JOB DESCRIPTION

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s 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 – 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 answers

The Education Unit at UNICEF Innocenti generates rigorous, policy-relevant evidence to strengthen education programmes and systems. To ensure timely and high-quality research support, the Unit regularly engages specialists with expertise in quantitative and mixed-methods research to contribute to the design, implementation, and analysis of education research activities.

The consultant will provide expert services related to the design, implementation, and analysis of quantitative and mixed-methods research in education, including the development of research frameworks, instruments, and sampling strategies; data management and analysis; preparation of analytical reports and publications; and dissemination and capacity-building activities to strengthen evidence generation and use across education programmes and systems.

How can you make a difference? 

Under the overall guidance of a Research Manager or Research Specialist, the consultant will be expected to perform some or all the following tasks, depending on the needs for a specific assignment:
• Design and methodology
o Develop and refine quantitative research design to address education research questions, including sampling strategies, power calculations, and analytical frameworks.
o Contribute to the development of conceptual frameworks, theories of change, and data-collection protocols in alignment with UNICEF Innocenti’s research standards.
o Develop research instruments including questionnaires, classroom observation forms learning assessments and/or interview guides.
o Digitize questionnaires for online data collection using Kobo Toolbox or similar Open Data Kit (ODK) tools.
o Prepare methodological documentation, data dictionaries, and ethical-review submissions to institutional review boards (IRB).
• Data collection
o Support or oversee quantitative data-collection processes, including tool piloting, enumerator training, and/or quality-assurance checks.
o Data cleaning, analysis and visualization
o Access, clean, merge, and manage large-scale administrative, survey, and/or learning-assessment datasets (e.g., EMIS, exams, household or school surveys). Conduct statistical and econometric analyses using software (STATA, R or Python required), including descriptive, multilevel, and quasi-experimental techniques.
o Produce high-quality analytical outputs—tables, figures, and dashboards—and ensure reproducibility through well-documented code and metadata.
o Contribute to mixed-methods integration, triangulation, and validation of findings across data sources.
o Draft and revise research outputs (e.g., reports, comparative or policy briefs, academic papers) in collaboration with UNICEF staff and partners.
• Capacity strengthening and technical support
o Provide technical advice to UNICEF staff, government counterparts, and implementing partners on quantitative research methods, data analysis, and evidence interpretation.
o Facilitate workshops and trainings on research design, data quality, and data use for decision-making.
• Dissemination and engagement
o Contribute to the preparation of dissemination products, including policy briefs, presentations, blogs, reports and visual summaries tailored to diverse audiences.
o Participate in co-creation and dissemination meetings and events with Ministries of Education, UNICEF Country Offices, and regional or global partners to promote evidence uptake.

Key Deliverables
Deliverables will depend on each assignment and may include:
• Number of days of owed research services.
• Research designs, sampling plans, and data-collection tools.
• Clean and documented datasets and analysis files.
• Statistical analysis reports, tables, and visualizations.
• Draft and final research reports, policy briefs, or publications.
• Training materials and workshop outputs.
• Technical notes, methodological annexes, or review feedback.

Supervision
The consultant will work under the direct supervision of a Research Manager or Research Specialist.

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

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Educated to at least master”s degree level in Economics, Statistics, Education, Psychology, Social Policy, Political Science, or related quantitative social sciences.
• Work Experience: At least five years of demonstrable experience conducting quantitative research, ideally in education or another relevant social science.
• Proven experience cleaning, managing, and analysing large datasets, such as administrative (EMIS), learning assessment, or household survey data.
• Extensive experience using statistical software (STATA, R or Python required).
• Demonstrated capacity to produce high-quality analytical outputs (tables, figures, reports, or publications).
• Strong understanding of quantitative research design, including sampling, experimental and quasi-experimental methods, and applied econometrics.
• Ability to interpret and communicate quantitative findings to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills, including the ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with colleagues, partners, and government counterparts.
• Skills: Strong organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities, work independently to deadlines, and contribute to team-based deliverables.
• Language Requirements: Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills in English.

Desirables:

• Experience contributing to mixed-methods research, integrating quantitative and qualitative data.
• Experience conducting or managing data collection and quality assurance in complex or multi-country settings.
• Experience developing research instruments (i.e. learning assessments, classroom observation forms, teacher questionnaires etc.)
• Experience leveraging artificial intelligence for quantitative research.
• Familiarity with cost-effectiveness analysis and data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, R Shiny, GIS) is an advantage.
• Experience supporting capacity building of government or partner staff in research design or data analysis.
• Working knowledge of French or Spanish is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience producing research outputs that have been published or disseminated internationally (e.g., academic articles, technical reports, policy briefs).

Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts. 

For every Child, you demonstrate:

UNICEF’s 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

REMARKS:

Before applying, please review the complete Terms of Reference carefully:  GORaF_ToR_LTA_Quant_Education EXT.pdf

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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 Individual 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. 

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. 

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 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.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements