National consultant for data collection for study on digital health platforms and services for young people in Thailand, UNICEF Thailand Country Office, Bangkok, Thailand, Job No

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 fulfilling 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, a better future

UNICEF works to ensure the rights of all children in Thailand also the East Asia and Pacific Region. This means the rights of every child living in this country, irrespective of their nationality, gender, religion or ethnicity, to:

• survival – to basic healthcare, peace and security;
• development – to a good education, a loving home and adequate nutrition;
• protection – from abuse, neglect, trafficking, child labour and other forms of exploitation; and
• participation – to express opinions, be listened to and take part in making any decisions that affect them

How can you make a difference?

The UNICEF Thailand Country Office is seeking a qualified national researcher to support a study on Thailand’s current digital health services and platforms for young people. This assignment is led by UNICEF, in collaboration with UNAIDS, UNESCO and UNFPA.

The consultant is expected to conduct the assignment in close collaboration with an international researcher identified by UNICEF, who will lead the design and analysis of the study.

The selected consultant is expected to have good knowledge of online health services for young people and demonstrate excellent literature review skills to synthesize data related to digital health services for young people in Thailand as well as the policy environment within which these services operate. The selected consultant must also have excellent skills in conducting key informant interviews, as they will engage with various Thai Ministries, especially the Ministry of Health and non-government health service providers to collect further insight. Additionally, the consultant will engage with young people who access/have accessed online services and platforms, to obtain their perspectives on their experiences with the use of existing online platforms. The consultant must therefore possess excellent skills in facilitating focus groups, especially with young people, including marginalized groups.

Work Assignment:

The main activities of this assignment include a review of Thai literature related to policies and online health services for young people implemented in Thailand; data collection based on the methodology and tools developed by an international consultant identified by UNICEF. The assignment can be summarized into four phases, as follows.

Phase 1: Onboarding with UNICEF and lead international consultant (March-April 2023)

In this phase, the selected consultant will be briefed by the international researcher with all relevant information to conduct the required activities within the assignment. The national researcher will be provided with the inception report to review, in preparation for a capacity building session run by the international researcher. They will also receive detailed information on the data collection tools to cover 2-3 half day sessions (to be scheduled in the afternoons within the BKK time zone). The national researcher will be briefed by the international researcher on the following: onboarding to study, orientation on desk review and how to address gaps; methodology to conduct on focus group discussions and key informant interviews; ethical guidelines.

Phase 2: Conduct a desk review of the Thailand policy landscape (March 2023)

In this phase, the selected consultant will conduct a desk review of the current policies introduced by the Thai government that influence and govern the purpose, nature, design and implementation of digital health services for young people. The search methodology and analysis framework will be provided by the international consultant. Direction towards specific policies may be provided by UNICEF and the Steering Committee. The write-up in the analysis framework will be in English. The national consultant will prepare a 1–2-page summary of the implications of the policy landscape for UNICEF-supported digital health platforms for young people, also in English.

Phase 3: Conduct desk review of Thai documentation to address gaps in mapping of Thai digital health services for young people (April 2023)

The international consultant will already have conducted a desk-based mapping of the existing digital health services for young people in Thailand, using documentation available in English. They will have identified gaps where documentation in Thai is required to complete the desk review and mapping.

The national consultant will address these gaps, using the methodology and analysis framework provided by the international consultant. The write-up in the analysis framework will be in English.

Phase 4: Conduct the FGDs and KIIs (April-May 2023)

The national consultant will conduct approximately 20 KIIs with stakeholders and youth. They will also conduct 6 focus groups with youth. The international consultant will provide all recruitment informed consent materials and discussion guides which will be translated into Thai by UNICEF. The national consultant will coordinate with UNICEF and the Steering Committee to recruit participants and manage the process of gathering informed consent using the ethical procedures and materials provided. Scheduling of interviews and logistics are responsibility of the consultant.

The national consultant will ensure audio recordings of the KIIs and Focus Groups (to be handled according to data management procedures provided) and will use the recordings to document accurate transcripts. They will then provide the transcripts in English, for analysis by the international consultant.

End Products and Deliverables:

The consultant is expected to deliver the following:

Deliverable 1: Write-up of Thailand policy landscape in analysis framework provided, with 1-2 page summary of implications for UNICEF-supported digital health services for youth

By 15 March 2023

Deliverable 2: Updated mapping analysis of existing digital health services in Thailand for young people

By 30 April 2023

Deliverable 3: English transcripts of 20 KIIs and 6 Focus Groups

By 31 May 2023

Duration of Contract: 30 days during a period of 3.5 months, from 15 February 2023 – 31 May 2023

Work Location:

• Home based, or any venue with regular communication via email /Skype/Zoom/MS Teams

• Consultant to use their laptop and other necessary infrastructure/equipment

Duty Travel: None.

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

Mandatory

• Advanced university degree in health policy and management, public health, public policy, social development, and other relevant fields. A doctorate would be an asset.

• At least five years of experience in providing technical assistance on health-related issues, including digital health.

• Experience of undertaking mapping and capacity analysis of health and public services

• Excellent understanding of assessment principles and methodologies, including capacity in an array of qualitative and quantitative assessment methods.

• A minimum of 5 research experience, including with international organizations.

• Experience in conducting evaluations for UN agencies or major bilateral donor country programmes, and familiarity with UNEG Norms and Standards.

• Excellent Thai and English report writing skills and a track record of producing high quality reports in English.

Desirable

• Experience of undertaking research (Focus group discussions or key informant interviews) with young people.

Interested candidates are requested to submit CV, full contact information of minimum 3 references, availability, and proposed monthly professional fee in USD and THB by 16 January 2023

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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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.

UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.