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, Future

Children in the State of Palestine are exposed to compounded risks that threaten their safety, development, and well-being. The prolonged Israeli occupation, recurring cycles of violence, political division, economic instability, and deteriorating public services continue to undermine the protective environment for children. These structural challenges increase children’s exposure to violence in schools, homes, communities, and detention settings, while limiting their access to adequate justice, protection, and rehabilitation services. This context contributes to a heightened vulnerability of children to come into contact with the law, as children pushed into crimes, victims, or witnesses, often in circumstances where their rights are not fully safeguarded. Children’s involvement in the justice system is frequently rooted in broader socio-economic and protection failures, including poverty, family fragmentation, lack of access to social welfare services, and insufficient psychosocial support.

How can you make a difference? 

UNICEF has long recognized Justice for Children as a key pillar of its mandate and a strategic priority in the Palestinian context. Through its role in the Sawasya Joint Programme, UNICEF has worked closely with government and civil society partners to advance child sensitive justice in line with international standards, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). These efforts include supporting the enactment of the Juvenile Protection Law (2016), capacity-building for specialized justice and social welfare actors, promoting access to legal aid and psychosocial support, and scaling up diversion, restorative justice, and alternatives to detention. In this regard, the State of Palestine made notable progress through the development and implementation of the first National Child Justice Strategy (2019–2023). This strategy provided a foundational roadmap to operationalize the Juvenile Protection Law. However, the strategy’s implementation faced several challenges, including resource constraints, inconsistent application across different localities in the west bank, and weak monitoring and evaluating system. Importantly, the strategy period has now expired, leaving a policy vacuum at a time when increasing protection risks require coordinated, child-focused justice responses more than ever. The expiration of the previous strategy presents a timely opportunity to build on lessons learned, re-assess priorities, and design a renewed National Child Justice Strategy that reflects emerging needs, recent developments, and best practices. Building on this, the renewed strategy will draw directly from the findings of the Child Justice Assessment finalized in 2023, which covered the period from 2020 to 2023. This assessment provided an evidence-based analysis of the child justice system’s performance, identifying key achievements, persistent gaps, and emerging risks. It examined the extent to which the Juvenile Protection Law has been implemented, the effectiveness of diversion and rehabilitation measures, the adequacy of specialized services, and the level of interagency coordination. Unicef through the sawasya program is supporting the development of a National child justice strategy. This development builds upon the comprehensive Child Justice System Assessment finalized in 2023, which provided an evidence-based analysis of key achievements, persistent gaps, and emerging risks within the child justice system. it will also take into account the Concluding Observations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, including recommendations to promote restorative justice, increase non-custodial measures, and ensure that justice processes are child-friendly, genderresponsive, and aligned with CRC General Comment No. 24 on the rights of children in the child justice system.

 

The forthcoming strategy aims to:

• Reinforce child rights principles, including the best interests of the child, the right to be heard, and the right to protection and rehabilitation;

• Institutionalize multi-sectoral coordination across justice, social welfare, education, and health systems; • Scale up prevention and early intervention mechanisms to address the root causes of children’s involvement with the law; 

• Guarantee protection and specialized services for child victims and witnesses of crime, including gender-responsive approaches;

• Expand the use of diversion, mediation, and alternatives to detention, especially for minor and non-violent offenses;

• Clearly define the responsibilities and accountability mechanisms for relevant governmental bodies involved in child justice;

• Align national efforts with international legal standards and support the realization of Sustainable Development Goal 16, particularly targets related to access to justice and building effective, accountable institutions.

This renewed strategy is expected to serve as the national policy framework for child justice in Palestine, ensuring that justice systems act not only as mechanisms of accountability but also as tools of protection, empowerment, and social reintegration for children in contact with the law.

The development process will ensure meaningful child participation and actively address the needs of marginalized and vulnerable children, including girls, children with disabilities, and those living in conflict-affected areas.

This assignment supports the State of Palestine in developing a rights-based, gender-responsive, and conflict-sensitive National Child Justice Strategy (2025–2029), aligned with: - UNICEF’s Global Child Protection Strategy (2021–2030) - Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and General Comment No. 24 - SDG 16.2 (ending violence against children) and SDG 5 (gender equality) - UNICEF’s Technical Note on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in Child Justice Children in Palestine face compound risks due to occupation, violence, and systemic gaps in justice/protection services. The new strategy must: - Address disparities between West Bank/Gaza. - Integrate trauma-informed approaches for conflict-affected children. - Strengthen diversion, restorative justice, and alternatives to detention. 

Scope of Work:

The consultant will provide technical expertise to support the Government of the State of Palestine led by the ministry of social development , in collaboration with UNICEF and partners under the Sawasya Programme, in the development of a comprehensive National Child Justice Strategy (2025–2029). The strategy will be grounded in child rights principles and aligned with international standards, particularly the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), General Comment No. 24, and Sustainable Development Goal 16, and building upon the lessons of the previous strategy.

