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For every child, results.

UNICEF Country Office (CO) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), with the support of the European Union and in collaboration with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), is supporting the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina (MHRR) in the adaptation and localization of the National Recommendations Tracking Database (NRTD) for the needs of governments in BiH. The NRTD, developed by OHCHR, is a digital tool designed to improve the planning, monitoring, and reporting of human rights obligations to international and regional mechanisms, including the Committee on the Rights of the Child.

As a State Party to multiple human rights conventions under the United Nations (UN) and the Council of Europe (CoE), BiH is required to submit periodic reports on the implementation of its commitments. This initiative focuses on strengthening inter-institutional coordination, enhancing information management capacities, and supporting the MHRR and related institutions in their role as the National Mechanism for Implementation, Reporting, and Follow-up (NMIRF).

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

Under the supervision of the Child Rights Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, the consultant will lead the operationalization and institutional embedding of the National Recommendations Tracking Database (NRTD) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a strong focus on sustainable capacity development across state- and entity-level institutions.

The Consultant will design and deliver targeted, hands-on capacity-building trainings for the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees (MHRR) and the NMIRF focal points, covering institutions at the level of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska, Brčko District, and FBiH cantons. These trainings will be explicitly geared toward enabling participants to independently and consistently use the NRTD as the central tool for coordinating, tracking, and reporting on international human rights obligations.

The capacity-building component will directly strengthen the ability of the NMIRF to use the NRTD for upcoming treaty body reporting and follow-up processes, including:

• Systematic population and management of the NRTD based on the strategic documents for children, and its use for the preparation of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s VII Periodic Report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child;
• Preparation of coordinated replies to the List of Issues Prior to Reporting (LOIPR) from the Human Rights Committee (CCPR), expected in April 2026;
• Preparation of replies to the LOIPR from the CEDAW Committee, expected in October 2026.

In addition, the consultancy will deliver dedicated capacity-building sessions for the Ombudsman Institution of Bosnia and Herzegovina and selected civil society organizations (CSOs), focusing on UN human rights mechanisms, alternative reporting, and the strategic use of evidence. These trainings will strengthen non-state actors’ ability to meaningfully engage with international human rights processes and submit independent and complementary information to treaty bodies.

Overall, the consultancy will support national capacity development through the delivery of at least 6 in-person trainings complemented by structured, ongoing online technical support before, during, and after the training cycle. This approach will ensure continuity, reinforce learning, and contribute to the long-term sustainability and institutional ownership of the NRTD within Bosnia and Herzegovina’s human rights reporting system through continuous development of technical skills and expertise .

How can you make a difference? 

Scope of Work:

Under the supervision of the Child Rights Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, and in close collaboration with OHCHR, the Individual Consultant will contribute to the:

1.  Delivery of role-specific, practice-oriented NRTD capacity-building activities for the NMIRF Secretariat, designated focal points, and relevant stakeholders, including in-person trainings, preparatory and guiding materials, self-guided exercises, and updated SOPs aligned with BiH needs.

• Build the capacities of the NMIRF Secretariat (MHRR) and designated focal points, focusing on coordination, consultation, engagement, and information management, and clarifying roles and responsibilities across all administrative levels.
• Provide hands-on training on the use of the NRTD/NRTA, including system functionalities, workflows, and validation processes. Trainings will be anchored in existing NRTD Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), which will be continuously updated based on BiH’s needs and lessons learned.
• Develop preparatory materials prior to in-person sessions, including the preparation of agendas, guiding materials, self-guided exercises, and collection of preliminary inputs to tailor training content.
• Tailor training content and methodologies to the roles and responsibilities of each target group, including MHRR staff, NMIRF focal points, NHRIs, CSOs, and other relevant stakeholders, to ensure relevance, uptake, and practical application.
• Enhance the capacity of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) to engage meaningfully with UN human rights mechanisms, including practical guidance on alternative reporting, advocacy entry points, and follow-up to recommendations.

2. Providing technical support for the further refinement of the NRTD

• Support the continued adaptation and improvement of the NRTD to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s decentralized governance structure based on the lessons learned and best practices;
• Support the development, refinement, and continuous updating of the Universal Human Rights Index, serving as a repository of UN human rights recommendations that are imported into the NRTD for structured tracking and reporting.

3.  Providing technical support to the NMIRF for coordinating CRC implementation and reporting

• The consultant will provide technical expertise and advisory support to strengthen the capacity of the National Mechanism for Implementation, Reporting and Follow-up (NMIRF) to effectively coordinate CRC implementation and reporting processes. This will include:
  • Providing technical guidance on the systematic population and strategic use of the National Recommendations Tracking Database (NRTD), including alignment with relevant child-related strategic documents and action plans;
  • Advising and supporting the NMIRF in the preparation of the VII Periodic Report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, including through methodological guidance on data collection, inter-institutional coordination, and structured use of the NRTD as the primary coordination and drafting tool.

4. Delivering advanced training on the preparation of responses to treaty bodies using the NRTD

• Strengthen BiH’s capacity to respond to treaty body processes through advanced trainings on the preparation of replies to Lists of Issues Prior to Reporting (LOIPRs) using the NRTD, including for the CCPR and CEDAW LOIPRs expected in 2026.

Focus on inter-institutional coordination, use of the NRTD to manage inputs and timelines, and ensuring coherence across treaty body reporting processes.

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

• Master’s degree in Law, Social Sciences, or a closely related field
• Previous experience in the development and use of digital human rights tracking tools and databases
• Proven experience in designing and delivering capacity-building support to State institutions, civil society organizations, and other relevant stakeholders on human rights–related processes and mechanisms.
• Experience in streamlining reporting workflows and strengthening data coordination across multiple institutions is considered a strong asset.
• Previous professional experience engaging with UN human rights mechanisms, including treaty body reporting and follow-up processes, is highly desirable.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with demonstrated intercultural sensitivity and the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills, including the ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Demonstrated facilitation skills and the ability to work independently, proactively, and in a results-oriented manner.

Language Proficiency

• Fluency in English and knowledge of Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian language considered an advantage

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 

[add the 8^th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role]. 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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 | 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 [Insert candidates from targeted underrepresented groups] 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.