Alternative care Expert

Host entity: UNICEF Ukraine

Volunteer type: National

Areas of expertise: Community development, Emergency preparedness, crisis response, Project management, programme development, strategy

Application deadline: 26/11/2026

Mission and objectives

UNICEF is supporting health, nutrition, HIV prevention, education, access to safe drinking water, sanitation and protection for children and families caught in the conflict.

Assignment context

UNICEF works to protect the rights of every child, with particular attention to the most vulnerable. In Ukraine, under its Country Programme 2025–2029, UNICEF supports the Government in strengthening child protection systems, expanding quality services for children and families, and advancing sustainable reforms amid the ongoing war.

The full-scale invasion has increased risks for children deprived of parental care, children with disabilities, displaced children and those in residential institutions, reinforcing the need to strengthen family-based alternative care, prevent family separation and ensure access to community-based support.
Severe fiscal constraints have further limited resources for social services and child care reform. The Government’s decision of 28 September 2026 to prioritize expenditures underscores the need for effective public financial management, evidence-based budgeting and sustainable financing of child protection and alternative care services.

The Strategy for Ensuring the Right of Every Child to Grow Up in a Family Environment (2024–2028) provides the national framework for reform, prioritizing prevention of institutionalization, family-based care, community services and transformation of residential institutions.
Through its Better Care initiative, UNICEF supports implementation of the Strategy in partnership with national and local authorities and other stakeholders, focusing on family-based alternatives, care solutions for children with disabilities and complex needs, institutional transformation, and strengthened policies, financing and capacities.

This National UN Volunteer assignment will support UNICEF Ukraine’s Child Protection Programme, particularly the Alternative Care pillar, through technical and analytical support on policy and legislation, public financing, stakeholder coordination, family-based care and institutional

Task description

Under the supervision of the UNICEF Child Protection Section, the National UN Volunteer will support Better Care reform through the following tasks:

1. Policy, legislative and financing frameworks
Provide technical support to policies, legislation, standards and financing for child protection and alternative care. Analyse regulatory and budget developments and prepare briefs and recommendations. Support the Better Care agenda in Cherkasy region with Government of France funding, focusing on case management, referrals, family-based care, institutional transformation and continuity of care for vulnerable children, including children with disabilities and those affected by war. Support activity design, coordination, implementation and monitoring with oblast and hromada authorities, including patronage and foster care at local level.

2. Family-based care and institutional transformation
Support development and implementation of patronage care, foster care and specialized family-based care for children with disabilities and complex needs. Contribute to the transformation of residential institutions, including baby homes, and strengthening of case management, referral pathways and community-based support for children and families.

3. From House to Home initiative
Support the joint Olena Zelenska Foundation–UNICEF “From House to Home” initiative, including developing and implementing support mechanisms for large foster families. Contribute to planning, review of operational documents, stakeholder coordination and monitoring of implementation at national and local levels.

4. Technical guidance, coordination and monitoring
Prepare and review programme documents, analytical notes, technical guidance and monitoring materials. Support UNICEF Field Offices and implementing partners in programme design and implementation; facilitate consultations, meetings and workshops with national and local stakeholders; document progress, challenges and lessons learned.

Skills and experience

• Desirable experience is 10 years in social policy, child protection, alternative care reform, or social services management, with demonstrated expertise in public finance management, national-level planning, policy development, coordination, and implementation of reforms.
• In-depth knowledge of Ukraine’s child protection and social protection systems, including residential and family-based alternative care, relevant legislative, policy and budgetary frameworks, and practical experience in their development, implementation or reform.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and coordinating national strategies, legislative and regulatory frameworks, policies and action plans related to child protection, alternative care and family-based care.
• Strong expertise in public financial management, including national and local budgeting, financing mechanisms for social services and alternative care, resource allocation and the development or improvement of sustainable funding models.
• Experience in strengthening child protection and social service systems, including institutional transformation, development of family-based care, capacity building of the social service workforce and introduction of improved service delivery and financing mechanisms.
• Proven experience working within or in close cooperation with government ministries, central executive authorities and local governments on policy development, reform implementation and institutional capacity strengthening.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and policy dialogue with national and local authorities, civil society organizations, UNICEF, other UN agencies and international development partners.
• Excellent analytical, drafting and reporting skills, including preparation of policy briefs, legislative and regulatory proposals, analytical reports and strategic documents.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and coordination skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders and effectively navigate complex institutional and policy environments.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and other relevant digital tools.
• Strong commitment to children's rights, family-based care, inclusion, the principles of volunteerism and the values of the United Nations

Competencies and values

• Build and maintain partnerships
• Demonstrate self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovate and embrace change
• Manage ambiguity and complexity
• Work collaboratively with others

Living conditions

As it is a national UN Volunteer's assignment, the UN volunteer shall organize his/her accommodation by themselves.

Entitlements of National UN Volunteer Senior Expert USD $ 3,479

The contract lasts for the period indicated in the vacancy with the possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity, and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment. This is a full-time contract.

Allowances:
- Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA): A Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) USD $ 3,479 (equivalent in UAH) is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities, and normal cost of living expenses. This includes Well-Being Differentials for the period while the ICSC applies hardship classification to duty stations in Ukraine as “E”.
• USD 350 entry lump sum, one-time payment.

Medical and life insurance:
• Medical insurance: The UN Volunteer and eligible PFU dependents will receive UNV-provided medical insurance coverage. Coverage for UN Volunteers begins at the Commencement of Service and normally ceases on the last day of the UN Volunteer Contract.
• Life Insurance: UN Volunteers are covered by life insurance for the duration of the UN Volunteer assignment. If a UN Volunteer dies during the UN Volunteer assignment, the eligible designated beneficiaries will be entitled to receive a life insurance lump sum.

Leave entitlements:
• Annual leave:  UN Volunteers accrue an entitlement to 2.5 days of Annual Leave per completed month of the UN Volunteer assignment. Unused accrued Annual Leave up to a maximum of 30 days is carried over in case of a contract extension within the same UN Volunteer assignment. Unused accrued Annual Leave may not be carried over in case of reassignment or a new assignment.
• Learning leave: Subject to supervisor approval and exigencies of service, UN Volunteers may request up to ten working days of Learning Leave per consecutive 12 months of the UN Volunteer assignment, starting with the Commencement of Service date, provided the Learning Leave is used within the contract period.
• Certified Sick Leave: UN Volunteers are entitled to up to 30 days of certified sick leave based on a 12-month cycle. This amount is reset every 12-month cycle.
• Uncertified Sick Leave: UN Volunteers receive seven days of uncertified sick leave working days in a calendar year. This amount will be reset at the established interval period.

Full eligibility requirements, conditions of service and application instructions are available on the official UNV platform.