Implementation Research Specialist (Inclusive Digital Learning), Research on Education and Development (READ) Unit, Remote based

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, Education

Scope of Work:

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 children with disability. Specifically, the individual contractor will support embedding mixed methods research into the Accessible Digital Textbooks (ADT) initiative while ensuring data and evidence collected is aligned and useful for countries Education Sector Plans (ESPs) and aligned with UNICEF’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025.

The contractor will provide extensive technical support to three focus countries including Paraguay and Jamaica in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region and one country in the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) region, building research instruments and guidelines that are useful to other countries implementing the ADT in those regions. The individual contractor will work closely with colleagues in the Office of Research as well as across education and disabilities sections globally in the Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Office (LACRO) and Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO), as well as Country Office (CO) and MoE colleagues from countries implementing the ADP programme to lead the following activities:

1. Development of an overall M&E strategy built into the implementation of the ADT initiative, including developing overall objectives, indicators, baseline measures and methods, and data analysis plans. 2. Support in country implementation of the M&E strategy, related data collection and feedback loops, providing capacity building and trainings to in-country partners on data collection and data analysis. 3. Adaptation, contextualization, and creation (when needed) of data collection tools and protocols based on the M&E framework and the three-phased ADT methods and post-development implementation – with a focus on assessing learning outcomes. 4. Analysis of data collected by the UNICEF ADT team based on data collection and tools identified in the M&E strategy and framework. 5. Leading research report writing based on data analysis.

a. Provide technical assistance to UNICEF COs and MoEs in the design, implementation, and analysis of qualitative and quantitative research to generate evidence on the the ADT initiative. Including estimating the programmes impact on learning outcomes and identifying and documenting key steps and necessary conditions to effectively deliver and scale up the initiative. (85%)

• Develop an M&E strategy and framework for the initiative in consultation with the UNICEF ADT team. • Develop qualitative research plans including but will not be limited to: a pre-questionnaire for the multidisciplinary team core group (that could include the MoE, teachers, experts, and Disabled Persons Organizations from all disability groups), user testing and observation tools to test devices and ADT content, qualitative and quantitative surveys for principals, teachers and students tools to capture the impact of the program. • Design the protocols for data collection and protection, and lead trainings and capacity building activities for colleagues carrying out data collection. • Lead the coding and analysis and report/briefs writing.

b. Support the development of research uptake at country level and development of research needs. (15%)

• Contribute to the development of new digital learning education research proposals working closely with RO and COs. • Contribute to the overall research activities and to the use of their findings by policy and decision makers at country level. • Participate in and/facilitate interdisciplinary research through involvement in selected cross functional teams and consultations • 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 …

Minimum Qualifications required:

Advanced university degree in social policy, economics, education, statistics, or related social sciences.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

-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 LAC 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 LACR strongly desirable. -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. -Ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment; experience working in the UN or other international development organization an asset. -Fluency in English and Spanish required; Fluency in another UN language an asset

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.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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 General Terms & Conditions for Consultants and Individual Contractors.docx

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