Remote/Home based Consultancy: Development of operational tools to support multi-sectoral route-based programming for a continuum of services and protection for children on the move

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. 

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How can you make a difference? 

The MENA region is at the crossroad of several migration routes. This consultancy will concentrate on two of those routes: North Africa and Afghanistan-Iran. Migration towards, in, within from North Africa is not a new phenomenon. Yet the number of people on the move in the sub-region (including in Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia) has steadily increased over the past 20 years and is projected to continue as affected populations experience greater economic hardships, political instability, conflict, and/or climate change related disasters and food insecurity. In this context, many families are forced to move to seek safety or a better life for themselves and their children. Thousands of children move across borders unaccompanied.

Afghan children on the move face numerous challenges. Since the political transition in Afghanistan in 2021, migration trends have shifted. While some individuals have returned home due to improved security, the overall economic decline and lack of basic services inside Afghanistan have driven many to seek refuge elsewhere. The result is a persistent cycle of displacement, as families face increasing poverty, malnutrition, and exclusion from work and educational opportunities. There are 4.5 to 5 million Afghans in Iran, including 3.4 million in refugee and refugee-like situations. Out of these 1.8 million are children.

1 million to 1.5 million Afghans newly entered Iran since the political transition in August 2021. Recent Iranian government reports state that there are at least 6 million foreign nationals in the country, with 2 million residing illegally. Since March 2024, 1.1 million foreign nationals have been deported.

Scope of Work:

The consultancy will focus on the following deliverable, combining regional work and technical assistance to UNICEF Iran, UNICEF Tunisia and UNICEF Djibouti:

Regional Work

• Concept of operations for multi-sectoral route-based approaches for children on the move towards, within and from North Africa.
• Technical Support to Coordination led by Deputy Regional Director and Child Protection
• Synthesis of reported child rights violations

UNICEF Iran:

• Mapping Report on Family Links Mechanisms for Afghan UASC in Iran.
• Draft Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Afghan COTM in Cross-Border Deportation Contexts (Iran)

UNICEF Tunisia

• Draft a knowledge product/case study highlighting the impact of CoM initiatives in Tunisia and interagency cooperation.

UNICEF Djibouti

• Review and revise SOPs, referral pathways, and referral mechanisms for the identification, screening, and referral of children on the move, including their placement into temporary alternative care and reception services.
• Develop guidance for the country office to strengthen the inclusion of children on the move into existing child protection services.

To rationalize and prioritize deliverables, the consultant and supervisor will work develop a Level of Effort online spreadsheet.

Deliverables:

Work Assignments Overview

Deliverables/Outputs

Delivery deadline

Regional deliverables

Concept of operations for multisectoral route-based approaches for children on the move towards, within and from North Africa:

• Desk Review of existing policies, tools and services
• Interview with country offices
• Interview with partners and stakeholders

Strategic document on the Concept of Operations for the Protection of Migrant and Refugee Children in MENA region that considers the following:

1. Multi-Tiered Support Approach

The framework provides a structured, multitiered approach to ensure comprehensive protection and access to essential services for children on the move. It is organized into three levels of support:

• Immediate Support: Emergency lifesaving services, identification and protection at key transit points.
• Transit Support: Targeted interventions to ensure safety, stability, and access to essential services during movement.
• Durable Solutions: Long-term strategies to secure sustainable outcomes, such as reintegration, resettlement, or local integration.

2. Essential Support and Protection

Collaborative efforts with key stakeholders, including governments, civil society, and international partners, will ensure access to:

• Basic needs
• Child-specific protection services

40 days

Draft 1: 50%

Final document: 50%

Access to education, legal aid, and age sensitive social protection

1. Operationalizing Route-Based Interventions

Practical, context-specific interventions will be designed to meet the needs of children along key migration routes in North Africa. These interventions will:

• Adapt to local contexts, risks, and vulnerabilities
• Focus on mobility-sensitive solutions, ensuring continuity of care and services as children move across borders
• Integrate protection-sensitive border management and referral systems

2. Strengthening Transit and Host Country Capacities

A central focus will be on enhancing the capabilities of transit and host countries in North Africa to provide inclusive, sustainable services by:

• Building the capacity of local service providers, case managers, and child protection officers.
• Supporting government-led systems for inclusive education, social and child protection, health, and legal protection.
• Strengthening cross-border cooperation, data-sharing mechanisms, and early warning systems.

