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, a better future
UNICEF works to ensure the rights of all children in the East Asia and Pacific Region. This means the rights of every child living in this country, irrespective of their nationality, gender, religion or ethnicity, to:
- survival – to basic healthcare, peace and security;
- development – to a good education, a loving home and adequate nutrition;
- protection – from abuse, neglect, trafficking, child labour and other forms of exploitation; and
- participation – to express opinions, be listened to and take part in making any decisions that affect them
How can you make a difference?
Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and Safeguarding are critical priorities in humanitarian and development contexts. The purpose of this consultancy is to strengthen national frameworks for PSEA and safeguarding by developing practical, context-sensitive guidance and tools. Specifically, the assignment aims to support the integration of PSEA and safeguarding principles into national reporting systems and hotlines, and to enhance survivor assistance mechanisms in line with the Inter-Agency Victim Assistance Protocol. Further, the consultancy will support mapping and analysis of current efforts to address PSEA with governments in the region. By addressing existing gaps and aligning with international standards, the consultancy will contribute to more ethical, effective, and survivor-centered responses across contexts in the East Asia and Pacific region.
The assignment is not considered an elevated risk role.
Work assignments:
This consultancy falls under UNICEF’s Child Protection Programme in the East Asia and Pacific Region, with a specific focus on strengthening systems for the prevention of and response to sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA). The assignment supports ongoing regional efforts to enhance national capacities for safeguarding and survivor assistance, particularly through the integration of PSEA into government-led reporting mechanisms and service delivery systems. It aligns with UNICEF’s broader commitment to accountability to affected populations and the operationalization of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) commitments on PSEA and victim assistance in both humanitarian and development contexts. Strengthening national systems for PSEA and safeguarding not only enhances accountability and protection in development settings but also builds foundational capacities that are critical during humanitarian crises. By embedding ethical, survivor-centered approaches into existing structures, countries are better positioned to respond swiftly and effectively to SEA risks and incidents in emergency contexts.
1. Assignment:
Developing guidance for the inclusion of PSEA and safeguarding in national reporting systems and hotlines is essential to ensure alignment with international minimum standards and ethical principles. National systems often vary in their capacity and approach to handling sensitive disclosures, and without clear guidance, there is a risk of inconsistent, unsafe, or harmful responses to survivors. This guidance is particularly critical in navigating complex issues such as mandatory reporting laws, which may conflict with survivor-centered approaches or confidentiality principles. By establishing minimum standards, ethical considerations, and practical tools—such as flowcharts for managing disclosures—this guidance will support governments and partners in creating safe, accessible, and accountable reporting mechanisms that uphold the rights and dignity of survivors while meeting global expectations.
Expected Deliverable 1: Guidance on Inclusion of PSEA and Safeguarding in National Reporting Systems and Hotlines
This document will outline:
- A set of minimum standards and ethical considerations for integrating PSEA and safeguarding into national reporting systems and hotlines.
- A detailed flowchart for handling disclosures of SEA and safeguarding concerns, ensuring survivor-centered and ethical responses, and including administrative reporting channels to the UN.
Delivery schedule: By 10 December 2025
2. Assignment:
Guidance on leveraging national systems for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) survivor assistance in development contexts is essential to ensure that survivors receive timely, appropriate, and rights based support. While many countries have existing social service, health, and justice systems, these are often not fully equipped or aligned with international standards for SEA response. The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Victim Assistance Protocol provides a global framework for ensuring that assistance is survivor-centered, accessible, and coordinated. However, operationalizing this protocol within diverse national contexts requires tailored guidance that bridges global commitments with local realities. Such guidance can help governments and partners identify entry points, strengthen referral pathways, and integrate survivor assistance into national policies and standard operating procedures, ultimately contributing to more sustainable and accountable systems of care.
Expected Deliverable 2: Guidance on Leveraging National Systems for SEA Survivor Assistance in Development Contexts
This document will:
- Align with the Inter-Agency Victim Assistance Protocol.
- Provide practical recommendations for strengthening national mechanisms for survivor support.
- Include considerations for national SOPs to meet global standards.
Delivery schedule: By 10 December 2025
3. Assignment:
A desk review and compendium of promising practices on government engagement in Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) is essential to inform strategic and contextually relevant approaches across UNICEF’s programming in the East Asia and Pacific region. While many country offices are actively engaging with governments on PSEA, there is limited consolidated documentation of what works, under what conditions, and how these efforts align with global standards. This review will help identify effective models, challenges, and enabling factors in government collaboration, providing a valuable evidence base for scaling up and adapting successful practices. It will also support peer learning among country offices and contribute to more coherent, coordinated, and sustainable national PSEA systems.
Expected Deliverable 3: Desk Review and Promising Practices Compendium on Government Engagement
The consultant will:
- Conduct a desk review of UNICEF EAP Country Office engagement with governments on PSEA.
- Compile a compendium of promising practices and approaches for effective government engagement.
Delivery schedule: By 10 December 2025
4. Assignment:
To ensure effective uptake and implementation of the newly developed guidance documents on (1) the inclusion of PSEA and safeguarding in national reporting systems and hotlines, and (2) leveraging national systems for SEA survivor assistance, it is essential to build awareness and capacity among UNICEF Country Offices and partners. Webinars provide an accessible and interactive platform to introduce guidance, clarify key concepts, and explore practical applications. These sessions will also serve as a forum for peer learning, discussion of implementation challenges, and identification of entry points for integration into 2025 PSEA Action Plans.
Expected Deliverable 4: Capacity Building sessions with key stakeholders
- One introductory webinar for all UNICEF East Asia and Pacific (EAP) Country Offices to present the two guidance documents, their objectives, and key components.
- Two follow-up practical learning sessions (one per guidance note) to explore implementation strategies, address context-specific challenges, and gather feedback for refinement and localization.
Delivery schedule: By December 2025
Number of working days:
1. Develop Guidance on Inclusion of PSEA and Safeguarding in National Reporting Systems and Hotlines 15 days
2. Develop Guidance on Leveraging National Systems for SEA Survivor Assistance 18 days
3. Conduct Desk Review and Compile Promising Practices Compendium 10 days
4. Remote Capacity-Building Sessions 7 days
50 TOTAL DAYS
Duration of Contract: 1 August 2025 – 10 December 2025
Duty Travel: No travel is anticipated during this consultancy.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
- Technical Proposal
- Relevant academic qualifications and professional experience in PSEA safeguarding, and child protection
- Demonstrated experience in developing guidance, tools, or frameworks related to PSEA or survivor assistance (7-10 years)
- Experience working with government systems and inter-agency coordination mechanisms
- Financial Proposal
Interested candidates are requested to submit CV, full contact information of minimum 3 references, availability, and proposed daily professional fee in USD by 10 July 2025.
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).
To view our competency framework, please visit here.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.
According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.
UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.
Remarks:
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract 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 and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors 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.
