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, the best start to life. 

In response to high global rates of violence against children, there has been increasing emphasis on evidence-based prevention and on strengthening nurturing parent–child relationships. Research shows that parenting programmes grounded in social learning theory effectively reduce violence and promote positive parenting, responsive care, and better parental well-being. One such programme, Parenting for Lifelong Health for Young Children (PLH for Young Children), supports parents and caregivers of children aged 2–9 in building warm, positive relationships and using non-violent discipline. Based on  social learning theory and behavioural change techniques, it helps reduce harsh parenting, improve child behaviour, and lower parental stress and depression. PLH for Young Children is part of a suite of open-access, non-commercialised parenting programmes developed and tested through collaboration between WHO, UNICEF, Stellenbosch University, the University of Cape Town, and the universities of Oxford, Bangor, and Reading.

Since late 2017, the Government of Montenegro (the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Social Welfare, Family Care and Demography) and UNICEF with the support of the EU have made considerable progress in implementing PLH for Young Children in Montenegro, under the local brand “Caring Families”. A total of 133 facilitators, ten supervisors and two national trainers have been trained. Facilitators deliver the programme within the context of their existing work as psychologists, pedagogues, nurses, preschool teachers and social workers at primary healthcare centres, kindergartens, primary schools, NGOs and other relevant institutions. The training programmes have been accredited by the Institute for Social and Child Protection and the Bureau for Education. Fifteen cycles of programme delivery were undertaken between 2018 and 2025, and the sixteenth cycle is ongoing, with more than 2500 parents recruited across seventeen municipalities so far. As part of the UNICEF and Government of Montenegro plans to scale up and diversify the programme to meet the needs of specific subgroups, the content has been adapted for delivery to Roma and Egyptian caregivers and a guide “Engaging Marginalised and Vulnerable Families in parenting support services” has been drafted. Furthermore, a programme targeting parents of children aged 3 to 9 with mild to moderate speech and language delays and disabilities as well as difficulties and disabilities in the area of social interaction, has been drafted and piloted in 2025. Finally, a guide for Centres for Social Work for referring parents to the Caring Families programme has been published.

How can you make a difference? 

The purpose of this assignment is to enable all families and children in Montenegro to benefit from high quality delivery of the Caring Families programme in Montenegro including its adaptations.

The objective of this assignment is to develop a comprehensive Implementation Guide for delivering the Caring Families programme in Montenegro, drawing on existing national guidelines and the global Parenting for Lifelong Health (PLH) Implementation Guide. The Guide will serve as a practical and evidence-informed resource to ensure consistent, high-quality delivery and fidelity during the programme’s continued expansion across the country. The Guide will provide a programme overview; describe organization planning required for getting involved as an implementing partner; outline essential standards, processes, and tools to support the recruitment, training, and supervision of facilitators, coaches and trainers; outline essential standards, processes, and tools for high quality delivery of the programme, as well as quality assurance and monitoring. By strengthening implementation capacity, the Guide will contribute to the sustainability, scalability, and effectiveness of Caring Families as part of Montenegro’s broader efforts to promote positive parenting, early childhood development and prevent violence against children.

Further details on the assignment are outlined in the section Work Assignment Overview below.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of professional experience in child protection, early childhood development and/or parenting support;
• At least 2 years of experience in developing SOPs and guidelines;
• Familiarity with the programme Caring Families;
• Previous work experience with UN/UNICEF or other international organization will be considered as an advantage;

 Language:

• Excellent command of Montenegrin language (both spoken and written) while knowledge of other languages in official use in Montenegro will be considered as an asset
• Knowledge of English language will be considered as an asset.

Other:

• Attention to detail;
• Excellent analytical and writing skills;
• Demonstrates integrity and high ethical standards;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Payments:

The payment will be made in one instalment upon successful completion of the deliverables and submission of invoice. 

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines.

Mandatory e-learning:

Upon conducting the recruitment process and prior to the signing of the contract, the consultant will be required to complete the following online courses. All certificates should be presented as part of the contract.

1. Ethics and Integrity at UNICEF
2. Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Abuse of Authority (PSEAA)
3. Prevention of Sexual Exploitation Abuse (PSEA)

Before commencement of any travel on behalf of UNICEF, the Consultants and Individual Contractors must complete course on General Information Security Awareness Course.

The above courses can be found on Agora through the following link: AGORA: Log in to the site (unicef.org).

Course completion certificates should be shared and retained with the human resources unit of the hiring office.

Selection methodology:

All applicants will be screened against the qualifications and requirements set above. Candidates fully meeting all the requirements will be further evaluated based on the criteria below. The proposal will be evaluated against the following criteria:

 A) Technical criteria – Technical evaluation process / Maximum points:70

1.   Technical Criteria

Desk review of CVs, motivation letter and a sample Guide/Guideline/SOP developed by the candidate -70 % of total evaluation– max. 70 points

• Education:15 points
• Previous experience:25points
• A sample - Guide/Guideline/SOP:20 points
• Other:10 points

Only candidates who obtained at least 70% of points from the technical part (who will score at least 49 points) will be qualified for considering for financial proposal evaluation

B) Financial criteria – evaluation of financial proposal - Maximum points:30.

• The financial scores will be calculated using the formula [lowest offer / financial offer of the candidate x 30].

The applicants are requested to submit:

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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.