National expert to support the development of a Guidelines on assessment and determination of the best interests of unaccompanied children in the context of migration, 40 working days; Remote

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For every child, results.

Mixed migration flows along the Western Balkan route continue, with the region maintaining its identity as one of the main migratory paths into Europe. Movements along the Western Balkan route reached a peak in 2015, with almost one million crossings. From 2016, the numbers fell steadily for a few years before rising again to a high of just over 144,000 people in 2022. In 2025, Frontex communicated a 78% drop in irregular border crossings from the Balkans (a total of 21,520) – but NGOs on the ground point out that, rather than avoiding this route, people affected by migration and displacement are choosing different and more dangerous paths through the Balkans in an attempt to stay off the radar and avoid the increased border controls5. As a result, the figures may underestimate the actual number of crossings.

Unaccompanied and separated children make up an estimated 3–4% of those crossing the region, with the vast majority being male aged 15-17. UNHCR reported that 2,073 migrants were present in the Western Balkans as of the end of June 2025, including 110 unaccompanied and separated children (UASC). Of these children, 74 were present in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Children who migrate alone or separated from a family member face exacerbated risks during travel, transit and at destination, including risk of trafficking in persons, exploitation, and gender-based violence. Specific risks are also linked to the reasons why children have migrated as well as the conditions they face en route and at destination. These challenges are further compounded when national legislation, national monitoring systems, or policies are not inclusive of migrant, refugee and asylum-seeking children. 

While States as duty bearers have the primary responsibility of protecting the rights of all children on their territory, refugee and asylum-seeking children continue to fall outside child protection systems and are exposed to protection-related risks. This is particularly true for children with specific needs, including UASC. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the inclusion of refugee, migrant and asylum-seeking children in the social and child protection system needs to be strengthened, including improvements to the legal and policy framework.

How can you make a difference? 

The consultancy will support UNICEF in Bosnia and Herzegovina in developing a 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.

Under the overall supervision of UNICEF, and in close coordination with the relevant Government Technical Working Group, the consultant will undertake the following tasks:

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:

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• Advanced university degree in Law - Master’s degree in law, social work, child protection, with proven expertise in migration law.

Work Experience:  

• 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.

Skills

• 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.

• Language Requirements: 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.

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

For every Child, you demonstrate...

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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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. 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.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.