Humanitarian Policy Specialist (Research) (L-4) FT #103401 OoR Florence - Italy

The Office of Research-Innocenti (OoR-Innocenti) is the dedicated research office of UNICEF. It undertakes and commissions research on emerging or current issues of relevance for children in order to inform the strategic directions, policies and programmes of UNICEF and its partners. Social and Economic Policy (SEP) is a unit within OoR-Innocenti. SEP main lines of work include child poverty and equity; children’s wellbeing advocacy in high-income countries; and impact evaluations of cash transfers in low- and middle-income countries, with increasing attention to humanitarian settings.

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, Protection and Care

To view the exciting work we conduct on humanitarian research visit the link below

https://www.unicef-irc.org/research/humanitarian-research/

How can you make a difference?

Social and Economic Policy (SEP) is a unit within OoR-Innocenti. SEP main lines of work include child poverty and equity; children’s wellbeing advocacy in high-income countries; and impact evaluations of cash transfers in low- and middle-income countries, with increasing attention to humanitarian settings. 

You will report to the Chief of Social Policy & Economic Analysis (SEP), Office of Research-Innocenti (P5, #6759). You will be responsible for projects relating to social protection in humanitarian settings. You will support and continue to develop and expand the existing research program on social protection in humanitarian and forced displacement settings, especially cash transfers, as well as impact evaluation of other social policy interventions that combat poverty, inequality and exclusion of children in such settings at the Office of Research. You will support one of the most strategic streams of research at SEP, namely impact evaluations of cash transfers in humanitarian contexts, which comprises activities building on a portfolio of ongoing research joint with UNICEF Country Offices and in collaboration with the Transfer Project initiative (see: https://www.unicef-irc.org/research/273//).

To qualify as a/an [champion or advocate] for every child you will have…

• Advanced university degree in economics, public policy or related field, with specialization in advanced quantitative methods of data analysis, understanding equity and social exclusion or equivalent professional qualifications with specialized training in economics or public policy. PhD with research experience desirable
• Eight years of professional work experience in economic and social policy and in demographic statistics, including advanced statistical training in social sector data and multivariate analysis, management of data bases and social policy analysis. Extensive prior professional experience in economic and social research concerned with equity and social exclusion in humanitarian settings, with emphasis on at least one of the expected focal areas including adolescent wellbeing, cash plus designs and/or gender.
• Ability to supervise and mentor junior researchers and manage diverse teams engaged in collaborative research. Provide capacity building to junior researchers and policy makers on research and evaluation methodology and uptake.
• A strong record of professional publications in relevant academic and policy areas.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities

1. Support and expand the research programme on the impact of social cash transfers and related programmes/policies on poverty, human development, wellbeing and equity in humanitarian settings—in particular on key areas of focus including adolescent wellbeing, ‘cash plus’ designs and gender.  
2. Support on-going and lead and/or support new impact evaluations in emergency and forced displacement contexts, including general oversight and coordination among country office and researchers; contribute to study design, study tool development; participate in data collection trainings, fieldwork oversight; contribute to analysis and dissemination.
3. Identify other types of social protection initiatives and policy instruments that require cross-cutting actions and provide research insights, including quantitative and mixed method (quantitative/qualitative) impact evaluations, that improve the design and implementation of policy intervention that combat exclusion of children and that lead to their scale-up.
4. Contribute to the development and support of dialogue on the role that social protection, equity and exclusion policies have on children, adolescents and other vulnerable groups’ wellbeing in humanitarian contexts with relevant research and knowledge networks within and outside the organization, through quantitative empirical analysis of household and other forms of data, participation in relevant expert meetings and conferences and preparation of analytical written materials.
5. Participate in interdisciplinary research at OoR through involvement in selected cross-functional teams and consultations, providing technical inputs and comments to research at OoR from the perspective of poverty, wellbeing, equity and social exclusion in humanitarian settings.
6. Present OoR research findings to professional and policy audiences. Contribute to the research coordination, capacity building and quality assurance functions of the OoR.
7. Lead and/or support the design of rigorous experimental and quasi-experimental evaluations to study how cash transfers in such settings of emergency and/or forced displacement affect wellbeing outcomes among most vulnerable children.  Such evaluations will be in close partnership with country offices, governments and donors.
8. Prepare and contribute to the preparation of high profile reports, working papers, and peer-reviewed journal articles. Organize relevant meetings and workshops.
9. Contribute to the dissemination and exchange of knowledge for effective communication of key research findings and policy recommendations on issues and best practices related to poverty, wellbeing, equity and social exclusion policies affecting children in humanitarian and forced displacement contexts. 

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

See the UNICEF Competency Framework in the link below:

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service. This position is classified as "rotational" which means that you will be expected to rotate to another duty station upon completion of your Tour of Duty (5 years)

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