Case Manager

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

UNICEF’s Programme in Italy was set up in 2016 to respond to a large influx of unaccompanied minors arriving primarily through the Central Mediterranean route.

A UNICEF Migrant and Refugee Response is operational in Italy since 2016 through an Outposted UNICEF ECARO team, based on official agreements with National Authorities aimed at providing technical support for the protection and social inclusion of refugee and migrant children, families, and women, including the more recent Ukraine refugee population. A two-pronged approach combines humanitarian service delivery with capacity building, policy reform, and technical assistance in cooperation with governmental counterparts and civil society. Child Protection is one of the core pillars of the Response and is focused on: 1) promoting minimum child protection standards at border and transit areas, as well as across the national reception system; 2) strengthening the capacity to provide quality mental health and psycho-social support to migrant and refugee children and youth, as well as caregivers; 3) promoting family and community-based solutions for unaccompanied and separated children; and 4) strengthening the guardianship system for unaccompanied and separated children.

In the context of migration and asylum, Italy continues to be a frontline country for arrivals both by sea from the Central Mediterranean route and by land from the Western Balkan route. The country is considered both a destination and a transit country for all those migrants and refugees who are trying to reach Northern European countries. Refugees and migrants, and in particular children and women travelling alone, continue to undertake dangerous journeys to reach Europe, facing specific protection risks, including GBV ones.

Since the beginning of 2026, 11,180 migrants and refugees have arrived in Italy, 892 of whom are under the age of 18. Departures have resumed consistently from Tunisia and Libya. Furthermore, there has been an increase of extremely vulnerable cases, including single-parent families, pregnant girls, and children under 14 traveling alone (UASC). Despite the Italian child protection system foreseeing a solid legal framework for the protection of UASC, the legal provisions remain partially implemented and the system continues being challenged by the constant increase of numbers of children in first and second-line reception centers.

Despite efforts from the Italian Government, including the declaration of the state of emergency to handle the increase of migratory flows and a solid legal framework, the system remains highly fragmented, with several disparities in quality of services and care. In this context, the upcoming National Plan implementing the EU Pact on Asylum and Migration will require remarkable endeavors in terms of enhancing current reception standards, posing the best interests of the child at the core of reception decisions for UASC, reviewing and strengthening accommodation arrangements vis-à-vis specific needs.

Against this background and under the framework of AMIF funds as entrusted by the Italian Ministry of the Interior, UNICEF aims at strengthening the capacity of the Italian protection and reception system from arrival to all the subsequent reception phases, to ensure protection and care for the most vulnerable refugee and migrant children, including those transitioning to adulthood, UASC, families, and women survived/at risk of gender-based violence. These people of concern (PoC) will have access to emergency protection interventions, alternative care solutions, and lifesaving information.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Child Protection Specialist, the UNV Case Managers will work in Area IV of the Prefectures of Milan to support the local authority in properly manage cases of unaccompanied children (UASC), those transitioning to adulthood, families with children and women survived and/or at risks of GBV. The case managers will facilitate the coordination between prefectures and local protection services (e.g. local health services, justice and social authorities, including Juvenile Courts, Social Services, Regional Ombudspersons for Childhood and Adolescence, Managing Bodies of reception facilities, anti-violence centers and Civil Society Organizations). Specifically, he/she will:

· Provide technical advice and guidance to Area IV of Prefectures to support prompt and appropriate transfer/allocation in adequate reception facilities and facilitate foster care options when available.

· Implement a comprehensive Child Protection Case Management (CP CM) based on international standards throughout the following steps: best interest assessment, action planning, implementation, follow up and case closure.

· Support foster care procedures for UASC, in cooperation with local partners and institutions;

· Maintain the mapping of available protection services updated.

· Facilitate the referral mechanisms between Prefectures and CP actors and stakeholders (e.g. Juvenile Courts, Health and Social Services, Guardians, Ombudspersons, Reception facilities, Anti-violence Centers and all the other relevant players/services).

· Contribute to interagency coordination with other relevant actors (e.g. UNHCR, Save the Children, EUAA, and other organizations involved at the local level);

· Enhance progress in the governance of the local child protection system, by conducting desk reviews on the legal and financial framework related to UASC reception, protection and social inclusion, organizing and participating in relevant working groups (e.g. Tavoli di Vulnerabilità), promoting structured cooperation between institutional actors involved (e.g. drafting and bargaining of MoUs) and drafting of SoP.

Further, the case managers will :

· Provide if and as needed, technical support to the other operational teams (GBV team) to collect qualitative/quantitative data on the protection needs of PoC (with a specific focus on girls and women) in hotspots and/or first line reception facilities to gain insights into the existing gaps around protection needs, safety, and related aspects.

· Gather and systematize data on the intervention conducted by case managers to facilitate analysis of their effectiveness and impact.

· When needed, support capacity-building sessions for local authorities (e.g. Social service, Juvenile Courts) on UASC phenomenology, child-friendly procedures, alternative care solutions and child participation in judicial hearings.

· Perform any other related tasks may be required or assigned by the supervisor.