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UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to protection

Violence Against Children (VAC) and Violence Against Women (VAW) are pervasive, deeply rooted issues affecting millions globally. According to UNICEF global data, nearly one billion children are impacted by violence each year. In Moldova, the situation is equally alarming - two in five children have experienced violence, and two in five women and girls have been subjected to physical or sexual abuse since the age of 15. These forms of violence often co-exist within the same environments - whether in homes, schools, or communities - and are driven by common underlying factors such as gender inequality, power imbalances, and socioeconomic disparities. Evidence shows that early experiences of violence increase the likelihood of future victimization or perpetration.

Each year, around 1,000 children in Moldova become victims or witnesses of crimes. At the same time, the number of femicide criminal cases investigated continues to rise annually. The effective prevention and prosecution of such crimes are essential for protecting victims, ensuring that perpetrators are identified and held accountable, and aligning the Republic of Moldova with its international commitments.

One of the most effective strategies to respond to VAC and VAW cases, widely recognized at the European and international levels, is the specialization of justice professionals (prosecutors, judges, and criminal investigation officers). In Moldova, specialization as a professional modality of organizing judicial activities has become increasingly relevant. It does not entail creating new institutional structures but rather assigning specific responsibilities for prosecuting and adjudicating categories of offences related to VAC and VAW. This approach guarantees that professionals involved possess the required expertise in these sensitive areas.

Specialization increases efficiency, enhances the quality of investigations and adjudications, reduces secondary victimization, and strengthens institutional accountability.  By concentrating knowledge and experience, specialized professionals are better equipped to apply gender-sensitive approaches, ensure victim protection, and deliver justice in a timely and consistent manner.

The National Agency for the Prevention and Combating of Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (ANPCV or GBV agency) holds a central role in coordinating public policies in this area and fostering cooperation between state institutions, civil society, and non-commercial actors.

In this context, UNICEF, together with other partners, will provide technical support to the Agency to promote the specialization of justice sector professionals in cases of violence against women, domestic violence, and violence against children throughor the development of a review and analysis on the specialization of justice sector professionals, develop an operational algorithm for specialized actors, and elaborate an initial and continuous training curriculum for prosecutors, judges, and criminal investigation officers.

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose of the assignment

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical support to the GBV Agency to advance the specialization of justice sector professionals in VAC and VAW cases.

The consultant will explore the social, institutional, and human factors that shape how specialization in handling VAC and VAW cases is understood and applied within the justice system. The work will include qualitative and quantitative evidence to justify the need for specialization, assess its relevance and potential benefits, and support the development of evidence-based public policy recommendations and targeted training programs for justice sector professionals

Objectives of the Consultancy:

1. Analyze the social, institutional, and human drivers impacting the specialization of justice sector professionals in handling VAC and VAW cases. Contribute to the development of the methodological framework, including the design of review and analytical tools, and support the qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis.
2. Generate evidence-based public policy recommendations and support the structuring of the initial and continuous training curriculum based on sociological findings and identified needs.

Details of how the work should be delivered

This consultancy will be carried out under the auspices and coordination of ANPCV in partnership with UNICEF and GIZ, who will provide technical assistance through the subcontracting of consultants. The final deliverables will be developed collaboratively by the team, which includes the Policy and Strategy Consultant (GIZ) and the Legal Consultant (UNICEF).

Deliverables are divided among the consultants based on their backgrounds; however, in cases of overlap or emerging needs identified during the process, these will be jointly addressed by the consultant team.

The main tasks for the sociological consultant include:

1. Designing the Sociological Framework of the review and analysis will include:
   • Define the key sociological dimensions (social, institutional, and human) for assessing the level of specialization among justice sector professionals (judges, prosecutors, and criminal investigation officers).
   • Develop the methodology and design of the review, and data collection tools (e.g., interview guides, questionnaires).
   • Ensure a victim-centred approach is integrated throughout the review and analysis, with a focus on how specialized interventions affect access to justice and the protection of rights.
   • Reviewing relevant literature and existing studies to understand the national context and international trends.
2. Analysing sociological data:
   • Collect and analyse qualitative and quantitative data through interviews, focus groups, and/or surveys with key stakeholders.
   • Identify systemic, cultural, and institutional barriers to the specialization of justice professionals.
   • Examine the workload and case burden of professionals handling VAC and VAW cases.
   • Assess the potential effects of specialization on the efficiency of institutional responses, the quality of judicial processes, and the level of protection afforded to victims.
   • Provide technical support for the conceptualization of the initial and continuous training system for justice sector professionals.
   • Prepare an analytical summary to support evidence-based public policy recommendations.
3. Contributing to the review and analysis:
   • Draft the sociological chapter of the review and analysis, including evidence-based conclusions and recommendations.
   • Participate in inter-institutional meetings and validation workshops to present and refine findings.
   • Present key results at the final dissemination event.
   • Provide technical support to the GBV Agency in interpreting sociological data and formulating proposals for policy and practice improvements related to specialization.
   • Provide expert guidance to ANPCV on the specialization of justice sector professionals in VAC and VAW cases.

Deliverables and delivery dates

* Exact deadlines will be mutually agreed upon contract signature.

Reporting requirements

The Consultant will work under the direct supervision of the UNICEF Child Protection Officer and the ANPCV. All the activities and deliverables undertaken by the Consultant shall be discussed and planned in consultation with UNICEF and the ANPCV. Each product will be subject to UNICEF review before approval. All deliverables need to be submitted in electronic format (Word) in English and Romanian.

Performance indicators for evaluation of results:

The performance of work will be evaluated based on the following indicators:

• Completion of tasks specified in ToR
• Application of the National Regulatory Framework and Legislative Technical Standards
• Compliance with the established deadlines for submission of deliverables
• Quality of work
• Demonstration of high standards in cooperation and communication with the ANPCV, UNICEF and other involved institutions.

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

Minimum requirements:

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in social sciences or related fields (5-year university education).
• Previous experience in conducting quantitative and qualitative sociological research (min 3 years).
• Proven previous experience in at least one of the following areas: GBV, VAC and VAW.
• Previous experience in the field of justice.
• Demonstrated analytical capacity and solid research skills.
• Excellent drafting and editing skills in English and Romanian.

Desirables:

• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts. 

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Builds and maintains partnerships
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

For more details on the consultancy assignment and requirements, please refer to attached Terms of reference (ToR):

 2025_ToR_Sociological Consultant_VA.docx

HOW TO APPLY: Your online application should contain the Technical and Financial Offers (templates below):

 Technical Offer_Sociological Consultant.docx

 Financial Offer_Sociological Consultant.xlsx

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children’s data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:  

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitablecandidates from targeted underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.