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 care.

How can you make a difference?

The overall goal of the consultancy is to support the institutionalization of measurable harmful social and gender norms transformation within South Africa's HIV, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), and Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) implementation systems through strengthened coordination, capacity, financing, monitoring, and accountability.

The specific objectives are to:

Review national policies, strategic and implementation plans, budgets, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems against the 2gether4SRHR Regional Policy Brief and Policy Guidance on Harmful Social and Gender Norms Transformation, applying a gender and social norms lens.
Assess the extent to which national frameworks align with the recommendations of the 2gether4SRHR Policy Brief and Guidance, identifying strengths, gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
Develop a policy and implementation gap and alignment report, including validated recommendations to strengthen the transformation of harmful social and gender norms.
Develop technical guidelines to support the integration of agreed recommendations and alignments into policies, operational plans, budgets, and M&E systems.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: ToR TMC0006874.pdf

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

Minimum requirements: (Qualifications/Experience/ Knowledge/Expertise/Skills)

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Social and Behavior Change, Public Health, Development Policy, Sociology or related field.

Work Experience:

Over 7 years of experience in SBC, public health, development or related field, including policy analysis and development.
Over 7 years’ experience in research and analysis, including desk review.
Over 5 years’ experience in facilitation high level workshops to develop consensus.
Over 7 years’ experience in design, implementation or evaluation of SBC policy and intervention to drive normative change.

Language Requirements:

Proficient English – both spoken and written.

Desirables:

Experience in HIV and SRHR an advantage.
Experience with Government, UN agencies or SANAC 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

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 TMC0006874.docx
A detailed technical proposal, inculding:

1. Understanding of the Assignment

- Brief description of the consultant's understanding of the objectives, scope, and expected outputs of the assignment. Identification of key considerations, challenges, and opportunities.

2. Technical Approach and Methodology

- Proposed methodology for implementing the assignment.

- Description of tools, frameworks, and approaches to be used.

- Quality assurance mechanisms to ensure delivery of high-quality outputs.

3. Work Plan and Timeline

- Detailed activity schedule aligned with the TOR.

- Proposed milestones and deliverables.

- Indication of level of effort and availability.

4. Relevant Experience

- Description of similar assignments completed

- Summary of the outcomes achieved in previous assignments.

5. Curriculum Vitae (CV)

- Relevant educational qualifications.

- Technical expertise relevant to the assignment.

- Professional experience directly related to the TOR.

- Experience working with government, UN agencies, NGOs, or development partners where applicable.

6. Sample Work

- Provide at least two examples of previous work relevant to the assignment, which may include:

- Strategic plans.

- Technical reports.

- Implementation frameworks.

- Training materials.

- Monitoring and evaluation tools.

- Concept notes or policy documents.

7. References

- Provide at least three professional references for similar assignments

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.

Consultant for the Policy Review: Harmful Social and Gender Norms transformation, Pretoria, South Africa (Remote), 7.6 months, National Candidates Only, #596762