts and the principles endorsed by the Council of Europe, further supporting Ukraine's EU accession aspirations.

UNICEF's involvement will focus on several key areas, including youth participation in local governance, non-formal learning and skills for employment and participation, mental health and psycho-social support, employability, civic engagement, and environmental sustainability. UNICEF supports hromadas in establishment of youth centers and councils, promoting youth-led initiatives, and ensuring the integration of youth perspectives into local decision-making processes. Youth engagement and participation is mainstreamed in humanitarian-development nexus interventions, where young people can be leaders of humanitarian response, innovators, and peer supporters. The effective models at the local level will be showcased and upstream through advocacy efforts, to ensure that the youth policy is effective and responsive to the needs of young people in Ukraine.

Purpose of assignment:

The purpose of this consultancy is to support achievement of UNICEF Ukraine’s  goals in youth policy strengthening. In particular, it will include the following tasks:

• Support the UNICEF Ukraine Country Office through technical advice and coordination in the development of strategic frameworks and Theories of Change, relating to Youth Policy and youth employment systems and models;
• To prepare evidence and compile data to inform UNICEF’s advocacy in youth policy review and development,;
• To provide technical support and advice in UNICEF’s policy engagement on youth employment and youth as a driving force of human capital
• To support the analysis of localised youth policies and key deprivations of youth in hromadas, and provide recommendations on how to address the gaps;
• To support UNICEF and implementing partners in planning of youth policy implementation in hromadas;
• Providing technical advice to hromadas, sharing effective practices and referring them to experts or peers for knowledge sharing;
• Support UNICEF in capacity building of implementing partners to deliver sustainable youth policy in hromadas;
• Supporting UNICEF and hromadas in showcasing their practices for the purposes of upstream youth policy work.

Work assignment overview:

Travel plan:

Please provide an all-inclusive financial proposal including travels to carry out the deliverables listed above.

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

Education: Master’s Degree or higher in one of the following fields: Social Sciences, International Relations.

Professional experience:

• At least 5 years working on youth-related programming and/or policy development.

• Experience in engagement with local authorities, youth NGOs, volunteering groups, youth councils and youth centers, other youth-focused institutions will be an advantage.

Languages: 

• English: Advanced [C1];
• Ukrainian: Proficient/Native [C2] .

Skills and competencies: 

• Youth policy development and analysis.
• Youth programs management, research and analytics, youth work.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

 To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

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:  

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract 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 and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors 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.