Social researcher to operationalize social science evidence for real-time emergency response - UNICEF South Asia (6months - Remote)

Contract

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Background and Rationale:

Communication for Development is part of UNICEFs Change Strategies, namely Programming for at-scale results for children and is an Output in the Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA) Regional Operations and Management Plan (ROMP).

With the declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic, UNICEF has been supporting national and subnational governments as well as other partners across South Asia to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 and reduce its impact on especially vulnerable communities using robust Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) approaches. In 2021 this includes providing technical support to the COVAX roll out and the demand generation and management that it requires. C4D ROSA has advanced strategic priorities during this pandemic linked to social and behavioral data and evidence, community engagement, M&E and knowledge sharing.

Social science knowledge and findings are crucial pieces of information to inform humanitarian response, providing decision-makers and program people with high quality social evidence, acknowledging the uniqueness of different contexts and informing approaches that must be tailored to fit. To make an impact on the emergency response, it must be embedded across all levels of the response, be operationalizable and presented in a timely and clear manner.

One of the regional C4D priorities since 2019 to date have been to root social and behavior change work in science and evidence. To this end, multiple evidence generation and analysis initiatives were launched, including Community Rapid Assessment (CRA), an initiative piloted in response to the need for social and behavioral data to inform RCCE approaches during COVID-19. CRA was piloted and implemented through a time-series approach using Interactive Voice Response (IVR) and/or Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) surveys. It has been providing an innovative and cost-effective way to gather rapid, longitudinal data on the drivers and barriers to people’s behaviors, their coping strategies and emerging needs. Implemented in 4 SAR countries, the CRA is producing representative and population sourced data.

COs have developed multiple social research initiatives to inform the pandemic response and programming:

• India: Behavioral Insights study, KAP study, Community Based Monitoring, Formative research, Barrier analysis, U-report surveys, social listening.
• Pakistan: KAP surveys, IoGT surveys, Quarterly Direct Observational surveys, Community Based Monitoring, national media landscape survey, social listening, FB study on women’s sentiments.
• Afghanistan: Perception and vaccine acceptance study, Community Based Monitoring.
• Maldives: Door-to-door survey and SM/observation survey planned.
• Nepal: Community Rapid Assessment, National pulse survey, Sentiment analysis, media monitoring.
• Bhutan: Planning KAP survey.
• Bangladesh: U-report surveys, KAP study in Cox’s Bazar.

While a growing demand for socio-behavioral data persists, challenges remain regarding their timely analysis and use, as well as more systematic feeding into the response pillars. ROSA C4D team position is that any study conducted should support program response, evidence being disseminated timely and in a concise and explicit format. With the increase in the severity and extent of the COVID 19 pandemic in the region, it became crucial to optimize and expedite the analysis and use of data for better strategic action, programming and course correction. In the same time the social research should be expanded to understand better the influence of COVID 19 on other sectors, such as education, child protection, nutrition etc. and to have a better view on behavioral drivers. This involves adjustment of research tools to make them more inclusive and comprehensive, a rapid analysis and correlation of data from different sources and production of short briefs for action.

C4D ROSA is seeking support for the Regional C4D team and COs in optimizing the generation, analysis and use of data for evidence-based decision-making and action.

Purpose:

The purpose of this consultancy is to support C4D ROSA team in operationalizing social science in real-time COVID 19 emergency response, by optimizing the generation, analysis, dissemination and use of data for evidence-based decision-making and action. The social researcher will strengthen internal C4D ROSA and COs systems for data collection tool adjustment, rapid manipulation, analysis, correlation, transformation and dissemination of social data internally and with partners, to guide RCCE and sectoral programming interventions during the COVID-19 response and beyond.

Key Assignments/Tasks:

• Coordinate with ROSA C4D and Evaluations teams for a rapid analysis of existing data and development of Social Data Briefs for Action and other modalities/formats of presenting social science knowledge and information for all pillars of the COVID response and other sectors, as well as the workflows.
• Identification of comparable data sets at regional level to analyses regional trends.
• Provide recommendations for deepening the data collection, analysis and correlation of socio-behavioral data collected from different sources and advise on more in-depth analysis tools and methodologies for COs and RO.
• Support C4D teams in ROSA and COs to identify social data and research gaps and asses the existing COs capacity to plan, lead and respond to social evidence needs for rapid and effective emergency response.
• Support in better positioning of C4D in social research planning and coordination in COs and RO.
• Support C4D ROSA in finding solutions for centralized social data storage and accessibility.

Key Deliverables:

• Social Data Briefs for action and other formats developed based on the existing studies (at least one per country and one regional – 9 in total). Recommendation on the workflows – total of 22 days (November 30, 2021)
• Report on comparable social data sets and presentation on regional trends – 8 days (on monthly basis)
• Data collection tools revised considering a more in-depth understanding of behavioral drivers. Recommendations for areas of improvement developed and their implementation supported – 40 days (continuous)
• Recommendations on mechanisms and contractual opportunities for region-wide data collection mechanism – 5 days (October 31, 2021)
• Recommendations to 4D teams in ROSA and COs to identify social data and research gaps and asses the existing COs capacity to rapidly and effectively plan, lead and respond to social evidence needs for the emergency response. ToRs for additional technical capacity as needed Research tools and methodologies adapted according to recommendations – 25 days (continuous)
• Recommendations in better positioning of C4D in social research planning and coordination in COs and RO – 5 days (continuous)
• Recommendations for centralized data storage and accessibility Dashboard structure and content developed, data stored properly – 25 days (continuous)

Duration: 6 months from the start of the contract.

Note: Please submit your applications with financial proposal. Applications without the financial proposal will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advanced to the next stage of the selection process. Also submit a concept note stating the candidate’s vision on the tasks described above.

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

Experience:

At least 5 years of proven experience in social or anthropological research

Previous experience with developing research tools and methodologies, focused on assessing behavioral drivers, social dynamics etc.

Experience in the region would be an advantage

Excellent writing, planning and coordination skills, with proven ability to work independently.

Education Qualifications:

Advanced university degree or equivalent experience in Social Science, Anthropology, Sociology, or any other relevant field. A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

Language Proficiency: Fluency in English is required, with strong communication and public speaking skills.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

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:

UNICEF does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.

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.