UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill 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, answers

The Education section of UNICEF Innocenti – Global Office of Research and Foresight is seeking a remote-based consultant for an estimated 120 working days to support the research design and data analysis of innovative education programmes across multiple countries. The innovations in education research portfolio embeds implementation research into large-scale and cross-country innovative partnerships and programmes, these innovations include digital learning, low tech, and no tech solutions. The overall aim of the research portfolio is to inform improvements in innovations in education delivery to improve children’s learning, and to synthesize lessons across countries to build global public goods.

How can you make a difference?

Support the research design and data analysis of a multi-county study on innovations in education.

Major areas of work and responsibility

The consultant will collaborate with the broader research team to support the design and implementation of the quantitative component of innovations in education programme, supporting the quantitative data analysis across multiple innovative education programmes in three countries: Sudan, Lebanon, and Bangladesh. The consultant will conduct quantitative analysis of administrative data from the implementation of education programmes, and of related backend data from digital learning programmes within these education systems.

In particular, the consultant will:
– Develop a quantitative research framework to understand and track performance across innovative learning programmes, utilizing administrative data and back-end data from digital learning programmes.
– Support data cleaning, analysis and data visualization activities.
– Support research co-creation meetings and communication with in-country partners (e.g., Ministries of Education, Country Offices, etc.) with specific technical expertise in quantitative methods.
– Contribute to the production and dissemination quantitative research outputs.

Software to be used and subscription required for data analysis: Stata 15 or higher

The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Education Manager.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  Terms-of-Reference-Quantitative Research Consultant EXT.pdf

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

An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Economics, Social Policy, Education, Statistics or related social sciences.

Essential skills:

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional work experience at national or international levels in the design and implementation of rigorous research, with developing country-level experience essential
• Strong data and analytical skills and extensive knowledge of common statistical software packages (e.g. STATA, R, SPSS)
• Demonstrated experience in both qualitative and quantitative research designs and methods, including experimental and quasi-experimental methods.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and excellent attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work well as part of a geographically dispersed team and to forge and manage partnerships.
• Commitment to UNICEF’s core values of care, respect, integrity, transparency, and accountability.

Desirable qualifications:

• PhD in Economics or related quantitative discipline.
• Previous experience with data analysis of large datasets for digital learning programmes very desirable.
• Previous experience working with UNICEF or other UN organization.
• Ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language 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 here to serve the world’s 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/individual contractors 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.

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.

Remarks: 

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

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.