Consultant for Child Protection and Migration

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, operates in over 190 countries and territories with a mission to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child and offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development. UNICEF prides itself on its inclusive culture and attractive compensation and benefits package, aiming to build careers while serving children and communities worldwide.

Job Overview:
The consultant's assignment focuses on enhancing the governance, coordination, and operational effectiveness of Italy's protection system for unaccompanied and separated children (UASC). This involves mapping existing good practices and interinstitutional coordination mechanisms within the juvenile justice system and its interaction with the reception system. The consultant will support national authorities, particularly the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of the Interior, in improving the consistency and timeliness of child protection pathways across various territories. The role requires close collaboration with institutional stakeholders, including Juvenile Courts, Prefectures, and Municipalities, to conduct a structured desk review, design data collection tools, and document operational gaps and good practices affecting interinstitutional cooperation.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct a structured desk review and mapping of existing territorial protocols, agreements, and interinstitutional coordination mechanisms governing the reception and integrated case management of UASC.
• Design and implement data collection tools to consolidate findings into a structured database of coordination models and practices across selected locations.
• Conduct targeted interviews with Juvenile Court professionals to validate findings from the desk review and assess the effectiveness of formal procedures in practice.
• Identify and document replicable good practices and operational gaps affecting cooperation between judicial authorities and reception actors.
• Provide analytical outputs and evidence-based recommendations to strengthen territorial governance models and contribute to national dialogue on UASC protection pathways.

Required Qualifications:

• Advanced University degree in Law, Political Science, Social Sciences, International Relations, Public Policy, Migration Studies, or other relevant disciplines.
• At least 6 years of proven professional experience in child protection, migration, asylum, and reception systems, particularly concerning UASC and vulnerable groups.
• Experience in justice sector work, public policy, governance, and institutional strengthening related to migration management.
• Demonstrated ability to draft analytical reports, mapping exercises, and policy-oriented documentation.
• Strong knowledge of the Italian institutional framework for UASC and familiarity with Italian and EU policy environments on migration and asylum.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in relevant fields such as Law, Political Science, Social Sciences, International Relations, Public Policy, or Migration Studies. This educational background is essential for understanding the complexities of child protection and migration systems.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 6 years of professional experience in areas related to child protection, migration, and asylum systems, with specific exposure to UASC. Experience in justice sector work and public policy is also required, along with demonstrated engagement with national and territorial institutions.

Languages:
Fluency in both Italian and English is mandatory for this position. Previous experience working on EU-funded programs and familiarity with the Italian central administrations and EU institutions in migration, asylum, justice, or child protection policies is desirable.

Additional Notes:
The position is remote with travel requirements. UNICEF promotes diversity and inclusion in its workforce and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, or background. The organization has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with its aims and objectives, including discrimination and abuse. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and reasonable accommodations will be provided for persons with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. Applications must include an up-to-date TMS profile, CV, cover letter, a separate financial proposal, and samples of relevant analytical work.