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Portugal has one of the highest rates of children in residential care in Europe, with 72% living in such facilities. Institutional care harms children’s development, increases attachment issues, and limits life chances, especially for children with disabilities who face higher risks of violence and early death. International frameworks, including the UN Guidelines for Alternative Care and the EU Child Rights Strategy 2021-2024, call for deinstitutionalization. Portugal has responded by prioritizing deinstitutionalization in its Child Guarantee Plan and Child Rights Strategy 2021-2024, focusing on foster care and care-leaving services. However, its legal framework still emphasizes residential care. Portugal seeks support to reform its care system, develop foster care standards, and support and guide its workforce to transition to family- and community-based care.
The Government of Portugal has sought support from the European Commission under Regulation (EU) 2021/240, known as the Technical Support Instrument, which serves as a vehicle for providing targeted assistance to regions facing specific challenges. The Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support (DG REFORM) of the European Commission has contracted UNICEF’s Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (UNICEF ECARO) to provide technical support to Portugal. The goal is to reduce the number of children in residential care by strengthening family support, reintegration, foster care, and care-leaving services. The Social Security Institute, under the Ministry of Labour, leads the initiative, promoting social inclusion and support for vulnerable groups.

To successfully achieve the objective of the EU funded project (the “Action”), UNICEF ECARO is responsible for carrying out the following:
(i) An assessment of the childcare system in Portugal particular focus on residential care, family support and reintegration, foster care and care leaving services.
(ii) Research and learning on best practice and lessons learned in EU and non-EU countries regarding family support and reunification, foster care and leaving care services.
(iii) A set of recommendations for childcare system reform in Portugal, with particular focus on family support and reintegration, foster care and care leaving services.
(iv) The establishment of thematic working groups to lead the design of standards and procedures and/or guidance and toolkits on family support and reintegration, leaving care services and foster care.
(v) The development and dissemination of foster care quality standards, procedures, tools and monitoring indicators, as well as a capacity building programme and the revision of the existing foster care training programme, to assist the new standards and procedures being effectively implemented.
(vi) The development of comprehensive guidance and toolkits for stakeholders in the provision of family support and reintegration and care leaving services.

A UNICEF project team, supported by experts in child protection, foster care, and care-leaving, will implement the project. A Steering Committee, including DG REFORM, UNICEF ECARO, and the Social Security Institute, will oversee activities, while an Advisory Committee will provide guidance.
Under the supervision of the UNICEF Project team, the Lead Consultant will assist with overseeing technical implementation, supporting other consultants/experts, and ensuring alignment with UNICEF standards. The consultancy requires a child protection expert with good knowledge and experience of statutory family support services and reintegration services, social service workforce reform and child care reform in EU and non-EU countries.

How can you make a difference?

Scope of Work:
Under the supervision of the UNICEF Project team, the LeadConsultant will serve as a technical lead in planning, designing and overseeing the implementation of the Action. More specifically, and with support from other international and/or national consultants, the LeadConsultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

1. Inception report: Develop the inception report for the Action, outlining the context, workplan, timeline, methodology, etc. The Inception Report should also identify where and how any other experts/consultants, such as data gatherers, may be required to support the implementation of the Action.

2. Assessment of the childcare system in Portugal particular focus on residential care, family support and reintegration, foster care and care leaving services: Guide the assessment team, including the technical experts, to develop the methodology and tools for a desk-based literature review and key informant interviews and focus group discussions with key stakeholders in Portugal to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the national alternative care system. Oversee the technical experts in implementing the assessment and produce the final assessment report.

3. Research and learning on best practice and lessons learned in EU and non-EU countries regarding family support and reunification, foster care and leaving care services:

a. Identify good practices in EU countries and beyond concerning family support and reunification and documenting this in a report.
b. Identify at least 2 countries with good practices, organise exchange meetings online, facilitate the discussions and document the learnings in a report.

4. Developing set of recommendations for the childcare system reform in Portugal, with particular focus on family support and reintegration, foster care and care leaving services: Oversee the consolidation and analysis of the learning from the assessment of Portugal’s care system (Task 2) and the review and analysis of international best practice (Task 3) to develop a set of recommendations as follows:
a. On standards, procedures, tools and monitoring indicators for foster care in Portugal.
b. On guidance and a toolkit for professionals working to support family support and reunification.
c. On guidance and a toolkits for professionals working to support leaving care services in Portugal.

With support from the technical experts, develop a presentation of the research findings and the recommendations to be presented at a national conference organized for a wider group of national and regional stakeholders with roles to play in the deinstitutionalization process, including children, young people and families with experience of care. Based on the input from conference delegates, and with support from the technical experts, update the recommendations in each of the key areas – foster care, family support and reintegration and leaving care – alongside the evidence to support these. These final recommendations report will guide the work of the working groups (Tasks 5-7).

