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Job organizational context The Office of Research-Innocenti (OoR) is the dedicated research office of UNICEF. It undertakes and commissions research on emerging or current issues of relevance for children to inform the strategic directions, policies and programs of UNICEF and its partners. The Office explores emerging issues, identifies research gaps, brings together existing researchers, and supports or undertakes research and data collection to address critical questions to inform global debates.
Purpose of the post With over 152 million children engaged in child labour globally, many of whom work under exploitative and hazardous conditions, there is an urgent need to renew efforts and identify effective strategies to meet international commitments to end child labour in all its forms by 2025 (SDG 8.7).
In response to this, OoR has secured a four-year research grant (2019-2023) to examine and provide evidence on the prevalence, trends and interlinkages between child labour and education in India and Bangladesh. The research focus is aimed at (1) building evidence on the determinants of the intersections between child labour and education as they affect boys and girls at the level of policies, programmes and systems, and (2) piloting and/or evaluating a range of interventions in these two areas.
The research project will use a gender lens to examine children’s’ contextual pathways through work, school and transitions to adulthood (marriage, gainful employment); and assess the specific needs of vulnerable groups including internal migrants, street children. Working with partners, the project will foster collaboration, engage in dialogue and strengthen capacity with in-country researchers, and develop new lines of inquiry on effective ways to address child labour through enhanced education policies, programmatic strategies and systems. Work under this research project will inform and support the wider focus of OoR on issues of the protection of children from child labour and child exploitation globally, and feed into other work across UNICEF offices globally on these themes.
Under the supervision of the Chief, Research on Child Rights and Protection, the incumbent will be responsible for leading data, research and technical work in areas related to ending child labour through multi-sectoral strategies, with specific emphasis on education; leading, co-ordinating, planning and managing the day-to-day operations of the research study and supporting related research portfolios on labour and exploitation of children; establishing and working with strategic partners (external/internal) to develop, communicate and disseminate research finding for the project; and working across UNICEF and other partners to promote linkages between research, programming and advocacy on child labour and exploitation.
III. Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks Under the direct supervision of the Chief – Research on Child Rights & Protection, the staff member will be responsible for the following activities:1.Providing research and technical assistance on child labour and child exploitation, with specific emphasis on interlinkages with education and more broadly in areas of child rights and protection•Developing research strategies and providing technical assistance on research design, development and implementation of research protocols, methodologies (survey design, data collection and management) and analyses to meet the research objectives of the study.•Being the focal point/resource person to identify and address strategic developments, opportunities and evidence gaps on issues of child labour, including the worst forms; and educational strategies to mitigate child labour and the exploitation of children.•Providing research and technical assistance in cross-team (Innocenti, NYHQ, Regional and Country Offices) research activities of OoR and working more broadly in areas of child rights and protection, migration etc, as needed.
2.Leading, co-ordinating and managing the research study, including:•Ensuring overall project management, including day-to-day management of research operations, including project planning, development, implementation and monitoring of work plans, timelines, budgets and deliverables.•Co-leading the design, roll-out and management of the Challenge Grant in India and Bangladesh.•Supporting the identification, recruitment, management of consultants (in-country/international) who will support various aspects of the research.•Working closely with UNICEF colleagues within OoR (Social and Economic Policy Unit, Education, Knowledge Management, Finance, HR, Communications) and across offices (HQ, Regional, Country Offices) to ensure seamless operation of activities to meet the research objectives.•Ensuring timely and comprehensive donor reporting as stipulated in the grant agreement.
3.Establishing and managing collaborative relationships with external/internal partners•Identifying, co-ordinating and nurturing strategic partnerships (internal/external) to jointly build the evidence base on child labour and education particularly in South Asia, and globally.•Working closely with internal/external partners and stakeholders to support the selection of in-country researchers, research methodologies, tools and strategies, to meet the objectives of the research study.•Identifying, nurturing and networking with new and existing partners to participate in building the evidence, more broadly in areas of child rights and protection.
4.Reporting, dissemination and advocacy on educational strategies to address child labour•Working closely with the line manager, project co-ordinator and in-country stakeholders to develop analytical reports, evidence briefs and publications on study findings.•Collaborate with strategic stakeholders to facilitate policy discussions and to ensure timely and effective communication, dissemination of project progress (activities, outputs, research impact, financial), and to advocate on issues of child rights and protection, both internally as well as externally. •Representing the project and UNICEF-OoR and disseminating project updates through publications, presentations at internal/external meetings, events, workshops, conferences and social media platforms.
IV. Competencies and level of proficiency required Core competencies •Drive for results (3)•Working with people (3)•Communication (3)Functional Competencies: Formulating strategies/concepts (1)Analyzing (3)Relating and networking (2)Deciding and initiating action (2)Applying Technical Expertise (2)
V. Recruitment Qualifications
Education:•Advanced university degree in the Social Sciences, Education, Migration or relevant field. PhD in relevant field is desirable.Experience:•Minimum five years of progressively responsible and relevant research/management experience related to child labour, including the worst forms, education, migration, child rights and protection required.•Experience working in education (education programme, policies, systems research), would be desirable.•Experience in quantitative and qualitative research methods, primary and secondary data collection, data management, analyses, survey design; impact evaluations; policy/legislative analyses; systems analyses, would be an asset.•Experience in conducting research on child labour and/or education in south Asia, specifically in India and Bangladesh, would be desirable. •Experience using statistical software (Stata/R/SPSS) Microsoft Office, qualitative analysis software such as NVivo/Atlas required. Language Requirements:•Fluency in English required; •Ability to speak in the local language(s) of the target countries (India/Bangladesh) would be an asset.•Ability to work in a second UN working language is highly desirable.
Competencies:•Communicates effectively to varied audiences, including formal public speaking.•Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment.•Sets high standards for quality of work and consistently achieves project goals.•Has good leadership and supervisory skills; co-ordinates group activities, ensuring that roles within the team are clear.•Analyses and integrates potentially conflicting numerical, verbal and other data from a number of sources.•Translates strategic direction into plans and objectives.•Negotiates effectively by exploring a range of possibilities.•Quickly builds rapport with individuals and groups; maintains an effective network of individuals across organizational teams.•Contributes and tries out innovative approaches and insights.•Record in research or evaluation on issues concerning children, supported by relevant publications and engagement in professional networks.•Knowledge of relevant computer applications, including familiarity with web publishing and social media.
View our competency framework athttp://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf
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.
Remarks:
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
This vacancy is archived.