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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 life   

UNICEF’s health program in Tanzania is focused on strengthening the primary health care system to ensure available, accessible and equitable health services for all newborns, children and adolescents. Embedded research, with a particular emphasis on implementation research, has been an integral part of the program over the past few years with a large volume of evidence generated through collaboration with government, academia and civil society. The areas of research have been spanning studies on integration of COVID-19 with routine immunization, embedded implementation research on Community Health Workers supervision and ongoing transition towards a new national cadre, national assessment of quality improvement teams, adolescent health, the introduction of new supportive supervision guidelines, implementation studies on maternity waiting homes, community based transport schemes, mentorship and Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response, health management and leadership and integrated outreach services, digital health systems and client feedback. 

While the primary focus of the research has been to inform the development of national policy and guidelines, and to make strategic programme adaptations throughout implementation, broader dissemination of results through academic publishing is an important avenue to ensure availability of the significant learnings that have been generated for a wider group of stakeholders. 

How can you make a difference?  

This consultancy will provide dedicated technical assistance to the UNICEF Tanzania health team to enable and realize submission and publishing of twelve (12) manuscripts based on already collected, and in the majority of cases already analyzed, data from 2020 to 2024. All work will be done in close collaboration with the UNICEF team and other stakeholders who have been involved in the research. In some cases, draft manuscripts are already available but need additional work to be readied for submission. The consultant will additionally provide a quality assurance function for ongoing studies through review of protocols and reports. 

Questions to be answered by the consultancy 

• What are the key learnings coming out from the research conducted within the UNICEF health program over the past 5 years and how has this contributed to improved programming? 

• How can the findings from the research conducted within the UNICEF health programme be synthesized into manuscripts with high relevance for the global health and development community? 

• How can the research quality of UNICEF contracted individuals and institutions be maximized?  

Scope of Work 

1. Review available data, reports and draft manuscripts to make a detailed work plan 

2. Finalise the development of already existing draft manuscripts with a focus on refining the focus, strengthening literature review, findings, and discussion sections. 

3. Analyse and/or re-analyse available quantitative data for the purposes of developing focused manuscripts emanating from larger reports and data sets 

4. Analyse and/or re-analyse available qualitative data for the purposes of developing focused manuscripts emanating from larger reports and data sets 

5. Develop new manuscripts based on conducted studies, assessments and reviews 

6. Manage consultations and input into manuscripts from co-authors, including through email and virtual meetings. 

7. Propose suggestions for relevant journals and provide administrative support for the submission processes 

8. Review of protocols and reports from ongoing research studies  

For more information about the work assignment, deliverables, timelines and percentage of payment allocated to each deliverable, click here  Research consultant ToR.pdf

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

Education:  

•  Master’s Degree in Health systems, epidemiology, maternal and newborn health, primary health care or another relevant field 

• PhD is desirable 

Work Experience:  

• Minimum 6 years’ experience of health research in low- and middle income countries.  

Skills: 

• The first author on a minimum of four (4) peer reviewed publications with relevance for the scope of the consultancy. 

• Strong analytical skills with ability to grasp complex processes and large volumes of information. 

• Ability to respectfully and effectively engage with co-authors to solicit input. 

• Availability during the indicated time period, ability to work under time pressure and respond to needs and guidance provided by the contract manager. 

• Independent ability to manage, analyse and interpret quantitative data. 

• Independent ability to manage, analyse and interpret qualitative data. 

• Experience and proficiency with mixed method research methodologies is desirable. 

• Experience of implementation research and the use of implementation research theories and frameworks is desirable. 

 Language Requirements:  

• Fluency in English with proven strong writing skills (required)  

Desirables:

• PhD is desirable   

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. 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. For this position, eligible and suitable female are encouraged to apply. 

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.