Technical Advisor on Child-Sensitive Social Protection and Child Protection — UNICEF Kenya, Nairobi

UNICEF Kenya is looking for a Technical Advisor on child-sensitive social protection and child protection for its Nairobi office. This is a 7.5-month consultancy — not a permanent staff job — and applications close on 8 November 2026 at 11:55 PM East Africa Time.

The advisor will support Kenya’s State Department for Children Services in building stronger systems that protect children — covering cash transfer programmes, the Children Act 2022, and better links between the two. UNICEF wants a senior expert with a Master’s degree and at least ten years of government advisory experience.

What the advisor will actually do

The consultancy has three workstreams, all about high-level advice to government:

1. Strengthening child-sensitive social protection. You will help expand and institutionalise social protection programmes so they reach vulnerable children — including shock-responsive systems that protect children during droughts, floods, displacement and economic shocks.
2. Strengthening child protection systems. You will help the State Department for Children Services implement the Children Act 2022 — developing and rolling out regulations, guidelines, standards and operational procedures.
3. Linking the two systems. You will build referral pathways between cash transfer programmes and child protection services, and promote integrated approaches to child poverty, violence, neglect, family separation and harmful practices.

A consultancy, not a staff job — read this first

This is an individual consultancy contract for 7.5 months, not a UNICEF staff appointment. When the contract ends, the role ends.

The role is office-based in Nairobi for the full period. The posting mentions no relocation support or visa sponsorship — do not assume either.

Pay works differently too: no salary is stated. You propose your own daily rate in the financial proposal using UNICEF’s template — and it will be judged alongside your technical proposal.

Key details at a glance

Who can apply — and who should not

UNICEF’s minimums are firm. You are a strong fit if you meet all of the following:

• A Master’s degree in social policy, public finance, public policy, economics, development studies, public administration, child protection, development economics or a related field.
• At least ten years of progressive experience in child-sensitive social protection, child protection, social policy or related fields — including experience giving strategic technical advice to government institutions.
• Hands-on experience with government-led reform: designing, implementing or evaluating social protection or child protection programmes.
• Experience working with national and subnational governments, development partners and UN agencies.
• Strong analytical, writing and communication skills, and the ability to engage senior government officials.
• Fluent English. Kiswahili is a plus but not required.

You should not apply with fewer than ten years of experience or no Master’s degree — these minimums will be checked. This role is also wrong for you if you have never advised a government, or cannot work from Nairobi for seven and a half months.

A note for international applicants: UNICEF welcomes all nationalities and international experts can qualify, but the posting mentions no visa sponsorship or relocation help — apply only if you can realistically base yourself in Nairobi.

How to apply

Applications go through UNICEF’s online recruitment portal (TMS). You need four things:

1. An up-to-date TMS profile and CV that shows how your experience matches this consultancy.
2. A cover letter (letter of motivation).
3. A detailed technical proposal: your understanding of the assignment, proposed approach and methodology, and a workplan.
4. A financial proposal stating your daily rate, using UNICEF’s linked template format.

Submit everything before 08 November 2026, 11:55 PM East Africa Time — only shortlisted candidates are contacted.

Looking for similar UN opportunities? Also see the UNICEF Programme Communications, Advocacy and Policy Consultant (New York, remote) and the UN-Habitat Housing Policy Analysis and Reporting Specialist (Montreal).

How to make your proposal stand out

The technical proposal decides this consultancy — more than your CV. Show deep understanding: Kenya’s child protection legal framework including the Children Act 2022, how cash transfers connect to child protection services, and how policy advice turns into government action.

Be concrete: name your steps, the stakeholders you will engage — from the State Department for Children Services to subnational governments and development partners — and a workplan with clear 7.5-month milestones. Vague promises will not convince anyone.

On the financial proposal, set a realistic daily rate — far above the market looks out of touch, far below it looks inexperienced. UNICEF publishes no range for this role, so research typical Nairobi-based UN consultancy rates first.

What happens after you apply

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and move to the next stage. If selected, expect rigorous reference and background checks — UNICEF verifies academic credentials and employment history. And remember: UNICEF never charges any fee at any recruitment stage and will never ask for bank details. Anyone asking for money in UNICEF’s name is running a scam — apply only through the official careers portal.

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