UNICEF works in some of the worldโs toughest places, to reach the worldโs most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfilling their potential.
Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.
And we never give up.
For every child, a better future
UNICEF works to ensure the rights of all children in the East Asia and Pacific Region.ย This means the rights of every child living in this country, irrespective of their nationality, gender, religion or ethnicity, to:
survivalย โ to basic healthcare, peace and security; developmentย โ to a good education, a loving home and adequate nutrition; protectionย โ from abuse, neglect, trafficking, child labour and other forms of exploitation; and participation โ to express opinions, be listened to and take part in making any decisions that affect themHow can you make a difference?
UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office is seeking an individual consultant to analyze the demographic trends in East Asia and the Pacific and their implications for children. This analysis will provide valuable insights for the UNICEF regional office and country offices (COs) in the East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region. The assignment aims to:
Examine Demographic Trends: Investigate the current and projected demographic changes in East Asia and the Pacific, including population growth, ageing, fertility rates, and migration patterns. Assess Impact on Women and Children and Adolescents: Evaluate how demographic shifts affect the well-being of children and adolescents, including access to health, education, social protection, and child protection services. Assess implications for internal and cross-border migration, including family separation, and examine the impact on womenโs economic participation and societal roles. This includes analysis of how demographic trends influence laws, policies, services, and underlying gender norms related to fertility decisions. Special attention will be given to vulnerable groups such as children living in poverty, children with disabilities, migrant, stateless, and undocumented children, as well as those affected by rapid urbanization and its consequences for rural communities. Identify Policy Recommendations: Analyze the policy implications of demographic changes for UNICEFโs programming and advocacy efforts relating to women and children, especially with regards to family friendly policies and care agenda. This includes identifying gaps in current policies and proposing recommendations to address the needs of children in the context of demographic transitions.ย Support Strategic Planning: Provide evidence-based recommendations to inform strategic planning and decision-making for UNICEF regional office and COs. This will help in designing effective interventions and policies that promote the rights and well-being of women and children in the EAP region.
Work assignments:
The consultancy will be delivered remotely, in a home-based modality.ย
Assignment 1: Regional analysis on demographic trends and its impact on women and children
Expected deliverable 1: Regional report
1. Literature Review
The literature review will encompass a comprehensive examination of existing research on demographic trends affecting children in East Asia and the Pacific. This includes:
Population Dynamics: Studies on population growth, ageing, fertility rates, and migration patterns. The consultant is expected to use primary and secondary data for the analysis. Understanding change: lessons from Climate change and other areas, including adaptation and mitigation. Child Well-being: Research on how demographic changes impact health, education, and children poverty and vulnerability, such as for example child labour, child exploitation and trafficking, child marriage (could be positive negative impact or changing nature of risks). Child services: health, education (including day care centres for younger children) and protection services needed to address the above deprivations and well being. Child care also in relation to the โdouble burdenโ of caring for elderly parents/relatives and caring for children concurrently and its impact on children; as well as migration, family separation and child care and the role of the social service workforce. Role of women in EAP region: Research on the shifting gender roles relating to womenโs economic empowerment, girlsโ education, correlations between rising womenโs economic participation, labor force participation and girlsโ education on the demographic shifts. Socioeconomic Factors: Analysis of economic, cultural, gender and social norms, and social transformations influencing child developmentย and womenโs fertility decisions. Impact on fiscal space and additional revenue needs.2. Key Policy and Program Impact Implications and Recommendations
This section will analyze the implications of demographic trends for policy and program development, focusing on:
Education and Health Policies: How demographic shifts necessitate changes in education and health services to meet the needs of childrenย Social Protection: Strategies to enhance social protection systems to support vulnerable children, including children with disabilities andย those affected by poverty and migrationย Child Protection: measures to mitigate against the impact of demographic shifts on protection risks and strategies for prevention and response including strengthening the social service workforce Economic Policies: The role of economic policies in addressing the challenges posed by demographic changes, such as ageing populations and urbanizationย Womenโs empowerment policies and girlโs education as well as SRHR issues Public finance and expansion of fiscal space: impact on the tax revenue base given the impact on the labour force and the need for a higher productivity. Labour policies relating to the employment benefits and support needed by families to support families and shifting care burdens in societies Assistive technology and care and support services especially those that could promote access to services and shift care burden especially for families/caregivers of children with disabilities Possible approaches to address fiscal space gaps and priorities in spending in key sectors. Consultations with various stakeholders, including other UN agencies such as UNFPA, ILO and UN Women.3. Case Studies
The analysis for the region will aim to cover all the 14++ countries in EAP. Additionally, the report will include case studies from 3-4 countries in the region to illustrate the impact of demographic trends on women and children. Examples could include, but not limited to:
China, Japan, and South Korea: Analysis of how ageing populations and low fertility rates affect child welfare and policy responses, and the role of women in these societies Malaysia: Examination of demographic trends in countries with young and rapidly growing populations, rising education and employment rates amongst women and the shifts needed in labour, andย on education and health service provisionย Adolescent Girlsโ Development: Case studies on the challenges and opportunities for adolescents in the region, including issues related availability of services and information needed for girls to make informed choices around fertility to economic change, HIV/AIDS, and civil conflictยThe consultant could also consider a diversification of the case study across those with youth bulge, ageing and aged populations.ย
