Project Context and Scope
This project aims to strengthen Serbiaโs migration and asylum governance while fostering a more positive and informed public perception of migrants, asylum-seekers, and refugees. Through targeted research, communication strategies, and community-based activities, it works to counter negative narratives and promote social cohesion and integration. A key policy-focused component seeks to enhance the asylum system and support the integration of foreigners by addressing legislative gaps and improving institutional coordination.ย
Within this framework, the purpose of this TOR is to engage a consultant to develop a comprehensive age assessment baseline of unaccompanied and separated children (UASC). The Age Assessment Baseline document (Baseline) should identify solutions, opportunities and the limitations of the current legislation in the process of age determination in Serbia, elaborating the gaps and identifying legislation and procedures which need to be adjusted so that age assessment could be properly addressed by stakeholders in Serbia. Therefore, the work will include mapping and analysis of existing relevant laws, identify procedural gaps, and defining actionable recommendations for establishing clear competences and foundation for age determination of UASC. Based on this, a pathway for a structured framework for officials, social workers, and other stakeholders to follow when determining the age of UASC should be established.ย
The Baseline development will rely on the principles of best interests of the child, legal protection and procedural safeguards for UASC in age assessment, and the way they are and should be incorporated in the legislation and procedures in Serbia. It will look at how child-centeredness is addressed in the national legal and institutional framework in the context of age assessment, the existence of specific circumstances and needs of the applicant, with the best interests of the child as the primary consideration. It will also describe if preconditions exist for adequate use of documentation and methods, multidisciplinary collaboration, data sharing procedures in place.
The baseline study methodology will use input and guidance by child specialists from responsible government institutions and include relevant EUAA practical guides and Council of Europe Guidelines.
In the context of migration, children face multiple risks and challenges, whether they are travelling with their family, other caregivers, or alone. In 2024 1,763 UASC were registered in reception centers, with 1,827 guardianship decisions issued. The majority were boys age 7 to 17, nationalities primarily from Egypt (41.05%) and Afghanistan (40.57%), followed by Syria (7.8%), Morocco (4.53%), and Turkey (4.53%). Egyptian UASC emerged as the predominant group from late 2023 onward, often traveling in national groups with Italy as their intended destination. This trend continued in 2025. In the first five months, 419 UASC were recorded in SCRM centers, representing 12.06% of the total migrant populationโa substantial rise compared to 3% in 2023 and 9% in 2024. These figures reflect both the increasing presence of UASC in Serbia and the growing urgency of addressing their unique protection needs.
Children are more vulnerable than adults, especially if they are arriving from areas of conflict and deprivation or in case unaccompanied or accompanied by adults who are not their traditional carers. Additionally, UASC are the most vulnerable, due to their age, lack of family members, guardians, and care providers. Their travel is often facilitated by smugglers and traffickers, significantly increasing the risks for personal safety and exposure to violence, abuse, and exploitation. This is coupled with the fact that minors frequently travel in the company of adults, making it challenging for the police to determine their status accurately, due to the lack of functional age assessments.ย
While adopting the EUAA age assessment methods can improve the response, legal and institutional responsibilities in this process should be clear to enable effective application of age assessment in a child-sensitive and protection-oriented manner. It is thus necessary asses those aspects of the national response, and compare it against existing procedures in Serbia, and best international and EU standards. Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing
EU Support to Migration Management in Serbia โ Improving reception capacity, protection services and access to education III - CS.1175 Tasks to be performed under this contract
Under the โEU Support to Migration Management in Serbia - Fostering positive narrative on refugees and migrants, strengthening social cohesion and improvement of migration and asylum policiesโ implemented in partnership with UNHCR, in cooperation with the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration of Republic of Serbia (SCRM), the IOM Serbia is seeking a consultant to develop Age Assessment Baseline in Serbia. The objective of this consultancy is to develop an Age Assessment Baseline for Serbia that maps strengths, gaps, and challenges in the existing legal, institutional, and procedural framework for determining the age of unaccompanied children. The consultant will conduct a legal and institutional analysis, comparing national legislation and practices with international standards, to identify legal basis and institutional competences for integrating the age assessment of UASC. The baseline will also propose/identify the best institution to lead age determination process, respecting the best interests of the child with final aim to improve legal protection and procedural guarantees for unaccompanied and separated children in Serbia.