5. Thematic Working Groups: Oversee the establishment and work of three thematic working groups to lead the design of standards and procedures and/or guidance and toolkits on family support and reintegration, leaving care services and foster care. In particular, develop TOR for the family support and reintegration working group and technically support their work. Provide oversight and guidance to other 3 working groups.

6. Lead the development of comprehensive guidance and a toolkit for stakeholders in the provision of family support and reintegration: Guide the Family Support and Reintegration Working Group in developing national guidance on best practice in family support and reunification and associated toolkits to support the implementation of the guidance. Support wide dissemination of these resources.

7. Provide oversight and guidance to the technical experts in the organization and facilitation of the foster care working group and leaving care working groups and their respective deliverables.

The Lead Consultant is expected to have regular calls with UNICEF project team to review progress, challenges and next steps, as well as having regular calls with the technical experts to oversee, guide and monitor their work. Ad-hoc calls may take place as deemed necessary. All reports to be submitted in electronic format by email to UNICEF ECARO in English.

Working modality:

Consultant will work from home part time (140 working days over the period of 23 months). Travel to/within Portugal is expected.

Work Assignment Overview:

Tasks/Milestone:	Deliverables/Outputs:	Estimated Timeline and delivery deadline
1. Inception report:	Inception report	10 working days January to February 2025
2. Assessment of the childcare system in Portugal particular focus on residential care, family support and reintegration, foster care and care leaving services:	Methodology and tools designed Assessment carried out, including literature review, key informant interviews and focussed group discussions, in relation to family support and reintegration. Guidance and oversight of technical experts in their respective areas of assessment.	40 working days March to June 2025
3. Research and learning on best practice and lessons learned in EU and non-EU countries regarding family support and reunification, foster care and leaving care services:	Methodology and tools designed Research carried out, including literature review, key informant interviews if relevant. Guidance and oversight of technical experts in their respective areas of research. Recommendations for and facilitation of peer-to-peer exchange meetings with best practice countries Report on learning from exchange meetings	30 working days March to August 2025
4. Developing set of recommendations for the childcare system reform in Portugal, with particular focus on family support and reintegration, foster care and care leaving services.	Proposed recommendations drafted for family support and reintegration. A final set of recommendations having incorporated input from stakeholders at the conference A national conference to introduce and consult Portuguese stakeholders on the plans and recommendations for deinstitutionalization (as outlined above).	15 working days September to December 2025
5. Oversee the development of TORs for three thematic working groups to lead the design of standards and procedures and/or guidance and toolkits on family support and reintegration, leaving care services and foster care.	Develop TOR for family support and reintegration working group. Guidance and oversight to technical experts in developing TORs for foster care and leaving care working groups.	15 working days January 2026
6. Lead the development of comprehensive guidance and a toolkit for stakeholders in the provision of family support and reintegration.	Conduction of online interactive workshops to map out content for guidance and toolkits with the Family Support and Reintegration Working Group. Best practice guidance developed in family support and reunification. Toolkits developed to support the implementation of the guidance. Guidance and toolkits widely disseminated to professionals.	20 working days February to July 2026
7. Provide oversight and guidance to the technical experts in the organization and facilitation of the foster care working group and leaving care working groups and their respective deliverables.	Regular bi-weekly meeting with project team and key experts and review of key drafts the other 2 working groups.	10 working days February to July 2026

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in international development, human rights, social work, sociology, or another relevant social science field.
• Demonstrated working experience of conducting research related to child protection/children in alternative care (at least 8 years).
• Proven experience and knowledge related to the ToRs areas.
• Knowledge of statutory family support services and reintegration, social service workforce reform and child care reform in European contexts.
• Demonstrated experience of producing high-quality research and assessment reports; technical standards, procedures, guidance and toolkits; and other relevant documents.
• Demonstrated experience of developing monitoring frameworks and indicators in an asset.
• Demonstrated experience of working with a range of stakeholders including policy makers, practice-based organizations, non-governmental organizations and people with lived experience of care.
• Excellent qualitative analysis skills
• Good quantitative/statistical and analytical skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills in conference and workshop scenarios.
• Experience of facilitating online training and learning.
• Experience of managing a team, including the oversight and supervision of other experts is an asset.
• Ability to be flexible and deliver results under tight deadlines.
• Fluency in English (oral and written). Knowledge of Portuguese is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit  here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility UNICEF.

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.

Remarks: 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Applications without indication of the fee will not be considered.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s 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 and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors 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.

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. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. 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.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements