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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 

In 2025, UNICEF, in partnership with the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population (MLSP), piloted a Diversion with Restorative Justice (diversion/RJ) approach in Kopetdag etrap of Ashgabat - the first of its kind in Turkmenistan. Building on the results of the 2025 pilot and the expressed interest from national partners, UNICEF and Government counterparts are expanding the pilot to the entire city of Ashgabat and to Turkmenabat (Lebap velayat) in 2026–2027 to test the model in different geographic and administrative contexts before potential scaling.

This assignment supports the implementation of the UNICEF Turkmenistan Country Programme Document (CPD) 2026-2030. Specifically, it contributes to CPD Programme Component 3 (Child Protection), in particular Output 3.2 on strengthening justice for children systems and operational mechanisms, including child-sensitive, non-custodial and restorative approaches for children in contact with the law. It contributes to the Government’s commitments under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, including the CRC Committee’s Concluding Observations (2024) related to strengthening child-friendly justice and promoting non-custodial, restorative, and community-based responses for children in contact with the law. It also aligns with the National Action Plan for the Realization of Children’s Rights in Turkmenistan (2023–2028), Objective 5.3, which aims to strengthen the protection of children in contact with the law, including through the development and piloting of diversion measures and restorative justice approaches.

How can you make a difference? 

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide dedicated coordination and case management support for the expanded diversion/RJ pilot in Ashgabat and Turkmenabat. The consultant will ensure effective inter-agency collaboration among referral bodies (Commission on Minors), Inspection on Minors of the MIA, social work specialists of the MLSP, psychologists and other service providers; monitor progress and compliance with diversion plans; document lessons learned; and support quality implementation.

In addition, the consultant will support supervision of Social Work bachelor students during their summer practicum (June–July), to help them gain practical skills in case management, ethics and child-sensitive approaches. This supports the longer-term goal of strengthening the national social work workforce and service quality.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  ToR_Diversion_SW Coordinator_Ashgabat_Turkmenabat_2026-2027_for adv..pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

• Higher education in social sciences, law, public administration, psychology, education, or related disciplines.
• Demonstrated experience in social service/child protection case management and coordination of services.
• Experience in inter-agency coordination, preferably with government bodies.
• Experience working with children in contact/conflict with the law and/or juvenile justice sector. Experience with diversion and/or restorative justice approaches is an advantage.
• Understanding of the social services system in Turkmenistan; experience with UNICEF/UN is an advantage.
• Fluency in Russian and Turkmen is required; working knowledge of the English language is an asset.
• Experience supervising junior staff/interns or students is an asset.

Scope of Work/ Work Assignments:

1. Coordinate diversion/RJ case management processes for the active pilot caseload in Ashgabat and Turkmenabat, ensuring timely referrals, case conferences, documentation, follow-up actions and inter-agency coordination.
2. Liaise with referral bodies (Commission on Minors, Inspection on Minors, and relevant prosecution-related coordination where applicable) to ensure timely referrals, information flow and decisions on case plans.
3. Coordinate distribution of cases, documentation and forms among social workers and psychologists assigned to the pilot; ensure timely updates and proper filing.
4. Organize and facilitate regular coordination meetings with pilot stakeholders in both locations (online and in-person as needed); document follow-up actions.
5. Provide methodological guidance to social workers and Inspectors on Minors on diversion/RJ case management procedures and use of tools (case plans, progress monitoring, referrals).
6. Monitor progress of each child and support the case team in adjusting diversion plans and service referrals as needed.
7. Coordinate with community-based and state service providers included in diversion plans (education, health, social services and other relevant actors).
8. Document case outcomes, implementation gaps, lessons learned and best practices for UNICEF and partners; contribute to evidence generation for scaling.
9. Support focus group discussions/consultations with pilot participants (as agreed with UNICEF) to collect feedback for programme improvement.
10. Provide supervision and practical guidance to bachelor-level students during their summer practicum (e.g., orientation, assignment of tasks, weekly check-ins, review of practicum outputs, and end-of-practicum performance feedback), in coordination with UNICEF and the host institution.

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…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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.

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.