UNICEF Pakistan is looking for a National Consultant to Strengthen Policy and Governance Framework for Child Protection System in ICT, Islamabad, Pakistan

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 play!

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical support in the development of a comprehensive national advocacy framework aligned with the recently released CRC CO 2026, to the Ministry of Human Rights (MOHR), as the main coordinating entity in Pakistan for the reporting of CRC obligations. The framework is to provide guidance to the provinces in advocating for and implementing the CRC CO/recommendations 2026 to help strengthen the child protection system across the country. Provincial advocacy frameworks can be prepared/adopted accordingly.

Specifically, for ICT, UNICEF will provide technical support to Ministry of Human Rights (MoHR) to focus on strategic advocacy around priority legal and policy reforms, governance structures and resource commitments required to provide an enabling environment for a sustainable child protection system in the territory. This shall be fully aligned with the CRC CO 2026.

How can you make a difference? 

You can make a difference by achieving the following milestones and deliverables:

Tasks/Milestone:          

  1. National CRC Concluding Observations/Recommendations Action Plan 2026
  2. ICT CP Advocacy Framework
  3. Finalized ICT Child Protection Policy with advocacy briefs 
  4. Legal Gap Analysis Report with advocacy recommendations
  5. Draft amendments to ICT CP Act & Rules with justification and advocacy notes
  6. SOPs/implementation and advocacy guidance notes
  7. Orientation on approved Child Protection Policy
  8. Development of strategy/action plan of the approved Child Protection Policy through consultative process, aligning it with the CRC Concluding Observations 2026

Deliverables/Outputs:

  • Action Plan for Monitoring the Implementation of CRC Concluding Observations endorsed by govt. National Framework endorsed through a consultative process.
  • ICT Framework endorsed by MOHR.
  • Policy finalized and ready for Cabinet submission.
  • Report endorsed by MoHR & UNICEF.
  • Amendment package validated by MoHR and shared with relevant forums.
  • Guidance endorsed and disseminated to MOHR & departments.
  • 1 orientation session conducted on the approved Child Protection Policy with participation from MoHR, CPI, and all key line departments, indicating increased understanding of roles and responsibilities.
  • Costed, time-bound and multi-sectoral Strategy/Action Plan for the approved Child Protection Policy developed through a documented consultative process and formally endorsed by MoHR.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Download File ToRs-Strengthening of Policy Advocacy and Governance Framework for CP System ICT.docx

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: 

  • Advanced University degree (Master's or above) in Public Policy, Child Protection, Human Rights, Social Sciences, or a related technical field.

Work Experience:

  • Proven minimum of 10 years’ professional experience in legal and policy reform, preferably in child protection or social protection.
  • Demonstrated experience drafting or reviewing legislation, policies, and rules in Pakistan.
  • Strong knowledge of CRC, alternative care, and child protection systems strengthening.
  • Proven ability to engage government counterparts and facilitate consultative processes.

Skills:

  • Excellent analytical writing and communication skills.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English and Urdu is required.

Desirables:

  • Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts. 
  • Knowledge of other local language(s) is 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 

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. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  

Remarks: 

  • Duration of the assignment is 6 months.
  • Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
  • Applicants must submit a financial quotation indicating the consultant fee against monthly deliverables as part of the application. Please see Terms of Reference.
  • Consultant needs to produce a copy of their health insurance coverage at the time the contract is awarded.

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’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable females, persons with disabilities and suitable candidates from underrepresented groups 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.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

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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.