UNICEF Home-Based Consultant 2026 – Crisis Response & Emergency Preparedness (Remote) | 52 Paid Working Days | Apply Now.
UNICEF has announced a home-based consultancy opportunity supporting municipalities in Slovakia to strengthen crisis response, emergency preparedness, and long-term inclusion of refugee and migrant children and caregivers. This part-time, remote consultancy (January–June 2026) is funded through the EU Technical Support Instrument (TSI) and focuses on developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), preparedness scenarios, transition plans, and capacity-building activities. This article provides a detailed 3000-word overview of responsibilities, qualifications, deliverables, work modality, and application requirements. This website is not affiliated with UNICEF and only advertises this opportunity for informational purposes.
H2: Background & Job Description
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) works in over 190 countries and territories to protect children’s rights, ensure access to essential services, and promote equity for every child—especially those most vulnerable. In Europe and Central Asia, UNICEF supports governments and municipalities to respond to humanitarian crises, strengthen social protection systems, and ensure inclusive public services for refugee and migrant children.
This Home-Based Consultant position is part of an EU-funded Technical Support Instrument (TSI) project supporting municipalities in Slovakia, with collaboration across Poland and Romania. The consultancy focuses on strengthening local crisis response and emergency preparedness, while supporting the transition from the EU Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) toward sustainable, long-term inclusion of refugees and migrants.
Context: Refugee Response in Slovakia
Prior to 2022, Slovakia was not a traditional destination country for refugees. However, following the full-scale war in Ukraine:
- Over 162,200 refugees applied for temporary protection or asylum in Slovakia
- Cities of Bratislava and Nitra now host up to 47% of refugees with temporary protection
- The share of refugees and migrants increased from 7–8% in 2020 to 14–15% in 2023
- The EU Temporary Protection Directive, active since March 2022, is expected to terminate after March 2027
As emergency arrangements phase out, municipalities face increased pressure to transition services, manage residency changes, adjust budgets and staffing, and maintain child-focused, inclusive service delivery.
Purpose of the Consultancy
UNICEF ECARO is engaging a consultant to:
- Strengthen municipal emergency preparedness
- Develop practical SOPs and shock-responsive planning tools
- Support post-Temporary Protection transition scenarios
- Build local capacity for long-term inclusion of refugee and migrant children
The consultant will work closely with:
- Municipalities of Bratislava and Nitra
- Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV)
- UNICEF ECARO
- National and EU partners
This is a non-staff consultancy, fully remote/home-based, with limited travel if required.
UNICEF Home-Based Consultant 2026 – Crisis Response & Emergency Preparedness (Remote) | 52 Paid Working Days | Apply Now.
H2: Tasks
The consultancy is structured around three core outputs, aligned with the TSI project framework.
1. Development of Tailored SOPs & Recommendation Guidelines (TSI Output 5)
The consultant will develop practical, child-focused SOPs and guidelines to strengthen municipal preparedness for future migration or refugee crises.
Key Tasks Include:
- Assess national-level emergency preparedness and migration response frameworks in Slovakia
- Review current municipal emergency preparedness systems (Bratislava and Nitra)
- Analyse existing social protection, education, health, and child protection services
- Identify gaps, risks, and vulnerabilities, including disability, gender, ethnicity, and language barriers
- Collaborate with municipal representatives, SAV, and UNICEF
- Integrate principles of inclusion, equity, and shock responsiveness
- Produce user-friendly SOPs and guidelines for local authorities
Deliverables:
- Guidelines & recommendations for shock-responsive local planning (Feb 2026)
- Tailored SOPs for Bratislava and Nitra municipalities (March 2026)
2. Transition Planning Following the End of Temporary Protection (TSI Output 5)
The consultant will support municipalities to prepare for the termination of the Temporary Protection Directive, ensuring continuity of services for refugee children and caregivers.
Key Tasks Include:
- Analyse the current legal and policy framework under the TPD
- Assess implications of residency transitions for refugees
- Review EU Council recommendations and national policies
- Develop preparedness scenarios for post-TP transition
- Identify budgetary, staffing, space, and service delivery needs
- Produce actionable tools to guide municipal decision-making
Deliverables:
- Preparedness scenarios with recommendations (Mid-April 2026)
- Practical planning tool for municipalities (End of April 2026)
3. Capacity Building & Final TSI Workshop (TSI Output 7)
The consultant will contribute to training and knowledge exchange activities.
Key Tasks Include:
- Develop training materials on emergency preparedness and long-term inclusion
- Present SOPs, guidelines, and preparedness scenarios
- Participate in capacity-building sessions (May 2026)
- Support organization and delivery of the final Slovakia TSI workshop (June 2026 – national consultant only)
Deliverables:
- Capacity-building session delivered (May 2026)
- Final project workshop supported (June 2026 – national consultant)
H2: Qualifications (Education and Certification, Experience)
Education Requirements
- Master’s degree in:
- Public Administration
- Emergency Management
- Crisis & Security Management
- Social & Behavioral Sciences
- International Relations
- Or a closely related field
Experience Requirements
- Minimum 3 years of experience in social policy or protection systems
- Minimum 2 years of experience in:
- Emergency preparedness and planning
- Crisis response in humanitarian settings
- Minimum 2 years of experience developing:
- SOPs
- Preparedness strategies
- Operational manuals
Required:
- Experience working with Slovak municipalities or national systems
- Experience supporting refugee and migrant children and caregivers
Desirable Experience
- Previous work with UNICEF or UN agencies
- Experience in Ukraine refugee response
- Familiarity with the EU Technical Support Instrument (TSI)
- Experience in both humanitarian and development contexts
- Fluency in Slovak or understanding of Slavic languages
- International consultancy experience
Language Requirements
- Fluency in English (mandatory)
- Slovak language skills (asset)
Competencies
UNICEF Core Competencies include:
- Builds and maintains partnerships
- Ethical awareness and integrity
- Results-driven mindset
- Innovation and adaptability
- Strategic thinking
- Collaboration across stakeholders
- Ability to manage complexity
H2: Additional Information
Contract Duration & Work Modality
- January – June 2026
- 52 working days (international consultant)
- 55 working days (national consultant)
- Part-time, home-based consultancy
- Remote delivery with limited travel (if approved)
Travel Arrangements
- International consultants: Travel to Bratislava may be agreed (May 2026)
- National consultants: In-country engagement required
- Travel reimbursed per UNICEF rules
- Prior written approval required for all travel
Payment & Fees
- Payment based on approved deliverables
- Applicants must submit a financial proposal in USD
- UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment for incomplete or unsatisfactory work
- All outputs remain UNICEF intellectual property
Important Notes
- This is a consultancy, not a staff position
- Consultants are responsible for:
- Taxes
- Health insurance
- Visa requirements (if applicable)
- UNICEF has zero tolerance for misconduct
- Rigorous background checks apply
- Reasonable accommodation is available for consultants with disabilities
How to Apply
Applicants must submit:
- Completed online application
- CV
- Cover Letter
- Financial Proposal (USD)
⚠️ Applications without a financial proposal will not be considered.
Application Deadline
📅 22 December 2025 (CET)
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