Implementation Research Specialist (Contractor) – Digital Learning (Europe and Central Asia) Home-based

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, Education

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The READ (Research on Education and Development) Unit at the UNICEF Office of Research - Innocenti aims to select one full-time individual contractor focused on mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative) implementation research to support its innovation in education evidence workstream.

The contractor will work towards producing policy-relevant research outputs and will support country offices and Ministries of Education (MoE) to build implementation research into ongoing digital learning programmes with a focus on countries in Europe and central Asia (ECA) region. Specifically, the individual contractor will support embedding mixed methods research into the implementation of the LearnIn the digital learning strategy of the ECA Regional Office along with supporting overall evidence generation activities across digital learning solutions operating in the ECARO region such as the UNICEF-Akelius Partnership and the Learning Passport partnership with Microsoft.

The individual contractor will work under direct supervision of the Education Manager in the READ Unit and closely with colleagues in the ECARO education team as well as country office and MoE colleagues from country offices to:

1. Improve overall evidence generation for digital learning programmes within the LearnIn strategy across the four focus countries and the ECARO region (Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia). 2. Produce policy relevant research and policy briefs/reports to inform and improve the LearnIn implementation in the region. 3. Support the ongoing coordination and implementation of research within the rollout of the LearnIn strategy and digital learning solutions (e.g. Akelius, and Learning Passport) at country level.

Scope of Work:

Provide technical assistance to country offices and Ministries of Education in developing mixed methods research design, data collection and monitoring system development and support to country level research and M&E around LearnIn implementation. a. Develop mixed methods research plans together with each country office team and Ministries of Education aligned with the LearnIn evidence generation plan. b. Support development of innovative data collection tools aligned with LearnIn research goals which could include (rapid learning assessments, phone-based surveys, digital data collection) in consultation with CO and RO priorities for learning. c. Provide technical assistance and guidance to the implementation of quantitative and qualitative methodologies for research -including but not limited to impact evaluation, behavioral and scaling science and implementation research- and ensure the use of their findings at country level.

Support the development of research uptake at country level and development of research needs a. Contribute to the development of new digital learning education research proposals working closely with RO and COs. b. Contribute to the overall research activities and to the use of their findings by policy and decision makers at country level. c. Participate in and/facilitate interdisciplinary research through involvement in selected cross functional teams and consultations d. Support research dissemination and use at country level and participate in networks of researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in the areas of education and learning.

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

-Advanced university degree in social policy, economics, education, statistics, or related social sciences. -A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional work experience at national or international levels in design and implementation of rigorous research, with developing country level experience essential (in ECA preferred) -Strong data and analytical skills and extensive knowledge of common statistics software packages (e.g. STATA, R, SPSS) -Demonstrated experience in both qualitative and quantitative research and evaluation designs and methods, including experimental and quasi-experimental methods. -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) an asset. -Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Spanish and excellent attention to detail. -Experience in education, technology, accessibility, and digital learning very desirable. -Experience working in ECA strongly desirable. -Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work well as part of a geographically dispersed team and to forge and manage partnerships. -Ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment; experience working in the UN or other international development organization an asset. -Fluency in English required, Fluency in another UN language an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

-Commitment to UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA). -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.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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 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. See General Terms & Conditions in the application portal.

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.

Depending on the type and length of contract, consultants may be eligible to receive Paid Time Off (PTO) credit at the rate of one- and one-half days (1.5 days) for each full month of service, to be credited on the last calendar day of the month, and up to 17 days for a maximum of 11.5 months contract.

Payment of professional fees shall follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee. Consultants will be asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including but not limited to lump sum travel, visa, health insurance and subsistence costs, as applicable.

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

Consultants and individual contractors traveling on behalf of UNICEF must meet the standard trip prerequisites, including but not limited to medical clearance and medical evacuation insurance coverage for the duration of the trip, obtain security clearance, be compliant with training requirements (BSAFE), arrange for own necessary visas, vaccinations and liability vaiwer where applicable. Trip prerequisites will be met at the expense of the consultant or individual contractor.

Travel costs to undertake any required fieldwork associated with this Consultancy will be covered by UNICEF’s Office of Research-Innocenti in accordance with UNICEF travel policy. The contract holder will be responsible for arranging their own travel and must be in line with UNICEF policy on entitlements for consultant travel. The consultant will be responsible to use the UNICEF approved airlines exclusively.