Consultant for Diversion to Services Model

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, was established in 1946 and has been operational in Ukraine since 199

• The organization works 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. UNICEF is committed to promoting the rights of every child and offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development to its staff. The organization is known for its passionate culture and attractive compensation and benefits package, emphasizing the importance of belonging and growth within its workforce.

Job Overview:
The consultant will support the UNICEF Ukraine Country Office in transitioning the diversion to services model for adolescents in alleged conflict with the law from a conceptual and design stage to initial piloting across selected Oblasts. This role involves using established legal, institutional, and methodological frameworks to plan and implement the diversion to services mechanism. The consultant will introduce practical tools, standard operating procedures (SoPs), and procedures for consistent application across pilot sites. Key tasks include facilitating discussions among stakeholders, developing policy documents, strategies, operational plans, and protocols for coordinated implementation. The ultimate goal is to ensure that the diversion to services model is operational and scalable across Ukraine, making it accessible to all children in conflict with the law.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant's duties will include:

• Supporting the planning and implementation of the diversion to services mechanism by developing practical tools and procedures.
• Facilitating discussions with key stakeholders to ensure a collaborative approach to the model's development.
• Developing policy documents, strategies, operational plans, and protocols for effective implementation.
• Conducting stress-testing of the model prior to pilot implementation to ensure its feasibility and legal soundness.
• Strengthening inter-agency cooperation and enhancing agency-level capabilities for effective decision-making.
• Building the capacity of UNICEF’s implementing partners to plan, implement, assess, and expand the diversion mechanism.
• Ensuring that the model aligns with international standards and is child-centered, focusing on the needs and rights of children in conflict with the law.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in law, public policy, governance, or sociology. They should have at least 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in areas such as justice for children, child protection, or justice system reform. Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing juvenile diversion or alternatives to detention programs is essential. A proven track record in supporting legal and institutional reform processes, including the development of operational tools and interagency coordination mechanisms, is required. Candidates should also have experience in pilot design, testing, and operationalization of new policies or programs, preferably in complex or transitional contexts. Prior experience working with international organizations, particularly UNICEF or the UN system, is highly desirable, along with experience in Eastern Europe, especially Ukraine.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master’s degree in relevant fields such as law, public policy, governance, or sociology. This advanced degree is crucial for understanding the complexities of justice for children and the legal frameworks involved in the diversion to services model.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in relevant fields. Candidates should have substantial experience in justice for children, child protection, or justice system reform, with a focus on designing and implementing juvenile diversion programs. Experience in working with international organizations and government counterparts is also essential, particularly in contexts similar to Ukraine.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position, as it is the primary language of communication within UNICEF and for documentation purposes. Understanding of Ukrainian is considered desirable, as it would facilitate better communication and engagement with local stakeholders and enhance the consultant's effectiveness in the role.

Additional Notes:
The contract duration for this consultancy is 9 months, and the working arrangement will be a combination of on-site work in Kyiv, Ukraine, and remote work. UNICEF promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, or background. The organization has a zero-tolerance policy regarding conduct that is incompatible with its aims and objectives, including discrimination and abuse. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and UNICEF does not charge any processing fees during the recruitment process.