Contract Duration: 3 months

Working arrangement: 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.

For every child, the right to a future

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

This consultancy sits within the Child Protection and Development Data Unit (CPDD) within the Data and Analytics Section of UNICEF’s Office of Strategy and Evidence - Innocenti. This Unit covers a range of topics, including alternative care of children, which is the topical focus of this consultancy.

Despite existing obligations, policies and reform efforts, children in alternative care are frequently missing in official statistics and national and international indicator frameworks. The availability, quality, and comparability of data and indicators on children in alternative care varies considerably across countries. While some efforts have been made to standardize the measurement of alternative care for children across countries, different definitions and categorizations are used by countries in administrative data systems and in surveys, which hampers the international consistency and comparability of statistics on this vulnerable population of children.

At its 57th session in March 2026, the UN Statistical Commission endorsed a new statistical classification, the International Classification of Alternative Care of Children (ICare), developed by UNICEF in consultation with a wide network of partners and countries. The adoption of this classification represents an important milestone for strengthening global statistical standards related to children.

The CPDD Unit requires the support with the preparation, delivery and follow-up for an in-person country workshop that is planned as one component of the next phase of work to ensure the effective and strategic implementation and rollout of the ICare within national statistical systems.

How can you make a difference? 

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the Terms of Reference here:   ToR ICare Consultant TMS.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: Master’s degree or equivalent in equivalent in Public Health, Psychology, Social Work, or other related social science field is required.

Work Experience:

• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in conducting international research in the broad area of child protection and/or children’s rights.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English required. Intermediate skills in a second official UN language would be an advantage

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:

• Demonstrated experience working with relevant stakeholder groups on issues pertaining to care reform, child protection systems and social service workforce strengthening 
• Demonstrated experience planning, delivering and facilitating workshops with multistakeholder groups
• Knowledge and familiarity with existing international frameworks and guidelines related to alternative care of children, including the ICare
• Excellent written communication and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective relationships with partners
• Strong time management skills and an ability to adhere to deadlines

For every Child, you demonstrate Care

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

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 (Talent Management System):

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
• Cover letter 
• A separate financial proposal  Financial proposal ICare Consultant to support TMS.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.