Consultancy – Qualitative Researcher (Women in Learning Leadership workstream) – Global Office of Research and Foresight – approx. 223 working days (Remote/Work from home)

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, answers

The Education Section of UNICEF Innocenti is implementing the Women in Learning Leadership (WiLL) programme in partnership with IIEP-UNESCO and the Gender at the Center Initiative (GCI). This programme examines the underrepresentation of women in school leadership positions and the extent to which the gender of school leaders affects learning outcomes. The project uses mixed-methods research to examine the various contextual, cultural, societal and structural barriers preventing women from advancing into school leadership roles. It also analyzes differences in learning and education outcomes between schools led by women and men, generates evidence on the effective leadership and management practices school leaders adopt that contribute to these differences, and investigates how these can be implemented in more schools.

How can you make a difference? 

The main objective of this consultancy is to support the qualitative component of the WiLL programme. This includes:
• Support the design and development of qualitative components of WiLL research, including the development of analytical frameworks and processes for qualitative data collection.
• Contribute to literature reviews and policy and institutional analyses across project countries.
• Develop data collection instruments and support related ethical board submissions.
• Support the training and management of local enumerators hired for qualitative data collection.
• Support qualitative data cleaning, coding, and analysis.
• Support research co-creation meetings and communication with in-country partners (e.g., Ministries of Education, Country Offices, etc.).
• Contribute to the production and dissemination of mixed-methods reports summarizing key findings, messages, and policy recommendations together with the WiLL team.

The consultant will support this work in four countries. This first country is Chad. The remaining three (Country B, Country C, and Country D) will be any from a pool of the following possible countries: Mali, Niger, Guinea, Ethiopia, Ghana, and South Sudan. The specific countries of operation depend on each country’s progress timeline and will be determined at the start of the consultancy.

Major areas of work and responsibility

WiLL is implemented in each country through several phases. The first two phases focus on analysing the policy framework and administrative school census data. The third phase consists of the collection and analysis of primary data collected in schools. Beyond this, the project includes ongoing dissemination and co-creation with policymakers. The qualitative consultant will work with the broader WiLL team to perform the following key activities:

• Organizing and participating in co-creation workshops with Ministry of Education officials and key partners and continuous engagement with these stakeholders.
• Supporting literature reviews on various topics and country contexts to bolster the primary data analysis.
• Designing the qualitative component of the research, including contextualizing the analytical framework, preparing instruments, identifying the sample, and developing an analysis strategy.
• Supporting the implementation of primary data collection by managing the local data collectors/firm, providing them regular support and conducting quality assurance of data being collected.
• Supported the drafting of ethical review board applications for the research.
• Analyzing the primary qualitative data collected (including coding transcripts and preparing analytical and thematic memos).
• Writing reports, policy briefs or other outputs based on the data analysis and the literature on the topic.

Supervision
The consultant will work under the direct supervision of an Education Research Specialist in the Education Section.

Methodologies and Tools
• Methodologies to be used: Qualitative research and data analysis
• Software to be used for data analysis: Nvivo and Microsoft Suite
• Subscriptions that will be required: Nvivo license, which UNICEF Innocenti will provide.

For further information, please see the full Terms of Reference: GoRaF_ToR_WiLL Qualitative Researcher July 2024.pdf

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Education, Psychology, Sociology or related Social Sciences.   
  *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. 
• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional work experience at national or international levels in the design and implementation of rigorous research, with developing country-level experience preferred.
• Previous experience in qualitative or mixed-methods research and methods.
• Demonstrated qualitative research skills, including data analysis, data collection methodologies and qualitative instrument development.
• Strong verbal communication/ teamwork skills and demonstrated ability to work well in a geographically dispersed, multicultural team.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and French are required.
• Commitment to UNICEF’s core values of care, respect, integrity, transparency, and accountability.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset. 

Fluency in English and French are required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

Desirable qualifications:
Experience working in sub-Saharan Africa is strongly desirable.

Previous experience researching gender topics is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate:

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

 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.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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. 

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. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.