National Consultant Child Protection System & Case Management Review

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 from early childhood through adolescence. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child and offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development to its staff. UNICEF is known for its passionate culture and commitment to serving children and communities worldwide, providing an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Job Overview:
The National Consultant for the Child Protection System & Case Management Review will play a crucial role in supporting stakeholder engagement and coordination in assessing the effectiveness of the Child Protection System (CPS) in a post-hurricane context. This position involves evaluating family court processes, analyzing court decisions, and providing national legal and institutional inputs. The consultant will work closely with various stakeholders, including government entities, non-governmental organizations, and civil society, to influence and improve laws, policies, and programs that impact children's access to quality services. The role requires a deep understanding of child rights law and the ability to engage with children and adolescents to integrate their voices into the assessment process. The consultant will focus on five priority areas outlined in the Jamaica country programme document (2022 to 2026): child protection, climate action and resilience, education, social policy, and ensuring children survive and thrive.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for the following duties:

• Support stakeholder engagement and coordination efforts related to the Child Protection System.
• Conduct assessments of the normative, institutional, functional, and procedural effectiveness of the CPS in a post-hurricane context.
• Analyze family court processes and child-centric procedures to ensure they align with child rights principles.
• Review and analyze court decisions to identify trends and areas for improvement.
• Provide national legal and institutional inputs to enhance the CPS framework.
• Collaborate with government, courts, and statutory institutions to contextualize legal frameworks and procedural guidance.
• Develop recommendations for legal and institutional reforms based on the assessment findings.
• Engage with children and adolescents to gather their perspectives on the issues affecting their lives and integrate their voices into the review process.
• Prepare comprehensive reports detailing findings, recommendations, and action plans for stakeholders.

Required Qualifications:
To qualify as an advocate for every child, candidates must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Advanced university degree in social work, human rights, law, or a related field (Masters or equivalent level).
• At least 10 years of relevant work experience in child rights law, family or juvenile justice, and child rights-based legal and institutional review and analysis.
• Professional technical knowledge in international and domestic child rights legal frameworks, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), child justice standards, and child-centered justice principles.
• Strong analytical, legal drafting, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Knowledge of project coordination and results-based planning in legal or justice sector initiatives.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in social work, human rights, law, or a related field. This educational background is essential for understanding the complexities of child rights law and the legal frameworks that govern child protection and justice.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience in areas such as child rights law, family or juvenile justice, and conducting legal and institutional reviews. Experience working with government entities, courts, and statutory institutions is crucial for contextualizing legal frameworks and providing procedural guidance. Additionally, candidates should have experience in developing legal guidance, procedural tools, or capacity-strengthening materials for child rights or justice stakeholders.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position. While English is the mandatory language, knowledge of additional languages may be considered an asset, particularly in contexts where multiple languages are spoken or where stakeholders may communicate in different languages.

Additional Notes:
This position is a consultancy role, and candidates should be aware that UNICEF does not facilitate visa issuance for national officer and general service category positions. The organization promotes a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including discrimination and abuse. UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive workforce and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including those with disabilities. The recruitment process will include rigorous background checks, and selected candidates may be required to provide additional information for verification purposes. UNICEF does not charge any processing fees during the recruitment process.