National Consultant for the Development of the 2027 Budget Brief , Programme Section, 6.5 months, Kyiv, Ukraine (Nationals only) Home based

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

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For every child, the right to opportunity.

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Background
As Ukraine moves from immediate emergency response toward longer-term recovery, a key challenge is not only what needs to be rebuilt, but how investments are prioritized, financed, implemented, and sustained under severe fiscal pressure. Limited resources must be directed where they can generate the strongest and most sustainable outcomes for children, communities, and the country’s future.

 

Public financial management reforms are therefore essential to a human-, child-, and youth-centered recovery. They help translate priorities into credible budgets, well-sequenced investments, effective implementation, and measurable results.

 

Through its Public Finance for Children agenda, UNICEF supports the Ministry of Finance, line ministries, and local governments to strengthen expenditure review, budget prioritization, and local planning and budgeting processes. This support aims to ensure that children and young people are systematically considered in public finance decisions, including through dedicated technical assistance to advance this agenda.

 

Purpose of assignment

UNICEF Ukraine seeks to engage a highly qualified national consultant in public finance, with strong expertise in public planning and budgeting and a proven track record in public policy and public financial management. The consultant will provide targeted technical support to UNICEF’s Social Policy Section in advancing its Public Finance for Children agenda in the country.

 

The purpose of this assignment is to provide specialized analytical and technical expertise to develop UNICEF’s 2027 Budget Briefs, including analysis of the Draft and Approved State Budgets and social protection expenditure.

 

The assignment is expected to contribute to a more inclusive, equitable, resilient, and sustainable public financial management system in Ukraine, helping ensure that the needs and interests of children and families are reflected in national recovery and reform efforts.

 

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  External ToR TMC0006243.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have...

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Master's degree in public administration, economics, law or related field with a focus on public budgeting

• Work Experience:
• A minimum of eight (8) years of relevant professional experience in public policy, public finance, public administration, or related fields.
• Demonstrated track record in public budget planning, monitoring, and/or analysis.
• Significant experience conducting analytical work for governments, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, or multilateral institutions.
• Proven ability to work independently on assigned technical and analytical tasks, while contributing effectively to multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present complex technical information clearly to different audiences.
• Language Requirements:
• Ukrainian: Proficient/Native [C2]
• English: Upper-intermediate [B2]
• Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:
• Ability to work effectively in a diverse and multicultural environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships and contribute constructively to team-based work.
• Good coordination, planning, and organizational skills.
• Good understanding of collaboration with government institutions, local authorities, and local governance entities.
• Strong computer literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel, with the ability to prepare briefs, analytical notes, and strategic documents.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to engage with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Good time management skills, with the ability to deliver high-quality outputs within tight deadlines.
• Ability to provide expert advice on the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities of Ukraine’s public finance, drawing on relevant international experience and best practices.
• Desirables:
• Previous experience with UNICEF or any other international organization in the field of public finance is an asset.

 

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
• Cover letter
• A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template)  Financial proposal TMC0006243 .xlsx