UNICEF Remote Consultancy: Regional Stakeholder Engagement Expert For Child Protection Reform In The Czech Republic 2025
UNICEF’s Refugee Response Office in the Czech Republic is seeking an experienced consultancy to support a landmark reform of the national child protection and family support system. The consultancy, spanning 74 working days between September 2025 and August 2026, will play a pivotal role in ensuring that regional voices—including those of municipalities, service providers, and children—are reflected in new legislation aimed at creating a more unified, child-centred system.
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A Critical Moment for Child Protection Reform
The Czech Republic has taken significant steps toward aligning its child protection framework with international standards, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and European Union directives. Despite these advances, the national system remains fragmented. Responsibilities are spread across multiple ministries, creating challenges in service delivery, prevention, and accountability.
To address these gaps, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA) has partnered with the European Commission and UNICEF to lead a comprehensive reform process. Supported by the Technical Support Instrument (TSI) of the European Commission, the initiative aims to introduce new legislation that strengthens governance, standardizes practices, and ensures the best interests of children are at the heart of policy and practice.
Launched in late 2024, the “Development of a Comprehensive Child Protection and Family Support Law in the Czech Republic” project represents a major milestone in this journey. UNICEF’s involvement ensures that international expertise, fiscal analysis, and effective communication strategies are embedded into the reform process.
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Purpose of the Consultancy
The selected consultant will act as a bridge between MoLSA, national legislative experts, and regional stakeholders. This role is crucial to making sure the reform is grounded in the realities of local service delivery and that children’s voices are not lost in high-level policymaking.
The consultant will:
- Facilitate regional consultations on legislative proposals and regulatory impact assessments.
- Gather and synthesize feedback from municipalities, child protection professionals, and children themselves.
- Support fiscal analysis by engaging regional and municipal stakeholders to validate assumptions and assess the financial implications of reform.
- Contribute to the development of a communication plan, ensuring that key messages and strategies resonate with local actors.
By ensuring that the perspectives of regional and municipal authorities are reflected, the consultant will help build ownership, feasibility, and sustainability into the reform process.
Key Responsibilities
The consultancy is structured around four main outputs:
- Regional Consultations on Legislative Inputs and Impact Assessments
The consultant will organize and facilitate at least three regional consultations with local experts, municipal authorities, and frontline child protection professionals. Feedback from these sessions—including inputs from children—will inform the final draft of the law and its regulatory impact assessment. - Support for Fiscal Analysis
At least four consultations with regional and municipal stakeholders will be held to validate financial models and ensure proposed funding mechanisms are realistic and responsive to local contexts. - Development of a Communication Plan
Through at least five targeted consultations, the consultant will gather insights on effective communication strategies to build support for the reforms among professionals, caregivers, and the wider public. - Cross-Cutting Support
The consultant will provide written feedback on draft documents, document regional inputs, and participate in coordination meetings with MoLSA, UNICEF, and TSI project experts.
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Required Expertise
To be considered, candidates should possess:
- A Master’s degree in social work or a related field.
- At least seven years of professional experience in child protection and social services, ideally in a management or leadership role within the Czech Republic’s regional or municipal systems.
- Strong knowledge of the Czech child protection legal and policy framework.
- Experience in national reforms, consultations, or systemic initiatives.
- Excellent facilitation, communication, and coordination skills.
- Native-level Czech fluency, with English considered an advantage.
Terms of the Assignment
The consultant will be home-based, with travel to Czech regions as required. Travel costs will be reimbursed in line with UNICEF policies. Deliverables include reports summarizing regional consultations, written feedback on legislative drafts, and contributions to fiscal and communication strategies. Payment will be made upon submission of deliverables and approval by UNICEF.
A Call for Change
UNICEF emphasizes that this consultancy is not just a technical role but a chance to make a tangible impact on children’s lives across the Czech Republic. By ensuring that the new legislation reflects local realities and children’s voices, the consultant will contribute to creating a stronger, fairer, and more accountable child protection system.
The application deadline is 4 September 2025. Candidates are required to submit a CV, cover letter, and financial proposal (in EUR) for 74 working days.
For UNICEF, every child has a right to protection, and this reform represents a step toward making that vision a reality in the Czech Republic.
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