Consultant for Conducting an Analysis of Trends in the Alternative Care System for Children, Child Protection Section, 5.5 months, Belgrade, Serbia (Nationals only) Home Based

Consultancy title includes duration and modality, there is no need to include again in the body of the advertisement text as below:

Contract Duration: 5.5 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.

To provide technical support to the Ministry of Family Care and Demography and the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs in conducting a comprehensive analysis of trends in the alternative care system for children deprived of parental care in the Republic of Serbia.

The assignment aims to identify trends, needs and current challenges in the use of different forms of alternative care (including different forms of foster care, kinship care and residential care), as well as to assess outcomes for children, the quality and effectiveness of permanency planning for children, and the factors contributing to children's prolonged stays in alternative care.

The purpose of the analysis is to provide evidence and recommendations for improving alternative care and outcomes for children in alternative care

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  External ToR TMC0007226.pdf

• Education:
  • Bachelor's degree in social sciences (social work, sociology or psychology).

• Work Experience:

• • At least 10 years of professional experience in child protection and alternative care, including experience in research and analysis of child protection systems;

• Demonstrated experience in working and coordinating with ministries, centres for social work, centres for family-based care and adoption, residential care institutions and other stakeholders within the child protection system
• Language Requirements:
• Fluency in Serbian and English, written and spoken
• Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:

• • Excellent knowledge of the national alternative care system for children, as well as international standards and practices in the field of children's rights and alternative care;
  • Advanced analytical, research and writing skills, demonstrated through the preparation of reports, publications and other relevant documents;
  • Demonstrated experience in analyzing sectoral data, interpreting complex data and formulating clear, actionable recommendations for improving policies and practices.

• Desirables:
• Experience in deinstitutionalization, family strengthening and the development of family-based alternative care;
• Experience working with UNICEF and/or other international organizations

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

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children’s data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

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.

• 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 TMC0007226.docx

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.

Advertised: 24 Oct 2026 Central Europe Daylight Time
Applications close: 31 Oct 2026 Central Europe Standard Time

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