UNICEF works in some of the worldโs toughest places, to reach the worldโs most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.ย
Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.ย
And we never give up.ย
For every child, a championย
Before the Ukrainian refugee crisis, Slovakia had not been a traditional final destination for refugees and migrants. Since the full-scale war in Ukraine in February 2022, more than 162,200 refugees from Ukraine have applied for temporary protection or asylum in Slovakia. Municipalities in Slovakia have promptly responded to the challenge of welcoming large numbers of refugee children and women from Ukraine and providing support to address their basic needs. The arrival of Ukrainian children and women created additional demands on public services that were already overstretched before the war, particularly in the social, education and health care sectors. While local authorities, in collaboration with partners, have established services to meet the immediate needs of displaced children and caregivers, they are also working towards their long-term inclusion in host communities. These efforts include setting up local coordination structures that meet regularly, conducting comprehensive assessments of refugees' needs, and developing local long-term inclusion strategies for including refugees and migrants.
Despite these efforts, Slovak municipalities continue to face refugee integration challenges. Municipalities of Nitra and Bratislava have, together with municipalities in Poland and Romania, requested support from the European Commission under Regulation (EU) 2021/240 establishing a Technical Support Instrument (\"TSI Regulation\"). The objectives are to support municipalities in improving access to quality and inclusive services for children and caregivers with refugee and migrant backgrounds: moving forward from an emergency approach to long-term inclusion strategies. The multi-country request for technical support was assessed by the European Commission by the criteria and principles referred to in Article 9 of the TSI Regulation. It was selected for funding with UNICEF as the partner of choice for the TSI project implementation.
UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia is seeking a Project Management Consultant to manage Slovakia's Technical Support Instrument project implementation. The consultant will report directly to the Partnerships Specialist ECARO Brussels, who is responsible for the multi-country TSI project coordination.
The consultancy is home-based in Slovakia. Travel to the municipalities in Slovakia and international travel within Europe is expected.
How can you make a difference?ย
1. Project management, monitoring and delivering of TSI Slovakia project outputs:
Quality implementation of the TSI in Slovakia, leading the development and delivery of the Slovakia project outputs, partnership management and supervision of the Slovakia TSI project implementing partners
2. Coordination of project stakeholders:
Coordination of beneficiary municipalities and key stakeholders relevant for the project implementation in Slovakia; coordination with UNICEF Country Office in Romania, UNICEF Response office in Poland, ECARO, and European Commission representatives; provision of technical and operational support to the beneficiary municipalities and project partners, including leading the Slovakia project Advisory Group
3. Capacity building and events organisation:
Support and provide means to encourage and actively contribute to the peer-exchange among all project partners; support the multi-country knowledge sharing workshops; contribute to capturing and sharing of the lessons learnt for knowledge development and in support of stakeholders capacity building; organize final Slovakia TSI project workshop; support organization and participate in TSI final event in Romania
4. Project reporting and documentation:
Support project communication and documentation, including submission of Slovakia inputs to the project interim reports, final report and project description summary; contribute to capturing and sharing of the lessons learnt for project documentation and communication material development
5. Representation, advocacy, partnerships, building and networking:
Project representation and attendance of relevant meetings with key counterparts for the implementation of the project agenda at the local, national, and international level; coordinate stakeholders and lead relevant project advocacy efforts in Slovakia, including support to the national-local dialogue and provide means to facilitate communication of key challenges and related policy recommendations from the local level to the relevant national authorities
Work modality:
Part-time home-based consultancy of 217 working days over 14 months between August 2025 and September 2026.
Local travel is planned to Bratislava/Nitra and possibly to other municipalities in Slovakia. International travel is planned for the final TSI event in Romania and possible other international travel related to the project.
