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, a fair chance

The consultancy plays a critical role by leading the subnational mapping of child protection systems in Palawan and Samar—an essential step in informing the design and scaling of government-owned, context-specific models. This work directly contributes to the implementation of the government-endorsed CPSS roadmap, developed in close partnership with the DSWD, and highlights the strategic importance of clearly articulating collaboration with DSWD to ensure alignment with national priorities.

How can you make a difference? 

Under the supervision of the CP Specialist, the consultant will be responsible for the following tasks either as the primary lead, a shared contributor, or in a supporting role:

 Development of Mapping Tools and Questionnaires

• Develop a comprehensive set of mapping tools and questionnaires to guide data collection in two model sites: Brooke’s Point, Palawan and Catbalogan City, Samar. These tools must align with CPSS strategy, and CEFMU objectives as outlined in the National Action Plan on CEFMU and the TUSIP programme indicators.
• Structure the mapping framework, as much as possible, around UNICEF’s seven domains of Child Protection Systems (CPS) overlaying the CPSS benchmarking framework.
• Ensure the questionnaire covers, but is not limited to, the following key areas:
  • Local child protection landscape, including challenges and opportunities, with particular focus on child marriage
  • Identification of key child protection service providers, including government agencies, civil society organizations (CSOs), and community-based actors.
  • Identification of potential local and regional partners who can support child protection systems strengthening
  • Functionality of local child protection structures such as Local Councils for the Protection of Children (LCPCs), Provincial Councils for the Protection of Children (PCPCs), Regional Sub-Committees for the Welfare of Children (RSCWC)
  • Existing referral pathways, coordination mechanisms, and service gaps in child protection interventions, including those related to CEFMU
  • Capacities and Competencies of the Social Service Work Force including public finance investments for child protection
• Facilitate consultation meetings with national stakeholders such as DSWD-STB, and local partners such as the target LGU’s LCPCs (Local Councils for the Protection of Children) to ensure that the mapping tools and questionnaires are well-informed and contextually relevant

Conduct of Mapping Activities in Brooke’s Point, Palawan and Catbalogan City, Samar

• Conduct key informant interviews (KIIs), documents review, focus group discussions, and other relevant data-gathering activities
• Systematically document key activities, findings, and results of the mapping process

Production and Submission of the Mapping Report. The consultant will prepare and submit a Comprehensive Mapping Report, detailing:

• Key challenges, gaps, and opportunities for strengthening CPSS at the subnational level
• Strategic recommendations on governance, coordination, and service delivery improvements
• Capacity-building initiatives for government and community stakeholders to enhance CPS implementation
• Existing stakeholders, including but not limited to CSOs, local NGO’s, Youth Groups, Private Sector advocating on Child Protection

Presentation of the Mapping Results

• Present the findings of the mapping exercise during the Project Design Workshop, to be organized in coordination with DSWD-STB and during the IAC-PCEFMU meeting as part of TUSIP initiative.

Tasks and Deliverables:

Submission of the 1st draft of mapping tools and questionnaires

• Inception Report
• Documentation of the consultation meetings (with UNICEF, DSWD-STB)
• Draft comprehensive set of mapping questionnaire and tools

Conduct of mapping activities

• Documentation and results of the mapping activities such as the conduct of at least 6 KIIs and 3-4 FGDs per location

Submission of Mapping Report

• Validation of the mapping report to stakeholder group of at least 10 participants per site
• Comprehensive Mapping report that identifies specific challenges, gaps, and opportunities in the local child protection system including at least 5 actionable strategic recommendations and 3 proposed capacity building initiatives.

Presentation of Mapping Results

• Presentation of the Salient Results during the DSWD-STB meeting and/or project design workshop and IAC-PCEFMU meeting

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

Education:

• Master’s degree on social studies, development studies and university degree are required in education, community development or social science.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• Has a minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional work experience in child protection, systems mapping, research analysis, policy analysis and stakeholder engagement.
• Fluency in English, both oral and written, is required; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills.
• Experience working with government agencies, development organizations, and/or UN in CEFMU-related research and program development is an advantage
• Experience working with government agencies, civil society organizations, and community groups at the subnational level
• Demonstrated ability to develop strategies and actionable recommendations based on research findings.
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment.

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. 

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 | 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.

HOW TO APPLY

Qualified candidates are requested to complete an online candidate profile in http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/ by 14 May 2025. Only applications sent through the e-recruitment portal under Job Number: 581136 will be considered.

All candidates are requested to submit a COVER LETTER, and the duly filled P11 Form which can be downloaded from our website at P11 Form.docx (sharepoint.com) indicating three (3) previous supervisors. Please indicate your professional fees and the soonest availability to take on the post based on the above terms of reference.

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.