Research & Evaluation Officer, NO-2, Harare, Zimbabwe

Provide strategic support on statistical system and child rights research.

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Application deadline 7 months ago: Sunday 16 Nov 2025 at 21:55 UTC

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Overview

Provide strategic support on statistical system and child rights research.

You have:

  • An University Degree in the social sciences, economics, public policy, statistics, operations research, or in research methods is required. A degree or certification/accreditation in Evaluation is a significant advantage
  • A minimum of two years of professional experience in programme planning, management, and/or research in education is required.
  • Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.
  • Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
  • Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of a local language is an asset.

Contract

This is a NO-2 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-2 contracts.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, a fair chance.

UNICEF has been operating in Zimbabwe since 1982. We are a team of passionate professionals committed to the protection and fulfillment of children’s rights.

Supporting the Government’s vision of a prosperous and empowered upper-middle-income society, the country programme is aimed at contributing to sustainable socioeconomic development that provides all children, including adolescents, with opportunities to fulfil their potential, lead a healthy life, access quality learning and protection and meaningfully participate in society.

For more information about UNICEF Zimbabwe please click here

You can also access and explore all new UNICEF vacancies and create job alerts via the UNICEF Zimbabwe website link below:

https://www.unicef.org/zimbabwe/work-us

How can you make a difference****?

UNICEF Zimbabwe seeks to hire a passionate and dedicated Research and Evaluation Officer for their Social Policy Team. The incumbent will provide strategic support to the country office work on statistical system strengthening, situation monitoring, data, research and evaluation on child rights and poverty. He/she ensures that the Research standards, as well as the UNEG Norms and Standards for evaluations as well as UNICEF evaluation coverage benchmarks and quality standards are upheld.

Purpose for the job:

The Research and Evaluation Officer :

  • Conducts strategic research and analysis on child poverty and emerging issues with the objective of generating evidence to inform policy advocacy, planning, budgeting and programming.
  • Coordinates UNICEF support to national statistical system strengthening to ensure high quality national estimates on key child indicators, including capacity building on specific areas of data analysis and strengthening mechanisms for SDG monitoring.
  • Supports development and strengthening of M&E frameworks for key national policies and plans, including capacity building for government.
  • Supports country office research and evaluation oversight, quality assurance and capacity building.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

  • Evaluation and Research Planning
  • Technical Support to Evaluation and Research Implementation
  • Data Management and Use
  • Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Strengthening
  • Coordination and Networking

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Research and Evaluation Officer NO-2 134043 JD.pdf

Minimum requirements:

Education:

  • An University Degree in the social sciences, economics, public policy, statistics, operations research, or in research methods is required. A degree or certification/accreditation in Evaluation is a significant advantage

Work Experience:

  • A minimum of two years of professional experience in programme planning, management, and/or research in education is required.
  • Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.
  • Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
  • Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered an asset.

Language Requirements:

  • Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable qualified with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Potential interview questions

Can you describe a time when your research positively influenced a program or policy? This question assesses your ability to connect research with practical outcomes. Share a specific example where your research led to actionable insights.
How do you ensure quality and accuracy in your data analysis? The interviewer wants to know about your attention to detail and analytical skills. Pro members can see the explanation.
Describe your experience working with government agencies on research projects. Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What strategies do you use for building capacity among team members or stakeholders? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you prioritize research topics in a resource-limited setting? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Can you give an example of a complex evaluation you conducted and its outcome? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What methods do you use to share research findings with non-technical audiences? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you keep current with developments in child rights and research methodologies? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 7 months ago - Updated 7 months ago - Source: unicef.org