Technical Support to Coordination led by the Deputy Regional Director and the Child Protection team

Preparation and documentation of MENARO, regional and interregional calls/meetings based on a tracking sheet.

Contribution to analytical briefs, reports, country specific documents, internal and external policy documents related to current trends/critical issues for migrant/refugee/IDP children in MENA region to ensure that UNICEF’s policy positions are properly articulated and reflected.

40 Days

Synthesis of reported child rights violations

Desk review of human rights report on the rights of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers

10 pages summary of child rights violation in the context of mixed movements in MENA region

10 Days

Technical support to UNICEF Iran CO

Mapping Report on Family Links Mechanisms for Afghan UASC in Iran

Conduct a detailed mapping of current family tracing and reunification mechanisms for Afghan unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) across Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. The mapping should include:

• Overview of relevant national laws, policies, and bilateral agreements governing family tracing and reunification.
• Mapping of all key actors involved, including government agencies, UN bodies, NGOs, Red Crescent, and community organizations.
• Specific operational challenges that hinder effective family tracing and reunification Analysis of how gender impacts family reunification and protection needs in this context.

Final mapping document, including data tables, summaries of stakeholder interviews, and region-specific recommendations.

A comprehensive mapping report that:

• Identifies existing family link mechanisms and programs.
• Highlights gaps in coordination and services.
• Provides recommendations for improving family reunification efforts and cross-border collaboration.
• Visual mapping tools, charts, or flow diagrams to illustrate processes and gaps.

20 days

Draft 1: 50 %

Final document: 50 %

Draft Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Afghan COTM in Cross-Border Deportation Contexts

Develop an SOP to be adopted by key government actors, ensuring adequate protection and abuse prevention for Afghan children on the move (COTM) facing deportation.

Draft SOP document that includes:

• Step-by-step procedures for safe return, case assessments, and referrals.

20 days

Draft 1: 50 %

Final document: 50 %

Safeguards to prevent abuse and ensure proper coordination between actors.

• Mechanisms for conducting best-interest assessments and family reunifications.
• Clear roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders, including cross-border coordination.
• Structured guidance on monitoring and evaluation of SOP implementation.
• Alternative Care Options Guidelines for interim care solutions when reunification is not immediately possible.
• Training recommendations for border officials, social workers, and other frontline responders.

Emergency Response Mechanisms:

• Actions to take in urgent or high-risk
• cases (e.g., trafficked children, cases
• involving family abuse/violence).

Technical support to UNICEF Tunisia CO

Knowledge Product and Strategic Documentation Document the impact of CoM initiatives in Tunisia, highlighting lessons learned and supporting future program design and fundraising efforts.

A knowledge product (case study or report) that:

• Showcases success stories, best practices, and areas for improvement.
• Provides an analysis of interagency cooperation and its role in CoM programming outcomes.
• Contributions to funding proposals or strategic documents, with a focus on key CoM priorities and alignment with donor requirements.

15 days

Draft 1: 50 %

Final document: 50 %

Technical support to UNICEF Djibouti CO

Review and revise SOPs, referral pathways, and referral mechanisms for the identification, screening, and referral of children on the move, including their placement into temporary alternative care and reception services.

Draft SOP document that includes:

• Step-by-step procedures for safe return, case assessments, and referrals.
• Safeguards to prevent abuse and ensure proper coordination between actors.
• Mechanisms for conducting best-interest assessments and family reunifications.
• Clear roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders, including cross-border coordination.
• Structured guidance on monitoring and evaluation of SOP implementation.

20 days

Procedures on placing children into temporary alternative care and reception services.

Develop guidance for the country office to strengthen the inclusion of children on the move into existing child protection services.

Draft guidance document tailored to the country context on inclusion of children into national, health, education, child and social protection services.

15 days

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

• Advanced university degree (Masters) in Law, Political Science, Economics, Development Management, Human Rights, Social Sciences or related degree.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible professional work experience in the field of child rights, child protection and migration policy and practice.
• A good understanding of the Global Compact for Migration and the Global Compact on Refugees, as well as multi-stakeholder collaboration to support the implementation of both Compacts.
• A demonstrable track record of prior involvement with the UNICEF/UN migration work is highly desirable.
• Policy and advocacy experience on issues related to immigration detention and returns and reintegration is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with UNICEF’s work on migrant and displaced children is desirable.
• Legal training preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organizational, planning and analytical skills
• Initiative and high sense of responsibility
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Arabic and/or Persian/Dari is an asset.

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: 

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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