Vacancy Announcement from UNICEF : Social Science and Research Specialist
Social Science and Research Specialist
Description of assignment title : Social Science and Research Specialist
Assignment country : Nepal
Expected start date : 01/02/2022
Sustainable Development Goal : PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS
Volunteer category : National UN Volunteer Specialist
DoA reserved for persons with disabilities : No
Host entity : UNICEF
Type : Onsite
Duration : 12 months (with possibility of extension)
Number of assignments : 1
Duty stations : Kathmandu
Mission and objectives
UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.
In all of its work, UNICEF takes a life-cycle based approach, recognizing the particular importance of early childhood development and adolescence. UNICEF programmes focus on the most disadvantaged children, including those living in fragile contexts, those with disabilities, those who are affected by rapid urbanization and those affected by environmental degradation.
UNICEF was created with a distinct purpose in mind: to work with others to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child’s path. We advocate for measures to give children the best start in life, because proper care at the youngest age forms the strongest foundation for a person’s future.
We promote girls’ education – ensuring that they complete primary education as a minimum – because it benefits all children, both girls and boys. Girls who are educated grow up to become better thinkers, better citizens, and better parents to their own children. We act so that all children are immunized against common childhood diseases, and are well nourished: no child should suffer or die from a preventable illness. We work to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among young people because it is right to keep them from harm and enable them to protect others. We help children and families affected by HIV/AIDS to live their lives with dignity.
We are UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund.
Context
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, to defend their rights, and to help them fulfil their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.
Task description
Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Communication for Development Specialist, or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV Social Science and Research Specialist will:
Provide the following key functions/accountabilities:
1. Technical expertise and operational support to identify needs for social evidence and design effective social research in support of SBC.
2. Technical expertise and operational support to foster high quality implementation of priority SBC research.
3. Foster Knowledge Management (KM) and learning through broad dissemination of research findings to inform the design, measurement and monitoring of programs and outcomes.
Detailed tasks:
1. Technical expertise and operational support to identify needs for social evidence and design effective social research in support of SBC.
– Contribute to developing Terms of Reference, research tools, frameworks, and protocols for generating evidence to inform both development and emergency initiatives.
– Identify social data and research gaps, provide recommendations for deepening the data collection to support the achievement of programmatic and social and behaviour change objectives set by the office.
– Revise existing SBC data collection tools, formulate recommendations for areas of improvement.
– Support further development of the Community Feedback and Social Listening mechanism by identifying and including new sources of feedback, structuring the analysis, further improving the reports and briefs.
– Monitor and assess the impact of social and behavior change initiatives and activities on the CO and UNICEF goals and their contribution to achieve measurable behavioral and social change results for the improvement of children’s rights and wellbeing. Provide technical support in establishing monitoring mechanisms to collect, analyze and report on social and behaviour change indicators.
2. Technical expertise and operational support to foster high quality implementation of priority SBC research.
– Participate in conducting comprehensive analysis of evidence on social, communication, behavioural and other issues. Analyze and triangulate the data collected by the office, the partners and from different other sources, report on comparable social data sets and on identified trends and inconsistencies.
– Strengthen C4D and programme teams’ capacity to research, analyze and equitably address trends that drive social and individual behaviours and norms, using a wide range of approaches including, behavioural analysis, human centered design, social listening, behavioural insights, participatory research, and other quantitative and qualitative approaches.
– Identify and adapt innovative research and data collection methodologies and tools, to generate new and comprehensive data and knowledge tailored to the SBC and programmatic needs.
– Provide regular updates on progress and challenges in SBC research.
3. Foster Knowledge Management (KM) and learning through broad dissemination of research findings to inform the design, measurement and monitoring of programs and outcomes.
– Guide the development of research reports to present main findings in a clear and actionable way.
– Disseminate research findings and best practices and support exchange of experiences and uptake of new methods among government officials, programme staff and UNICEF partners.
– Propose and develop innovative presentation and dissemination formats, channels, and events, more appropriate for the specific SBC and programmatic and advocacy needs. Develop advocacy briefs, social data briefs, power point presentations on the main findings for sectors, partners, and general public.
– Through networking and proactive collaboration, build and maintain partnerships with national and international research agencies, academia, community groups to harmonize, link and/or coordinate evidence generation to enhance SBCC attribution and contribution to programmatic outcomes
– Assess and recommend potential contacts, networks, resources and multiple/social/digital media and tools to support maximum impact and outreach of UNICEF-supported research and SBCC initiatives.
– Support the development and implementation of capacity building initiatives, to enhance the research and use of data competencies of stakeholders/partners in SBC and across programme sectors.
– Support the establishment of behavioral insights lab in close collaboration with SBC partners, academia and government counterparts.
Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.
Eligibility criteria
Age: 27 – 80
Nationality
Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.
Requirements
Required experience
3 years of experience in Required Education Level: Master’s degree
Required Experience: 3 years
a) Education, qualifications, skills, experience, areas of expertise
– Master’s Degree in social and behavioral sciences, including anthropology, sociology, social studies, research methodology, communication studies/communication for development, psychology and/or related field is required.
– At least 3 years of professional work experience at the national and/or international level in qualitative and quantitative research and data collection, social development program planning, monitoring and evaluation, social and behaviour change or related areas at the national and/or large organization., or other relevant programmes;
– Experience working in the UN or other international development organization is an asset;
Specific Technical Knowledge Required
– Knowledge of research and analytical methodologies.
– Experience of practical application of both qualitative and quantitative approaches and using different research techniques.
– Able to design research projects, defining research questions and writing draft specifications.
Working knowledge of a range of research methods and an awareness of new innovative methods, including within the SBC field.
– Working knowledge of relevant data analysis packages, particularly SPSS and Excel, and qualitative packages.
– Working knowledge of ethical issues in research and of legal requirements surrounding research, particularly data protection.
b) Common Technical Knowledge Required
– Confidence in using Microsoft Office software.
– Accuracy and attention to detail for handling and analysing data and reporting research findings.
– Clear knowledge of the format and style required to report research results; able to report research information clearly in writing
– Report writing skills.
c) Technical Knowledge to be Acquired/Enhanced
– Understand the role and social research needs in support of the UNICEF-Government of Nepal Country Programme.
– Tailor approach and frames research output in a way that is directly relevant to the UNICEF and its partners needs
Area(s) of expertise
Community development, Development programmes, Economics and finance
Driving license
–
Languages
English, Level: Working knowledge, Required
Nepalese, Level: Fluent, Desirable
Required education level
Master degree or equivalent in social and behavioral sciences, including anthropology, sociology, social studies, research methodology, communication studies/communication for development, psychology and/or related field is required
Competencies and values
- Professionalism
- Integrity
- Teamwork and respect for diversity:
- Commitment to continuous learning:
- Communication:
- Planning and organizing:
- Flexibility:
- Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNICEF ROSA ‘s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.
Other information
Living conditions and remarks
As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan.
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy
Application end date: 19/01/2022
