JOBS: Research Officer at United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

Job Title:     Research Officer

Organization: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

Reports to: Chief of Social Policy and Advocacy

Grade: P2

About US:

The United Nations Children’s Fund  (UNICEF) is mandated by the UN general assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. 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.

Job Summary: The Research Officer will assist the Chief of Social Policy and Advocacy in implementing the UNICEF public finance, research and advocacy agenda of the country office.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:  

1. Public Finance for Children:

·         Continue UNICEF’s strategic partnership with MoFPED (BMAU), rethinking the framework of public finance for the delivery of basic services affecting children.

·         Prepare for and participate in bi-annual PF4C monitoring visits (focal person for Health, coordinate Education and WASH), pre-empting BMAU’s monitoring visit in January and July each year.

·         The incumbent will develop policy brief based on the Health PF4C monitoring visit, and co-ordinate the development of the Education and WASH policy briefs. Policy brief intended to inform BMAU’s subsequent monitoring visits.

2. Research and Advocacy Support:

·         Offer technical support to programme sections conducting or participating in research projects, conduct research-related tasks for the section (e.g. review of literature, research concept notes) and support the dissemination and uptake of the National Child-Focused Policy Research Agenda.

·         Provide timely support to the Uganda Child Wellness Survey (a.k.a. Violence Against Children Survey) in the form of data quality control.

·         Technically support the advocacy efforts of the Uganda Child Wellness Survey (a.k.a. Violence Against Children Survey)

·         Ensure dissemination and uptake of National Child Focused Policy Research Agenda.

·         Identify national policy research gaps, e.g. Sustainable Development Goals, Children with Disabilities, Adolescent Girls, among others

·         Offer technical support to the Climate Change and Child Welfare study and produce policy brief based on findings.

·         Provide technical support to the analysis of Karamoja nutritional data in the form of data quality control and produce policy brief based on key findings.

3. Data Analysis and Management:

·         Continuously ensure that data-driven analysis is provided for SPA, all programme sections and Communication.

·         Keenly analyze previous Demographic and Health Surveys and National Household Surveys.

·         Initial (basic) analysis of overlap between NHS (panel surveys) and UDHS.

4. Knowledge Management:

·         Foster knowledge exchange and encourage learning on issues related to women and children.

·         Speaker Series events: i) identify speakers; ii) logistical support for events; iii) share documents from Speaker Series.

·         Support the development and management of a knowledge hub for research on children.

·         Actively monitor and analyze the social, political, and economic trends in the country, as they affect women and children.

·         Produce Child Rights Governance Newsletter on a quarterly basis, incorporating U-report data.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience: 

·         The ideal candidate for the United Nations UNICEF Research Officer must hold a bachelor’s degree in social sciences.

·         A minimum of two years or more of relevant professional work experience.

·         Broad knowledge and understanding of data management and data analysis using sophisticated statistical software such as STATA.

·         Familiarity with large surveys such as National Household Surveys, and Demographic and Health Surveys.

·         Familiarity with national budgetary frameworks and fiscal architecture, together with a sound understanding of budgetary data manipulations and analysis.

·         Broad understanding of the processes involved in designing and implementing nationally representative surveys such as the Violence Against Children Survey.

·         Working knowledge of issues relating to Children with Disabilities.

·         Full appreciation of the child rights framework and the situation of children in Uganda considered an asset.

Core Values (Required): Commitment, Diversity and Inclusion, Integrity

Core Competencies (Required): Communication, Drive for Result, Working With People

Functional Competencies (Required): Formulating Strategies and Concepts, Analyzing, Applying Technical Expertise, Learning and Researching, Planning and Organizing

NB: UNICEF is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staff; qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. UNICEF is a smoke free environment.

How to Apply:

All suitably qualified and interested Ugandan Nationals who wish to join the United Nations UNICEF must send their applications accompanied by an updated CV and P11 form, download here, as well as two of the most recent performance evaluation report.

The Email applications should be sent in this format to name your file attachments: Firstname_Lastname followed by document e.g. Gold_MukasaP11 or Gold_MukasaCV or Gold_MukasaApplication.

The applications should be addressed to:

Human Resource Manager,

UNICEF Kampala, Uganda,

Plot 9, George Street,

P.O. Box 7047, Kampala Uganda

Via Email to:   ugderecruit@unicef.org

Deadline: 2^nd November, 2015

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