SBC Data and Applied Research Analyst, Panama LACRO (Home-Based-Full-Time)

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, hope

Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) is a key component of UNICEF’s work and one of its change strategies. It is essential for long term and sustainable behavior and social changes that impacts the lives of children and adolescents, their families and communities. Social and Behavior Change results are central to the SDGs, and to UNICEF’s work and mandate and have been elevated as such on UNICEF’s Strategic Plan cycle 2022-2025.

In each sector, UNICEF objectives revolve around the adoption of positive and protective practices for children. And across sectors, SBC pursues the transformations needed to make societies more inclusive, equitable and peaceful. All these changes are SBC results and contribute to achieving Human Rights for Children and their communities.

Additionally, the UNICEF Social and Behaviour Change section is at the forefront of the COVID-19 response, ensuring the design of evidence-based SBC interventions. SBC interventions increasingly shape vaccine demand - particularly in the context of COVID-19 vaccine introduction and roll out -, the adoption and maintenance of preventive practices and the continuity of health, nutrition, HIV, child protection and education services uptake. It also plays a very important role in supporting community engagements processes, feedback and complaint mechanisms both at the humanitarian and development context.

The previous is sustained also in an on-going process of SBC of repositioning and progressive towards behavioral science, social science, and increased expertise in community engagement and development. One of the aspects of this repositioning requires the strengthening of the section technical capacity and the design, use, and support of specialized evidence systems for the section role across different sectors.

The LAC Region has an important gap on data from a cross sectoral viewpoint. More in particular, in health and protection post pandemic where there was an impressive need for data collection, analysis and reporting. Behind this gap resides a weak capacity of partners, SBC Staff and focal points in the Country Offices to collect, analyses and manage data for immunization programming.

UNICEF promotes the rights and welfare of all children and adolescents in everything we do. Together with our allies, we work in 190 countries and territories to transform this commitment into practical actions that benefit all children, especially focusing our efforts on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded, worldwide.

The UNICEF Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office is based in Panama, operating in 36 territories, including 24 country offices.

UNICEF works to put the rights and well-being of the most disadvantaged children at the heart of the social, political, and economic agenda, in line with our equity focus, working across our organization and with our partners in government, civil society and the private sector to support shifts in public policy, fuel social engagement, and increase investment for children. For more information about UNICEF and its work. (www.unicef.org/lac)..)

How can you make a difference?

The Regional SBC section, UNICEF LAC Regional Office (LACRO) is seeking an individual consultant to provide support on the design, collection, data analysis and management of the regional UNICEF’s Social an Behaviour Change data collection and evidence systems; including but not limited to population surveys; community rapid assessments and other mobile phone based surveys; social listening tools; Knowledge, Attitude, Practice and Behaviours (KAPB) studies; behavioral insights designs; qualitative designs including observational studies, and mixed-methods approaches around vaccine hesitancy and demand generation, tests and treatment.

The main purpose of this role is for the consultant to support the development of SBC specialized high-quality data and evidence systems that improves the scientific rigor of UNICEF work in countries and at the regional level, and to particularly design, develop, and manage data collection tools, data visualizations, reporting products, and data management systems, as elements of a regional data evidence system in 24 country offices. The consultancy purpose is to also provide technical and methodological support to the regional office SBC section on data systems and applied research, including on study design, sampling, modelling, and on behavioral and data science applications.

Specific Tasks:

Under the supervision of the SBC Regional Advisor/Specialist, the Data and Applied Research Analyst will be responsible for:

• Needs assessment on data gaps for SBC sectorial programmatic and humanitarian programming from the SBC staff and focal points. The assessment will also look into the technical capacity required measures to address those gaps.
• Assisting in the development or adaptation of SBC data collection tools.
• Support in the selection of data collection, data management, and data analysis service providers.
• Design, produce, and roll out data analysis and report products, including dynamic dashboards on PowerBI/R/Python or other specialized data analytics software; PPTs; print outs; national or regional crosscountry analysis slide decks; and partake in SBC publications as data and applied research expert in the areas of the consultant work.
• Provide specific support on SBC monitoring and evaluation of processes including in the development/update of data briefs and comparison studies.
• Manage SBC data collection, data management, and data analysis processes under the office purview and support in related processes with service providers and LTA holders on these areas; including on data quality assurance, validation, storage, and required data pre-processing prior delivery to SBC.
• Interpret data and applied research findings and communicate results, limitations, and ideas relevant to SBC programming and UNICEF relevant sectors, including in the preparation of high—level products for senior management and high-ranking public officials.
• Participate in global Data and M&E coordination spaces to coordinate, share, and validate results with other global and regional data and SBC applied research analysts and specialists.
• Provide 1-year work plan on required direct technical support to the COs, including in the development and provision of capacity and skills workshops, technical resources, and implementation guidelines, as identified from the needs assessment.
• Monitoring and Evaluation framework for the creation and implementation of a regional SBC evidence generation system to support the roll out of risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) strategy to promote the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatments in the region, and to build the capacities of civil society, community health actors and the social service workforce in relevant programmatic areas, such as community engagement and interpersonal communication.

