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For every child, chance

Consultancy Title: International child protection consultant to conduct legal analysis of the national legislation on child protection of refugee / migrant children and their caregivers and provide recommendations on its improvement in line with the best international practices (Russian-speaking)

Section/Division/Duty Station: Child Protection section, UNICEF Belarus CO

Duration: August 2025 – 31 December 2025

Home/ office Based: Remote/Home-based

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. Over 75 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and abuse. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations, and governments.

Background / Context

Belarus is an upper-middle income country. Since 2021, due to its geographical location and changes in the geopolitical landscape the country has become a transit route for migrants and refugees primarily from the Middle East. Since 2022, Belarus has been experiencing an influx of Ukrainian refugees as a transit and destination country. As of February 2025, 44,501 Ukrainians, 36% of whom are children, were registered in the country. Refugee and migrant children and caregivers in Belarus face critical needs, including humanitarian aid, social services and protection, mental health and psychosocial support services, individual case management, as well as identification and alternative childcare for unaccompanied and separated children (UASC). UASC are a particularly vulnerable population, requiring dedicated protection. State support to migrants and refugees from the Middle East is limited by the national legislation and its implementation, and further exacerbated by language barriers and low capacity of frontline workers to identify and address vulnerabilities of this target group.

Belarus is a party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which establishes the legal framework for States to protect all children within their jurisdiction, irrespective of their migration status. In the contexts of displacements, including those caused by conflict, Belarus is obligated to ensure the provision of appropriate care and protection for all children, with particular attention to the special needs and vulnerabilities of UASC.

In this context, the Government of Belarus in partnership with UN agencies in Belarus has taken major steps to close the gaps in the protection and services for refugee and migrant children in Belarus, prioritizing UASC and families with children from Ukraine. For example, a Technical Working Group on UASC was established in 2021 and an intersectoral algorithm was institutionalized by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. However, in practice, access to basic child and social protection services remains limited, due to the limitations in the regulatory framework, its its implementation in the field and low capacities of frontline workers.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

To address these bottlenecks, UNICEF in Belarus is looking for an international consultant to systematize and analyse the national legal framework related to the protection of refugee and migrant children, with a particular focus on UASC, identify gaps and areas for improvement, and provide comprehensive recommendations for its revision and practical implementation in line with international standards. The Consultant will work in tandem with a national expert to ensure precision and will coordinate with the Technical Working Group on UASC and refugee and migrant families with children to be established on the platform of already existing Technical Working Group on UASC. The expert will work with a coordination group including representatives of UNICEF, UNHCR, IOM and government representatives. The coordination group will provide support and guide the research.

Scope of Work:

Under direct supervision of the Child Protection Specialist and with the guidance from the coordination group the Consultant will conduct a high quality comprehensive legal analysis of the national legislation that pertains to child protection and social protection of refugee and migrant children and their caregivers, with a particular focus on UASC and provide actionable recommendations on addressing identified gaps and opportunities.

1. Analyse national laws, decrees, algorithms, and procedures relevant to the protection of refugee and migrant children and their caregivers, their implementation and compliance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other international laws and best practices, emphasizing the following issues:

• alternative childcare, custodial arrangements, and guardianship for UASC;
• alternative solutions to detention such as assisted living and crisis shelters;
• integration of the Best Interest Procedure in the humanitarian response;
• access to social services and social protection for families with children with irregular immigration status, UASC, and pregnant women;
• a creation of a comprehensive intersectoral coordination algorithm on cases of UASC;
• access to protection procedures and services;
• prevention of deprivation of liberty and detention;
• age identification procedures for adolescents of borderline age (15-17);
• existing alternative childcare arrangements, including functionality and capacities of the key stakeholders, childcare and custodial responsibilities,
• including training in trauma-informed care, psychosocial support, multicultural accountability and burnout prevention into curricular for frontline workers;
• mechanisms to engage with non-governmental organizations to meet the needs of migrant and refugee families with children and UASC.

2. Identify challenges, gaps, and best practices in the implementation of relevant laws and procedures.
3. Consider and analyze various case scenarios that may arise and how identified legal challenges can be addressed best.
4. Provide recommendations on strengthening the national legislative framework for refugee and migrant children and their caregivers in line with international standards and provide pathways to durable solutions informed by best interest’s procedures.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables / Delivery Deadline: 

Travel (if required as per TOR):

Consultant will need to provide estimated budgets for travels to project sites during the contract period (places, number of visits *rate per one visit* number of days of each visit)

Qualifications

Education:

• An advanced university degree in law, international law / international humanitarian law, comparative law, child protection, or related field

Work experience/Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• At least seven years of proven work experience in developing national legislation, legal research, comparative legal analysis or related area.
• Experience in legal work and research on childcare or migration law/response.
• Knowledge of international guardianship and childcare approaches and best practices.
• Experience in the area of protecting unaccompanied and separated children, including research, aligning national legislation with best international practices, etc., will be an asset.
• Proven skills in analysis, synthesis, and ability to communicate complex issues clearly and succinctly both orally and in writing.
• Strong communication skills (written and oral) in Russian are required.
• Fluency in Russian and English.

Competencies:

• Drives to achieve results for impact.
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness.
• Thinks and acts strategically.
• Works collaboratively with others

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and

• Interested consultants should provide a letter of interest (Cover Letter) describing how they can contribute to the interventions listed under roles and responsibilities and why they should be selected for this position. In addition, they should share their latest CV/Resume and financial proposal  Financial Offer template CP_Consultant_legal_analysis International.docx to undertake this job.
• Samples of the related job/tasks done
• Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal: all-inclusive lump-sum cost (including travel and accommodation cost for this assignment as per work assignment) that will include/ reflect:
  • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

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

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 

[add the 8^th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role]. 

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.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable [Insert 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.

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.