Data Monitoring And Research Jobs at UNICEF

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, commitment.

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. UNICEF and cooperating partners and stakeholders work to secure the rights of each child and the surrounding families, communities and nations.

As Tanzania achieves the lower-middle-income status, rapid population growth, growing urbanization and the increase in the absolute number of poor people in the country are causes for concern. More than a quarter of Tanzanians still live in poverty, unable to put food on the table, access healthcare or keep a roof over their heads. Poverty has devastating effects on children. Nearly one third of Tanzanian children live in income poverty while as many as 74 per cent experience multidimensional poverty, suffering deprivation in three or more areas such as health, nutrition, water, sanitation, housing, education, child protection and access to information.

The Social Inclusion Programme of UNICEF Tanzania works to reduce child poverty in all its forms through quality, evidence-based policies, programmes and budgets for all children, especially the most marginalized, at national and sub-national levels. This overall objective will be achieved through 3 strategic pillars: (i) strengthening systems for data and research on children’s rights and child poverty; (ii) formulating and operationalizing child-sensitive policies and plans and leveraging domestic resources through public finance for children; and  (iii) promoting the development of a comprehensive and integrated social protection system as a key national strategy to reduce child poverty.

Purpose of the position:

Under the supervision of the Chief Social Policy, the Research and Evaluation Manager is responsible for contributing to the design and uptake of research studies, evaluations, economic and financial analysis, as well as social data monitoring in accordance with the UNICEF mission, guiding principles, standards, commitments, regulatory framework (including policies, procedures and guidance), as well as professional norms and standards.

Key responsibilities and tasks

1. Research, Impact Monitoring, and Evaluation

Ensure that the Country Office and national partners use a well-prioritized and realistic plan of research, monitoring and evaluation activities that will provide the most relevant and strategic information grounded on rigorous evidence to inform policy engagement at all levels. In doing so, establish quality assurance for research and evaluation processes.

2. Strengthen National Statistical Systems

Strengthen national statistical systems and provide timely and accurate socio-economic diagnostics at both national and sub-national levels, including both monitoring of socio-economic trends and the country’s wider policy and economic context, as well as through sector specific indicators (e.g. HMIS, EMIS).

3. Child rights monitoring, advocacy and partnerships

Support correct and compelling use of data and evidence on the situation of children to inform national, regional and global reporting commitments.  

Establish effective partnerships with the Government, bilateral and multilateral donors, NGOs, civil society and local leaders, the private sector, and other UN agencies to monitor the effective implementation of the Convention of the Rights of the Child and progress to achieve global UN agendas such as the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Identify other critical partners, promotes awareness and builds capacity of partners, and actively facilitates effective collaboration within the UN family.

4. Support national PFM systems strengthening

Support budget analysis to inform UNICEF’s advocacy and technical assistance to Government of Tanzania at both national and local government levels.

Triangulate multiple data sources (e.g. financial, survey, administrative) to support the effective implementation of national programmes affecting children.

Develop clear plans and methodologies to build national capacity to capitalize on the power of data and analytics to strength national planning and budgeting processes.

5. Programme Management

Manage and coordinate technical support around research, monitoring and evaluation, public finance and governance.

Support and contribute to effective and efficient planning, management, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of the country programme. Ensures that the social planning project enhances policy dialogue, planning, supervision, technical advice, management, training, research and support; and that the monitoring and evaluation component strengthens monitoring and evaluation of the social sectors and provides support to sectoral and decentralized information systems.

Coordinate Social Policy section’s inputs for UNICEF Tanzania internal reporting processes including PRIME, RAM, as well as mid-year and end-year activities with a view to strive for visible coherence and seamless interconnection between evidence generation and policy engagement.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will need to have…

Education:

• Advanced university degree in economics, social/political sciences or other relevant fields.

Work Experience:

• Minimum of 8 years of relevant professional work experience at national and international level in analysis, research, evaluation and advocacy.
• Extensive experience elaborating analytical studies as well as producing timely and high-quality analytical research.
• Experience in public finance is an asset.

Language requirement

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

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues  

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1), Works Collaboratively with others (1), Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1), Innovates and Embraces Change (1), Thinks and Acts Strategically (1), Drive to achieve impactful results (1), Manages ambiguity and complexity (1).

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

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.