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, results.

UNICEF Country Office (CO) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), with the support of the European Union and in collaboration with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), is supporting the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina (MHRR) in the adaptation and localization of the National Recommendations Tracking Database (NRTD) for the needs of governments in BiH. The NRTD, developed by OHCHR, is a digital tool designed to improve the planning, monitoring, and reporting of human rights obligations to international and regional mechanisms, including the Committee on the Rights of the Child.

As a State Party to multiple human rights conventions under the United Nations (UN) and the Council of Europe (CoE), BiH is required to submit periodic reports on the implementation of its commitments. This initiative focuses on strengthening inter-institutional coordination, enhancing information management capacities, and supporting the MHRR and related institutions in their role as the National Mechanism for Implementation, Reporting, and Follow-up (NMIRF).

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

Under the supervision of Child Rights Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, and in close collaboration with OHCHR, the consultant will support the development of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), for the effective operationalization of the National Recommendations Tracking Database (NRTD) in Bosnia and Herzegovina.  The SOPs will provide detailed operational guidance to institutions involved in the use of the NRTD, translating the platform’s technical functionalities into structured, day-to-day workflows.

Standard Operating Procedures are vital to ensuring the consistency, accountability, and sustainability of the NRTD.  They will clarify user roles and responsibilities, define data entry and validation protocols, outline internal quality assurance measures, and establish coordination mechanisms for use across various human rights reporting cycles. Well-crafted SOPs are critical for securing institutional buy-in, ensuring alignment with international best practices, and supporting long-term data integrity and usability.

In line with UNICEF’s mandate to support the realization of children’s rights, the SOPs will include practical instructions for the use of the NRTD during various human rights reporting cycles - such as the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) - as well as guidance for maintaining and updating recommendation clusters, activities, and implementation status. These efforts will enhance national readiness for upcoming reporting cycles and contribute to more effective and sustained engagement with the broader treaty body system.

How can you make a difference? 

Under the supervision of the UNICEF BiH Child Rights Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, and in close collaboration with OHCHR, the Individual Consultant will:

Support the development of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs):

• Map the existing processes within the NMIRF and identify how they translate into the NRTD, using insights from the needs assessment mission and further engagement with the NMIRF.
• Develop a draft SOP that defines:

1. User roles and permissions (e.g., admins, focal points, contributors).
2. Data entry protocols (what gets entered, how, by whom).
3. Approval and validation flows for entered data.
4. Internal quality assurance and audit mechanisms.
5. Use of NRTD for reporting cycles (e.g., CRC, UPR, treaty bodies).
6. Updating and maintaining clusters, recommendations, and activity mapping.
7. Guidelines for inter-institutional coordination (e.g., cross-entity processes).
8. SOPs for CSO/NHRI involvement, where applicable.

Validation and Finalization of SOPs

• Present the draft SOPs to key stakeholders and facilitate a validation sessions.
• Revise and finalize the SOPs based on feedback received during the consultation process.
• Submit the final SOPs document.

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

• University degree (minimum BA) in Computer Science, Information Technology. 
• Previous experience in the development and use of digital human rights tracking tools and databases
• Demonstrated experience in capacity building support to States, civil society and other relevant stakeholders on human rights issues
• Experience streamlining reporting workflows and supporting data coordination across institutions considered an advantage
• Previous work experience with UN human rights mechanisms is highly desirable
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, intercultural sensitivity
• Excellent attention to detail, organisational skills and discretion with confidential information 
• Strong facilitation skills and ability to work independently and proactively 

Language Proficiency

• Fluency in English and knowledge of Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian language considered an advantage

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.