The Consultant will work within, provide support to, and be supported by the PG Human Rights Unit to focus on the drafting of the remaining chapters of the Handbook and the finalisation of the updated Handbook, with final publication now planned for 2026.

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. 

For every child, hope

Vacancy Announcement: Consultant

Consultancy Title: CRC Implementation Handbook Update – Phase Four Consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station: Programme Strategy and Coordination Hub – Human Rights Unit, Programme Group, NYHQ

Duration: 15 December 2024 to 15 December 2025

Home/ Office Based: NYHQ / Remote

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world’s leading children’s rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection and development. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

The Implementation Handbook for the Convention on the Rights of the Child has long been considered the most comprehensive guidance available on interpretation of the Convention. It was first issued by UNICEF (following a lengthy consultative development process involving many varied stakeholders from the human rights and child rights community) in January 1998, followed by second and third editions in 2002 and 2007, respectively.

The Implementation Handbook has become a well-known practical tool used by governments, UNICEF and other United Nations agencies, as well as non-governmental organisations, human rights institutions and academics, to guide them on the implementation of the Convention. UNICEF has a responsibility to ensure that it contains the most contemporary and up-to-date analysis of the Convention in line with UNICEF’s position as the thought-leader on child rights.

The child rights agenda, including relevant jurisprudence, has evolved significantly in many areas since the Implementation Handbook was last revised in 2007. Additionally, the 775-plus page hard copy of the Implementation Handbook requires updating for the twenty-first century, when information needs also to be made available online.

UNICEF therefore decided in 2021 that it is imperative that the Implementation Handbook be updated in content to incorporate the latest thinking, analysis and jurisprudence on the Convention (including Concluding Observations, General Comments, and OPIC decisions), and that it be updated in format to ensure that it is fully accessible in the twenty-first century to all.

Phases One of this project was initiated on that basis in 2021, and Phases One, Two and Three concluded over the course of 2021 – 2024. In the context of Phase One – Three, and in consultation with a diverse range of stakeholders, a methodology and roadmap for the comprehensive updating of the Implementation Handbook was developed, and the drafting of 22 interlinked articles was successfully concluded.

The ToRs presented here are for Phase Four of the project which will focus on the drafting of the remaining chapters of the Handbook and the finalisation of the updated Handbook, with final publication now planned for 2026.

Scope of Work:

The Consultant will work within, provide support to, and be supported by the PG Human Rights Unit. The Consultant will be required to work across all relevant UNICEF Divisions, with partners such as other UN entities, the Committee on the Rights of the Child, academic institutions, human rights/child rights NGOs, and other civil society actors.

The main tasks of the Consultant are as follows:

• Drafting of updated Handbook chapters for the remaining 20 CRC articles (Articles 2, 3, 12, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 31,33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41/42, 43+).
• Liaison between UNICEF, and relevant stakeholders on the updated draft chapters.
• Review of all 42 articles of the Handbook, and finalization of the updated Handbook on the basis of the inputs received by all stakeholders involved and a cross-check of all articles.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

1. Updated Handbook Chapters drafted for 20 articles
   • Draft chapters submitted by 31 October 2025

1. Handbook update fully completed
   • All handbook chapters reviewed on the basis of all the inputs received, cross-checked and finalized by 15 December 2025.

Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s Degree
• Disciplines: Social Sciences, International Law, International Relations, Political Science, or related field.

Work experience:

• At least 15 years of experience in the field of human rights and child rights;

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

• Up-to-date knowledge of the international legal framework on child rights and related evolution of jurisprudence;
• Demonstrated experience in project management and coordination within international organisations;
• Experience in facilitating consultation processes with a variety of stakeholders; and
• Excellent English-writing skills, with particular experience in writing technical guidance documents on interpretation of international law.

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system and

– Upload copy of academic credentials

– Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :

• • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability

– Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.

– At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.

– Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

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:  

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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.