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

UNICEF seeks technical expertise to explore how AI and digital technologies can enhance efforts to prevent female genital mutilation (FGM) and child marriage. The consultancy will assess and refine technology-enabled approaches for service delivery, case management, data use, and decision-making, ensuring they complement community-based and human-centered programming. Building on previous research, the work will identify opportunities to apply emerging AI solutions while upholding child rights, inclusion, gender equality, data protection, and harm-mitigation principles.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy on the detailed deliverables and expected outcomes, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: TMC0005951 TOR.pdf

Minimum requirements:

Education: Advanced university degree (Master's degree or higher) in Social and Behaviour Change, Social Sciences, Anthropology, Sociology, Psychology, Public Health, International Development, Law, Gender Studies, Research Methods, or a related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in digital innovation, technology for development, research, monitoring and evaluation, or related fields. Preferably with a focus on child protection, gender equality, harmful practices, public health, international development

- Demonstrated experience working on programmes, research or technical assistance related to FGM prevention and response, harmful practices, gender-based violence, violence against women and girls, child protection, sexual and reproductive health, or related issues.
- Proven experience reviewing, mapping, documenting or assessing digital, AI-enabled, mobile, data-driven or technology-supported interventions in development, humanitarian, public health, child protection, gender equality or social norms programming.
- Demonstrated understanding of responsible and ethical use of AI and digital technology, including considerations related to data protection, privacy, safeguarding, inclusion, accessibility, gender equality, bias, harm mitigation and child rights.
- Experience conducting desk reviews, stakeholder consultations, key informant interviews, qualitative or mixed-methods research, data analysis and synthesis of findings for international development or humanitarian audiences.
- Experience identifying gaps, opportunities, lessons learned and promising practices, and translating evidence into practical recommendations, frameworks, tools, guidance or knowledge products for governments, UN agencies, development partners or international organizations.
- Experience producing high-quality technical reports, mapping products, analytical notes, presentations or other knowledge products for global, regional or country-level audiences.

Skills:

- Strong understanding of AI, digital innovation and technology for development, including how digital platforms, AI-enabled tools, mobile solutions and data systems can be applied responsibly in prevention, response, monitoring, learning and programme adaptation.
- Good understanding of FGM prevention and response programming, including harmful practices, gender equality, child protection, survivor-centred approaches and community-centred prevention strategies.
- Ability to assess ethical, safeguarding, data protection, privacy, inclusion, accessibility, gender equality, bias and harm mitigation considerations related to the use of AI and technology in FGM prevention and response.
- Strong stakeholder engagement and consultation skills, including the ability to work effectively with UNICEF and UNFPA country offices, headquarters and regional colleagues, implementing partners and other relevant stakeholders.
- Strong analytical, research and synthesis skills, with the ability to review diverse sources of information, document interventions, identify patterns, gaps, risks and opportunities, and translate findings into practical recommendations.

Language Requirements:

Excellent written and spoken English is required.
Fluency in French is highly desirable

Desirables: Experience working with UNICEF, UN agencies, governments or international development organizations is highly desirable.

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 promoting 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 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 TMC0005951 Financial proposal.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.

Consultancy for Review of AI and Technology based interventions to address Female Genital Mutilation and Child Marriage, Global Programme Division(GPD) - Remote, 6 months, International