UNICEF: Research Support for Environmental Factors and Community Engagement in Lao PDR – Vientiane

Organization Mission

UNICEF, the United Nations Children”s Fund, is a global organization whose mission is to protect and promote the rights of every child. Established in 1946, UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to ensure that every child has access to basic needs such as education, healthcare, clean water, and sanitation. The organization”s primary objective is to provide assistance to children and mothers in developing countries, especially those affected by poverty, conflict, or natural disasters. UNICEF is committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations, which aim to end poverty, reduce inequality, and protect the planet. To accomplish its mission and objectives, UNICEF partners with governments, non-governmental organizations, and communities to advocate for children”s rights and provide life-saving assistance to those who need it most.

Context

UNICEF Lao PDR’s Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) and Adolescent Development and Participation (ADAP) programmes focus deeply on people—their behaviours, choices, and participation. However, what receives less systematic attention is how surrounding environments actively shape those behaviours and outcomes.

Drawing on emerging scholarship, this initiative treats nonhuman actors—such as physical infrastructure, seasonal conditions, air quality, spatial arrangements, and ecosystems—not merely as passive backdrops, but as active participants in social life. This study asks a critical question: What environmental factors in Lao programme areas enable or constrain community engagement and adolescent participation, and how can SBC/ADAP design actively account for them?

By joining this initiative, the Online Volunteer will directly contribute to how UNICEF designs more effective, context-aware interventions for children and communities in Lao PDR.

Key Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Social Behaviour Change Specialist, the Online Volunteer will support a focused study to develop an Environmental Actor Mapping framework, brief summary document and the opportunity to present their findings to stakeholders.

The Online Volunteer will support in:

– Review three documents: 1) UNICEF Lao PDR’s SBC (30 pages), 2) ADAP (15-20 pages), and 3) climate-related programme documents (15-20 pages) (including the Climate Strategy 2024–2026, field reports, and monitoring data).
– Identify where the environment currently appears as context versus an active shaper of outcomes.
– Conduct a targeted literature scan (10–15 sources) focusing on the environmental determinants of participation, built environments, social behaviour, and nonhuman agency in development practice.
– Using provided field reports, map non-human actors across 3–4 existing programme sites using available data (e.g., field reports, photographs, GIS data, and partner information where available). Identify and document key environmental factors for each site, including infrastructure, terrain, seasonal conditions, pollution, proximity to services, and built structures, and analyse how these elements may enable or constrain community engagement and programme participation.
– Synthesize findings to refine and finalize the Environmental Actor Mapping Framework and prepare a concluding briefing note with key insights and recommendations.

Expected Deliverables
Environmental Actor Mapping Framework: A practical, reusable 1–2 page tool with guiding questions and scoring criteria that SBC/ADAP teams can use to systematically scan for environmental shapers during intervention design.

Briefing Deck and/or Summary Document (7-10 slides): An evidence-grounded document outlining the background, methodology and actionable recommendations for SBC/ADAP integration.

Presentation of Findings (optional): Opportunity to deliver a 20-minute briefing followed by Q&A to UNICEF Lao PDR SBC and ADAP teams.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: Currently studying or recently graduated with a degree in Life Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Public Health, Natural Sciences, or a closely related field.

Thematic Knowledge: A strong understanding of environmental issues combined with a demonstrated interest in the social and behavioural dimensions of international development.

Research Skills: Strong desk research, synthesis, and structured observation skills. Ability to draw connections across different disciplines (e.g., merging environmental science with social behaviour).

Independence: Highly comfortable working independently and managing a tight 5-week project timeline.

Language Skills: Fluency in English (written and spoken) is required.