UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, hope.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment

Mixed migration flows of children arriving in Europe and its borders are inherently unpredictable, driven by political instability, conflict, climate change, natural disasters, and the need to find better economic opportunities. Whilst the nature of migration routes is fluid, Europe has consistently been a point of transit and destination, with increasing numbers of children and families arriving in search of safety, peace, and a better life. Migration in search of better opportunities can have a largely positive impact on children, their families, as well as host and sending communities. But forced displacement has hugely detrimental impacts on people, particularly children, who may make perilous journeys to Europe.

In the last decade, around 4.1 million refugees and migrants have arrived in Europe, approximately 27% of whom are children. As of 2023, roughly 64% (35,510) of refugee and migrant children arriving in Greece, Spain, Italy, Malta, Bulgaria and Cyprus were unaccompanied or separated. The Mediterranean migration route, documented as the most dangerous migration flow globally, has recorded 120,778 persons crossing from North Africa to Italy (43,269), Spain (37,521), Greece (34,957), Cyprus (4,929) and Malta (102) so far this year. Roughly 24% of these arrivals are children. Around 6,000 unaccompanied and separated children are known to be in the Canary Islands, which has capacity in the childcare system for only 2,000 children. Between January and July, some 7,900 refugees and migrants were estimated to have transited through the Western Balkans as part of mixed movements.

National child protection and asylum and migration systems in European countries of transit and destination have been strained to respond to protection needs of refugees and migrants, leaving vulnerable children at heightened risk. The agreement on the European Union (EU) Pact on Migration and Asylum has set in motion a significant reform of the EU’s approach to migration and asylum, with both internal EU and external impacts. While welcomed as an important step towards a more predictable system for managing migration and sharing solidarity, the agreement carries risks for eroding child-specific safeguards if not implemented in a manner which puts the protection of children and their rights at the fore.

In this context, UNICEF has remained engaged at both European and Country level to support transit and destination countries to uphold the rights of refugee and migrant children, as well as in the development of guidance and policy that safeguards the protection of children on the move. The UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (ECARO) is engaged in convening and promoting a route-based approach to addressing protection needs of children and families transiting the Mediterranean migration route. This includes liaising cross-regionally with UNICEF offices in North Africa and beyond. UNICEF is strengthening cooperation with European Institutions and sister agencies to promote child safeguards and protection in policy development and advocacy. In countries where UNICEF has a presence, ECARO has sought to position at country level to act as a technical support on child rights and protection issues to capitalise on opportunities presented by EU and other funding mechanisms.

In order to support this work, dedicated capacity is required to assist the ECARO Child Protection team in legal and policy analysis, technical support and coordination.

Scope of Work

1. Legal and Policy Analysis on implementation and impact of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum

a. Deliverable 1: Mapping of the good practices and gaps in child-friendly safeguards included in selected national implementation plans
b. Deliverable 2: Technical note on the real and potential impacts of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum on protection concerns and population flows in key non-EU transit countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia) to inform programmatic responses and advocacy

2. Technical assistance and engagement in identifying opportunities for route-based programmatic work and engagement.

a. Deliverable 3: Draft mapping of route-based response opportunities to address child protection, including GBV, concerns arising for unaccompanied and separated children arriving in Europe along the Mediterranean Sea route, utilising ECARO-MENARO cross-regional forum
b. Deliverable 4: Mapping and analysis of available data resources to identify the key migration routes into Europe and Central Asia, along with their characteristics, with a view to informing future route-based programming in the region

3. Flexible technical support

a. Deliverable 5: Documented technical review of key regional and policy documents as required on behalf of ECARO.
b. Deliverable 6: Documented technical support in regional and cross-regional meetings and technical discussions as required by ECARO

Work Assignment Overview

Estimated Duration of the Contract

38 working days between October 2024 and June 2025.

Consultant’s Work Place and Official Travel

The Consultant will be remote/home-based with no travels foreseen.

Estimated Cost of the Consultancy & Payment Schedule

Payment will be made on submission of an invoice and satisfactory completion of the above-mentioned deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs are incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines. All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.

Please submit a professional fee (in USD) based on 38 working days to undertake this assignment.

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

• A relevant Master’s degree in international development, human rights, refugee and migrant law/policy.
• At least eight (8) years of international experience working on issues related to refugee and migrant children is required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of migration and asylum issues and legal/policy frameworks is required.
• Strong understanding of the European policy and legal landscape as it pertains to issues of asylum and migration is an asset.
• Strong understanding of international refugee law and international standards on the rights of migrant and refugee children is desirable.
• Strong understanding of the international legal and normative framework on child protection and safeguarding, particularly as it relates to migration and asylum systems is desirable.
• Knowledge of gender-based violence risks and programmatic responses, in the context of migration and asylum is desirable.
• Competent in gathering evidence and collecting and analyzing data to inform advocacy and programmatic decisions is an asset.
• Excellent written and spoken English is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS), and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most marginalized children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

Remarks:

Please include a full CV and a Cover Letter in your application. Additionally, indicate your availability and professional fee (in USD) to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a professional fee will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.