Details
Mission and objectives
UNICEF is supporting health, nutrition, HIV prevention, education, access to safe drinking water, sanitation and protection for children and families caught in the conflict.
Context
UNICEF works to protect the rights of every child, with particular attention to the most vulnerable. In Ukraine, under its Country Programme 2025–2029, UNICEF supports the Government in strengthening child protection systems, expanding quality services for children and families, and advancing sustainable reforms amid the ongoing war.
The full-scale invasion has increased risks for children deprived of parental care, children with disabilities, displaced children and those in residential institutions, reinforcing the need to strengthen family-based alternative care, prevent family separation and ensure access to community-based support.
Severe fiscal constraints have further limited resources for social services and child care reform. The Government’s decision of 28 September 2026 to prioritize expenditures underscores the need for effective public financial management, evidence-based budgeting and sustainable financing of child protection and alternative care services.
The Strategy for Ensuring the Right of Every Child to Grow Up in a Family Environment (2024–2028) provides the national framework for reform, prioritizing prevention of institutionalization, family-based care, community services and transformation of residential institutions.
Through its Better Care initiative, UNICEF supports implementation of the Strategy in partnership with national and local authorities and other stakeholders, focusing on family-based alternatives, care solutions for children with disabilities and complex needs, institutional transformation, and strengthened policies, financing and capacities.
This National UN Volunteer assignment will support UNICEF Ukraine’s Child Protection Programme, particularly the Alternative Care pillar, through technical and analytical support on policy and legislation, public financing, stakeholder coordination, family-based care and institutional
The full-scale invasion has increased risks for children deprived of parental care, children with disabilities, displaced children and those in residential institutions, reinforcing the need to strengthen family-based alternative care, prevent family separation and ensure access to community-based support.
Severe fiscal constraints have further limited resources for social services and child care reform. The Government’s decision of 28 September 2026 to prioritize expenditures underscores the need for effective public financial management, evidence-based budgeting and sustainable financing of child protection and alternative care services.
The Strategy for Ensuring the Right of Every Child to Grow Up in a Family Environment (2024–2028) provides the national framework for reform, prioritizing prevention of institutionalization, family-based care, community services and transformation of residential institutions.
Through its Better Care initiative, UNICEF supports implementation of the Strategy in partnership with national and local authorities and other stakeholders, focusing on family-based alternatives, care solutions for children with disabilities and complex needs, institutional transformation, and strengthened policies, financing and capacities.
This National UN Volunteer assignment will support UNICEF Ukraine’s Child Protection Programme, particularly the Alternative Care pillar, through technical and analytical support on policy and legislation, public financing, stakeholder coordination, family-based care and institutional
Task description
Under the supervision of the UNICEF Child Protection Section, the National UN Volunteer will support Better Care reform through the following tasks:
1. Policy, legislative and financing frameworks
Provide technical support to policies, legislation, standards and financing for child protection and alternative care. Analyse regulatory and budget developments and prepare briefs and recommendations. Support the Better Care agenda in Cherkasy region with Government of France funding, focusing on case management, referrals, family-based care, institutional transformation and continuity of care for vulnerable children, including children with disabilities and those affected by war. Support activity design, coordination, implementation and monitoring with oblast and hromada authorities, including patronage and foster care at local level.
2. Family-based care and institutional transformation
Support development and implementation of patronage care, foster care and specialized family-based care for children with disabilities and complex needs. Contribute to the transformation of residential institutions, including baby homes, and strengthening of case management, referral pathways and community-based support for children and families.
3. From House to Home initiative
Support the joint Olena Zelenska Foundation–UNICEF “From House to Home” initiative, including developing and implementing support mechanisms for large foster families. Contribute to planning, review of operational documents, stakeholder coordination and monitoring of implementation at national and local levels.
4. Technical guidance, coordination and monitoring
Prepare and review programme documents, analytical notes, technical guidance and monitoring materials. Support UNICEF Field Offices and implementing partners in programme design and implementation; facilitate consultations, meetings and workshops with national and local stakeholders; document progress, challenges and lessons learned.
1. Policy, legislative and financing frameworks
Provide technical support to policies, legislation, standards and financing for child protection and alternative care. Analyse regulatory and budget developments and prepare briefs and recommendations. Support the Better Care agenda in Cherkasy region with Government of France funding, focusing on case management, referrals, family-based care, institutional transformation and continuity of care for vulnerable children, including children with disabilities and those affected by war. Support activity design, coordination, implementation and monitoring with oblast and hromada authorities, including patronage and foster care at local level.
2. Family-based care and institutional transformation
Support development and implementation of patronage care, foster care and specialized family-based care for children with disabilities and complex needs. Contribute to the transformation of residential institutions, including baby homes, and strengthening of case management, referral pathways and community-based support for children and families.
3. From House to Home initiative
Support the joint Olena Zelenska Foundation–UNICEF “From House to Home” initiative, including developing and implementing support mechanisms for large foster families. Contribute to planning, review of operational documents, stakeholder coordination and monitoring of implementation at national and local levels.
4. Technical guidance, coordination and monitoring
Prepare and review programme documents, analytical notes, technical guidance and monitoring materials. Support UNICEF Field Offices and implementing partners in programme design and implementation; facilitate consultations, meetings and workshops with national and local stakeholders; document progress, challenges and lessons learned.
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