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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.

Purpose of assignment: 

UNICEF supports achievement of SDG 8.7, to take immediate and effective measures to secure the prohibitions and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including the recruitment of child soldiers. UNICEF is also working to enforce Article 39 of the Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC), and the Optional Protocol to the CRC on Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict and the Paris Principles and Guidelines for children associated with armed forces and armed groups. UNICEF supports recovery and reintegration of children affected by armed conflict in an environment that fosters health, self-respect and dignity of the child. UNICEF further takes action to support governments in their obligations to fulfill the 12 UN Security Council resolutions related to protecting children affected by armed conflict, and repatriation and reintegration of foreign children stranded in conflict zones, and the recognition that children associated with armed forces or armed groups are survivors of human rights violations and should be treated primarily as victims. UNICEF also remains guided by its Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action, its Strategic Plan 2022-2025 and its Child Protection Strategy 2021-2030 all of which prioritize protection of children in armed conflict.

Between 2005 and 2022 the UN verified more than 105,000 children as having been recruited and used by armed forces or armed groups.1 Many children are also detained for their actual, alleged, or perceived association with armed groups or on national security charges. “Verified cases ... have been documented in 25 countries since 2005” and have gradually increased over time.2 Determining that an individual is a child can prevent the person’s recruitment and use, facilitate their separation from armed actors, bring them under the jurisdiction and application of the special protections of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocols, and juvenile justice laws and procedures, and ensure that they are treated primarily as victims. Age assessment processes therefore constitute one of the most powerful tools to directly protect children in these situations.

In 2024, in the course of the update of the Technical note on Age Assessment, the need for additional operational  guidance, tools and training became apparent to enable effective, coherent, and context-appropriate application of age assessment standards and practices across diverse settings.

In this context, UNICEF seeks the services of a consultant to develop implementation tools to enable the correct application of the updated guidance on child friendly age-assessment procedures to help both facilitate support of and advocacy for this highly vulnerable group of children, and to better protect and fulfil their rights.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: TMC0001407 ToR.pdf

Minimum requirements: (Qualifications/ Experience/ Knowledge/Expertise/Skills)

• Education: Masters degree in Psychology, Human rights or International Public Policy
• Work Experience:
  • A minimum of 5 years’ experience in child protection, law, humanitarian programme management, human rights;
  • Demonstrated experience in working on issues related to age assessment and development of guidance for relevant stakeholders including member States, practitioners and children
• Skills:
  • Ability to be flexible and work well under pressure in a fast-paced environment, with complex projects and deadlines from different stakeholders
  • Demonstrable ability to awork independently, take initiative, and identify new opportunities and approaches
• Language Requirements:
  • Strong English language skills
• Desirables
  • Experience working on issues related to CAAFAG and or child justice in operations in the field is an advantage
  • Strong writing and communication skills; development and delivery of technical guidance an advantage
  • Fluency in French an advantage

 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

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 reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. 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.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
• Cover letter
• A separate financial proposal  TMC0001407 Financial proposal template.docx

 Remarks:  If the TOR or financial proposal documents are not visible on certain recruitment platforms, please visit our official page Vacancies | UNICEF Careers.

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.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.