UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save childrenโs 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 โ 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.
Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.
For every child, the right to education
The project \"Youth Empowered through Inclusive Schools and Societies\" is funded by the UN Peacebuilding Fund and implemented jointly by UNICEF (as convening agency) and IOM to address persistent social divisions and marginalization in Kosovo by leveraging the critical role of schools and communities as platforms for young peopleโs engagement and empowerment. Building on the successes and lessons from previous Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) projects in Kosovo1 and the region, YESS incorporates best practices from the Youth for Change and Reconciliation initiative by fostering inter-community dialogue and relationship-building among youth from diverse backgrounds. Its central objective is to empower girls and boys, and young women and men, to become agents of change who promote tolerance, diversity, and social cohesion within and between communities.
The joint project integrates a wide spectrum of formal and non-formal education interventions, youth-led initiatives, and capacity-building activities that promote critical thinking, cooperation, and conflict resolution skills. A strong emphasis is placed on inclusive education, the promotion of gender equality, and meaningful youth participation in local governance and media spaces. The projectโs theory of change builds on the idea that when young people are equipped with relevant skills and provided with inclusive environments and platforms for engagement, they are more likely to challenge stereotypes and prejudices, engage constructively across ethnic lines, and contribute to more cohesive and peaceful communities. Thus, the project sought to institutionalize inclusive practices in schools and enhance collaboration between youth and local stakeholders. The project was structured around two main outputs:
- Inclusive Schools and Communities โ Strengthening the capacities of schools, educational institutions, and local authorities to foster peaceful, inclusive learning and community environments. Under this output, key interventions focus on empowering the entire school community, including teachers, students, administrators, and local authorities by promoting mutual understanding, respect, and inclusion. The project supported the establishment and strengthening of Student Councils and peer mediation clubs, develops conflict resolution and critical thinking skills among students, and provides skills-based programs to enhance youth engagement. It also trains teachers in inclusive education approaches, engages parents, and supports cooperation between schools and local authorities to foster joint initiatives. These efforts equip girls and boys with the knowledge, skills, and information needed to engage in constructive dialogue, collaborate effectively, and lead initiatives that strengthen social cohesion and promote youth participation in policymaking and advocacy, while integrating peacebuilding into the school environment.
- Youth Participation and Collaboration โ Promoting sustainable youth-led initiatives and creating mechanisms for enhanced collaboration between young people and local actors in peacebuilding and community development. Under this output, non-formal education programs and youth-led activities that foster collaboration among different communities, universities, the private sector, and the broader community have been supported. Youth are being empowered through language courses, clubs, summer camps, and seminars that promote multilingualism and improve employability. The project also fosters intercommunity cooperation through networking and support for inter-ethnic youth-led initiatives, builds partnerships between these initiatives and the private sector to promote diversity, and amplifies positive youth voices through media and cultural partnerships, encouraging inclusive dialogue and strengthening social cohesion.
As the project implementation nears completion, UNICEF Kosovo seeks to commission a project-end evaluation to determine the extent to which the project's objectives have been achieved and to assess the sustainability, effectiveness, and relevance of its interventions
How can you make a difference?ย
Under the overall supervision and management of the Child Rights Monitoring Specialist and in close coordination with UNICEF and IOM implementation team, the evaluation team leader will be responsible for the finalization of the design and methodology of the evaluation at the inception stage, as well as lead on the data collection, analysis and report writing. A local consultant will be engaged, who will support the conduct of this evaluation and is expected to work under the supervision of the team leader. All deliverables of this consultancy will be reviewed by the reference group for this evaluation which will consist of relevant project staff and regional evaluation advisors nominated by UNICEF and IOM.
Purpose:
This final project evaluation will assess the achievements of the Project โYouth Empowered through Inclusive Schools and Societiesโ in an inclusive way and to determine its overall added value to peacebuilding in Kosovo. In assessing the degree to which the project meets its intended peacebuilding outcome, output, objectives and results, the final evaluation will provide key lessons about successful approaches and operational practices, as well as highlight areas where the project performed less effectively than anticipated. As part of the project implementation, a baseline study was conducted in 2024, and its findings will serve as a reference point to measure the effectiveness and impact of the project by comparing them with the results of the end-line study which is underway. Thus, the projectsโ evaluation is equally about accountability as well as learning. This evaluation will feed the project management and implementation team with lessons learned good practices and recommendations to improve the implementation of similar projects.
The evaluation will cover the period of the project implementation that dates back in 2024 and the full project implementation scope (January 2024 โ December 2025), including its programmatic focus and the review of relevant strategies relevant to the project.
