The purpose of this consultancy is to deliver analytical, policy, knowledge and technical products on gender-responsive social protection and care and support systems, in support of the Inclusive Social Protection thematic area of the Economic and Social Policy Global Practice (ESP GP) and in collaboration with UNICEF Innocenti – Global Office of Research and Foresight.
Contract Duration: 16 months
Working arrangement: Remote
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.
TERMS OF REFERENCE
The purpose of this consultancy is to deliver analytical, policy, knowledge and technical products on gender-responsive social protection and care and support systems, in support of the Inclusive Social Protection thematic area of the Economic and Social Policy Global Practice (ESP GP) and in collaboration with UNICEF Innocenti – Global Office of Research and Foresight.
The ESP GP requires dedicated capacity to support the production of technical products, synthesize and translate evidence into actionable guidance, facilitate multi-stakeholder processes, and deliver outputs in support of UNICEF's engagement on gender-responsive social protection and care and support systems. These workstreams demand demonstrated thematic expertise, the ability to work independently across a range of deliverables, and the capacity to engage substantively with governments, UN agencies, civil society partners, and research institutions.
This consultancy will contribute to:
• developing evidence-based capacity building, policy dialogue, and programme delivery on gender-responsive social protection across priority countries and regions;
• synthesizing cross-country programmatic evidence on social accountability and engaging civil society in social protection and adolescent girl programming, and translating findings into policy-relevant guidance for country offices and global audiences;
• developing technical and advocacy products on care and support systems, including country-level guidance and policy briefs, in support of UNICEF's engagement with the global Year of Care 2028 agenda;
• contributing substantive technical input to thematic interagency and global platforms, including the UNICEF Global Technical Team on Family-Friendly Policies and Care; and
• supporting knowledge dissemination and communications for the Transfer Project, ensuring that evidence on cash transfers and gender-responsive programme design is effectively communicated to policy and practitioner audiences.
If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:
Minimum requirements:
Education:
An advanced university degree (Master’s) in social policy, development studies, gender studies, international development, or a closely related field.
Work Experience:
• Minimum of 4–5 years of relevant expertise in gender-responsive social protection and care and support systems, including exposure to disability inclusive social protection and child-sensitive social protection systems
• Demonstrated experience in gender-responsive social protection policy analysis, capacity building, global advocacy, partnerships, and civil society engagement across low- and middle-income country contexts
• Solid knowledge of care and support systems frameworks, including the care economy, care-livelihoods nexus, and intersections with inclusive social protection, with direct experience translating this into policy products and country-level guidance
• Experience developing and delivering capacity-building products and facilitating multi-stakeholder policy dialogue processes with government, civil society, and UN agency counterparts
• Experience in driving social accountability outcomes through civil society and community organization engagement in social protection and policy
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize cross-country programmatic evidence and translate findings into policy-relevant products, including briefs, guidance notes, lessons-learned reports, and advocacy packages
• Experience engaging with and delivering outputs for multi-partner and interagency processes in UN system settings
• Experience developing knowledge and communications products, including stories of change, multimedia content, and dissemination strategies
• Familiarity with UNICEF's work on social protection, care and support, and gender and adolescent girls, or equivalent experience within the UN system.
Language Requirements:
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN language is preferred. 
ToR GRSP Care and Support Consultant.pdf
Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:
• Strong analytical and policy writing skills, with the ability to produce clear, well-structured, and evidence-based products independently
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent deliverables across diverse thematic and geographic contexts
• Sound judgment in translating complex technical and programmatic content into accessible policy and advocacy products
• Ability to engage substantively and credibly with a range of stakeholders including government officials, UN agencies, research institutions, and civil society organizations
• Strong attention to detail and ability to deliver high-quality outputs within agreed timelines
• Ability to work independently while maintaining close collaboration with supervising staff and partner teams.
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 xxx4602.docx
- A detailed technical proposal
Remarks:
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.