Research Officer, NO-1, Harare, Zimbabwe #21136- Fixed Term Position, 1 Year (Open to nationals of Zimbabwe only)

Contract

This is a NO-1 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-1 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, a voice!

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.

The current UNICEF-Government of Zimbabwe Country Programme of Cooperation (2016-2021) aims to support Zimbabwe to sustain and build upon the gains achieved for children during the 2012-2015 Country Programme of Cooperation. The programme focuses on improving the quality of social services, increasing access to services, and helping to build national and sub-national capacities to provide low-cost, high-impact interventions for all children, especially the most vulnerable.

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?

A challenging and exciting opportunity has arisen within UNICEF Zimbabwe's the Social Policy Section for a passionate and committed Research Officer (NO-1). Under the close supervision of the Research and Evaluation Specialist, supports research and data collection exercises in the office for policy influencing, advocacy and public awareness. Conducts data collection and analysis to fill information gaps and to strengthen capacity for advocacy for children’s rights

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Data Driven Thematic Research for Advocacy

• Provide technical support to Thematic Research projects and ensure they meet quality standards, when necessary, provide assistance to seek expertise of knowledge institutions
• Facilitate and take part in conducting research initiatives on specific and substantive issues. • Contribute to the dissemination of knowledge, findings, conclusions and recommendations
• Review and provide technical comments on draft research proposal and reports.

2. Improving data collection and analysis for increased use for policy and programme action

• Supports research and the collection, analysis and user-friendly presentation of data on multidimensional disparities affecting children, including strengthening national data system capacity to collect routinely, report and use data for policy decision-making.
• Provides timely, regular data-driven analysis for effective prioritization, planning, and development; facilitates results-based management for planning, adjusting, in support of sections.

3. Facilitate use of data for evidence-based programming

• Develops, refines and manages data repository bringing together data from multiple sources into a coherent, visually appealing platform to inform national planning and budgeting decisions and enhance the effective delivery of national programmes delivering basic services affecting children and other vulnerable groups
• Provides technical support for systems strengthening and capacity development on data systems, including during the preparation and undertaking of national census and national surveys, as well as during data collection, analysis, report writing and dissemination
• Undertakes data analysis exercises in partnership with Programme Sections and other relevant partners involved in national surveys and data production

• Provides technical backstopping around survey development and analysis to UNICEF programme sections

• Provides support to programme staff to acquire data from national surveys and administrative sources for further analysis.

4. UNICEF Programme Management

• Helps manage and coordinate technical support around data and research, ensuring it is well planned, monitored, and implemented in a timely fashion so as to adequately support scale-up and delivery. Ensures risk analysis and risk mitigation are embedded into overall management of the support, in close consultation with UNICEF programme sections, Cooperating Partners, and governments.
• Supports and contributes to effective and efficient planning, management, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of the country programme. Ensures that the social planning project enhances policy dialogue, planning, supervision, technical advice, management, training, research and support; and that the monitoring and evaluation component strengthens monitoring and evaluation of the social sectors and provides support to sectoral and decentralized information systems.

Please refer to the attached job description for more information Research Officer Level 1 JD.pdf

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

• A University Degree in one of the following fields is required: Statistics, Operations Research, Agriculture, Economics, Demography, Epidemiology, Public Policy, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, or other relevant technical field.
• A minimum of one year of relevant professional experience is required.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered a strong asset.
• Background and other/ or familiarity with emergency is considered as a strong asset..
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of a local language is 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.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness
• Works Collaboratively with others
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships
• Innovates and Embraces Change
• Thinks and Acts Strategically
• Drives to achieve impactful results
• Manages ambiguity and complexity

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:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.