National Consultant: Expert on Strengthening Alternative Care for Children in Need, Kyiv, Ukraine, 12 months (Office 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 hope.

UNICEF Ukraine

Welcome to UNICEF Ukraine - YouTube

How can you make a difference?

Purpose Of Assignment

To support the Child Protection Team, particularly the Alternative Care/Better Care pillar, to further enhance and promote the system of alternative family care, including the development of new alternative care options for children with disabilities and complex needs. The assignment will also support the transformation of baby homes, assisting in the transition from traditional residential institutions to family-based care, and ensuring that the reform of institutional settings is carried out in accordance with modern child protection standards and in the best interests of the child. 

The Consultant’s Scope Of The Work Will Include

More specifically, the consultant will support the Child Protection Team, especially the pillar on Alternative Care/Better Care in the following main areas of work and tasks:

• Support in reviewing normative changes related to different aspects of family-based care.
• Support in liaising with Government and Institutional counterparts including the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity, State Children’s Service, Coordination Centre for Family Upbringing and Child Care Development, National Social Service including but not limited to the issues of legal and policy amendments, changes in the budgeting system of supporting, establishing the new forms, placement of children and the monitoring of alternative family-based care.
• Facilitate in convening regular stakeholders’ meetings to ensure regular dialogues on alternative-family based care.
• Support in the implementation and monitoring of different types of alternative family care at local level to ensure UNICEF’s recommendations are accepted on the ground.
• Support in the development and implementation of relevant projects under the framework of the Better Care Initiative.
• Contribute to developing briefs, reports and inputs to other strategic program materials for management use, information and/or consideration.
• Support other child protection section activities and coordination with Government counterparts at national and regional levels and NGOs.
  
  

The consultant will actively work with new initiatives within the Better Care reform, namely: transformation of baby homes (assistance in the transition from traditional residential institutions to family-based care, ensuring reform of institutional conditions in accordance with modern child protection standards) and specialised family-based care for children with complex needs.

The consultant will support the coordination function between implementing partner and state counterparts at national, subnational, and municipality level in coordination with UNICEF team at national and field level, to have UNICEF recommendations delivered to strengthen the alternative family-based care for children.

The consultant will work closely with and under direct supervision of the UNICEF Child Protection Officer, NOB and overall guidance of Child Protection Specialist, P4 and Chief of Child Protection, P5.

Work Assignment Overview

Deliverable

Deadline

# of w/days

Deliverable 1. Consultancy Support For Initiating The Technical Elaboration Of Projects With Partners And Stakeholders Under The Better Care Initiative, Including Developing Solutions For Expanding Family-based Childcare And Engaging In Initial Monitoring Processes

• minimum 4 workshops/events organised or supported;
• minimum 6 technical papers/reports/documents developed;
• - minimum 1 monitoring visit conducted or participated in.
  
  

By 01 Feb, 2026

20

Deliverable 2. Consultancy Support In Preparing And Refining Technical Documentation, Letters, And Amendments To Legal Acts Aimed At Advancing Child Protection And Alternative Care Reforms

• minimum 10 technical documents supported or contributed to.
  
  

By 01 Apr, 2026

30

Deliverable 3. Consultancy support and collaboration with implementing partners to prevent the institutionalization of infants and young children, through the creation of transformation pathways, strengthening preventive mechanisms, and contributing to the development and strengthening of the specialized family-based care system.

• minimum 5 coordination meetings with implementing partners and relevant stakeholders;
• minimum 5 technical materials, briefs, reports/documents;
• minimum 1 monitoring visits conducted or participated in.
  
  

By 01 Jun, 2026

30

Deliverable 4. Participation In The Preparation, Coordination And Implementation Of The Joint Initiative Of The Olena Zelenska Foundation And UNICEF “From House To Home” (collaboration With Implementing Partners, Preparation Of Coordination Meetings, Analytical Materials, Briefs, Protocols, And Follow-up Documentation)

• minimum 5 coordination or planning meetings;
• minimum 10 analytical materials, briefs, or protocols developed.
  
  

By 01 Aug, 2026

40

Deliverable 5. Preparation And Participation In Working Meetings With The Ministry Of Social Policy, Family And Unity, State Children’s Service, Coordination Centre For Family Upbringing And Child Care Development And Relevant Stakeholders (briefs And Reports, Including PPTs)

• minimum 10 working meetings/events;
• minimum 5 PPTs, briefs developed.
  
  

By 01 Oct, 2026

20

Deliverable 6. Consultancy Support For Advancing Project Design And Coordination With Partners Under The Better Care Initiative, Including Strengthening Family-based Childcare Models And Supporting Monitoring Of Implementation Progress

• minimum 5–6 workshops/events organised or supported;
• minimum 10–12 technical papers/reports/documents developed;
• minimum 1 monitoring visit conducted or participated in.
  
  

By 01 Nov, 2026

40

Deliverable 7. Consultancy Support In The Preparation Of Technical Documents, Letters, And Amendments To Legal Acts For The Child Protection Unit

• minimum 10 technical documents supported or contributed to on matters relating to child protection/alternative care/family-based care.
  
  

By 21 Nov 2026

50

Total # of working days

230

Travel Plan (14 travel days)*:

It is expected that the Consultant will join selected child protection field visits, monitoring visits, and capacity-building events with the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity, State Children’s Service, Coordination Centre for Family Upbringing and Child Care Development, partners, and other relevant stakeholders. The total number of travel days under the contract is 14 days. 

• Before any field mission, Safe and Secure Approaches in Field Environments (SSAFE) and Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK) trainings must be completed. The 4-day training schedule must be agreed upon with the security team.
  
  

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

Minimum Requirements

• Education: Master’s degree in social sciences, international law, international development, economics\finance, human rights, psychology, sociology, or other related discipline.
• Work Experience:
  
  

At least 10 years of progressive professional experience in social policy/child protection, or social services management, with demonstrated expertise in financial management, national-level planning, coordination, and reform.

Knowledge of the Ukrainian system of child protection, system of social protection, system of alternative care for children (residential and family-based), including the legislative, policy, and budgetary frameworks, and practical experience in their development or reform.

Experience in strengthening social workers and the social services system, including the introduction or adaptation of new funding mechanisms.

Experience in developing and coordinating national strategies, policy frameworks, and action plans in the area of child protection and family-based care.

Experience in building effective dialogue and partnerships with national and local authorities, civil society organizations, and international partners (including UNICEF or other UN agencies).Experience working within or in close cooperation with government ministries or central executive authorities in the areas of social policy, child protection, and design or management of public financing mechanisms (including budgeting and funding of social services).

• Skills:
  
  

Good analytical skills.

Good coordination skills

Good communication skills

• Language Requirements:
  
  

Ukrainian: P Advanced [C1]

English: P is an advantage .

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

The UNICEF Competencies Required For This Post Are…

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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 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

Please indicate your all-inclusive (lump sum) fees in USD against the deliverables listed above, including all associated administrative and travel costs (if applicable), in the cover letter. The office selects the individual based on best value for money.

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed 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.

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

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 consultant 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 consultant 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. The vaccine mandate, 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. UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants 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 offers reasonable accommodation for consultants 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.