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, result

The Child Protection programme within the UNICEF Nepal Country Programme (2023-2027) aims to establish and enhance a child protection system in Lumbini, Sudurprachim and Karnali Provinces. This system will focus on coordination, monitoring, and capacity building of partners to prevent and address all forms of violence, exploitation, neglect, and abuse against children. Nepal’s recent shift to a federal system, decentralizing power to Provinces and Local Levels, presents challenges and opportunities for UNICEF in implementing child protection interventions under the new CP-2023-2027. However, this restructuring has disrupted well-functioning structures at district, local, and community levels, leading to gaps in essential child protection services and gender-based violence (GBV) response.

In Lumbini, Sudurprachim and Karnali Provinces, children face various challenges, including child marriage, child labor, trafficking, violence against women and girls, GBV, unnecessary institutionalization, and limited access to child-friendly and gender-sensitive justice, including birth registration. These issues are exacerbated by harmful cultural norms, social practices, and traditional beliefs, rooted in patriarchal values and the lack of empowerment of girls.

Due to these provinces’ remoteness and the prevalence of child protection issues, Local and Provincial Governments have limited human resources. This creates a demand for technical support from UNICEF, which aims to strengthen the child protection system, provide monitoring, and build capacity among government and civil society partners to address child protection challenges. The complex challenges faced by children in Lumbini, Sudurprachim and Karnali Provinces require urgent and comprehensive interventions. The need for technical support from a consultant is critical to strengthen the child protection system, enhance coordination, and build the capacity of partners to effectively prevent and respond to child protection issues in the region.

How can you make a difference?

Duration of Contract (For Lead Consultant): The total duration of the contract is for 12 months

Duty Station: Three Consultants – 1 Consultant will be based in Surkhet for Karnali Province, 1 consultant will be based in Dhangadhi for Sudurpaschim Province and 1 consultant will be based in Bhairahawa for Lumbini Province.

Deliverables: 

To qualify as an advocate for every child the consultant will have…

Academic Qualification:

• University degree in law, social sciences or any other field related to child protection.

• At least three years of experience in the related field of child protection and GBV
• Technical knowledge on child protection and GBV
• Relevant experience in government planning and budgeting process basically at provincial and Local level
• Excellent Nepali and English writing and speaking skills .
• Relevant experience with UN agencies will be an added advantage .

• Good communication, coordination, analytical and facilitation skills .
• Capacity to work independently and to take initiative .
• Demonstrated commitment to delivering timely and high-quality result .

• Technical knowledge and skills on child protection system strengthening, monitoring,
• Computer skills (including advanced Spreadsheet/Microsoft Excel, Microsoft word and PowerPoint presentation)

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 here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors 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.

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: 

Request to submit financial proposal (Nepalese currency) based on the deliverables for this assignment. 

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.