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 protection

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF seeks to engage an individual consultant to (1) develop a series of advocacy briefs on tackling child labour and related child rights issues through responsible business conduct, grounded in gaps and needs in existing approaches; and (2) identify and deliver strategic opportunities to position and disseminate these briefs to key stakeholder groups, including governments, private sector actors, industry platforms, and multi-stakeholder initiatives across high-risk sectors.

This consultancy supports UNICEF’s efforts to advance holistic, child rights-based approaches that combine robust human rights due diligence (HRDD) with systems-strengthening measures that address the root causes of child labour in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs).

The assignment is anchored in UNICEF’s Child Labour and Responsible Business Conduct: A Guidance Note for Action (2022) which underscores that child labour is driven by broader socioeconomic vulnerability, weak child protection systems, gaps in social protection, and other structural factors. Tackling child labour therefore requires approaches that go beyond supply chain compliance to address these underlying drivers including through strengthening public policies and systems that enable the State to realise children’s rights and support families in providing safe and nurturing environments for children.

The consultant will produce a series of advocacy briefs and a stakeholder engagement plan built around tailored engagement approaches for relevant governments, companies, industry actors, investors, and other relevant stakeholders. These will set out clear, actionable messages on how business practices, purchasing decisions, investments in social services including social protection, child protection, education, and engagement in community-level systems can reduce the drivers of child labour and help prevent adverse impacts across supply chains while reinforcing alignment with States’ obligations to realise children’s rights and companies’ responsibility to conduct human rights due diligence under the UNGPs. Considerations for measuring and reporting results should be integrated throughout.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: ToRTMC0003929.pdf

Minimum requirements:

Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Human Rights, International Development, Public Policy, Law, Social Sciences, or a related field.

Work Experience: Minimum 7–10 years of professional experience working on child rights, child labour, business and human rights, responsible business conduct, or related areas.

Demonstrated experience in developing advocacy briefs, policy papers, analytical reports, or guidance materials for international organizations, the private sector.
Proven understanding of human rights due diligence frameworks, including the UNGPs, OECD Guidelines, and emerging mandatory HRDD legislation.
Experience analyzing root causes of child labour, including socio‑economic vulnerabilities, child protection systems, access to services, and labour market dynamics.
Prior work with UNICEF, ILO, or similar international agencies is an advantage.

Skills: Excellent analytical and research skills, with the ability to synthesize complex topics into accessible, impactful advocacy messages.
Familiarity with systems‑strengthening approaches, including social protection, child protection systems, education systems, and decent work agendas.
Ability to work independently, meet deadlines, and receive and integrate feedback from multiple UNICEF teams
Language Requirements: Strong writing skills in English, with proven ability to craft high‑quality, concise briefs for diverse audiences (governments, companies, investors, civil society).

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 TMC0003929.docx
Applicants are requested to submit a brief technical proposal (maximum 1 page) outlining:

The understanding of the objectives and scope of the assignment;
The key child labour and child rights issues that should be considered within a human rights due diligence approach;
The proposed methodology and approach for delivering the assignment;
Any specific insights, challenges, or opportunities they anticipate and how these would be addressed.

Remarks: If the TOR or financial proposal documents are not visible 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.

Child rights & Human Rights Due Diligence Consultant, GPD, Child Rights Unit, 5 months, UNICEF Brussels (Remote) # 594344