About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines fordeveloping countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

Consultancy: Safeguarding Consultant

Duty Station: Division of Data, Analytics, Planning and Monitoring, Programme Effectiveness Team (PET)/RMPS

Duration: 30 November 2025 – 30 November 2026

Home/ Office Based: Remote

 

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

The Risk Management in Programming and Safeguarding (RMPS) Unit, within the Programme Effectiveness Team (PET) in UNICEF’s Division of Data, Analytics, Planning and Monitoring (DAPM), was established at the end of 2024 to drive an integrated approach to risk management and Safeguarding across UNICEF’s programming and operations.

 

The RMPS is structured around four pillars: i) Environmental and Social Standards (ESS) and Safeguarding, ii) Complaints and Feedback Management (CFM), iii) Partnership Risk Management, including Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (PRM/HACT), and iv) Data Protection. The RMPS works to enhance decision-making, programme effectiveness and organizational learning, to realize the rights and improve the lives of children.

 

PSEA is a core component of Safeguarding and a shared responsibility with the Programme Group (PG), particularly the Child Protection (CP)/PSEA team. In light of the ongoing restructuring within UNICEF—and while discussions continue on identifying a sustainable solution to ensure PSEA/safeguarding capacities at both centralized and decentralized levels—it is critical that the progress achieved by DAPM and the PG-CP team over the past years is preserved.

This consultancy is designed to enhance UNICEF’s PSEA agenda, as well as to support streamlining, advocacy and fundraising efforts.

Scope of Work:

In collaboration with DAPM, PG and other concerned divisions/units, the consultant will perform the following:

1. Strategic Recommendations on Safeguarding, including PSEA Programming, Continuity

With the input from relevant stakeholders, including DAPM, PG, PFP and Regional Offices, the consultant will:

• Collate and compile handover documents to ensure the continuity of Safeguarding, including PSEA programming, including:
  • In coordination with DPC, ROs and COs, coordinating a global process to map Safeguarding capacity from 2026 and beyond;
  • Mapping of activities and other organizational commitments – both internally and externally – including our legal, policy and inter-agency commitments, and those to donors and partners.
• Facilitate discussions on priorities for Safeguarding, including PSEA programming, for the new SP period.
• Share recommendations at the end of the assignment, based on management decisions regarding Safeguarding functions and capacity at HQ, COE, RO and CO levels.

2. Implementation Support

• Based on the handover guidance, mapping and recommendations from the PSEA technical teams, implement tasks outlined in the CP-PG handover note/workplan as feasible.
• Engage with all relevant actors to ensure continuity of Safeguarding, including PSEA programming, in the organisation during the transition process.
• Support in advocacy and fundraising for Safeguarding, including PSEA programming, continuity.

3. Process Streamlining

• Develop a briefing note with clear recommendations to streamline existing assessment processes for Implementing Partners (IPs), focusing on the HACT micro-assessment and the PSEA assessment, with key considerations of inter-agency aspects.
• Building upon analysis conducted in 2025, analyze the differences and unique aspects of both tools and identify opportunities for integration.
• Collaborate with the HACT focal point(s) of RMPS to provide recommendations for integrating or utilizing the established micro assessment for the PSEA assessment. In parallel, identify opportunities to build upon the PSEA module in the UN Partner Portal, either by expanding the current module or with a dedicated UNICEF module.
• Provide recommendations for a fully integrated SES capacity assessment, covering Safeguarding inclusive of PSEA, ESS, HACT, CFM and data protection, including inter-agency fora.
• Collaborate with relevant units within DAPM to provide actionable recommendations, including from a systems perspective.

4. Development/revision of resources and templates related to Safeguarding

• Revise the survivor/victim assistance elements within the incident management component of the Social and Environmental Safeguarding (SES) Handbook, ensuring consistency with the survivor-centred approach and the CFM Procedure.
• Consolidate a list of resources and templates related to Safeguarding for implementing partners and vendors to be developed or revised, including to ensure resources are simplified, user-friendly and child-sensitive and provide recommendations accordingly.
• Develop and/or revise resources and templates to support implementing partners and vendors in strengthening their Safeguarding capacities, including tailoring documents to local organizations, awareness-raising materials, child-friendly IEC materials etc.
• Support the Safeguarding Specialist in integrating Safeguarding requirements, processes, tools, and templates into the programme management lifecycle, including planning, risk management, reporting, monitoring, and assurance activities, under the SES Manager’s supervision

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Work Assignment Overview/Deliverables and Outputs/Delivery deadline

1.  Strategic Recommendations on Safeguarding, including PSEA Programming, Continuity

-  Handover package, including mapping

30 Jan 2026

-  Summary of consultations on Safeguarding priorities for the new SP

30 Jan 2026

-  Strategic Recommendations Report

28 Feb 2026

2. Implementation Support Process Streamlining

-  Updated handover package (including consultations and fundraising support)

6 November 2026

-  Draft of four Safeguarding, inclusive of PSEA reports OSEB and OSCSEA developed

30 April 2026

-  Draft of two Safeguarding, inclusive of PSEA reports OSEB and OSCSEA developed

30 June 2026

-  Draft of two Safeguarding, inclusive of PSEA reports OSEB and OSCSEA developed

31 Oct 2026

3. Process Streamlining 

-  Briefing Note on IP Assessment Integration

30 April 2026

4.  Development of Resources and Templates

-  Updated Survivor/Victim Assistance Components of the SES Handbook

31 Mar 2026

-  Mapping of Safeguarding related Resource and Templates. Based on the mapping, develop or up-date 15 templates 

30 May 2026

- Integration Guidance 

30 Sept 2026

Qualifications

Education:

Master’s degree in a relevant field such Gender Studies, Business Administration, International Development, Social Sciences, or related discipline.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

• 5-7 years of relevant professional experience in programme management, including having worked with the UN and/or INGO with specific focus on coordination, programme management, risk management and community engagement in developing countries.
• Demonstrated experience in supporting and advising on Safeguarding and PSEA.
• Advanced inter-personal skills, analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Proven communication skills, including facilitation and use of tools for online and face to face workshops, presentations, discussions and networking of strategic information.
• Experience in designing/developing and rollout of regulatory documents, guidance, tools and information management systems, including capacity strengthening.
• Understanding/experience of major programming tools and process, preferably with UNICEF.
• Working in a UN/UNICEF country office and/or experience in humanitarian settings is an asset.
• Specialized training in Safeguarding or PSEA is an asset
• Experience working with the UN IP capacity strengthening harmonized approach, familiarity with UNPP PSEA module, PSEA requirements of other agencies, donor requirements and conditionalities on PSEA.
• Ability to apply the PSEA framework/tools and risk informed approaches/ flexibility in different contexts and downstream partners.
• Fluency in English is required, including excellent writing, presentation and facilitation skills is required.

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and

- Upload copy of academic credentials

- Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :

• • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability

- Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.

- At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.

- Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.  

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

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

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:  

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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.