Regional coordinators based in Gomel and Brest, National consultancy (National, Belarus) – Req# 584107

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For every child, the right to education 

Consultancy Title: Regional coordinators based in Gomel and Brest, National consultancy (National, Belarus)

Section/Division/Duty Station: Emergency section, UNICEF Belarus CO

Duration: October 2025 – 31 December 2025 (about 2,5 months)

Home/ office Based: Remote/Home-based (with visits to the office upon needs)

*   The consultants will be based in Brest and Gomel with regular monitoring in the Gomel, Mogilev and Vitebsk regions (Gomel-based consultant) and Brest, Grodno and Minsk regions (Brest-based consultant) in consultation with Policy and Planning Specialist and Deputy Representative. The consultants will be invited to visit Minsk city and other regions for office-based events and meetings.

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world’s leading children’s rights organization would like to hear from you. Over 75 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection and development. UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and abuse. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations, and governments.

BACKGROUND

The Role of UNICEF in Belarus and the Program Scope

UNICEF in Belarus cooperation with the Republic of Belarus is based on long-term 2021-2025 Country Programme. It is in turn based on the national priorities of the Republic of Belarus in the field of social development, healthcare and education. UNICEF in Belarus works closely with the relevant government, civil society, private sector and mass media at the national and subnational levels to improve the well-being of children in Belarus.  UNICEF has been strengthening its support to regional programmes and priorities based on programmatic areas included in the workplans with Brest and Gomel regions, as well as policies and results for children through systematic policy analysis and knowledge management, distillation of lessons from past and ongoing national reforms and the adaptation of good practices from within Belarus and in the wider region. Through this work, the CO’s collaboration at the regional and municipal levels is strengthened and provides greater evidence-based responses for advocacy to take programmes to scale.

Since early 2022 Belarus has experienced a significant influx of Ukrainian refugees and migrants from third countries, with most of them being registered in Gomel and Brest regions, followed by other regions and Minsk city. The situation poses challenges in terms of addressing the urgent needs of these people and providing them with appropriate support and assistance. In response to this humanitarian crisis, UNICEF in Belarus has been actively collaborating with national and regional partners with more focus on the regions, especially in Brest and Gomel regions. Partnerships in the regions include Regional Executive Committee, regional departments of education, health, social protection, internal affairs, emergency, Refugee Counselling Service, other civil society and mass media organizations.

Taking into consideration the importance of presence at subnational level for better coordination, monitoring and developing partnerships in the regions as well as to provide support to the most vulnerable families with children, UNICEF in Belarus is looking for two consultants based in Brest and Gomel who will be responsible for the regional work across the country.

Purpose and objectives of consultancy:

These consultancies are intended to strengthen UNICEF presence at subnational level and provide support in coordination, implementation and monitoring of UNICEF programmes, expanding partnerships and ensuring emergency-development nexus in the indicated regions. Specific objectives for these consultancies are:

• to support coordination, implementation and monitoring of UNICEF humanitarian interventions in the assigned regions;
• to remain up-to-date about the situation of refugee and migrant children in the given regions and inform UNICEF on a regular and timely basis.
• to maintain existing and identify new partnerships that can effectively contribute to the identified programmatic priorities and humanitarian needs;
• to support outreach and identification of the needs of affected population (vulnerable families, refugees, migrants etc.) using tools and communicate them to relevant teams in UNICEF office in a timely manner

Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Policy and Planning Specialist and in consultation with other sections, the consultants’ responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Programme coordination, capacity development and support

• Liaison with the relevant partners in the regions on humanitarian and regular programmes based on the partnership agreements (such as rolling workplans, programme cooperation agreements and others)
• Identify and propose mechanisms to discuss the achieved results and establish reporting mechanisms to UNICEF as main implementing agency
• Support in organizing coordination meetings and other programmatic events
• Capacity development: regional consultants may be involved in providing training and capacity-development support to humanitarian partners and local stakeholders

Field Monitoring on vulnerable child groups, especially in humanitarian/ emergency setting

The consultants’ responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Assessment and monitoring: conduct rapid assessments of the situation on the ground and through social listening in traditional and social media. Collect and analyse data related to the needs of refugee and migrants’ families with children, as well as the availability and functionality of essential services like healthcare, nutrition, education, social protection, and WASH.
• Humanitarian work coordination: coordinate UNICEF’s development and humanitarian programme interventions, collaborate with various partners, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and other UN agencies to ensure a coordination and efficient emergency response.
• Child protection: report on child rights violations, cases of exploitation, abuse, and separations from families to ensure that children are provided with the necessary support and protection to prevent further traumatization. Support implementation of psychosocial support and functionality of child-friendly spaces and corners.
• Advocacy and communication: convey urgent needs of vulnerable families with children to decision-makers, participate in Country Office efforts to garner support and resources for the humanitarian response, ensure proper visibility.
• Quality assurance: ensure that partners’ interventions meet high UNICEF standards of quality and align with the Organization’s principles and guidelines. Provide technical support and guidance to partners serving as a liaison between UNICEF Programme Sections and partners.
• Reporting and documentation: timely and accurate reporting on the humanitarian situation, progress of interventions, and challenges faced using developed indicators and making contribution to reporting tools such as SitRep and SitAn.
• Logistics and supplies: coordinate distribution of essential supplies such as goods certificates, tablets, hygiene kits.
• Community Engagement: work closely with affected and host populations to do outreach work, conduct needs assessment and collect feedback.
• Partnership: Support the office in establishing new partnerships and strengthen existing ones to foster the sense of ownership

