[Hiring] National expert to support the development of guidelines on assessment and determination of the best interests of unaccompanied children @AGORA

Role Description

The consultancy will support UNICEF in Bosnia and Herzegovina in developing comprehensive and practical Guidelines on Best Interests Assessment and Determination of unaccompanied and separated foreign children in the context of migration and asylum who enter or are present on the territory of Bosnia and Hercegovina. The consultant will provide a comprehensive analysis of relevant laws and procedures; identify challenges, gaps and good practices; ensure consultations with key government partners and produce the Guideline that addresses the best interests of unaccompanied and separated children with a focus on durable solutions.

The development of the Guidelines will be undertaken through a consultative process involving relevant government institutions, child protection actors, migration and asylum authorities, civil society organizations, and UN agencies to ensure ownership and alignment with existing legal and institutional frameworks.

Scope of Work

The purpose of the consultancy is to provide technical support in developing Guidelines on Best Interests Assessment and Determination for unaccompanied and separated children by facilitating multi-sectoral consultations, undertaking legal and policy analysis, and drafting practical guidance that strengthens decision-making on durable solutions in line with international standards and national legislation.

• Legal and Policy Review
  • Review national legislation, policies, regulations, protocols and standard operating procedures relevant to child protection, social welfare, alternative care, migration, refugee protection, and family reunification.
  • Review applicable international and regional legal frameworks and guidance relating to Best Interests Assessment (BIA), Best Interests Determination (BID), durable solutions and case management for unaccompanied and separated children.
  • Analyze the extent to which existing national frameworks are aligned with international standards and identify areas requiring strengthening.
• Stakeholder Consultation and Technical Facilitation
  • Develop a consultation plan and facilitate technical consultations with child protection practitioners, social welfare and migration authorities, civil society organizations and UN agencies.
  • Support technical discussions to clarify institutional mandates, referral pathways, coordination mechanisms and decision-making responsibilities relating to BID and durable solutions.
  • Document consultation outcomes and incorporate recommendations into the draft Guidelines.
• Development of Guidelines
  • Prepare draft Guidelines on Best Interests Assessment and Determination that:
    • Outline legal framework and durable solution including family tracing.
    • Establish principles and standards for BID processes.
    • Define institutional roles and responsibilities.
    • Outline procedures for Best Interests Assessment and Best Interests Determination.
    • Establish multidisciplinary decision-making arrangements.
    • Provide guidance on child participation and informed decision-making.
    • Include safeguards relating to confidentiality, information management and data protection.
    • Establish documentation, review and quality assurance procedures.
    • Outline family tracing, family reunification and reintegration.
    • Outline local integration.
    • Define kinship care and alternative family-based care.
    • Outline long-term care planning and transition to adulthood for older adolescents.
    • Define cross-border cooperation where applicable.
    • Define risk assessment and protection safeguards throughout the decision-making process.
• Development of Implementation Tools
  • Develop practical tools to facilitate implementation of the Guidelines, including:
    • BID process flowcharts and list of criteria for process initiation.
    • Assessment templates.
    • Multidisciplinary panel guidance.
    • Documentation templates.
    • Referral pathway mapping.
    • Decision-making checklists.
• Validation and Finalization
  • Facilitate technical validation workshops.
  • Revise the draft Guidelines based on stakeholder feedback.
  • Prepare the final Guidelines and accompanying implementation tools.

Deliverables

• Inception
  • Provide a detailed inception report outlining workplan, methodology and timeline, necessary desk research, stakeholder consultation agenda. (4 days)
• Legal and Policy Review
  • Conduct review of national legislation, policies, regulations, protocols and standard operating procedures relevant to child protection, social welfare, alternative care, migration, refugee protection, and family reunification and applicable international and regional legal frameworks and guidance relating to Best Interests Assessment, Best Interests Determination, durable solutions and case management for unaccompanied and separated children. (8 days)
• Stakeholder Consultation and Technical Facilitation
  • Conduct consultations with selected key stakeholders. (10 days)
  • Document consultation outcomes and incorporate recommendations into the draft Guidelines. (3 days)
• Development of Guidelines and Implementation Tools
  • Develop draft Guidelines on Best Interests Assessment and Determination and develop practical tools to facilitate implementation of the Guidelines. (8 days)
• Validation and Finalization
  • Prepare and facilitate technical validation workshops. (3 days)
  • Submit the revised BID Guidelines based on stakeholder and UNICEF feedback. (4 days)

Qualifications

• Advanced university degree in Law - Master’s degree in law, social work, child protection, with proven expertise in migration law.
• Minimum 5 years of proven experience in child protection, social welfare, child rights, migration or refugee protection.
• Demonstrated experience supporting governments in the development of legislation, policies, guidelines or standard operating procedures.

Requirements

• Sound knowledge of Bosnia and Herzegovina and international legal framework relevant for the protection of unaccompanied and separated children.
• Proven experience facilitating high-level government consultations and multi-sectoral technical working groups.
• Demonstrated technical expertise in Best Interests Assessment (BIA), Best Interests Determination (BID), case management.
• Strong legal and policy analysis skills, including the ability to identify gaps in existing legislative and institutional frameworks and formulate practical recommendations.
• Excellent analytical, drafting, and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex legal and child protection standards into clear, practical, and operational guidance.
• Good knowledge of written and spoken English and fluency in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian is required.

Desirables

• Previous experience developing or contributing to Best Interests Assessment (BIA), Best Interests Determination (BID) guidelines, child protection protocols, or standard operating procedures for unaccompanied and separated children.
• Demonstrated experience working on child protection in migration, asylum, or refugee contexts, particularly in Bosnia and Herzegovina or the Western Balkans.
• Experience in developing practical case management tools, referral pathways, assessment templates, or multidisciplinary decision-making procedures for child protection systems.
• Knowledge and practical experience in identifying durable solutions for unaccompanied and separated children, including family tracing and reunification, alternative care, local integration, and cross-border cooperation.
• Previous experience collaborating with government institutions, UN agencies, international organizations, or civil society organizations on child protection system strengthening, particularly in migration and asylum contexts.
• Experience facilitating participatory consultations, technical workshops, or validation processes and translating stakeholder recommendations into operational guidelines or policy documents.

Application Process

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV).
• Cover letter.
• A separate financial proposal in accordance to the deliverables.

UNICEF’s Core Values

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it.

UNICEF Competencies

• Builds and maintains partnerships.
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness.
• Drive to achieve results for impact.
• Innovates and embraces change.
• Manages ambiguity and complexity.
• Thinks and acts strategically.
• Works collaboratively with others.

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).