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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. 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 personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, answers

UNICEF Innocenti undertakes and commissions research on emerging or current issues of relevance for children and child rights. The office links research and global trends analyses to influence policies, programming, and advocacy, as well as innovations, and to drive future strategies and vision of the organization and the child rights agenda more broadly amongst governments, private sector, and other institutions.

• UNICEF Innocenti uses foresight to set the agenda for children uncovering emerging trends and deepening understanding of key issues facing girls and boys and serving as a go-to office for advising UNICEF and a diversity of actors, including governments, the United Nations, private sector, civil society and children and young people themselves in the face of the continually changing global economy, political and security environment.

• UNICEF Innocenti also strives to lead global discourse by creating an enabling environment and platform for children and young people along with global influencers and decision-makers to transform their contributions into future strategies, policies and actions of UNICEF and the world. Thereby positioning children and UNICEF at the centre of the global conversation through prominent external engagement, communication, and influence.

UNICEF Innocenti has a dedicated education unit focused on producing high-quality research and evidence to inform and improve education programmes and systems. Since 2018, the team has been leading and supporting education research in over 40 countries around the world. The education unit has a strong focus on generating research to inform improvements in foundational learning. Research undertaken by the education unit at UNICEF Innocenti follows a co-creation approach working closely with Ministries of Education, and local partners, as well as UNICEF programmatic colleagues from country offices, regional offices, other headquarter units, and a host of external education and research partners.

Education and human capital | Innocenti Global Office of Research and Foresight (unicef.org)

How can you make a difference?? 

Under the guidance and general supervision of the Research Manager, Education (Level 4), the Research Specialist - Education will support implementation and coordination of research activities in Eastern and Southern Africa. The research specialist will 1) provide technical research support to countries in Eastern and Southern Africa region in close collaboration with the Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) including in the development and uptake of research and evidence into programming, planning and policy. 2) support coordination and research activities for ongoing research programmes active in the region including the Data Must Speak research, Women in Learning Leadership and the new large scale implementation research programme 3) act as a focal point for UNICEF Innocenti in the region and as a key resource person for the What Works Hub for Global Education (WWHGE) strategic partnership, engaging with evidence in education partners at the regional and country levels, and supporting the Research Manager, Education (Systems Strengthening) with partnership engagement at the global level.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Research Planning and Coordination
2. Oversight of Research Designs, Methods and Analysis
3. Research Technical Support and Capacity Building
4. Knowledge Management, Evidence Uptake and Partnerships.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  Research Specialist - Education - Level 3 - OP to ESA - EXT.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: education, economics, psychology, sociology or another relevant technical field.

Work Experience: At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in education research, social science research, education programming or related fields. 

Strong experience in statistical analysis utilizing large data sets, is required.

Demonstrated people management skills and the ability to forge and manage partnerships.

Proven experience drafting quality research outputs for different stakeholders and audiences is required.

Experience working in a development setting, managing programmes and / or research is required.

Knowledge of econometric models and identification strategies to test impact of programmes required.

Excellent written and oral communication skill.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables:

Experience with qualitative data collection methods and analysis techniques highly desirable.

Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.

Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.

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 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 

(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will 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.

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.

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.

In this role, you will collaborate with colleagues across multiple locations. For effective collaboration, we encourage flexible working hours that accommodate different time zones while prioritizing staff wellbeing.

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.