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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! 

Uzbekistan has embarked on an ambitious transformation of its social protection system, guided by the Development Strategy of New Uzbekistan (2022–2026) and the National Social Protection Strategy to 2030. These policy frameworks mark a decisive shift toward building an inclusive, rights-based system that responds more effectively to the needs of children, families, people with disabilities, and vulnerable groups.

A key institutional milestone in this process was the establishment of the National Agency for Social Protection under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan (NASP) in June 2023. NASP is mandated to lead the modernization of social protection and social service provision. Since its establishment, more than 9,000 social service professionals have been deployed, and district- and city-based “Inson” Centres have been rolled out nationwide to serve as integrated access points for social services.

Recognizing the need to move toward more inclusive, community-based, and outcome-oriented models, NASP, is implementing the 3-year Innovative Social Protection System for Inclusion of Vulnerable People (INSON) Project, supported by a loan from the World Bank. The project aims to improve access to and quality of social services, including through the establishment of national quality and cost standards, legal and regulatory frameworks, and systems for licensing and accreditation. This also includes the development of integrated Territorial Social Service Centres (TSSCs) and the regulation of non-governmental service provision.

Within this broader reform effort, UNICEF will be supporting NASP in ensuring that social services are aligned with international standards and tailored to the needs of the population. In particular, the focus will be on strengthening the design and operationalization of services that are child- and family-centered, inclusive of people with disabilities, gender-responsive, and trauma-informed. These reforms contribute directly to Uzbekistan’s obligations under international human rights instruments, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

To support these objectives, the assignment described in these Terms of Reference will provide technical expertise to develop a national framework for minimum quality standards for social services, and to draft ten service-specific standards based on this framework. These standards will be aligned with international best practices and Uzbekistan’s emerging regulatory framework.

This assignment is closely linked to a parallel institutional contract that will support a comprehensive needs assessment of social (welfare) services and the social services workforce needed to deliver social (welfare) services and the conceptualization of ten priority social services. The findings and service models developed under that contract will further inform content and structure of the service-specific standards to be drafted under this assignment. Close coordination between the two assignments will be essential to ensure consistency and complementarity, and to lay a coherent foundation for a national social service system that meets the needs of vulnerable populations in Uzbekistan. The assignment is also linked to a separate individual consultancy that will develop a costing framework and carry out the costing of the minimum standards to support future planning and budgeting.

The consultant will provide technical assistance to:

1. Propose a framework for minimum quality standards for social services, building on existing legislation and stakeholder consultation as well as best international practices.
2. Develop minimum quality standards for a list of ten priority services, with a focus on child protection and care, domestic violence, mental health and psychosocial support, and services for children with disabilities. [The final services and service standards will be agreed upon with NASP]. Each standard should include: the title of the social service; a description of its scope and key activities; terms and conditions for service provision; quantitative and qualitative indicators for assessing service outcomes; as well as the required personnel (workforce) for delivery. Minimum costing will be developed separately by an individual consultant and should be informed by the standards developed under this assignment.
3. Facilitate consultations with national stakeholders, including service providers, and end-users, to validate and finalize standards.
4. Draft recommendations for legal and regulatory amendments to institutionalize the standards.
5. Conduct a one-day Training of Trainers for NASP’s social inspection and provider teams on the quality scorecard system.

Work Assignments Overview - Deliverables/Outputs - Timeline

1. Develop a national framework for minimum quality standards for social services

• Inception report outlining methodology, proposed framework structure, and consultation plan - By week 3, 8 days
• Draft national framework for minimum quality standards, aligned with international best practices and national legislation - By week 6, 15 days
• Final national framework submitted, incorporating stakeholder input - By Week 10, 10 days

2. Develop 10 service-specific quality standards

• Draft quality standards for 10 priority services, including scope, activities, indicators, terms and conditions, and workforce - Progressively, by the end of month 7, 80 days
• Stakeholder consultations conducted; summary report of feedback prepared - By the end of month 8, 10 days
• Final validated quality standards for 10 services submitted - By the end of month 10, 10 days

3. Draft legal and regulatory recommendations

• Proposed amendments to laws and regulations to institutionalize the standards - By the end of month 11, 6 days

4. Build institutional capacity through training

• One-day Training of Trainers (ToT) conducted for NASP’s social inspection and provider teams on the quality scorecard system - By the end of month 12, 4 days

International travel is required.

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Advance degree in Social Sciences, Social Work, or related field
• Work Experience: At least 10 years of relevant international experience.
  Proven track record in advising governments on public sector reforms, particularly in social protection or care systems.
  Familiarity with the Uzbek social protection and care systems.
  Familiarity with international social services frameworks and ISO standards.
  Experience working in Uzbekistan preferred.
  Strong analytical, communication, and facilitation skills.
  Ability to draft concise, well-structured technical documents.
  Experience of collaborating with UNICEF is an asset.
• Language Requirements: Fluent in English and Russian

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 

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 female candidates 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.