Contract Duration: 2 years and 9 months

Working arrangement: Home-based

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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

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the UNICEF Social Policy Specialist, the National Consultant will provide structured implementation support, field-level coordination and quality assurance for UNICEF-supported activities under the Joint Programme “Accelerating Agenda 2030 through Governance and Sustainable Growth – SDG2030BiH.” The assignment will cover eight selected local governments and relevant partner institutions, with a focus on strengthening and standardizing inclusive social services; improving linkages between local planning, costing, budgeting, financing and implementation; and supporting the development and application of sustainable financing approaches for selected social protection services and early childhood education and care.

The Consultant will provide practical technical assistance to partner institutions in the design, improvement, standardization, costing, financing and implementation of inclusive services, applying gender equality, disability inclusion and Leave No One Behind principles. The Consultant will promote consistent use of agreed tools, methodologies, timelines, quality standards and reporting templates across the eight locations, and coordinate technical inputs with the SDG2030BiH Joint Programme team and participating United Nations organizations where joint planning, complementary assistance or consolidated reporting is required.

The Consultant will translate agreed Programme objectives and UNICEF technical guidance into location-specific implementation actions. This will include maintaining regular liaison with eight selected local governments (Livno, Orasje, Laktasi, Gradiska, Istocno Novo Sarajevo, Gorazde, Banja Luka and Zvornik), Centres for Social Work, public and community-based service providers, civil society organizations and other relevant stakeholders; supporting implementation planning and follow-up; facilitating institutional and service assessments, service mapping, consultations, trainings, workshops and local planning processes; and consolidating and validating programme information required for evidence-based decision-making.

The Consultant will regularly monitor UNICEF-supported interventions and grants, as applicable, through progress reviews, field visits, stakeholder consultations and maintenance of relevant tracking tools. The Consultant will document implementation progress and stakeholder feedback; identify risks, delays, bottlenecks and systemic constraints at an early stage; recommend practical corrective measures; and promptly escalate issues requiring UNICEF’s strategic, technical or operational follow-up.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: External ToR TMC0006494.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child, you will have...

Minimum requirements:

Education:
- Bachelor's degree in social sciences, social policy, social work, public administration, development studies, local governance, social protection, child protection, community-based service delivery, or related disciplines
- A master’s degree in a relevant field would be considered an asset.

Work Experience:
- Minimum five years of relevant professional experience in social protection, child protection, social services, local governance, community-based service delivery, programme implementation, field coordination or other closely related areas.

Demonstrated experience providing technical guidance, methodological support and quality assurance.
Strong experience in stakeholder coordination with local authorities, Centres for Social Work, service providers, civil society organizations and/or development partners.
Experience in monitoring, reporting, risk identification and preparation of concise analytical reports.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in written and spoken local languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Proficiency in written and spoken English.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:

Strong understanding of social protection, child protection, local governance and community-based service delivery in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Strong planning, organizational and coordination skills.
Demonstrated stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills.
Ability to work effectively with local authorities, Centres for Social Work, service providers and other local stakeholders.
Ability to work independently across multiple field locations and manage competing priorities.
Strong analytical, synthesis and report-writing skills.
Strong problem-solving skills and ability to identify implementation bottlenecks and propose practical solutions.
Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and produce concise, high-quality written reports.
Valid driving licence and ability to self-drive to a minimum of eight target locations.

Desirables:

Previous experience with UNICEF, UN agencies or EU-funded programmes.
Understanding of UNICEF’s mandate, brand and programme standards.
General knowledge of UN and UNICEF procedures and programming principles.
Prior experience supporting social protection reform, integrated service delivery or local social protection planning.
Experience coordinating or quality-assuring the work of field-based teams or consultants.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Adaptability, resourcefulness and ability to work effectively in changing field conditions.
Approachable and collaborative working style.

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 (only acceptable in the format of the linked template) Financial proposal TMC0006494.docx

Remarks: If the TOR or financial proposal documents are not downloadable on certain recruitment platforms, please visit our official page Vacancies | UNICEF Careers.

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.

National Consultant for Implementation of the SDG2030BiH Programme, , Social Policy Section, 2 years and 9 months,Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (Nationals only) Home based