Applied Behavioural Scientist, MENARO, 11.5 months (home-based but with meetings at RO Amman).

Consultant Programme & Policy

Contract

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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, data.

The SBC section, in collaboration with the Data, Research and KM (DR&KM) Unit at UNICEF MENARO is seeking an individual full-time senior behavioural scientist to support the design, processes, data analysis, visualization, systematization, quality assurance and utilization of SBC related research and evidence conducted in MENA to improve programming outcomes and policy articulation, documentation and publication. The consultant, drawing from advanced academic training in behavioural sciences as well as applied social research, will provide technical guidance and methodological support for the development of specialized and high-quality SBC research and evidence products and actions that improve the scientific rigor of UNICEF SBC work in MENA countries and at the regional level. The consultant will support ongoing regional and national evidence efforts on immunisation demand, risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) evidence efforts to guide programming, as also support new and ongoing research and evidence actions on SBC and the regional accelerators particularly on immunization demand, community health and nutrition, gender, climate change, social policy and end EVAC (end violence against children) agendas

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the SBC Regional Advisor, MENARO, with a second reporting line to the Regional Advisor Monitoring (Data & Research) at MENARO, and working in coordination with the Senior Behavioural Scientist in UNICEF NYHQ, the Social and Behaviour Change Manager at UNICEF’s Innocenti Research Centre in Florence, the SBC Specialist- Monitoring and Research in UNICEF NYHQ, the senior scientist will be responsible for:

At the regional level, supporting programme sectors and the Data & Research team on applying behavioural sciences and research, with priority to immunization, health, gender, climate change, social policy and the EVAC agendas. Specifically:

(i) Guiding SBC data collection, management, analysis, and dissemination processes under upcoming study on climate related regional KAPB study. This includes review and support on selection of consultants.

(ii) Support the Immunisation team at RO on strengthening SBC as per evolving needs. This may also include technical support to countries through a systematic approach (framework of) to indicators and monitoring as well as improved evidence generation and application efforts.

(iii) Reviewing UNICEF’s Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (IMEP) entries on SBC for the region for quality assurance and following up with countries for support (up to 2-3 times a year)

(iv) Finalising/rolling-out evidence related products and behavioural design guides that are underway – behavioural insights guides for cash-plus programming, faith-based engagement, and SBC Package on CP standards for EVAC

(v) On a case-by-case basis following requests from sections:

▪ Supporting the development, review, adaptation of applied social and behavioural research methods and approaches as well as data collection across MENA region linked to the regional accelerators as well as humanitarian response. Supporting related processes with service providers and LTA holders for high quality behavioural data collection, management, analysis, quality assurance, validation, and utilization.

▪ Guiding or managing data analysis, visualization, and application of research findings across regional and country initiatives to inform regional programme and policy support actions. Coordinating, sharing, and validating results with other global and regional data and SBC applied research analysts and specialists.

▪ Guiding and/or self-implementing the preparation, and roll out/dissemination of analytical products, including national or regional cross-country analysis slide decks. Supporting the SBC RA and the team to prepare evidence-oriented slide decks for presentation. Contribute to UNICEF SBC research and evidence related global discourse and products.

▪ Supporting the identification and dissemination of good practices, innovations and lessons learned. Following latest developments and scientific research in the field to curate and disseminate advances in the field of SBC research within MENA.

Supporting country-level efforts to apply behavioural sciences and research, with priority to State Of Palestine, Yemen, Sudan, Iran, Djibouti, Syria, and Libya. Other countries may be added to the priority list, contingent on resources. Specifically:

(i) Providing technical assistance to priority countries to advance the application of applied behavioural sciences approaches and behavioural data generation including gender-disaggregated data analysis, presentation of papers in conferences etc across child rights/ accelerator areas.

(ii) Guiding country-level study designs, survey samples, statistical models, and other behavioral and data science applications for both development and emergency country context (e.g., Syria, Yemen, Sudan), including:

▪ Conducting data exploration exercises based on country level or multi-country level cases that harness primary and secondary data sources to inform SBC programming.

▪ Guiding design of social and behavioural approaches and (quasi)-experiments for UNICEF sectorial or cross sectorial interventions through application of behavioral insights, A/B testing, HCD, social sciences, and applied research frameworks.

▪ Participating in or supporting field missions to countries when relevant and where feasible

▪ Co-authoring research briefs, scientific articles, or other knowledge products based on the SBC research and evidence products and actions across the region.

(iii) Providing specific technical and methodological support on SBC monitoring and evaluation to countries including in the development/updating of data briefs, reports, comparison studies etc.

(iv) Drafting, reviewing, guiding, or contributing to SBC documentation and publications across countries including in peer reviewed journals.

(v) Guiding/organizing/supporting training and capacity development sessions for countries in coordination with other regions and global offices on SBC related research and evidence products and actions

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

• An advanced university degree (Master's), preferably a doctorate, in Social Behavioural Sciences, applied social research, statistics, communication for development or related fields. A minimum of 8-10 years of relevant professional experience in the specific area of applied social and behavioural sciences to improve development programmes and policy.
• Proven experience in the design, testing, and implementation of SBC research methodologies, data collection tools, measuring behavioral results, supporting/conducting experiments.
• Proven experience in behavioural data generation, analysis, visualization, and utilization to guide programme and policy design and actions.
• Proven experience in drafting technical guides, concept notes, or manuals as well as publishing in academic journals.
• Experience analyzing data from social monitoring systems, monitoring and evaluation work, or other survey work in developing countries.
• Advanced understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methods and ideally experience training others on these methods.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Arabic and/or French is an asset.
• Home-based. However, the consultant will be expected to attend key meetings in person in the office at no additional expense to UNICEF.

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.

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Added 3 hours ago - Updated 3 hours ago - Source: unicef.org