Under the direct supervision of UNICEF Social Policy Officer, the International/National Consultant is expected to undertake the following tasks:

• Perform desk review, within the preparatory phase, of the existing strategic documents pertaining to the social and child protection in Montenegro – draft Strategy on the Development of Social and Child Protection System 2024-2028 and Deinstitutionalization Strategy 2024-2028;
• Perform desk review of all available relevant international standards and best practices, national reports, analyses, data relevant to poverty, adversity, material deprivation, social exclusion, prevention and protection of children from violence; Recommendations of the CRC Committee for Montenegro, CEDAW Recommendations, GREVIO and GRETA reports, EUD Progress reports for Montenegro, Montenegro Economic Reform Program 2024-2026;
• Participate in at least five meetings of the Working Group for drafting of the new Law on Social and Child Protection Reform in Montenegro, lead discussion on the formulation of the Articles of the new Law and on the inclusion of the existing inputs for the Law development received from UNICEF international experts in the preparatory phase and be available for online meetings with the representatives of MLSW upon their request;
• Prepare the presentation of the draft Law to the members of the Working Group with the aim of obtaining comments, inputs and suggestions;
• Incorporate comments, inputs and suggestions obtained from the Working Group of MLSW in the draft Law and fine-tune it for the public discussion;
• Assist the MLSW in the integration of the comments, inputs and suggestions received during the public discussion in the Proposal of the Law on Social and Child Protection Reform in Montenegro;
• Finalize and fine-tune the Proposal of the Law on Social and Child Protection Reform to be submitted for adoption to the Government and Parliament by MLSW;
• Prepare and submit the Final report on the completed activities to UNICEF CO Montenegro (2-page Final report in English and local language) along with the final Proposal of the Law on Social and Child Protection Reform to be cleared and approved by UNICEF Social Policy Officer. As the final report it will be considered the final document version accepted and approved by UNICEF.

Requirements: 

Education:

• Advanced university degree in legal, social work, social policy, social and child protection, or a similar technical field.
• Master’s degree and/or PhD will be considered a distinct advantage.

Experience:

• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in policy and legislation development in social and child protection, particularly in relation to social assistance, social and child protection services, poverty, material deprivation, prevention and protection of children from violence.
• At least 5 years of experience in aligning policy, strategic and legal documents with international and regional human rights instruments;
• Good knowledge of the reform processes in the social and child protection system in Montenegro;
• Excellent knowledge of the relevant international and regional standards and documents in social and child protection (Convention on the Rights of the Child, Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, European Social Charter, Revised European Social Charter, European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Rights, etc.
• Previous experience of collaboration with the UN or UNICEF will be considered as an asset.

Language:

• Fluency in both Montenegrin and English is required.

Other:

• Excellent writing skills, presentation skills, strong strategic and analytical skills, demonstrated by proven record of participation in laws development and/or concise and clear publications and reports related to analysis of social and child protection policies, strategies and plans development, etc. As a part of technical evaluation, applicants are requested to provide a recent piece of work and/or proof of participation in the law development process;
• Experience in working with policy makers and multiple government stakeholders for multisectoral approach is a strong advantage;
• Strong communication and negotiation skills, participatory planning skills;
• Demonstrates tact and high sense of responsibility and discretion;
• Ability to work under pressure and strict timelines;
• Demonstrates integrity and high ethical standards;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.