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, Education  

UNICEF in the State of Palestine works to uphold the rights of children to access essential services and protection, from early childhood through adolescence. Our objective is to ensure that every child in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, irrespective of background or circumstance, has an equal chance to fulfil their potential. Following the broke of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the escalation of hostilities in the West Bank including East Jerusalem, UNICEF is responding at scale with Education, WASH, Nutrition, Health, Child Protection and Multi-Purpose Cash, while preparing for return to learning for children across the State of Palestine to respond to the most precent and critical needs of children, while supporting the restoration of essential services. UNICEF in the State of Palestine is committed to ensuring inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all children. However, school exclusion is on the rise due to conflict, displacement, economic hardship, and systemic barriers, disproportionately affecting; Children in conflict-affected areas, facing school attacks, settler violence, and military operations, Children with disabilities, learning difficulties, children with chronic diseases - struggling with inaccessible infrastructure, limited inclusive teaching methods, and stigma, Adolescent boys, increasingly pushed into child labor due to economic hardship and Girls, facing early marriage, household responsibilities, and gender-based barriers.

In 2018, UNICEF and Ministry of Education conducted a study on Out- of- School Children that provided critical insights into school exclusion. However, since 2020, the situation has worsened hence a need to generate evidence on Out- of- School Children and Adolescents, as well as children at risk of dropping out from school, based on the current situation. The results of the survey will support evidence-based policy and programming to address the root causes of exclusion and inform inclusive education interventions

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical leadership in the design and development of qualitative research tools that will explore the underlying factors and dynamics preventing school access, retention, potential risks of dropping out and completion among Out-of-School Children and Adolescents (OOSC) in the targeted area

How can you make a difference?  Terms of Reference (Template)Out-of-School Children and Adolescents Qualitative - Add.pdf

Primary objective of this consultancy is to design contextually relevant and ethically sound qualitative data collection tools, to ensure tools are sensitive to gender, age, disability, and social vulnerability, to development guidelines for data collection, including ethical protocols and enumerator training materials. To ensure that the study objectives are aligned with the recommendations based on the stakeholder’s feedback. Identify data gaps and propose improved monitoring and reporting mechanisms for tracking out of school children.

Scope of work: 

Under the supervision of the designated Team Leader and in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education, UNICEF Education Specialist, M&E Specialist and other stakeholders, the national consultant will:

Desk Review:

• Conduct a comprehensive analysis of relevant primary and secondary resources in the secondary review section
• Review existing OOSC-related tools, previous surveys, and global methodological frameworks (e.g., UNICEF’s Five Dimensions of Exclusion).
• Align tool design with the survey’s conceptual framework and key research questions.
• Analyze demographic trends to determine whether specific groups (e.g., boys, girls, children with disabilities) face higher exclusion risks.
• Analyze School and the MoEHE Administrative Data to compare enrollment, retention, and dropout trends across different regions.

Design of qualitative tools:

Develop tools such as:

• Key Informant Interview (KII) guides (e.g., for parents, teachers, community leaders, education officials)
• Focus Group Discussion (FGD) guides (e.g., with in-school children, OOSC, caregivers)
• Observation checklists and contextual inquiry prompts

Ensure the tools explore themes such as: Social norms and stigma

• Protection and safety concerns
• Economic constraints and child labor
• Disability and access issues
• Conflict, displacement, and political barriers

Stakeholder Validation:

• Facilitate consultative meetings to validate tools with relevant partners, including MoE, MoSD, development partners and education cluster actors.

Piloting and Revisions:

• Support piloting of tools in the sample location.
• Revise tools based on pilot findings and stakeholder feedback.

Enumerator Training Support:

• Provide technical input for training materials and support capacity-building sessions on tool application and ethical considerations.

Data Analysis and reporting:

• Thematic coding to analyze key barriers, perceptions, and recommendations
• Comparative analysis to highlight gender-based and conflict-related disparities.

Final Deliverables Submission:

• Submit final, field-ready qualitative tools in Arabic and English.
• Include guidance notes and ethical protocols.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher)  in Education, Sociology, Development Studies or related fields 
•  
• Minimum 7 years of experience in qualitative research and tool development.
• Proven experience in conducting qualitative research in education especially on OOSC or child rights assessments.
• Demonstrated understanding of cultural, political, and socioeconomic dynamics in the State of Palestine.
• Skills in conducting sensitive and ethical interviews and FGDs with children, parents/ caregivers/community leaders
• Proficient in qualitative analysis techniques (e.g. thematic analysis, coding framework)
• Communication and facilitation skills especially in conducting FGDs with diverse participants
• Ability to adjust tools and approaches in response to field conditions (e.g. closures and community hesitance)
• Fluency in Arabic and working proficiency in English (spoken and written). 

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.