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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 

Around the world, millions more children go to school than in decades before; but not every child is learning. And not every young person is prepared with the skills they need to secure their futures.

Globally, over 600 million children struggle with basic reading and arithmetic. Lack of trained teachers, inadequate teaching materials and poor infrastructure prevent learning. These deprivations are compounded when students are hungry, forced from their homes or arrive for their lessons tired from work or household chores.

Education and skills training are powerful drivers of economic growth. But many children and young people do not receive the training they need to join the workforce, become entrepreneurs and contribute to their families, communities and the world.

UNICEF Innocenti – Global Office of Research and Foresight uses data, evidence and foresight to identify solutions that can prepare children and young people to make the most of their futures. Through research and foresight analysis we ask: What can be done to make learning and skills training more equitable for children and young people? What are the pathways for children and young people that are resilient and responsive to global trends, such as the transition to a green and digital economy?

How can you make a difference? 

The main objective of the assignment is to embed research within education programmes in the Eastern and Southern Africa Region. Participatory mixed-methods research will generate evidence on programme implementation and effectiveness to inform scale-up across government systems.

• Support to development and facilitation of research co-creation meetings coordinating with colleagues from various UNICEF offices.
• Development of data collection tools in collaboration with implementing Ministries of Education, UNICEF Country Offices, Regional Offices, and partners.
• Support the Innocenti – Education Manager and Research Specialist (Education) in provision of ongoing technical support to the implementation of research plans, supporting the implementing UNICEF Country Offices, Ministries of Education, and partners.
• Quantitative and qualitative data analysis and drafting of research outputs based on implementation research built into education programmes.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  GORaF - ToR - Edu - Implementation Research Innovations ESA EXT.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

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

Work Experience:

• 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.
• Experience in managing large rounds of data collection and related trainings; experience in using common online / offline data collection packages (e.g. ODK, Kobo, SurveyCTO).
• 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.

Language Requirements: English

Desirables:

• Written and oral communication skills in French.
• Experience in remedial education, inclusive education and/or digital learning very desirable.
• Experience working in countries in the Eastern and Southern Africa region.
• Experience with PowerBI or other data dashboard tools.
• Ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment; experience working in the UN or other international development organization.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts. 
• Fluency in another UN language.

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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are:

(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 others 

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. 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 a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and 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:  

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. 

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required 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. 

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 applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s 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.