4. Strategic Directions for UNICEF to be explored for possible recommendations.
Based on the analysis, the report will propose strategic directions for UNICEF to address the challenges and leverage opportunities presented by demographic changes:
Early Childhood Development: Emphasizing the importance of maternal, newborn, and child health, preventive nutrition services, and quality early education. Safe and Sustainable Environments: Promoting policies that ensure children grow up in safe and sustainable environments, addressing issues like urbanization and climate change. Protection: highlighting the increasing risks and changing nature of risks, propose strategic directions to mitigate impact, and capitalize on opportunities, including for the social service workforce. Migration: analysis of the interplay between demographic shifts and migration, and the impact on children on the move and those left behind Role of and investment in the social service workforce Implications for intergenerational solidarity โ what does that mean? What role of taxes and wider access to social protection? Reflection in the current work on financing for children Women and Adolescent Girlsโ Empowerment: Supporting programs that ensure that we balance the focus on fertility with girlsโ and womenโs roles in society, the shifts in care burden, unleash the potential of adolescents girlsโ, focusing on education, health, and economic opportunities.ย ย ย ย ย ย
Assignment 2: Preparing country demographic briefs for selected countries in the region.
Expected deliverable 2: with the following proposed structure.ย ย ย ย ย ย
1. Introduction
Purpose: Outline the aim of the brief. Scope: Define the geographical and demographic focus on EAP countries. Importance: Highlight the significance of understanding demographic trends and their impacts on women and children.2. Demographic Trends in EAP Countries
Population Growth and Decline: Overview of population growth rates and declining fertility ratesย Aging population and its implicationsย on women and children, with a focus on equity Urbanization: Trends in urban migration and urbanization ratesย Migration Patterns: Internal and external migration trends and their effects on childrenย3. Impact on Children, with an equity focus
Health and Nutrition:ย ย ย ย Trends in child mortality, malnutrition, and healthcare accessย
Education: Enrollment rates, literacy levels, and educational attainmentย Impact of COVID-19 on educationย Poverty and Inequality: Rates of child poverty and income inequalityย Protection and Welfare: Child labor, abuse, GBV, and protection measuresย to address ensuing violence, migration and children left behind;4. Policy Implications
Health Policies: Need for improved healthcare infrastructure and services for women and childrenย Educational Reforms: Policies to enhance educational quality and accessย Social Protection: Strengthening social safety nets and child protection lawsย Economic Policies: Addressing child poverty through economic reforms and support programsย Migration: analysis of the interplay between demographic shifts and migration, and the impact on children on the move and those left behind Role of and investment in the social service workforce Migration and Protection/Social service workforce & social service system should be added here Fiscal space and budgeting implications5. Strategic Directions for programming for UNICEF:
Data implications for UNICEF and partners: do we know the entire picture at country level and the region as whole? What are the gaps and how to fill them? Programming responsive/inclusive to the demographic trends โ what to embrace and what areas to partner with others on? Addressing budget gaps as a result of the demographic shifts Key areas for advocacy on the impact of the demographic trends in the region.6. Conclusion
Summary: Recap key points discussed. Call to Action: Encourage stakeholders to prioritize child-focused policies and strategies. Possible partnerships and collaboration with other agenciesย
Assignment 3: Advocacy narrative and power point presentations for regional and country advocacy.
Expected deliverable 3: Advocacy plan and power point presentations
Delivery schedule:ย
Key assignment
Product
Estimated days for delivery
Assignment 1: Regional analysis
Inception report
5 days
ย
First draft
20 days
ย
Feedback on first draft
10 days
ย
Second draft
3 days
ย
Validation of the second draft
3 days
ย
Presentation to the PMT RO
1 day
ย
Presentation to COs in the region
1 day
Assignment 2: Country demographic briefs
Draft structure for the brief
1 day
ย
Interviews and background analysis with selected countries for development of demographic briefs - max 3-5 countries in the region
3 days per country for drafting = 15 daysย
ย
First draft of the briefs
5 days
ย
Second draft of the briefs
5 days
ย
Presentation of the draft briefs โ WEBINAR
1 day
Assignment 3: advocacy narrative and power points
PPT presentation and advocacy narrative for the region
3 days
Total days
ย
73 days
Duration of Contract:ย ย 8 September 2025 โ 31 January 2026
Duty Travel: No applicable.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will haveโฆ
Educational background in demographics, population studies, sociology or related field Professional experience in the field of the consultancy Proven experience in policy analysis at regional and country levelย Prior experience working on gender and disability analysis of socio-economic policies Experience with the countries in East Asia and the Pacific would be considered an asset Excellent writing skills Ability to work with multicultural teams and partnersInterested candidates are requested to submit CV, full contact information of minimum 3 references, availability, and proposed daily professional fee in USD by 29 August 2025.
For every Child, you demonstrateโฆ
UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).
To view our competency framework, please visitย here.
UNICEF is here to serve the worldโs most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.ย
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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.ย
Remarks:ย ย
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.ย
Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered โstaff membersโ under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEFโs policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants. Consultants are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.ย
The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.ย