UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, protection.

UNICEF is implementing the IPA2020 project, funded by EU, which includes the development of a digital system for child disability assessment and referral in the FBiH. Following the introduction of this reform, Ministries have allocated budgets and identified local/cantonal institutions as hubs for newly established full-time Assessment Teams. To enhance the efficiency of the new system, which requires referrals to multiple local social service providers, it must be transitioned to a digital platform with several key functionalities. A critical aspect of this system is the monitoring and reporting on the trends and needs of children with disabilities and their families, which will be used for more effective and efficient social service planning and delivery.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The objective of this consultancy is to provide technical expertise and oversight for the development of a database for a new child disability assessment and referral system in three Cantons of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH): Una-Sana Canton (USK), Zenica-Doboj Canton (ZDK), and Herzegovina-Neretva Canton (HNZ).

How can you make a difference? 

Under the supervision of the UNICEF Social Policy Specialist, the consultant will collaborate with the Cantonal Ministries of Social Policy/Education in the three Cantons, as well as local institutions and Assessment Teams, to perform the following tasks:

• Review   the new child disability assessment and referral system, including the legislative, institutional, and administrative frameworks in USK, ZDK, and HNZ.
• Coordinate with cantonal government partners (Ministries of Social Policy in ZDK and HNZ, and Ministry of Education in USK) and four Assessment Teams to establish a joint conceptual framework for the database, focusing on various functionalities.
• Conduct   a comprehensive assessment of gaps and needs for the development of a database and reporting system.
• Identify necessary modifications in existing data collection and monitoring platforms, or develop a dedicated system based on defined standard requirements if no such system exists.
• Assess ICT capacity, including connectivity issues or challenges.
• Identify relevant technical partners (e.g.other social service providers and/or institutions with potentital interest)  for cross-referencing the data and ensuring interoperability of databases in use.
• Develop Terms of Reference for the company or companies to create digital solution/database.
• Jointly with SP Specialist supervise the selected company in developing the digital solution/database.
• Organize key testing sites for the database and monitor and document the testing phase.
• Organize training for focal points from the selected facilities – institutions where the Assessment Teams have been placed.
• Support the introduction of the database.
• Assist in the development of work plans for the project according to programme requirements.
• Provide additional technical support   related to the digital records / database as required and identified by partners and UNICEF.

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

• University degree in one of the following fields is required: engineering, ICT or another relevant technical field.
• At least 5 years of experience in the implementation of electronic records, preferable in social policy or health management
• Knowledge of the latest developments in the field of ICT and knowledge management
• Knowledge and experience in managing or supervising digitalisation of social sectors
• Fluency in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian is required
• Excellent communication skills
• Knowledge of English language is an asset

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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. 

Remarks:  

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.