ThaiNGO

The Social Policy Section of the East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO) plans to hire an individual consultant to draft a background discussion paper and plan of action for developing a regional research strategy for UNICEF in East Asia and the Pacific. The plan should propose an overall strategy, including a meaningful participatory process with key milestones as well as a limited number of possible research directions and to explore further on the basis of

• Gap areas in the implementation of the MDGs as entry points to address the SDGs
• SDG areas of particular relevance to EAPR and/or where research could be used for advocacy to leverage results for children and hence rates of return on the research would be highest.
• Consultations with EAPRO regional advisers and a selected number of Country Office staff on key issues keeping in mind also need to generate synergies between different sector areas and country offices
• Partnership opportunities (connect with external think tanks, academic and research institutions as well as with other, relevant offices of UNICEF)
• Possible knowledge platforms
• Possible funding opportunities at regional and country level to support the research agenda.

Ideally, the consultant should have a strong knowledge of UNICEF’s work globally and in the region as well as of the East Asia and Pacific context and issues affecting children. However, as an “outsider” the consultant should be able to think out of the box and push the research agenda beyond UNICEF’s “business as usual” knowledge activities. Relevant materials include UNICEF’s 2014 – 2017 Strategic Plan; regional level annual reports and situation analyses; sectoral knowledge products on health, HIV/AIDS, water, sanitation, and hygiene, nutrition,  education, child protection, and social inclusion; previous as well as ongoing studies and research by UNICEF in the region and beyond; UNICEF “Best of UNICEF Research” series; UNICEF research strategies in other regions and/or research strategies developed by other UN agencies and/or development partners, International Financial Institutions.

Work Assignment:

Estimated Duration of Contract:  

12 working days from the start of the contract. The final product should be delivered by no later than 25 October, 2016

Official Travel:   Home-based.

Qualifications or Specialized Knowledge/Experience Required:

• Advanced Degree in Economics or related area.
• 10 years of relevant experience in analytical work preferably on areas closely related to equity for children
• Familiarity with topics related to UNICEF’s global and regional research, cutting across sections.
• Good knowledge of EAP context is considered an asset.
• Being based in the region is considered and asset.
• Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills.
• Excellent spoken and written English.

Interested candidates are requested to submit CV or P-11, a relevant work sample, full contact information of minimum 2 references, availability and proposed daily professional fee in USD by 9 October 2016 to http://jobs.unicef.org/cw/en-us/#/job/499317

----------------- Only short listed candidates will be notified. -----------------