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 a future

How can you make a difference?

Under the EU-funded project “Protective and Restorative Approaches for Children in Judicial Processes in Türkiye” (Direction for Children / Çocuklar için YÖN), the assignment will provide high-level international technical expertise to design, pilot, monitor and refine structural tools, procedural guidelines, specialized reintegration and rehabilitation programmes, and capacity-building frameworks for the Turkish child justice system.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: External ToR TMC0006438.pdf

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

Minimum Qualifications required:

Education:

Law, Human Rights, Criminology, Forensic Sciences, Public Policy, or a relevant field.

Work Experience:

Minimum 10 years of international professional experience in child protection sector reform, child-friendly justice systems and juvenile criminal justice policy.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in written and spoken English is mandatory.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:

Extensive experience designing, implementing or evaluating child-sensitive diversion mechanisms, restorative justice frameworks and non-custodial alternative measures across multiple jurisdictions.
Demonstrated expertise authoring or peer-reviewing SOPs, risk/needs assessment tools, and evidence-based cognitive-behavioral rehabilitation programmes for juveniles.
International advisory experience with UN agencies (including UNICEF), the EU, the Council of Europe or major international human-rights organizations in similar reform projects.
Strong experience in capacity-building frameworks, Training of Trainers models and nationwide roll-out/scaling blueprints for public justice sectors; excellent drafting, analytical and policy-formulation skills.

Desirables:

Knowledge of the Turkish justice context or regional context is an asset. Strong analytical, organizational, interpersonal and coordination skills; computer literacy; sensitivity to ethics, child rights, diversity and gender.

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 template TMC0006438.docx
Applicants are requested to submit a Technical Proposal (maximum 5 pages) outlining their understanding of the assignment, proposed methodology, work plan, deliverables, relevant experience, and any innovative approaches they intend to apply.

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.

Consultancy for Technical Assistance to Strengthen Diversion, Probation and Alternative Measures for Children in the Turkish Child Justice System, Ankara, Türkiye, Remote with travels, 19.68 months