Expected Results:

• Provide needs assessment on data gaps and capacity building
• Provide 1-year work plan on required direct technical support to the COs
• Assist and support capacity enhancement of the country offices with data management of RCEE on demand generation from the entire cycle (collection, methodological analysis and framework)

Deliverables / Description****Duration****Expected DeadlineNeeds assessment on data and M&E gaps for SBC sectorial programmatic and humanitarian programming from the SBC staff and focal points:

1. Research Plan, including scheduled meetings and identified persons of interest for the assessment.
2. Early Draft of Assessment Needs Report, including early findings and suggested approaches
3. Advanced Draft of Assessment Needs Report, including an early draft of findings presentations and proposed sample standard visualizations to be later implemented on all COs Needs report include feedback from involved COs.
4. Final Draft and workshop presentation of findings with a consultant-led discussion on required measures to address gaps.

20 days 10.09.20221-year workplan on required SBC data and M&E technical support to the COs:

1. 1-year work plan (2022-2023) on required direct technical data and M&E support to the COs, including in the development and provision of capacity and skills workshops, technical resources, and implementation guidelines. The workplan should specify a sequence of priority countries with whom to start in the first 3 months.
2. Workshop calendar for priority countries to whom Consultant will provide direct technical support online for 24 countries and in locu capacity building to Haiti, Guyana, and East Caribbean countries.
3. More on the capacity building includes:
   1. Workshop themes
   2. Resources required
   3. Identified UNICEF and external partners
4. Priority Countries Capacity Building Short report on issues identified on approach, lessons learned, and best practice to include for next batch of COs.

30 days15.10.2022Monitoring and Evaluation framework for the creation and implementation of a regional SBC evidence generation system:

1. Early draft M&E framework, including:

a. Indicator selection

b. Output and outcomes selection

c. Verification Approach

2. Advanced draft M&E framework, with:

a. Matched indicators to UNICEF Corporate/Results Indicators

b. Validated outputs/outcomes with supervisor and other relevant UNICEF personnel (PME, SBC M&E, T4D, etc)

c. Specified verification sources and data collection tools and methodologies to be implemented

3. Final Draft and workshop presentation of framework for supervisor and relevant UNICEF personnel to discuss and finalize framework for implementation.

20 days10.11.2022To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Education: Master’s degree in Statistics, Applied Math, Data Science, Public Affairs, Social Sciences, Economics, or any other related field. A first level university degree in combination with 5 years additional qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree if relevant
• Work Experience:
  • Seven (7) years responsible work experience in social sciences research and data analysis, preferentially including experience in/with developing countries, with practical experience in developing methodologies and tools to inform action/programmes/ policies.
  • Experience designing applied research applications, and in the implementation of systemic approaches for evidence generation in public affairs.
  • Experience in the preparation of research notes and memos, thematic reports, or academic journal publications in Social and Behaviour Change, demographics, or emergency programming is an asset.
  • Experience analyzing data from social monitoring systems, monitoring and evaluation for program work, other population surveys or applied research in developing countries.
  • Experience with statistics methods such as forecasting, time series, hypothesis testing, classification, clustering or regression analysis. • Substantive experience performing data extraction, cleaning, and analysis for medium to large datasets is required.
  • Substantive experience creating reporting and monitoring data systems and products, including dynamic visualizations and dashboards with underlying data connections, is required.
  • Experience using statistical computer languages and data visualization in R, Python, Power BI is considered an asset.
  • Experience working with the UN and/or one of its entities is an asset.
  • Field experience in development or humanitarian operations is an asset
• Languages: Oral and written proficiency in Spanish and English. Knowledge of French and Portuguese languages is considered an asset. *Please note language levels used in UNICEF are fluent, proficient, intermediate, and basic.
• Other skills:
  • Ability to communicate complex research and data science ideas to nontechnical audiences.
  • Ability to work cross functionally to define problem statements, examine collected data, build analytical models and communicate final recommendations that drive decision making.
  • An inquisitive and creative mindset and excellent written and verbal communication skills for coordinating across teams, countries and regions.
  • A Team Player mentality and desire to collaborate with multicultural and diverse colleagues
  • Excellent project management skills and capacity to work independently.
  • Motivation to join UNICEF at a key moment in which Social and Behavioural Data is becoming even more central to drive change.

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.

UNICEF competencies: building 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.

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

Administrative details:

Supervision: The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Social Behaviour Change Specialist.

Workplace: Home-based

Insurance: The selected contractor must demonstrate a proof of medical insurance prior to the beginning of the consultancy and must be valid for the entire duration of the contract. In duty stations where UNICEF provides medical evacuation, the medical insurance that the contractor holds should include provisions for medical evacuation

How to Apply? Application should be submitted online and should include: Resume, Cover Letter, University Diploma and Financial proposal. Qualified candidates are requested to submit daily and monthly fees in their financial proposal.

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.

Duration of contract: From August 15, 2022 to November 25, 2022 (estimated duration of 70 days)

Vacancy Announcement Remarks:

Please note only short-listed candidates will be contacted. UNICEF reserves the right to make additional assessment of the pre-selected candidates, if needed 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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and 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.

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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. The candidate may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid).