Contract Duration- 7 Months

Working arrangement: Remotely

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

Objective of the UNICEF’s current Country Programme Document for Serbia (2026-2030), consistent with government priorities and the UNICEF Strategic Plan, is to contribute to national efforts to progressively fulfil the rights of all children in Serbia, especially the most disadvantaged and excluded, and enable them to develop to their full potential in an inclusive and protective society respectful of their voices.

The country programme is focused on:

(a) Best start in life for all children;

(b) Better learning and skilling opportunities for all Children, adolescents and youth; and

(c) Non-violent and supportive environment for the safety and psychological wellbeing of all children, adolescents and youth.

UNICEF thus continues to support the Government of Serbia and civil society partners with prevention and protection of children from violence. The purpose of the consultancy is to support UNICEF Serbia in advancing violence against children prevention and response systems are in place, with focus on child marriage and SEA prevention.

As continuation of yearlong efforts to tackle child marriage in Serbia UNICEF is leading action to end harmful traditional child marriage practices in Serbia by 2030, focusing efforts on the Roma settlement communities. Current UNICEF efforts build on a comprehensive action to address the child marriage practice in Serbia and model interventions at the local and national level that led to transforming harmful practice within the affected communities.

Ongoing activities focus on supporting advocacy, awareness raising and leveraging the national advocacy efforts through the functioning of the National Coalition to End Child Marriage, and promoting Roma girls' leadership.

The consultant engaged under this ToR will be supporting work of National Coalition and partners engaged. Creating safe, inclusive, and accessible spaces for young people is a key national priority in Serbia, aligned with the National Youth Strategy 2023–2030 and the forthcoming Programme for the Prevention and Protection of Children from Violence. Despite existing public youth spaces, many young people report that such environments remain insufficient or inaccessible.

In response, UNICEF and the Ministry of Tourism and Youth (MTY), in partnership with the Network of Organizations for Children of Serbia (MODS), are supporting the establishment of youth centers as multi-functional hubs that promote learning, creativity, recreational engagement, and psychosocial well-being. A crucial component of this initiative is the development and institutionalization of safeguarding measures, including Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) standards, to ensure that all youth-centered activities are safe and accountable.

In parallel, building on the Disrupting Harm research, UNICEF is advancing efforts to strengthen child protection mechanisms in the digital environment through follow-up operationalization of recommendations, advocacy, dissemination and stakeholder engagement, as well as by providing technical inputs to project development, partnerships and reporting, including engagement with the private sector.

The consultant engaged will support the implementation, monitoring, and consolidation of these processes within the broader framework of Serbia’s youth policy and child protection systems.

Scope of Work:

Under the overall supervision of the Child Protection Specialist and the VAC/MHPSS cross-sectoral officer, this consultancy will entail:

1. Supporting effective implementation of UNICEF activities related to prevention of Child Marriage and non-violent discipline.

2. Supporting effective implementation of UNICEF SEA prevention activities.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  Terms of Reference TMC0001949.pdf

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• University degree in social work, psychology, sociology, pedagogy or other related fields

Work Experience:

• At least 10 years of work experience related to violence against children (VAC) prevention, out of which at least 5 in child marriage and PSEA.
• At least 5 years’ experience in coordinating implementation of VAC projects which include cooperation with relevant government, national and local level stakeholders.
• Advanced analytical and writing skills as evidenced through reports and publications, to be submitted with the application.
• Previous experience with UNICEF VAC program is an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Proficiency in English and fluency in Serbian.

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, TMS (Talent Management System):

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
• Cover letter
• A separate financial proposal (PLEASE USE THIS GIVEN TEMPLATE)  Financial proposal TMC0001949.docx
• Advanced analytical and writing skills as evidenced through reports and publications, to be submitted with the application.

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 advanced to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.