Consultant – Evidence Review & Advocacy Framework on Child Marriage (Roma)

About the role

UNICEF is seeking an individual consultant to lead an evidence synthesis and develop an evidence‑informed advocacy framework on child marriage among Roma communities in the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region. The assignment is remote‑based, runs for 4.5 months, and will support UNICEF’s Child Protection and Migration Practice.

Key responsibilities

• Conduct a systematic scoping review on the prevalence, drivers, consequences, and dynamics of child marriage among Roma communities in Bosnia‑Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia and Turkey.
• Document existing interventions, assess what works, and identify data gaps, especially the lack of ethnicity‑disaggregated data.
• Develop a zero‑draft Regional Framework on Child Marriage among Roma Communities, including a theory of change, to be validated through national stakeholder consultations and a regional workshop.
• Draft a policy paper translating the validated framework into an evidence‑based advocacy document for EU mechanisms (Child Guarantee, Roma Strategic Framework, ESF+), accompanied by a concise advocacy summary.

Required profile

• Advanced degree in social sciences, public health, human rights, or a related field.
• Proven experience in systematic evidence reviews, child protection, and work with Roma communities.
• Demonstrated ability to produce policy‑oriented documents and engage diverse stakeholders.
• Familiarity with EU child‑rights and Roma‑strategic frameworks is highly desirable.

Required skills

• Systematic review methodology and data synthesis.
• Policy analysis and advocacy writing.
• Stakeholder engagement and workshop facilitation.

What we offer

• Attractive compensation and benefits package.
• Remote work arrangement.
• Opportunity to influence regional policy on a critical child‑rights issue.