Consultancy: Consultant-Implementation Research - Req.#581391
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Job no: 581391
Contract type: Consultant
Duty Station: New York
Level: Consultancy
Location: United States
Categories: Health
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, HOPE!
Consultancy Title: Consultant-Implementation Research
Section/Division/Duty Station: Immunization/Health Section, Programme Division, NYHQ
Duration: June, 2025 to 15 May, 2026
Home/ Office Based: REMOTE
About UNICEF
If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For over 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.
Purpose of Activity/Assignment
The Primary Health Care and Health Systems Strengthening (PHC-HSS) Unit in the Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health Section of PG-Health at UNICEF Headquarters in New York is devoted to providing technical leadership to strengthen implementation research (IR) and the use of data for action to ensure that maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health (MNCAH) programmes are evidence-based and equity-focused. PHC-HSS unit works closely with UNICEF country and regional offices to translate research into action and impact. While supporting implementation research, the unit also collaborates with implementers, policymakers, research institutions and other implementation partners to ensure the best evidence is available to inform action for children.
The Implementation Research Consultant will provide technical support for the execution of implementation research in countries within the designated region or regions. Specifically, the incumbent will contribute to generating evidence from implementation research embedded in Health programmes to improve coverage and equity in priority countries (e.g., highest child death numbers and rates’ countries, Gavi, GFF, Global Fund). The incumbent will also produce knowledge products from findings from the implementation research projects and deliver capacity building activities within countries in the designated region or regions, within both UNICEF and partners on the methodology and approach to undertake embedded implementation research that leads to timely improvements in programme delivery of MNCAH services. The incumbent will engage with, and solicit inputs from other members of MNCAH Section (PHC-HSS, Child and Community health, Digital Health & Information systems), other Health Section (Immunization, HEPR etc), and other health colleagues, particularly in country offices, as well as partners, in particular Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Eli Lilly, BMGF and with the Global Fund.
Scope of Work
1. Provide support to undertaking embedded implementation research within countries’ health programmes
• Help support PHC-HSS team and work with national, regional and global partners to identify key priorities for embedded implementation research within priority countries for health service delivery
• Conduct relevant literature reviews on different IR topics to expand knowledge in the area.
• Provide technical support to the development of protocols for implementation research within countries, and to the execution of ensuing research studies are conducted with quality.
2. Support dissemination and application of findings from existing implementation research activities.
• Support the facilitation of workshop(s) and other fora to disseminate the findings of implementation research to ensure uptake in policy and practice.
• Support the write-up in peer reviewed publications of the results of implementation research
• Support the write-up of policy briefs and other context specific dissemination products based on the results of implementation research
3. Help support capacity building activities within countries and within UNICEF and partners to undertake embedded implementation research
• Support to conduct capacity building activities within countries for implementation research, including protocol development workshops
• Support UNICEF staff to build capacity for implementation research and document the model UNICEF is employing with partners to undertake implementation research.
Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:
Capacity Building
1. Facilitate workshops for IR
At least five priority setting and protocol development workshops facilitated.
September 30th, 2025
2. Facilitate workshops for data analysis/research dissemination
At least three data analysis/research dissemination workshops facilitated.
April 30th, 2026
Technical Assistance
1. Develop concept notes for IR projects
At least five concept notes developed.
July 30th, 2025
2. Review research protocols for IR projects
At least 20 research protocols reviewed and finalized.
November 30th, 2025
3. Review reports for IR projects
At least 20 research reports reviewed and finalized.
May 15th, 2026
Documentation and Dissemination
1. Review and prepare manuscripts for publications on IR for immunization, NCDs
and PHCs
At least 15 manuscripts reviewed and finalized for Immunization projects
May 15th, 2026
Travel
• This consultancy involves international travel (approx. 9 trips as needed. Should travel be requested, it will be covered by UNICEF as per policy.
• Travel costs will be estimated and added to the contract once they are determined based on UNICEF Financial Rules and Regulations.
• For agreed country visits, the contractor/consultant will be responsible in administering their own travel. UNICEF will reimburse travel related expenses based on actual costs or on the below criteria whichever is lower and upon presentation of receipts.
Qualifications
Education:
Post graduate degree in public health, epidemiology, health systems, health policy or related fields.
Language Proficiency:
Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Proficiency in another official UN language (i.e. Spanish) is highly desirable.
Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:
• Have more than 10 years of work experience in the areas of public health, and expert knowledge on maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health issues and of health programs in low and middle-income countries
• Experience in conducting implementation and health systems research and have adequate knowledge on program management, knowledge translation, and policy communications
• At least 15 publications in peer-reviewed public health journals
• Expert knowledge and skills in conducting systematic, scoping review, analysis of qualitative and quantitative data, write policy briefs and infographics
• Possess excellent English. Knowledge of another official UN language (i.e., Spanish) is an asset
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, excellent technical communication with peers and non- technical stakeholders.
• Prior experience working with UNICEF or other UN organizations on similar projects preferred
Requirements:
Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and
- Upload copy of academic credentials
- Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :
o the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
o travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
o Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
o Indicate your availability
- Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
- At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
- Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.
U.S. Visa information:
With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process
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.
Advertised: Eastern Daylight Time
Deadline: Eastern Daylight Time