Belize has made important strides in strengthening its child protection system; however, significant challenges remain. These include the need to advance child care reform, strengthen coordination and capacity across the social service workforce, and address ongoing risks related to violence, abuse, neglect, and gender-based violence.
UNICEF Belize works in close partnership with the Government of Belize and key stakeholders to strengthen prevention and response systems, advance the Ending Violence Against Children (EVAC) agenda, and promote safeguarding, PSEA, and GBV prevention and response across sectors. These efforts are anchored in a commitment to family- and community-based care, gender-responsive programming, and sustainable system-level reforms that deliver measurable results for children.
UNICEF Belize is seeking a National Child Protection Consultant to provide technical and coordination support across priority child protection initiatives from January to November 2026. Working under the supervision of the Child Protection Officer, the consultant will collaborate closely with government counterparts, civil society organizations, and multi-sectoral coordination mechanisms to support the implementation of national child protection priorities.
Key areas of contribution include:
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Supporting the development and implementation of the National Child Care Reform Roadmap, including policy, coordination, and reform actions aligned with family- and community-based care.
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Strengthening the Social Service Workforce, including support to coordination platforms, capacity-building initiatives, and the rollout of competency frameworks.
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Coordinating and supporting safeguarding, PSEA, and GBV system-strengthening and capacity-building efforts across sectors.
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Supporting the implementation, monitoring, and coordination of the End Violence Against Children (EVAC) Action Plan, including engagement with multi-sectoral stakeholders.
Minimum Requirements
Education
A bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Social Sciences, Public Administration, Public Policy, or a related field is required.
Work Experience
A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in child protection, social development, programme coordination, or closely related areas, preferably within government, UN agencies, or civil society organizations.
Skills and Competencies
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Demonstrated understanding of child protection systems, including child care reform and multi-sectoral prevention and response mechanisms.
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Proven experience supporting coordination among multiple stakeholders, including government institutions and civil society partners.
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Strong analytical, writing, and organizational skills, with the ability to synthesize information and present clear, evidence-based outputs.
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Experience preparing high-quality technical reports, guidance notes, or coordination documents.
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Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and virtual collaboration tools.
Language Requirements
Fluency in English (oral and written) is required.
Desirable Assets
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Experience supporting Ending Violence Against Children (EVAC), GBV prevention and response, safeguarding, or PSEA initiatives.
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Familiarity with child care reform, family- and community-based care models, or social service workforce strengthening.
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Experience working with government counterparts, UN agencies, or civil society organizations in a coordination or technical support role.
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Knowledge of the Caribbean and/or Latin America context is an asset.
Deadline: 23 Dec 2025 Central America Standard Time