Evaluation Questions
The questions that will guide this evaluation are aligned with the evaluation criteria developed by the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC)5 - relevance, effectiveness, and sustainability. Below a set of key questions is provided and more targeted sub-questions are to be defined during the inception phase.
Relevance
1. How relevant and responsive has the project been to supporting peacebuilding priorities in Kosovo?
2. To what extent was the project appropriate and strategic to peacebuilding goals and challenges in Kosovo at the time of the projectโs design? Did relevance continue throughout implementation and did the project have an explicit approach to conflict-sensitivity?
3. To what extent were the joint project objectives and results informed by evidence?
4. Did the projectโs theory of change clearly articulate assumptions about why the project approach is expected to produce the desired change?
Effectiveness
1. To what extent have the project results been achieved against the objectives and targets set in the joint project proposal?
2. To what extent is data generated and field monitoring enabling a systematic determination of results achievement and effectives of the joint project?
3. Has gender, and other equity measures (minorities, youth with disabilities, those living in rural areas and others) been effectively mainstreamed throughout the project implementation and, if not, how could it be done better? Did girls, boys, women and men equally benefit from the project?
4. How appropriate and clear was the projectโs targeting strategy in terms of geographic and beneficiary targeting? 8. What were the factors that facilitated or hindered the achievement of the intended results of the project?
Sustainability
1. Were central and local stakeholders sufficiently consulted and involved throughout the project cycle?
2. To what extent did the project contribute to the broader strategic outcomes identified in local and centrally owned strategic plans, legislative agendas and policies?
3. Did the intervention include an appropriate sustainability and exit strategy (including promoting central/local ownership) to support positive changes in peacebuilding after the end of the project?
4. How strong is the commitment of the authorities and other stakeholders to sustaining the results of PBF support and continuing initiatives?
Methodology
The Evaluation will be guided by the โNorms and Standardsโ and the โEthical Guidelines for Evaluationโ developed by the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG)6 , IOMโs evaluation policy and UNICEFโs corporate guidance for human rights-based approach and equity focused evaluations7 . It will be planned and implemented with a non-experimental design, using mixed methods and drawing upon secondary data when possible. The evaluation team is expected to generate primary data principally through Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and Focus Group Discussion as relevant, however, use of alternative data generating approaches that add further value is welcome, e.g., administration of online surveys, observation that could be extracted from the existing supported programs as part of this project. This data will be used as complementarity and for triangulation with information obtained from the desk review, assessment of progress documents and other information. The baseline and endline study data available will provide critical information that will inform performance evaluation of this project.
Work Assignments Overview:ย Inception Report: Conduct online inception mission; Conduct desk review; Develop the draft inception report (including evaluation methodology with evaluation matrix and draft questionnaires of data collection tools) for review; Develop the final inception report; Presentation of the inception report (evaluation design and methodology) to the Evaluation Reference Group
Deliverables/Outputs:ย Inception Report developed and presented to the Evaluation Reference Group
Delivery deadline:ย ย 26 August 2025ย
Work Assignments Overview: Primary data collection: Conduct primary data collection; Data analysis
Deliverables/Outputs:ย Data collection and analysis completedย
Delivery deadline:ย 19 September 2025
Work Assignments Overview:ย Evaluation report: Develop the first draft report with data analysis and preliminary findings;ย Incorporate changes based on the review of the first draft report including the review from the quality assurance team; Presentation of the draft report and preliminary findings to the Evaluation Reference Group; Develop the final report.ย ย
Deliverables/Outputs: Draft and Final Report developed and shared for review with the Evaluation Reference Group
Delivery deadline:ย 20 November 2025
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will haveโฆย
Minimum requirements:
Advanced university degree in social science or another related field. At least 10 years of previous professional experience in the field of evaluation and evidence generation. Demonstrated ability and knowledge to develop rigorous evaluation in line with OECD/DAC criteria Knowledge of UN programming and previous working experience with UN and/or in international agencies will be an advantage Process management skills, including facilitation and communication with stakeholders Excellent writing and oral communication skills in Englishย ยFor every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEFโs 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
The UNICEF competencies required for this post areโฆ
(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with othersย
[add the 8th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role].ย
Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.
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.ย 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 aย wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks andย reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation 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.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.
Remarks:ย ย
As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.
UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable [Insert candidates from targeted underrepresented groups] are encouraged to apply.
Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally requiredย to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.ย
UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicantsโ bank account information.
Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEFโs Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.
All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.