Contract Duration - 6 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.

                                                         TERMS OF REFERENCE

Children today are growing up in a world of accelerated datafication, driven by the widespread use of digital platforms, biometric systems, AI-powered tools, and data-intensive services. UNICEF recognizes that while data can unlock powerful opportunities to strengthen policies, services, and systems for children, it can also expose them to unique risks, particularly in contexts where children have limited agency over how their data is collected, used, and shared.

UNICEF requires a global, policy-level view of how countries govern data for and about children, including: policy and legal frameworks, institutional arrangements, digital transformation and AI governance strategies, administrative data system governance, and youth engagement in data policies.

This assignment will fill a critical gap by mapping national and regional Data Governance for Children (DG4C) -relevant policies and systems, identifying good practices, and innovations to generating a coherent global picture that will strengthen UNICEF’s ability to advocate for and protect the rights of every child.

UNICEF seeks a consultant to develop a Global Compendium on Data Governance for Children that will capture an overview of national and regional policies referencing the governance of children's data and the responsible use of such data in policy making, strategy development, technology use (targeted algorithms, AI models); and that will identify good practices, innovations and successful initiatives where children’s rights centred data governance has been embedded in national systems.  This assignment will complement ongoing RD4C efforts by expanding from programme-level responsible data practice to system-level governance, regulation, and institutional arrangements. The consultant shall recommend ways in which UNICEF can further promote and advocate for Data Governance for Children. 

Specifically, the consultant will:

• Identify and analyze national, regional, and multilateral Data Governance for Children policies that explicitly or implicitly govern children’s data, including:
  • Data protection and privacy laws
  • Administrative data system frameworks
  • National digital governance, digital transformation, and AI policies
  • Sector specific policies (education, health, social protection, justice)
• Document examples of successful initiatives where child centered data governance has been effectively embedded in national systems, including DG4C informed country implementations or related efforts.
• Analyze pathways through which Data Governance for Children improves child outcomes, as highlighted in existing DG4C materials and research directions.
• Develop an accessible narrative and compendium that can support UNICEF’s leadership, advocacy, partnerships, and policy engagement globally.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: [ ToR TMC0001111.pdf]

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• Advanced university degree in public policy, data governance, technology policy, child rights, or related field.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of eight years of professional experience in technology governance (data, digital, AI) and child rights.
• Proven experience conducting global comparative policy analysis.
• Proven experience in the development of a vision document, strategy and or value proposition in fields related to national or regional Data policies or frameworks.
• In-depth knowledge of Data Governance Frameworks.

Skills:

• Demonstrated strong writing, analytical and presentation skills.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is an asset 

Desirables:

• Familiarity with the UN system is a strong asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

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, TMS (Talent Management System):

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
• Cover letter
• A separate financial proposal ( Financial Proposal TMC0001111.docx)

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.