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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 

UNICEF's Global Office of Research and Foresight undertakes high quality research contributing to evidence-informed policy making by UNICEF and its partners. Researchers of UNICEF's Global Office of Research and Foresight’s Social and Economic Policy (SEP) are engaged in several social protection programmes evaluations using mixed-methods or purely qualitative methods (Process Evaluations, Qualitative Impact Protocol - QuIP).

The SEP unit of UNICEF Innocenti has been leading on social protection research through the Transfer Project, supported by Sida (Swedish International Development Agency). Starting from 2019 with the support of UNICEF Mozambique, the Government of Mozambique developed a Child Grant, targeted to children 0-2 years old, as a complement to the existing Basic Social Subsidy Programme (PSSB). 

UNICEF Innocenti and UNICEF Mozambique are conducting a qualitative study to assess the long-term effects of participation in the Child Grant Pilot. The qualitative study will consist of three elements:
1. A Life Histories approach to examine personal experiences of participants in the Child Grant pilot by collecting a detailed record a key life events.
2. A long-term QUIP study, using QUIP methodology to assess long-term effects of the Child Grant on beneficiaries.
3. Key informant interviews with programme stakeholders and policy makers.

This consultancy is focused on the first and third components of the study: Life Histories and Key Informant Interviews:

1. Life Histories: This method will examine the personal experience of individuals by collecting detailed information on key life events. This provides an opportunity for gaining a deeper understanding of the life trajectory of beneficiaries from the Child Grant Pilot and the impact of various events and experiences. The focus of the Life Histories will be on the infant, other siblings and the caregiver. A total number of 20 IDIs with beneficiaries of the cash and care group is anticipated.
2. Key informant interviews: Complementing the direct interviews with beneficiaries through the QUIP and Life Histories methods, the study will conduct up to 20 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with staff that worked closely with participating families: Permanentes (community workers), INAS technicians, SDSMAS technicians (professional social workers) and health workers. These informants can shed light on their personal experiences working with selected beneficiaries and share their observations on changes in the well-being and the life trajectory of families, and whether such changes have been sustained over time.

How can you make a difference? 

The objective of the consultancy is to co-lead two qualitative study components on the long-term effects of the Mozambique Child Grant. In addition, the selected consultant will provide in-country coordination support to the study team. The ideal candidate would be based in Mozambique.

Major areas of work and responsibilities
• Inception phase: desk review and scoping mission preparation, including methodology for the inception workshop and observation checklists for the field observations.
• Scoping mission: co-facilitation of the stakeholders’ workshop and field observations in the pre-selected study locations. This requires a mission to Nampula of approximately 3 working days.
• Inception report: collate all data collected through the scoping missions, develop the final study design (in collaboration with the study team), prepare the ethical protocol for the in-country ethical review (including qualitative data collection tools), coordinate the ethical review process (addressing the Board requests as needed).
• Training: prepare the qualitative training for the local interviewers and facilitate the training, in close collaboration with the local data collection firm.
• Data collection: supervise the qualitative data collection operation (Life Histories interviews and KIIs), accompanying the field team during the first week of the operation, supervising remotely afterwards, and close transcription monitoring for quality assurance (in close collaboration with the local data collection firm). Data collection support requires a mission to the study area of approximately 4 working days.
• Analysis: under the supervision of the co-Principal Investigators, conduct the coding and analysis of the Life Histories and KII transcripts (40 transcripts).
• Draft report: draft the findings and other chapters for the Life Histories and KII component of the study (introduction/background/methodology/conclusions and recommendations), collaborating with the study team to prepare a fully integrated report.
• Validation workshop: prepare the workshop methodology, present the preliminary findings of the Life Histories and KII components to stakeholders to collect their feedback.
• Final report (post-workshop): draft of the final version of all chapters based on the feedback collected from the validation workshop, and feedback from internal and external reviewers.
• Dissemination activities: produce 1 presentation, and deliver presentations as required.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  GORaF_ToR_SEP_MOZ Qualitative consultant 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 sociology, anthropology, public/social policy, public health, education, or related field. 

Work Experience:

• At least 5 years of professional experience in qualitative research and evaluation.
• Demonstrated experience in research in low- and middle-income contexts, especially in Sub- Saharan Africa, with research experience in Mozambique a strong advantage.
• Strong experience with fieldwork and qualitative data collection in Mozambique.

Skills:  

• Excellent qualitative analytical skills and writing skills.
• Ability to speak and write fluently in English and Portuguese.
• Ability to organize own work and to carry out a research project with limited supervision according to deadlines.
• Ability to work as part of a research team in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships both within and outside the organization.

Being based in Mozambique

Language Requirements: English and Portuguese

Desirables:

• A PhD in Sociology, anthropology, public/social policy, public health, education, or related field.
• Expertise in designing, conducting and analysing Life Histories interviews.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian context.

Interested candidates are kindly requested to submit the following documents with their application:

• Up-to-date CV
• Cover letter explaining motivation and how the candidate meets the requirements of the consultancy
• Separate financial proposal
• List of publications relevant to the assignment

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.

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.