Consultancy - Implementation Research Consultant (Innovations in Education), West and Central Africa - Global Office of Research and Foresight - 12 months - Remote/Work from Home

o UNICEF Innocenti is seeking to engage a consultant to embed research into innovations in education programmes with a focus on the West and Central Africa region. Participatory mixed-methods research will be used to test innovations in education programmes with an aim to synthesize global lessons on how to best harness innovative education practices (including but not limited to digital learning).

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, answers

The Education section of UNICEF Innocenti - Global Office of Research and Foresight is seeking a remote-based consultant for an estimated 216 working days to support building implementation research into innovative education projects. The innovations in education research portfolio embeds implementation research into large-scale and cross-country innovative partnerships and programmes, these innovations include digital learning, low tech, and no tech solutions. The overall aim of the research portfolio is to inform improvements in innovations in education delivery to improve children’s learning, and to synthesize lessons across countries to build global public goods.

How can you make a difference? 

The implementation research consultant will support the implementation of education research on innovative projects by:
1. Developing of fit-for-purpose research plans for innovative education projects in countries in West and Central Africa. Currently research is ongoing in multiple countries including, Ghana, Guinea, and Cote D’Ivoire.
2. Adapting, contextualizing, and creating (when needed) data collection tools and protocols based on the research plans.
3. Supporting the implementation of the research strategy, related data collection and feedback loops, providing capacity building and trainings to partners on data collection and analysis.
4. Analysis of data, and research output writing to inform implementation and scale of innovations in education.
5. The consultant would work towards research across at least two research projects, one related to digital learning and another based on low / no tech education innovations.

Major areas of work and responsibility

1. Support to development and facilitation of research co-creation meetings coordinating with colleagues from various UNICEF offices.
2. Development of data collection tools in collaboration with implementing Ministries of Education, UNICEF Country Offices, Regional Offices, and partners.
3. Support the Innocenti – Education Manager and Research Specialist (Education) in provision of ongoing technical support to the implementation of research plans, supporting the implementing UNICEF Country Offices, Ministries of Education, and partners.
4. Data analysis and drafting of research outputs based on implementation research built into digital learning and low / no tech programmes.

Supervision

The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Education Manager

Methodologies and Tools

Software to be used and subscription required for data analysis: Stata 14 or higher

Conditions of Consultancy

The consultant should note the following:
1. This consultancy may require the consultant to travel in order to complete the required deliverables effectively and efficiently. Travel costs should NOT be included in the bid for the contract as travel costs will be provided at time of travel and approved by consultant’s direct supervisor. UNICEF Innocenti does not make travel arrangements for consultants. The consultant will arrange their own travel, clear the anticipated cost with UNICEF and invoice UNICEF for the travel cost as soon as the travel has been completed. UNICEF Innocenti will assist consultants with arrangements for visas, work permits, vaccinations, etc.
2. All other costs related to completing the deliverables such as hardware, required software, certificates/ subscriptions and associated running costs are expected to be factored into the proposed professional fees.
3. UNICEF does not regard Individuals engaged under a consultancy contract as “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures. Consultants are therefore not entitled to benefits such as leave, pension 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.
4. Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed 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. Prospective consultants are encouraged to ensure that they fully understand (a) the requirements of each deliverable and (b) the workload associated with reaching a deliverable.
5. UNICEF Innocenti recognises that, due to the locations of some of its research, events may occur that either delay deliverables or prevent them from being completed. These events need to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine the impact on the payment schedule of the contract. It is UNICEF Innocenti’s objective to be fair to consultants in situations where deliverables are delayed or no longer attainable through no wrongdoing of the consultant.
6. Consultants 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.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Economics, Social Policy, Education, Statistics or related social sciences.
• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional work experience at national or international levels in the design and implementation of rigorous research, with developing country-level experience essential.
• Experience in managing large rounds of data collection and related trainings; experience in using common online / offline data collection packages (e.g. ODK, Kobo, SurveyCTO).
• Strong data and analytical skills and extensive knowledge of common statistical software packages (e.g. STATA, R, SPSS).
• Demonstrated experience in both qualitative and quantitative research designs and methods, including experimental and quasi-experimental methods.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and excellent attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work well as part of a geographically dispersed team and to forge and manage partnerships.
• Commitment to UNICEF’s core values of care, respect, integrity, transparency, and accountability.

Desirable qualifications:

     • Written and oral communication skills in French.
     • Experience in education in emergencies and digital learning very desirable.
     • Experience working in countries in the West and Central Africa region.
     • Ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment; experience working in the UN or other international development                  organization.
     • Fluency in another UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish).

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 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.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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. 

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.