Contract Duration: 5 months (The initial contract is till 31 December 2026 due to transition to a new ECAMENA region.)

Working arrangement: Rome, Italy & Home based

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.

                                                        TERMS OF REFERENCE

Since 2027, UNICEF has been testing and scaling delivery of innovative models for skills building and job orientation of Unaccompanied children and young refugees and migrants in reception centres and catch-up schools, filling an under prioritised but critical area of work for their social inclusion.  From late 2024, the focus has shifted toward integrating these modelsInto national systems through online webinars and in situ training and promotion of e-learning content through the Learning Passport platform for teachers, educators, and frontline workers in collaboration with government, and non-governmental stakeholders (Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, Sviluppo Lavoro Italia, Regional School Offices, municipal social services, employment agencies, Network of Catch up schools (RIDAP), Central service of the Reception System). the network of partnerships built over the years (Rete RIDAP, UNHCR, SAI).

With the recent signing of an MoU with Sviluppo Lavoro Italia, the technical assistance body of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy integration of the Skills4Youth programme within the MoLSP socio-labour insertion programme (PUOI+) will be piloted and documented.

Alongside systems strengthening, UNICEF will continue its convening and advocacy role with a focus on the right to education of Unaccompanied children with a view to ensuring that evidence and youth perspectives translate into systemic change. This involves continuous monitoring of policies concerning Unaccompanied children and their participation, inclusion and development for targeted advocacy actions In collaboration with the research institute Foundation ISMU, UNICEF also convenes representatives of reception and education system, along with local and central institutions to reflect upon operational challenges, administrative and governance bottlenecks, systemic gaps but also exchange best practices 

The Skills Building Consultant is therefore required to provide technical support in the following areas:

•             Capacity development of frontline workers, educators and teachers

•             Policy dialogue and advocacy of learning to earning pathways of Unaccompanied children

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  External ToR TMC0004587.pdf

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Master's degree in social sciences, international development, education or related field;
• Work Experience:
  • At least 3 years of relevant professional experience, of which 1 in project management
  • Proven track record in research and use of evidence for programming and/or advocacy purposes
  • Proven track record in in developing learning materials and in capacity building of frontline workers and/or teachers. 
  • Experience in working directly with children and/or adolescents with a migration background
• Language Requirements:
  • Fluency in Italian and English are required. 
• Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:
  • Knowledge of participatory methodologies 
  • Knowledge of the Italian reception system
  • Proficiency in the use of Rapid pro / U report 
• Desirables:
  • Previous experience with UNICEF and or the UN

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

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children’s data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

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 (only acceptable in the format of the linked template)  Financial proposal TMC0004587.xlsx`

Remarks:  

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.