The strategy will aim to strengthen the national child justice system by promoting multi-sectoral coordination, reinforcing prevention and diversion mechanisms, enhancing protection and rehabilitation for child victims and offenders, and clearly defining institutional roles and responsibilities. The consultant will work closely with relevant ministries, stakeholders, and technical experts to ensure that the strategy is inclusive, actionable, and informed by national realities, lessons learned from the 2019–2023 strategy, and current protection needs.

The consultant will ensure all consultations and data collection comply strictly with UNICEF’s Child Safeguarding Policy, applying appropriate measures to protect children’s rights and well-being throughout the process.

Key Responsibilities

1. Conduct System Mapping and Context Analysis :

Buildling on existing documentation, particularly the 2023 child Justice System Assessment conduct the following:

• Assess institutional capacity gaps and resource constraints within key actors of the child justice system.

• Rapid Mapping of the institutional architecture of the child justice system, including mandates of key actors across justice, social welfare, police, prosecution, judiciary, and civil society.

• Identify and visualize existing coordination mechanisms, referral pathways, diversion programs, and reintegration services.

• Analyze the broader political, legal, and socio-economic factors affecting children in contact with the law, including conflict related vulnerabilities, gender-specific issues, and regional disparities (West Bank and Gaza)

• Identify recent developments, emerging risks, and evolving institutional dynamics that should inform the strategy’s scope and direction.

• Highlight structural and functional gaps, particularly the linkages between the child justice system and broader child protection and social welfare services.

2. Literature Review of international and national framework

• Include review of relevant regional frameworks and UNICEF policies related to child justice.

• Examine relevant international legal frameworks and standards, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), General Comment No. 24, and Sustainable Development Goal 16.

• Identify good practices and strategic lessons from comparable contexts that can inform the development of a context appropriate and rights-based strategy.

3. Facilitate Stakeholder Consultations

• Lead inclusive and participatory consultations with key stakeholders, including government ministries (e.g., MoSD, Public Prosecution, the Palestinian Police, the High Judicial Council and the supreme Judicial Department), child protection and legal actors, civil society, UN agencies

• Ensure all consultations involving children and vulnerable groups strictly adhere to UNICEF’s child safeguarding and ethical guidelines

• Ensure the consultation and inclusion of children views and diverse perspectives, including from girls, boys, children with disabilities, and actors from both the West Bank and Gaza.

• Use consultations to validate findings, refine priorities, and foster national ownership of the strategy.

4. Draft the National Child Justice Strategy (2025–2029)

• Develop a comprehensive strategy document grounded in child rights principles, outlining the vision, goals, strategic pillars, and guiding principles. Address key thematic areas including multi-sectoral coordination and accountability; prevention and early intervention; diversion and alternatives to detention; access to justice and protection for child victims and witnesses; gender-responsive and disability-inclusive justice services; capacity-building and human resource development; judicial inspection, data collection, case management, knowledge generation; and monitoring, evaluation, and quality assurance mechanisms

5. Develop an accompanying Costed Action Plan and M&E Framework

• Prepare a phased implementation plan, identifying concrete activities, responsible entities, timelines, and estimated budget requirements.

• Develop a robust monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework with clear indicators, baselines, targets, and data sources to track progress against strategy goals.

• Develop an M&E framework incorporating child rights-sensitive, gender- and disability-disaggregated indicators. Include risk mitigation measures and strategies to ensure sustainability and adaptability of implementation

• Define institutional roles in data collection, reporting, and learning to ensure effective oversight and accountability.

• Propose mechanisms for continuous review, learning, and adaptation.

6. Present and Finalize the Strategy

• Incorporate feedback and inputs from stakeholders and UNICEF technical teams into successive drafts.

• Support the presentation, review, and formal validation of the final strategy and action plan by the Law enforcement committee and relevant governmental authorities.

• Organize and facilitate a national strategy validation workshop with key stakeholders and children’s representatives to review and refine the draft strategy before finalization

• Incorporate findings from the strategy validation workshop and ensure broad stakeholder endorsement prior to final approval.

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

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Law, Child Rights, Human Rights, Social Policy, Public Administration, or other relevant fields.
• Additional certification or training in child rights, child justice, or strategic planning is an asset.
• Certification: Relevant certifications in policy development.
• At least 8–10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in the field of child justice, child protection, or rule of law, preferably in humanitarian or development settings.
• Proven experience in the design, drafting, or evaluation of national strategies, legal and policy documents related to child justice, child protection, or social development.
• Demonstrated understanding of international child rights standards, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), General Comment No. 24, and other relevant legal instruments.
• Experience with multi-sectoral coordination mechanisms and justice-social welfare integration is highly desirable.
• Experience in the MENA region or in fragile/conflictaffected settings is considered an asset.
• Preference for candidates with demonstrated experience coordinating multi-sectoral strategies in fragile or conflict affected settings, ideally within the MENA region Skills and Competencies:
• Excellent analytical and strategic thinking skills.
• Strong facilitation, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills, including participatory methods involving children and civil society.
• Proven ability to draft high-quality, evidence-based policy and strategy documents.
• Strong organizational and time management skills to meet deadlines under minimal supervision
• Language Proficiency: Proficient in both written and spoken communication in the Arabic language and English. 

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.