Travel expense including flights and DSA, will be reimbursed upon submission of an invoice and clearance by the Supervisor. Work Assignment Overview Deliverables/Outputs Delivery deadline Number of working days 1. Project management, monitoring and delivering of Slovakia TSI project outputs 1.1 Coordinate and ensure quality and timely delivery of all TSI Slovakia Project outputs in the Description of Action through weekly/monthly calls with respective stake holders. 31 August 2026 20 working days 1.2 Oversee and manage partnerships of TSI project implementing partners in Slovakia, including partnership monitoring (programmatic and field monitoring visits), quarterly financial reporting, programmatic reporting, supervision and provision of UNICEF technical inputs to all partner deliverables 31 August 2026
35 working days
2. Coordination of project stakeholders 2.1 Liaise with UNICEF CO Romania, UNICEF RRO Poland, ECARO and participate in project multi-country coordination calls 30 September 2026 5 working days 2.2 Support preparation and participate in TSI Advisory Group meetings including EC and report on Slovakia project 15 September 2026 8 working days 2.3 Prepare and organize Slovakia bi-monthly stakeholders coordination meetings and meetings with EC (6 stakeholders meeting in total) 31 August 2026 12 working days 2.4 Coordinate and incorporate rounds of feedback on all TSI deliverables across all project stakeholders 15 September 2026 10 working days
3.Capacity building
and events organisation 3.1 Support organisation and participate in regular peer exchanges among project stakeholders, quarterly meetings (3 planned) 31 July 2026 3 working days 3.2 Support multi-country exchanges and knowledge sharing efforts among project stakeholders, including regular updates of the project SharePoint page and capturing of lessons learnt from the project 30 September 2026 5 working days 3.3 Organising the final Slovakia TSI project workshop with the beneficiary authorities, governments, service delivery institutions and CSOs on long-term inclusion strategies 30 June 2026 6 working days 3.4 Coordinate and capture the country-level capacity-building efforts for municipal employees and related professionals โ 6 trainings on intercultural communication, 4 capacity building sessions on data, and 4 capacity building communication consultations 31 May 2026 18 working days 3.5 Support the organisation and participate in the final project event in Romania 31 August 2026 8 working days
4. Project reporting and documentation 4.1 Support overall TSI project documentation and provide Slovakia inputs for required materials and data, complying with the donor requirements, for monitoring and evaluating the project results 30 September 2026 14 working days 4.2 Provide Slovakia inputs to the project interim reports, final report and description summary 15 September 2026 10 working days
5. Representation, advocacy, partnerships, building and networking 5.1 Participate in monthly working group meetings of the Union of Towns related to the inclusion of foreigners and any ad hoc meetings of a network of Safe Dot municipalities 30 September 2026
14 working days
5.2 Support organisation and participate in technical meetings, including 3 stakeholdersโ consultations to support the formulation of the policy recommendations and 3 consultations concerning municipalities' access and usability of data 30 April 2026 6 working days 5.3 Provide technical inputs to the policy recommendations, 5-10 policy recommendations drafted towards the Slovak national authorities 31 December 2025 6 working days 5.4 Coordinate the sharing of the project policy recommendations with relevant Slovak authorities 31 January 2026 5 working daysTo qualify as an advocate for every child you will haveโฆย
An advanced university degree (Masterโs or higher) inย public administration, European studies, social and behavioural science, international relations or a related field. A minimum of three (3) years of relevant professional experience inย stakeholdersโ coordination, partnerships and project management, refugee response programming and implementation, with experience in the Slovak Republic or a similar context, is required. Experience working with Slovak municipalities/local governments to support refugee and migrant integration at the local level is required. Experience working on the Migration crisis, like that of the Ukrainian, is required. Experience with documentation, reports, and organising capacity building is required. Fluency in English is required. Fluency in Slovak is required. Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset Experience working with UNICEF is a strong asset. Familiarity with the Technical Support Instrument financed by the European Union is an asset. Familiarity with the UN System and programmes is an asset. Experience in both development and humanitarian contexts is an asset.For every Child, you demonstrateโฆย
UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).ย
To view our competency framework, please visit ย here.ย
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:ย ย
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.ย
Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered โstaff membersโ under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEFโs 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.ย
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.ย