Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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, Research

How can you make a difference?

1. Background: The UNICEF Office of Research (OoR), Innocenti undertakes research- and study- related activities to ensure that high quality research contributes to evidence-informed policy making within UNICEF activity programming as well as to evidence informed policy design by its partners. The Social & Economic Policy (SEP) team undertakes research on social and economic issues that affect children globally with a strong emphasis on informing policy.

SEP is working in partnership with UNICEF’s Regional Office for Europe & Central Asia (ECARO) to deliver Phase 3 of the European Union’s preparatory work for a Child Guarantee. Phase 3 is entitled “Testing the child guarantee with the aim of ending child poverty and social exclusion for all children in Europe”. The overall objective of the Child Guarantee is to ensure that every child in Europe at risk of poverty has access to free healthcare, free education, free childcare, decent housing and adequate nutrition. Phase 3 runs for two years to the end of June 2022.

2. Objective(s): The objectives of the consultancy are to contribute to a programme of work involving: (a) a meta-analysis of policies and strategies in the EU 27 aimed at tackling poverty and social exclusion; (b) support more detailed analysis (‘deep dives’) in seven selected countries; (c) undertake operational research on aspects of the implementation of the programme of work in four countries – Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece and Italy; and (d) contribute to longer term data-gathering and monitoring of child poverty and social exclusions within the EU.

3. Specific activities to be completed to achieve the objectives: Under the guidance of the supervisor, the consultant will be responsible for contributing to all the activities that lead to the delivery of the products listed below: 1. Contribute to preparing a report on the meta-analysis (end of March 2021). 2. Develop, coordinate and undertake first phase of operational research in four implementation countries (February 2021 to October 2021). 3. Develop a proposed high-level monitoring indicator framework for the ongoing Child Guarantee work (April 2021 to October 2021). 4. Develop plans for second phase of operational research (November to December 2021). 5. Undertake other related work related to poverty and social exclusion within the SEP team consistent with the overall aim of the contract.

4. Duration of the consultancy:

The consultant will work up a maximum of 20 days per month during the period from 1st February 2021 to 30th November 2021 and a maximum of 10 days up to 15th December 2021.

5. Supervision and work arrangements:

The consultant will work under the supervision of the Social & Economic Policy Manager (Child poverty and well-being).

The location of the consultancy is flexible. The consultant is normally expected to work on weekdays during usual office hours (between 8am and 6pm CET) although flexibility is possible and sometimes required. Any teleworking and flexible working arrangements would be arranged and need to be agreed by the supervisor.

Long-term consultancies in the office are able to take the equivalent of 1.5 days annual leave per complete working month and the locally agreed UN holiday days (10 per year). The latter need to be taken on the specified day and cannot be accumulated.

6. To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have the following qualifications/experience:

Essential - A relevant Master’s degree; - Demonstrated experience of conducting research related to poverty and social exclusion; - Demonstrated experience of producing high-quality reports and other documents to specified deadlines; - Demonstrated experience of working with a range of stakeholders including policy makers, practice-based organizations and non-governmental organizations; - Excellent qualitative analysis skills; - Good quantitative/statistical and analytical skills; - Excellent interpersonal skills; - Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships both within and outside the organization; - Ability to organize and conduct work to deadlines with limited supervision; - Ability to communicate fluently in English in writing and verbally. Desirable: - Experience of operational research; - Experience of designing and coordinating data collection exercises; - Experience of working with cross-national bodies.

7. For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

Competencies:

• Builds and maintains partnerships;
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness;
• Drive to achieve results for impact;
• Innovates and embraces change;
• Manages ambiguity and complexity;
• Thinks and acts strategically;
• Works collaboratively with others.

View our competency framework at 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.

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.