International Consultant to Review and Amendment of Cabinet Resolution No. (11) of 2011 with Focus on Licensing and Regulating Home-Based Nurseries, East Jerusalem, SOP

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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, Future

UNICEF in the State of Palestine (SoP) works to uphold the rights of children to access services and protection, from early childhood through to adolescence. Our objective is to ensure that every child in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, irrespective of background or circumstance, has an equal chance to fulfil their potential.

In the past years, UNICEF in the State of Palestine has achieved a high reach and engagement through its communication channels. UNICEF-SoP would like to build on this and continue engaging with our audience, who are not only seek information but are willing to have important conversations on crucial issues concerning children’s wellbeing and rights. 

How can you make a difference? 

The overall purpose is to strengthen the legal and operational framework for early childhood care and protection in Palestine by amending the Cabinet Resolution and introducing a clear regulatory mechanism for home-based nurseries.

The purpose of this consultancy is to support MoSD in reviewing and updating Cabinet Resolution No. (11) of 2011 to:

• Critically review the existing regulation in light of MoSD’s new policy framework, Palestinian Child Rights Law, and international child protection standards.
• Introduce a dedicated section regulating home-based nurseries, including licensing, oversight, staffing, and operational mechanisms.
• Develop an inclusive, costed implementation plan addressing structural, financial, and operational dimensions.
• Provide actionable recommendations to establish a specialized unit within MoSD’s Nurseries Department to license and monitor home-based nurseries.
• Design coordination mechanisms with relevant ministries and governorate directorates for consistent implementation.
• Draft licensing procedures, inspection protocols, Application forms, and monitoring tools.
• Recommend a training and capacity-building plan for MoSD staff to operationalize the regulation.
• Ensure the revised regulation is inclusive and child-protection-centered, improving coordination across sectors and actors.

In alignment with UNICEF standards, the consultant must ensure all recommendations reflect a Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA), with emphasis on child protection, equity, and accountability.

Scope of Work:

The consultant(s) will lead the technical and legislative review in close collaboration with a steering committee formed at the Ministry of Social Development (MoSD), including all relevant stakeholders and advisory bodies. They will review and recommend updates to the current regulatory framework, with a specific focus on integrating provisions for home-based nurseries. Additionally, the consultant(s) will develop a comprehensive implementation plan and provide practical recommendations to strengthen coordination for effective and sustainable implementation. 

Key Responsibilities: for more details  Terms of Reference (Template) 19062025.docx

3.1 Review of the Current Regulation 

• Conduct a comprehensive analysis of Nurseries Regulation No. 11 of 2011.
• Identify gaps and areas for improvement, particularly regarding protection mechanisms, inspection roles, and oversight—especially related to home-based nurseries.
• Benchmark the current regulation against relevant regional and international best practices, considering the Palestinian context.
• Review related laws, regulations, and policies impacting nurseries (e.g., child rights laws, early childhood education policies).
• Analyze the regulation from a child protection lens, including:
• Risks of abuse within nursery environments.
• Adequacy of reporting mechanisms for child abuse or neglect.
• Appropriateness of caregiver-to-child ratios, staff training, safety measures, and supervision standards.
• Effectiveness in preventing harm and ensuring safe and nurturing environments.

3.2 Add a Section Dedicated to Home-Based Nurseries

• Develop a regulatory section specific to home-based nurseries, aligned with national standards and international benchmarks.
• Define clear mechanisms for licensing, monitoring, and operations to ensure child safety and service quality.

3.3 Develop a Comprehensive Implementation Plan

• Outline steps and activities to enact the proposed amendments, covering MoSD structure, staffing, financing, and field operations.
• Include a timeline with key milestones, resource requirements, and designated responsibilities.
• Provide a detailed budget, with cost estimates and suggested funding sources for MoSD mobilization.

Provide Practical Recommendations

• Propose actionable measures to ensure inclusivity, child protection, quality care, and inter-agency coordination.
• Offer specific guidance on establishing a dedicated unit within the Nurseries Department to manage licensing of home-based nurseries, including:

1. Roles and responsibilities for oversight, monitoring, and coordination.
2. Licensing procedures, monitoring protocols, and compliance mechanisms.
3. Relevant forms and templates for applications, inspections, and records.
4. Coordination processes with MoSD directorates across governorates.
5. A training plan for MoSD staff on licensing, monitoring, and quality assurance for home-based nurseries.

3.5 Facilitate Coordination Among Stakeholders

• Support MoSD coordination with other governmental entities to build consensus and secure approval of proposed amendments.
• Facilitate MoSD engagement with nursery service providers and community organizations to gather input and promote adoption.

3.6 Prepare a Comprehensive Final Report

• Draft a final report summarizing the regulatory review, proposed amendments, implementation plan, and budget.
• Present findings to MoSD and support discussions to ensure stakeholder understanding and agreement on next steps.

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

• Education: Master’s degree or higher in legal studies, legislations related studies, connected to in social sciences, public policy, or any other related field.
• Certification: Relevant certifications in childcare or policy development.
• experience: At least 5 years of experience in policy and regulation development related to childcare and/or legal drafting.
• Government Collaboration: Proven experience working with government institutions in early  childhood, social welfare, child protection and care.
• Coordination Skills: Ability to coordinate between government entities and civil society.
• Analytical Reporting: Experience in preparing analytical reports and providing practical recommendations.
• Implementation Planning: Skills in developing implementation plans and budgets.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Proficient in both written and spoken communication in the Arabic language and English..

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility tendersglobal.net UNICEF.

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.

Remarks:  

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. 

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