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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, protection.

Since the beginning of 2018 Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has faced in increase influx of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees after previously popular migration routes to Western Europe through the Balkans shut down in 2017.  The national system to protect unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) in BiH - from identification and registration to referral and protective services – was initially overwhelmed, but the response and local capacities were increasingly stable with the support of international actors and EU. Nevertheless, UASC and other children on the move remain exposed to heightened protection risks, including incidences of (gender-based) violence, abuse, and exploitation (smuggling and human trafficking) while the process of transitioning services to government represents additional risk in quality and continuum of protection services.

UNICEF's response to children on the move transiting through/stranded in BiH takes a three-track approach:

(1) Immediate humanitarian assistance and protection to refugee and migrant children, especially UASC, working in close collaboration with government authorities at all levels, UN agencies and NGOs; 

(2) Strengthening child protection systems to provide better services to all vulnerable children in BiH through capacity building, policy reform and technical assistance; and

(3) Supporting the process of transitioning services for children to institutions and strengthening government ownership.

UNICEF's key child protection interventions include the following:

(a) Support the identification of UASC, appointment of legal guardianship, child protection case management and referral to relevant support services, including through the deployment of extra professionals to enhance access to child protection services.

(b) Provide 24/7 child protection presence at the TRCs including 24/7 onsite care and support services as well as referral to external support services.

(c) Operating of Child-Friendly Spaces (CFS) at the TRCs. CFS operate as multi-functional centres to prevent and respond to protection concerns and connect children and their families with a variety of humanitarian services. They provide children with opportunities to develop, play, learn, and strengthen their resilience, as well as access psychosocial support. CFS also offers a space for the identification, referral, and follow-up, and/or direct support of at-risk children.

(d) In partnership with Centres for Social Welfare and NGOs UNICEF aims to expand availability of quality mental health and psychosocial support to children on the move and their caregivers.

(e) Strengthen linkages with protection systems, and contribute to overall systems strengthening through capacity building, coordination, improving the legal/policy framework their resilience, as well as access psychosocial support.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

Under the direct supervision of the Child Protection Specialist and with technical support from the Child Protection Officer, the consultant will support UNICEF in monitoring the protection situation of children on the move within and outside of reception facilities in Una -Sana Canton. The consultant is based in TRC Borici, and requires the ability to problem solve, work effectively with diverse stakeholders and advocate for children as new issues and needs arise. This is especially important due to the expected protection risks and changes related to transitioning the protection services to the government counterparts.  This includes working with key counterparts to quickly identify solutions as new protection issues arise and practically applying the best interest of the child principle to a range of situations. Additional support to work in other locations may be required, depending on the refugee, migrant mixed migration flows, needs of children and the transition process.

How can you make a difference? 

Child protection monitoring is the ongoing and systematic collection, analysis and use of child protection related data and information.

Child protection monitoring refers to ongoing efforts to monitor child protection risks, concerns, violations, and capacities with the purpose of producing evidence on child protection risks and existing capacities to inform analysis, strategy, and responses. Child protection monitoring should be carried out with the main objective of reporting on child protection risks informing and improve programming and service delivery, including both prevention and response activities; undertake advocacy; and support accountability.

The consultant will focus on monitoring and coordination related to the child protection in Una – Sana Canton (USC) and will collect data related to child protection from different actors focused on the number of children arriving to the area, number of children staying within and outside of TRC, quantity and quality of services ensured to children.

Particular focus of the consultancy will be to mitigate the protection risks of expected relocations of children and families and different adaptations as part of transitioning the services to the government.  Monitoring and coordination between different governmental, UN and NGO partners in order to ensure efficient service delivery to children is crucial for the protection of children and important component of the work. 

The responsibilities will include:

•           Support the monitoring of service provision to children on the move in line with the ongoing transition in temporary reception centers in Una-Sana Canton and provide recommendations for improvements/adjustments.

•           Technical support for strengthening of service provision capacities through identification of capacity gaps and planning of related trainings, direct advice and support to service providers and strengthening coordination amongst partners.

•           Support the collection and consolidation of child protection relevant data and information and contribute to reporting and regularly update relevant reports.

•           Ensure child protection, education and health monitoring in temporary reception centres in Una-Sana Canton and monitor care and support services to ensure children’s wellbeing, best interests and standards for health, hygiene and safety are met.

•           Advocate for children’s rights and contribution to coordination through participation in Una-Sana child protection working group meetings (secretariat function); and participate in other TRC coordination meetings, complaint councils, Boys Voice, etc. Provide support for Best Interest Determination panels/case conferences with relevant actors.

•           Monitor the implementation of child safeguarding policies and procedures within TRCs. Support capacity building on child safeguarding among relevant stakeholders, including contributing to transition.

•           Keeps records of NFIs procured by UNICEF, plus other tasks as required.

While carrying out above tasks, it is expected that the consultant will apply the “do no harm” approach to ensure that child rights monitoring and protection activities do not put children at risk and ensure high standards in humanitarian practice, with special focus on cultural sensitivity and non-discrimination.

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

• Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in human rights, psychology, sociology, international law or other social science field.
• Two years of relevant work experience such as working with vulnerable groups of children, in child protection or in an emergency/humanitarian situation; Additional experience is an asset.
• Knowledge of English and BHS language required, fluency/working knowledge in any of the languages commonly spoken by refugees and migrants (Arabic, Farsi, Pashtu, French, Spanish and/or Urdu) an asset. Ability to work independently, with minimum supervision and as part of a team;
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships;
• Strong writing and communication skills required.
• Knowledge of child protection, social welfare, and/or previous experience with UNICEF;
• Ability to analyze documents, gather information from key stakeholders and synthesize into succinct format;
• Knowledge of international principles and legal instruments related to child protection, refugees, migrants.

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.