Current vacancies

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 results

Following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, millions of refugees from Ukraine have crossed borders into neighbouring countries, with women and children representing the majority of those fleeing the war.

The Government of the Republic of Moldova, in close cooperation with civil society, community-based organizations, and the population at large, has responded promptly and effectively, despite constrained capacities. With support from international development and humanitarian partners, including the donor community, refugees have received shelter, food, and access to essential services.

UNICEF, in close partnership with the Government of the Republic of Moldova, has played a critical role in strengthening the national child protection response to the refugee crisis. UNICEF has supported the establishment and expansion of child-friendly spaces, ensured access to psychosocial support, and enhanced case management services both on child protection and Gender Based Violence (GBV) cases to protect children at risk and victims, including unaccompanied and separated children (UASC). In addition, UNICEF has worked to build the capacity of child protection professionals, supported the provision of community-based services, and promoted social cohesion between refugee and host communities.

The refugee response was implemented and scaled up through partnerships with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (MLSP), the Chisinau Municipality, and 10 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), including women-led associations. Since 2022 and the beginning of the emergency, the refugee response was also integrated into the UNICEF regular Child Protection program, contributing to the continued need for humanitarian interventions with longer-term development of a shock-responsive child protection system, targeting both refugee and vulnerable Moldovan communities to ensure no one is left behind, and to promote social cohesion.

There is a need to document and assess its child protection response to the Ukraine refugee situation in Moldova to ensure that services are effectively addressing the risks, vulnerabilities, and evolving needs of refugee and host-community children. This evidence is essential for strengthening program quality, guiding resource allocation, and demonstrating accountability to partners, donors, and affected populations.

How can you make a difference? 

1. Purpose of the assignment

The overall purpose of this assessment is to document and assess UNICEF’s child protection response to the Ukraine refugee situation in the Republic of Moldova, including the Transnistrian region, with a particular focus on strengthening the child protection system and the integration of humanitarian, development, and peace nexus approaches.

2. Objectives of the consultancy

Specifically, the objectives of the assessment are:

1. To document the evolution, scope, and key components of UNICEF’s child protection response to the Ukraine refugee situation, including partnerships, service delivery models, and system strengthening initiatives.
2. To assess the relevance of the Child Protection response in addressing the needs of refugee and host community children and families, and its alignment with national child protection priorities and the Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action (CCCs). with a particular focus on strengthening the child protection system, service provision for refugees, incorporating a humanitarian, development, and peace nexus approach.
3. To assess the effectiveness of the child protection interventions in emergency preparedness and response, including the extent to which services reached vulnerable groups such as unaccompanied and separated children (UASC), children at risk of family separation and violence, children and adults with disabilities, and other marginalized populations.
4. To analyse the adaptability of UNICEF and its partners in responding to the evolving protection needs of refugee children and families, including adjustments in programming, service delivery, and coordination mechanisms. 
5. To examine the effectiveness of coordination and partnership mechanisms between UNICEF, government counterparts (including MLSP and local authorities such as Chisinau municipality), civil society partners, and other stakeholders in strengthening the national and local child protection systems. 
6. To assess the sustainability of results achieved through the response, particularly in terms of institutional capacity, service continuity, and integration of humanitarian, development and peace nexus approaches. 
7. To identify best practices and key lessons learned, and emerging impacts of the response, and to provide actionable recommendations to strengthen future child protection programming, system strengthening efforts, and evidence-based advocacy.

3. Details of how the work should be delivered

Evidence will be collected through desk review and data analysis, complemented by insights from relevant global policies (including the CCS and the EISI Regional Evaluation of UNICEF’s response to refugees) and data gathered from key stakeholders at national and local levels through key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and other appropriate methods.

Findings, conclusions, and recommendations will be validated through cross-validation of multiple data sources, in consultation with UNICEF and government counterparts during the report drafting process. The draft report will be reviewed and validated at a dedicated validation meeting.

The Assessment design and methodology, including the necessary data collection strategy and selection criteria, methodological limitations, and mitigation measures, shall be further developed and improved by the bidders in their respective proposals. Alternative approaches can also be proposed.

4. Deliverables and delivery dates

The table below presents the expected deliverables for the assignment.

5. Work location and official travel involved

The consultancy will be conducted remotely, except for the data collection phase. The consultant will be required to travel for 2 in-country mission (7 days total), to conduct the data collection and completion of the assignment and for the presentation event. All other meetings and consultations can be conducted virtually.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

• Advanced degree in social sciences, international development, child protection, or related field.
• Minimum 7 years’ professional experience in evaluation and/or assessment of humanitarian child protection programs /interventions.
• Strong analytical, report writing, and stakeholder facilitation skills, writing, and stakeholder facilitation skills.‑facilitation skills.
• Relevant experience working with UNICEF or other UN Agencies.
• Proven familiarity with UNICEF and/or Moldova’s child protection systems and the Transnistrian context would be an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Romanian and/or Russian would be an asset.

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):

 2026 TOR_International Indiv Consultant_CP Emergency Response Assesment_VA.docx

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

 Technical Offer_CP Emergency Response Assesment.docx

 Financial Offer_CP Emergency Response Assesment.xlsx

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 suitable candidates 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.

UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates selected for this assignment. 

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.