The consultants will be involved in the outreach activities for the vulnerable population, including migrants and refugees and their children living in Belarus, during the entire contract period

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables / Delivery Deadline:

Work Assignments Overview	Deliverables/Outputs per coordinator in Brest and Gomel regions separately	Delivery deadline
Negotiate with partners and local authorities on various aspects of programme implementation and specific interventions	– Coordinate across CO sections and support with drafting regional workplans in selected regions – Finalize and keep up-to-date mapping table of UNICEF activities in the regions	December 2025
	– Conduct 3 technical meetings with implementing partners and local authorities	October 2025- December 2025
Collect data, report on programme interventions, track indicators, and provide advice or suggestions for improvement	– Draft analytical report on the situation with refugees/migrants in the regions – Support data compilation and quality review for HAC indicators’ achievement progress	December 2025
	– In collaboration with respective sections conduct 3 field monitoring visits to project sites     – Draft and submit post-visit reports	October 2025- December 2025
Support in outreach to affected population and coordination of humanitarian aid distribution if needed	– Carry out 2 rounds of Humanitarian Cash Support Programme to (i) Ukrainian refugees and (ii) irregular migrants – Support AAP focal point in collecting/analysing feedback from beneficiaries	November 2025- December 2025

Travel (if required as per TOR):

Travel Local – to be included in the contract fees – at least 2 trips per month.

In case of international travel required by the Country Office the respective costs will be covered by the office.

Qualifications

Education:

• University degree in the social/behavioral sciences including but not limited to development, economics, communication, social work, management, international relations or in a related technical field.

Work experience/Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• More than 5 years of practical experience in project management and monitoring implementation at the local level.
• Experience of establishing partnerships and facilitation of the dialog with the local authorities on the project implementation.
• Experience of work with UN entities in Belarus is an advantage;
• Availability to perform the ToR requirements and meet deadlines;
• Fluency in Russian.
• Decent skills in working with vulnerable groups of population, especially with families with children;
• Good communication skills and ability to liaise with national, international and SCOs partners;
• Good managerial and organizational skills in arranging events with and for children and adolescents;
• Experience in facilitation of training activities;
• Ability to engage with vulnerable groups, especially families with children;
• High level of responsibility and ability to meet deadlines.

Competencies:

• Builds and maintains partnerships: Develop a network of formal and informal contacts through participation in networks or consultations with others.
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Display sensitivity and adjust language and tone, ensuring it is not demeaning or aggressive; Recognize own strengths and limitations, learning from mistakes made; Display appropriate ethical behaviours, refraining from discriminatory* language and actions.
• Drive to achieve results for impact: Plan and take ownership for delivering tasks with minimal supervision; Pay attention to detail, producing work of a high standard; Monitor activities on a regular basis, reviewing work plan to ensure progress and delivery; Ensure the completion of tasks, while addressing obstacles and bottlenecks.
• Innovates and embraces change: Review work practices, analyzing evidence-based trends to apply new methods and techniques; Respond flexibly to changing circumstances, priorities and deadlines; Display creativity, experiment with new approaches and demonstrate openness to changing existing practices.
• Manage ambiguity and complexity: Demonstrate resilience and composure, get things done despite challenges and maintain performance levels in pressured, adverse and uncertain environments.

Requirements: 

Completed profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system and

• Interested applicants should provide a letter of interest (Cover Letter) describing how they can contribute to the interventions listed under roles and responsibilities and why they should be selected for this position. In addition, they should share their latest CV/Resume and financial proposal Financial Offer template_Nat Consultancy – Regional Coordinators.docx to undertake this job.
• Samples of the related job/tasks done/portfolio.
• Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal should be submitted using the financial offer template and must:
  • Reflect the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment period (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • Include travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR. Consultants are responsible for arranging their own transportation arrangements. UNICEF can provide office vehicle for some duty travel missions with prior agreement as per monthly travel plan approved by the supervisor.
  • Include any other costs: health insurance, payment of an incidental expenditure (such as bank charges, insurances, etc.) and living costs as applicable.
• Indicate your availability.
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children’s data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

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 a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility tendersglobal.net 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:  

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

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.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.