Under direct supervision of IOM National Protection Coordinator and overall supervision of the Chief of Mission, and in close coordination with the designated focal point of the SCRM, the incumbent will be responsible for the following:
First Instalmentย โ by 31 October 2025
Prepare Inception Report for the Age Assessment Baseline with methodology and workplan. Mapp all existing laws, institutional responsibilities and relevant national documents for child protection Identify limitations and gaps in the current legal and procedural framework, in particular identifying laws under which age assessment is/or could be integrated. Asses institutional responsibilities and coordination mechanisms, to identify the most suitable authority/-ies for conducting age assessments for UASC in the existing legal framework. Recommend specific legal and procedural adjustments to strengthen child protection in age assessment and ensure compliance with international standards. Review and analyze key international documents on child protection and age assessment (including EUAA Practical guide on age assessment (2023), Council of Europe guidelines on age assessment, IOM Handbook on protection and assistance to migrants vulnerable to violence, exploitation and abuse). Develop a practical roadmap for establishing a national age assessment procedure in Serbia that is child-centered, rights-based, and aligned with EU and international standards. Prepare the Draft Age assessment Baseline in line with the defined methodology and tasks.Secondย Instalment โ by 31 December 2025
Prepare Final Baseline document with recommendations for specific legal and procedural adjustments.ย Prepare a Brief/Presentation of the findings and recommendations for stakeholders.The Consultancy and its tasks hereunder shall be performed during the period September โ December 2025 through up to 30 working days to carry out the entire assignment. The fee will be paid to the Consultant in one instalment, upon completion by the Consultant of the tasks above as specified in these terms of reference, subject to satisfactory completion of the assessment, and as endorsed by CRMS and IOM.ย ย ย ย Performance indicators for the evaluation of results
Prepared Inception Report for the Baseline with methodology and workplan. Prepared Draft Baseline in line with the defined tasks. Prepared Final Baseline document with recommendations for specific legal and procedural adjustments. Prepare brief/presentation of the findings and recommendations for stakeholders. Education University degree in Law, with a minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in migration or a comparable field. Experience Previous experience in child protection in the context of migration, with focus on legal protection. Sound experience in research, especially in the areas of human rights and/or child protection in the context of migration, including displacement, and emergency contexts. Experience working with international organizations, especially the UN and EU institutions Skills Excellent knowledge of legislation in the field of child protection and migration governance and migration management in Serbia. Strong research and technical background Strong analytical, writing and reporting skills, with the ability to convey information clearly and succinctly (at least 3 published analysis/research papers). Ability to foster collaboration and facilitate discussions on sensitive topics and to adapt content to various audiences Languages Fluency in English; Fluency in Serbian. IOMโs official languages are English, French and Spanish. Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments. ย Travel required Travel is required for this assignment. Required Competencies ย IOMโs competency framework can be found atย this link. Competencies will be assessed during the selection process. ย Values - all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these three values: Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion. Integrity and transparency: Maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct. Professionalism: Demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges. Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance. Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated. Core Competenciesย โ behavioural indicators Teamwork: Develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results. Delivering results: Produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner. Is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes. Managing and sharing knowledge: Continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate. Accountability: Takes ownership for achieving the Organizationโs priorities and assumes responsibility for own actions and delegated work. Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way. Notes Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation. Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, verification of residency, visa, and authorizations by the concerned Government, where applicable. IOM covers Consultants against occupational accidents and illnesses under the Compensation Plan (CP), free of charge, for the duration of the consultancy. IOM does not provide evacuation or medical insurance for reasons related to non-occupational accidents and illnesses. Consultants are responsible for their own medical insurance for non-occupational accident or illness and will be required to provide written proof of such coverage before commencing work. IOM has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and IOM, 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. IOM does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training or other fee). IOM does not request any information related to bank accounts. IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM online recruitment system. The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application. For further information and other job postings, you are welcome to visit our website:ย IOM Careers and Job Vacancies