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 HOPE! 

Vacancy Announcement: Consultant

Consultancy Title: Data Analyst Consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station:  Evaluation Office – NY HQ

Duration: September 1, 2025 to January 31, 2026

Home/ Office Based: Remote 

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/Assignment: 

The mission of the UNICEF evaluation function is to help drive results for children by fostering evidence- informed decision-making. Evaluation in UNICEF supports both learning and decision-making, which in turn support better results for children. The evaluation function conducts a diverse set of independent, credible and impartial corporate thematic, institutional effectiveness, humanitarian, country-led, impact and joint evaluations to ensure UNICEF uses evaluation evidence to improve outcomes for children.

Evaluation at UNICEF is a largely decentralized function with senior-level regional evaluation advisers and multi-country evaluation specialists based in the seven UNICEF regional offices, as well as dedicated country evaluation specialists and evaluation focal points in the UNICEF country offices around the world. The UNICEF Evaluation Office serves as the steward of the UNICEF evaluation function and is located at the New York headquarters. The director of evaluation provides strategic leadership to the global evaluation function at all three levels of the organization.

In 2023, the Evaluation Office (EO) launched the UNICEF Evaluation of Impact Strategy and Action Framework 2022–2025, which sets the institutional priorities and vision for a harmonized and strategic approach to the generation and use of impact evidence at UNICEF.

As part of the effort to provide technical assistance in impact evaluation to UNICEF Country Offices (COs), the EO team has partnered with Mozambique CO to implement the impact evaluation of the Improving Child Nutrition and Building Resilience programme in Post-Cyclone Affected Areas in Sofala. The evaluation will identify the impact of programme activities on a series of nutritional and health indicators at households, caregiver, and child level. The impact evaluation will follow a mixed-methods approach, with the qualitative component aimed at providing a deeper understanding of Coherence and Relevance of the programme, as well as the programme’s contribution to building resilience in Muaza, Gorongosa, and Chemba.

The purpose of this consultancy is to lead the design and implementation of qualitative data collection and analysis. The consultant(s) will report to the Evaluation Manager and contribute to the drafting of the final report. Considering the amount of work required by the assignment, the consultant is expected to receive support from assistant(s) in the form of United Nations Volunteers (UNVs) – employed by the Mozambique country office – to conduct data collection activities

Scope of Work: 

The consultant under the supervision of the Evaluation Specialist, Evaluation Office will design and implement qualitative data collection and analysis and be expected to:

• Draft interview guides for focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs)
• Plan qualitative data collection in the districts of Muaza, Gorongosa, and Chemba for a total of 18 FGDs
• Plan qualitative data collection among programme stakeholders for a total of 20 KIIs
• Train UN volunteers to support the consultant during data collection activities. The required training will be minimal and assignment-specific as UNVs are already versed in qualitative data collection.
• Support qualitative data collection (expected to be completed by the mid-September, 2025)
• Clean, coding, and analyzing qualitative data
• Draft sections of the final report in accordance to the results of their analysis and that of the quantitative component
• Report to the evaluation manager.
• Support in drafting dissemination material (one slide deck and one evaluation brief)

The duration of this assignment is 5 months between 1 August 2025 and 31 December 2025. The location of the assignment is remote, although the consultant is expected to be based in Mozambique to conduct data collection.

UNICEF reserves the right to terminate this contract without notice due to unsatisfactory performance or to misconduct by the consultant, as UNICEF may determine in its absolute discretion. Payment will also cease on the day of termination. 

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

Draft interview guides for semi-structured interviews and key informant interviews with stakeholders.

• Draft interview guides for focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs)

September 15, 2025

Draft a qualitative data collection plan that includes travel to designated districts, FGDs with community members, and KIIs with stakeholders (to be conducted either remotely or in person)     

• Draft qualitative data collection plan

September 15, 2025

Train UN volunteers before the start of data collection. The required training will be minimal as UNVs are already versed in qualitative data collection.    

• UNVs trained to support FGDs and conduct KIIs

September 22, 2025

After data collection, translate (if needed), clean, code, and share qualitative data

• Conduct data collection; Produce qualitative dataset (transcripts and recordings)

October 30, 2025

Analyze qualitative data and present results in a digestible and ready to use manner.       

• Qualitative data analysis

November 15, 2025

Drafting of specific sections of the final report (i.e. results, discussion, literature review) 

• Draft of qualitative results, and part of the discussion section

December 30, 2025

Support in drafting dissemination material        

• Results part of slide deck; Results part of brief.

January 30, 2025

Qualifications

(1) Education

Advance university degree (Masters) in Economics, Social Sciences, Health sciences

(2) Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• Over 10 years of professional experience designing, implementing, and managing qualitative studies of the maximum rigour.

• Solid technical expertise in qualitative research/evaluation methods used for identifying and measuring impacts.

• Proficiency in the design of survey tools and qualitative data collection among women and children as well as vulnerable groups.

• Substantive experience in training enumerators and supervising data collection activities.

• Proficiency in using qualitative analysis software (e.g. MAXQDA, ATLAS.ti, etc.)/

• Demonstrated knowledge of the current evidence and previous research on food security and nutrition, with experience with standard food security and nutritional indicators.

• Familiarity with UNICEF programmatic mandate.

Additional competences

• Delivering data analysis and evaluations under tight deadlines and through multi-stakeholder consultative process.
• Excellent abilities in presenting technical information to a non-technical audience, including excellent drafting and presentation skills in English.
• Research or technical work experience in Southern Africa, particularly Mozambique.

Language requirements

• Proficiency in English is required.
• Proficiency in Portuguese is required.

Geographical requirement

• Based in Mozambique

Requirements: 

Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and

• Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :
  • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • 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.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

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 

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.  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.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, are encourage to apply 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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (if applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract.

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.