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 in the State of Palestine works to uphold the rights of children to access services and protection, from early childhood through to adolescence. Our objective is to ensure that every child in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, irrespective of background or circumstance, has an equal chance to fulfil their potential. We are working for every child and young person in the State of Palestine. 

There are almost 2.5 million children[1] living in the West Bank who face significant challenges due to the ongoing political, social, and economic instability in the region. This environment contributes to a range of child protection concerns, including exposure to violence, displacement, children in contact with the law, lack of access to essential services, child labor, child marriage and other forms of exploitation. Vulnerable populations in particular, for example children with disabilities; children in Bedouin, herder and remote communities; and children in East Jerusalem, H2/Hebron, the Seam Zones and Area C, face heightened risks due to limited resources and services tailored to their needs.

Since October 7^th 2023, child protection actors in the West Bank have noted an increase in the child protection needs and risks that they are identifying on the ground. While there is some existing data around these concerns, a more comprehensive understanding of the scope and scale of child protection risks and needs in the area is essential.

To address this, the Child Protection Area of Responsibility (CPAoR) and its partners’ plan to conduct a West Bank-wide Child Protection Needs Assessment. There is a critical need to develop a complete and thorough overview of the local child protection risks and needs in order to ensure that interventions are evidence-based, targeted, and aligned with the priorities of affected populations. The findings will also guide advocacy efforts and mobilize resources to address identified gaps, as well as strengthen coordination among child protection actors.

How can you make a difference? 

primary objective of this consultancy is to work with the CPAoR team and the West Bank Needs Assessment Task Force to support the coordination and implementation of a child protection needs assessment in the West Bank. This includes developing tools, coordinating implementation and ensuring that the data collected provides a solid evidence base to inform child protection interventions, enhance coordination, and ensure that the protection needs of children in the region are met effectively. The consultant will also be responsible for carrying out the assessment data analysis, report writing and result dissemination together with the CPAoR.

The specific objectives of the CPAoR in conducting this child protection needs assessment are to:

1. Identify the key child protection needs and risks for children in the West Bank;

2. Determine the scale of these child protection needs and risks and barriers in access to existing services;

3. Determine potential and actual capacities existing on the ground including local and international actors and the communities to respond to the existing risks and needs;

4. Provide recommendations for strengthening the current responses including geographical and programmatic areas of priority and provide some knowledge of where the main information gaps are.

Expected use of results/Dissemination, Methodology and Implementation Phases, Expected Deliverables - to view the TOR click here  FINAL ToR WB Consultant - PDF.pdf

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

• A Master’s degree in  Social Sciences, Education, Health, Child Protection, Planning and Monitoring, and/or related fields
• Minimum of seven years’ experience working in child protection and/or monitoring and evaluation;
• Extensive and demonstrable experience in conducting needs assessments (child protection needs assessments is an advantage); 
• Experienced trainer, especially on research methodologies;
• Strong child protection experience and understand of child protection issues in the Palestinian context;
• Proven experience working in complex environments like the West Bank;
• Superior analytical, conceptual and writing skills;
• Fluency in English and Arabic - both written and oral;
• Sound knowledge of the Palestinian humanitarian context

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 committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

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.

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.