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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 seeks a research consultant to contribute to research design, data analysis and report writing built into the systems strengthening workstream. The consultant will also provide support for dissemination and stakeholder engagement efforts, with particular emphasis on activities conducted within the Innocenti-WWHGE partnership.

The systems strengthening workstream co-creates research with Ministries of Education to understand how different policies and practices can improve education systems to be more equitable, inclusive and learning centered. It focuses on identifying key levers to improve education systems from the national, middle-tier, local and school levels.

The workstream has active initiatives in several countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, including Data Must Speak (DMS), Teachers for All (T4A), and Women in Learning Leadership (WiLL). The main purpose of the assignment is to support research design, implementation, and stakeholder engagement.

The consultant will work closely with the UNICEF Innocenti’s education research team, UNICEF country offices, and partnering governments and organizations in support of seven priority areas: 1) New research on teachers, 2) Research reports – T4A (country A), 3) Working paper – Middle-tier actors, 4) Methodology brief on scaling sciences, 5) Methodological toolkit, 6)Research support – WiLL initiative (country B), and 7) Strategic outreach and partnership engagement.

How can you make a difference? 

The consultant will collaborate with the UNICEF Innocenti research team to scoping new research, conduct quantitative and qualitative data analysis, produce research documents and toolkits, and engage in outreach activities.

Key responsibilities include:

1. New research on teachers: Conduct a comprehensive scoping exercise to identify evidence gaps, as well as policy and programmatic priorities related to teachers. This includes mapping ongoing initiatives at the country, regional, and global levels; identifying key stakeholders and potential fundraising opportunities; and facilitating consultations with UNICEF offices and external partners (Estimated level of effort: 30 days)

2. Finalization of research country reports – T4A (T4A): Provide support in finalizing research outputs under the Teachers for All (T4A) initiative. Tasks include conceptual refinement and data analysis (Estimated level of effort: 20 days)

3. Development of a working paper on middle-tier actors: Contribute to the drafting of a working paper examining the role of middle-tier actors in education systems (such as district education officers, supervisors, and local administrators), drawing on curated evidence from recent Innocenti research and secondary data analysis (Estimated level of effort: 30 days)

4. Methodology brief on scaling sciences: Support the development of a methodology brief based on the Data Must Speak (DMS) Positive Deviance research, with a focus on scaling science approaches (Estimated level of effort: 20 days)

5. Development of a methodological toolkit: Assist in the creation of a methodological toolkit derived from the DMS Positive Deviance research materials, aimed at supporting replication and adaptation in diverse contexts (Estimated level of effort: 20 days)

6. Research support –WiLL initiative in Country B: Provide research support for the Women in Learning Leadership (WiLL) initiative in Country B. Responsibilities include adapting research strategies, methods, and tools; finalizing reports; engaging with the UNICEF Country Office and the Ministry of Education; and supporting the work of the local consultant (Estimated level of effort: 40 days)

7. Strategic outreach and partnership engagement: Contribute to outreach and engagement with strategic partners, particularly the What Works Hub for Global Education (WWHGE), to strengthen collaboration, identify shared priorities, and explore opportunities for joint initiatives (Estimated level of effort: 20 days)

If you would like to know more about this opportunity, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  Education Research Consultant - SS 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, Political Sciences, Education, Statistics or related social sciences. 
• 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 good knowledge of STATA, R, and Power BI.
• Strong quantitative analysis and report writing skills, particularly in education or development research.
• Proven ability to synthesize complex data into clear, actionable insights for a non-technical audience.
• Proven ability to develop high-quality research proposals, lead outreach activities, and contribute to fundraising efforts, including engaging with donors and strategic partners.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and French, 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, accountability and sustainability.
• Fluency in English and French.

Desirable qualifications:

• Previous experience with data analysis of large datasets very desirable.
• Previous experience on technical assistance and capacity development activities.
• Previous experience with qualitative data analysis methods, and mixed methods projects is very desirable.
• Knowledge of NVivo or qualitative analysis software.
• Previous experience working with UNICEF Innocenti or other UN organization.
• Previous experience synthesizing and curating education evidence for UN agencies.
• 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 and French is required. Fluency of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) 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. 

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.