Individual Consultant to Develop the Practical Handbook for Governments on National Action Plans to End Child Marriage, Amman, Jordan, 9 Months (Remotely), Req#594453

Organizational Context

UNICEF operates in over 190 countries and territories, dedicated to saving children's lives, defending their rights, and helping them fulfill their potential from early childhood through adolescence. We are committed, passionate, and proud of our work, viewing the promotion of every child's rights not just as a job, but as a calling.

Job Purpose

UNICEF's Child Protection and Migration Programme seeks an experienced individual consultant to develop a crucial global resource: a Practical Handbook for Governments on Developing, Financing, and Implementing a National Action Plan (NAP) to End Child Marriage. This handbook will serve as a global public good, offering governments practical, evidence-informed guidance to enhance national leadership, planning, financing, implementation, and accountability for ending child marriage. Despite global efforts, child marriage persists, with millions of women and girls married as children and slow progress towards eradication. Governments often lack the step-by-step guidance needed to effectively manage the entire NAP lifecycle, from commitment to financed action and monitoring.

Responsibilities

The consultant will be responsible for delivering several key areas of work under the supervision of the UNICEF Child Protection Specialist and technical oversight from a UNICEF Innocenti research specialist. This includes conducting a systematic review of exemplary national action plans to end child marriage globally, identifying best practices and quality criteria. The consultant will map the global landscape of these plans, analyzing their scope and financing approaches. A review of relevant academic and grey literature on NAP design, implementation, financing, and monitoring for child marriage and related sectors will be undertaken. Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) will be conducted with government NAP leads, UNICEF and UNFPA country office staff, donor representatives, and civil society organizations to gather practitioner insights and identify common challenges. The consultant will produce an evidence synthesis technical note summarizing these findings, forming the analytical foundation for the toolkit.

Work Experience

A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in child protection, gender-based violence, harmful practices, or related fields. Proven experience in developing policy guidance, handbooks, or similar resources for governments is essential. Experience working with UN agencies or international organizations is highly desirable.

Skills

Child Protection Policy Development, Gender-Based Violence Programming, Harmful Practices Research, Policy Analysis, Stakeholder Engagement, Report Writing, Project Management, Knowledge Management, Evidence Synthesis, Consultation Facilitation, Interpersonal Skills, Communication Skills

Explore related opportunities