National consultant to review, edit and finalise the Situation Analysis for the introduction of the European Child Guarantee in North Macedonia (ECG deep-dive)

Skopje

  • Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
  • Location: Skopje
  • Grade: Consultancy - Consultant - Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Children's rights (health and protection)
  • Closing Date: 2025-11-27

UNICEF North Macedonia is seeking a national consultant to provide short-term expert support for the review, editing and finalisation of the European Child Guarantee deep dive, completed earlier this year with UNICEF support. The document includes large amount of data collection, annexes, and several components that require harmonisation as part of finalisation for publishing.

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

UNICEF North Macedonia is seeking a national consultant to provide short-term expert support for the review, editing and finalisation of the European Child Guarantee deep dive, completed earlier this year with UNICEF support. The document includes large amount of data collection, annexes, and several components that require harmonization as part of finalization for publishing.

How can you make a difference? 

In 2024 and 2025, UNICEF supported the government to analyse the existing efforts to address child poverty and social exclusion in the country and developing a Deep-dive situation analysis in preparation for the introduction of the European Child Guarantee mechanism in the country. The analysis included the review of the existing literature and legal framework; surveys of parents, schools, early childhood education and care institutions and municipal authorities; interviews and focus group discussions with front-line workers in the health, education and child/social protection sectors, and with representatives of vulnerable communities, as well as inputs and reviews from sectoral meetings to discuss and validate the analysis findings and recommendations. Inputs from the government workgroup on developing the National Action Plan on Child Rights were also taken into account. The results and recommendations of the ECG Deep-dive were streamlined in short policy note a presented in a national policy dialogue held in May 2025.
The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist in close coordination with the Social Policy Specialist and relevant team leads to review the entire ECG Deep-dive report (approx. 200 pages in Macedonian). This will include:
• Checking accuracy and consistency of data, references, and citations
• Review and harmonize the structure across the different parts/sections of the document ensuring consistency of key findings and recommendations with the summary report
• Identify which information should be presented in tables, charts and other visual elements, to ensure better presentation of key findings and accordingly amend the report
• Edit for conciseness, clarity, grammar, and style in line with UNICEF style book.
• Integrate comments from UNICEF reviewers.
• Deliver a final, polished version of the report in Macedonian.
 
 
 

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

Minimum requirements:

- Master's degree in public administration, social sciences, international law, demography, economic
- At least ten years of experience in evidence-based policy analysis and research in social sectors (health, education, or protection) and familiarity with the country’s legal and policy framework in these areas. 
- Proven experience in report writing
- Strong analytical and writing skills.
- Knowledge of Macedonian and Englis language is required. Knowledge of other local language is an asset. 
- Previous work with UN/UNICEF in these areas considered an asset.

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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

[add the 8th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role]. 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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. 

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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:  

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

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.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

We do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.
Fellow badge

This feature is included in the Impactpool Fellowship.

Become a Fellow and get a summary of the job description to quickly understand the role and the requirements