SES Consultant, RMPS Unit/PET/DAPM, NYHQ, remote. Req# 588290

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 fordeveloping 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.

Consultancy: SES Consultant

Duty Station: RMPS Unit/PET/Division of Analysis, Planning and Monitoring  

Duration: 15 December 2025 – 31 December 2026   

Home/ Office Based: Remote

 

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

The Risk Management in Programming and Safeguarding (RMPS) unit—part of the Programme Effectiveness Team (PET) within the Division of Data, Analytics, Planning and Monitoring (DAPM)—was established in 2024 to promote an integrated approach to risk management and safeguarding. RMPS is organized around four pillars: 1. Environmental and Social Standards (ESS) in Programming and Safeguarding 2. Complaints and Feedback Management 3. Programme Implementation Risk Management/HACT 4. Data Protection Aligned with DAPM/PET’s mandate and in collaboration with PG, RMPS supports decision-making and organizational learning, enhancing the effectiveness and results of UNICEF and its partners to uphold children's rights. RMPS also works with the Chief Risk Officer to strengthen UNICEF’s enterprise risk management by fostering coordination across risk areas and integrating risk into programmatic, operational, and strategic planning. Following the release of key regulatory documents – the Policy and Procedure on ESS in Programming (June 2025), the Policy on Safeguarding (March 2024, revised June 2025), and the forthcoming Procedure on Complaints and Feedback Management – RMPS has initiated the rollout of the Social and Environmental Safeguarding Framework. The consultancy aims to support RMPS in implementing the Social and Environmental Safeguarding (SES) rollout and, in parallel, assist Regional and Country Offices in meeting institutional donor requirements—primarily from IFIs, KfW, and GCF—related to SES. The consultant will also help align RMPS’s work with other risk areas, including AAP and data protection, and support ESS/Safeguarding compliance across programmes and operations. The consultancy will be supervised by RMPS in close coordination with relevant units within DAPM and other stakeholders.   Scope of Work: 1. Support the SES rollout:

• Contribute to the development and enhancement of SES-related implementation materials, ensuring that donor perspectives are not only adequately reflected, but also that the process promotes sustainability and simplification. This should cover, among other areas:

- SES training modules and accompanying manuals/handbooks based on feedback collected; - The Social and Environmental Safeguarding Risk Management Plan (ESRMP), including proposed mitigation measures; - The Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP); - The SES Handbook; - Monitoring tools, including benchmark / tracking tool on steps to take on SES to support offices in tracking progress (integration within existing tools as feasible); - Other SES related checklists, templates, plans, guidance, etc.

• Support capacity building of UNICEF staff and partners in targeted Country and/or Regional Offices on SES.
• Provide recommendations to better integrate SES with other risk areas, including Programme Implementation, Data Protection, Supply and Operations. Also, provide recommendations on CFM related issues, in particular:

- The extent of Government involvement in CFM processes and the use of Government feedback channels, including implications for data protection, independence, and oversight;

- The use of inter-agency feedback channels and whether interoperability among systems is sufficient.

• Develop concise guidance for RMPS to support Country and Regional Offices in ensuring quality assurance of risk management, from the perspective of UNICEF’s key donor requirements—this will be integrated into the SES Handbook.

2. Support in reviewing and addressing SES-related donor requirements:

• Engage with Regional and Country Offices to assess the compliance of submitted documents with Environmental and Social Commitment Plans (ESCPs) and other documents developed by local