UNICEF Transition Consultant, Hosted Funds, EVAC-Safe Online, Remote - Req 590816

Consultancy Title: UNICEF Transition Consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station: Hosted Funds, EVAC – Safe Online

Duration: 15 February 2026 – 31 July 2026

Home/ Office Based: Remote

About UNICEF – 

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

Safe Online is a global fund dedicated to protecting children from online harms, including child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA), and promoting children's digital wellbeing and mental health. Since 2016, Safe Online has been hosted by UNICEF and has mobilized over USD 100 million across 150+ projects in more than 100 countries.

Following UNICEF's notification on 22 October 2025 that hosting will cease by 31 December 2027, the Safe Online Steering Committee (SOSC) has endorsed the establishment of an independent Swiss charitable foundation domiciled in Geneva as the future organizational model. 

The transition timeline is critical: the new entity must be operational and able to receive funds by Q2 2026, with grantmaking resuming by Q1 2027. A first closure date of 31 December 2026 has been agreed with UNICEF, contingent on the finalization of the transition and closure plan. 

This consultancy is essential to ensure a smooth, compliant, and orderly transition from UNICEF, faciltating the complex operational, contractual, HR, financial, and governance implications of the discontinuation process. 

The UNICEF Transition Consultant will serve as the dedicated liaison between Safe Online and UNICEF during the discontinuation process. The consultant will: 

• Support continuity of Safe Online operations during the transition period 
• Coordinate closely with UNICEF DFAM on the design and implementation of the Closure and Coordination Plan 
• Facilitate operational workstreams related to the phase-out from UNICEF 
• Protect organizational knowledge, assets, and stakeholder relationships 
• Minimize risks and ensure compliance with UNICEF regulatory frameworks

Scope of Work:

Transition Planning and Coordination 

• Serve as primary operational liaison with UNICEF DFAM and other relevant UNICEF divisions 
• Support the design and execution of the Closure and Coordination Plan led by UNICEF DFAM 
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive transition workplan with milestones, dependencies, and risk register 
• Facilitate regular transition meetings with UNICEF counterparts and Safe Online leadership 
• Prepare regular progress reports for SOSC and Safe Online ED 

Contractual and Donor Agreement Management 

• Map all existing donor agreements, grants, and contractual obligations 
• Liaise with donors on transition scenarios: novation, split payments, or closure 
• Work with UNICEF Legal on contract amendments, terminations, and new agreement structures 
• Ensure compliance with donor reporting requirements during transition 
• Support development of managed services agreements where funds must remain with UNICEF 

Human Resources Transition 

• Map existing personnel and functional needs for organizational transition 
• Map and facilitate HR processes for staff transitioning to the new foundation (employment abolishment, transfer) 
• Liaise with UNICEF HR on entitlements, benefits, and remote working implications 
• Support development of transition communications for affected staff 

Financial Management and Discontinuation Costs 

• Track and manage all discontinuation costs borne by Safe Online 
• Develop financial separation of duties between UNICEF and the new foundation 
• Support the management of remaining fund balances (donor returns or novation) 
• Ensure proper financial close-out procedures in accordance with UNICEF requirements 

Governance and Asset Transfer 

• Facilitate governance dissolution processes with UNICEF 
• Catalogue and mana