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Vacancy Announcement: Consultant

Consultancy Title: Impact evaluation expert: Child marriage in Türkiye and Ghana (Impact Catalyst Fund), and child vulnerability scale development

Section/Division/Duty Station: Evaluation Office - NYHQ

Duration: October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026

Home/ Office Based: NYHQ/ Remote

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/Assignment: 

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The UNICEF Strategic Plan, 2026-2029, marks a shift toward a stronger focus on outcome- and impact-level results for children and, toward this end, places increased emphasis on the role of evaluation as an evidence function and an oversight function.

Within this context, UNICEF’s evaluation function aims to drive results for children by fostering evidence-informed decision-making.  Guided by the Revised Evaluation Policy of UNICEF (2023), evaluation in UNICEF supports both learning and accountability through evaluations of development and institutional effectiveness and humanitarian response, ultimately contributing to improved outcomes for children. It also plays a critical role in holding the organization accountable for its contributions—or lack thereof—to those outcomes.

UNICEF’s evaluation function is largely decentralized. It includes senior-level regional evaluation advisers and multi-country evaluation specialists based in its five regions, as well as dedicated country-level evaluation focal points who provide full- or part-time support to evaluation efforts. The function conducts a diverse portfolio of independent, credible, and impartial evaluations, including corporate thematic, institutional effectiveness, humanitarian, country-led, and impact evaluations. These efforts ensure that UNICEF systematically uses evaluation evidence to enhance its effectiveness and deliver better results for children.

The UNICEF Evaluation of Impact Strategy and Action Framework 2022–2025 sets the institutional priorities and vision for a harmonized and strategic approach to the generation and use of rigorous impact evaluations to inform UNICEF programs. This vision is reinforced in the draft Strategic Plan for 2026 – 2029, where impact level targets are prioritized, requiring a strong impact evaluation function to demonstrate achievement of targets, particularly with shrinking fiscal space. The Impact Catalyst Fund (ICF) is a flagship initiative to support these efforts. The first ICF call builds on a partnership with the Global Program to End Child Marriage (GPECM) focused on the thematic area of child marriage and social norms. The second portfolio was launched in partnership with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and focuses on Adaptive Social Protection (ASPECT). To take forward these portfolios, and develop new impact evaluation windows, the EO seeks a highly motivated impact evaluation consultant who strives to excel and stays abreast of the latest evaluative knowledge and methodological innovations.

The purpose of this consultancy is to support the implementation of the ICF thematic windows. The consultant will play a lead technical role on two ongoing mixed-method impact evaluation on child marriage and social norms including the “Impact evaluation of Türkiye’s adolescent girls’ and boys’ empowerment program for elimination of child marriage” and the “Impact evaluation of Ghana’s Promoting Adolescent Safe Spaces (PASS),” jointly with other members of the EO ICF team. In addition, the consultant will lead on the development of a novel child vulnerability and/or resilience index as part of the ASPECT portfolio. The overarching goal of this latter work is to develop a measurement tool which can be integrated into future impact evaluations and large-scale data collection in fragile and humanitarian settings.

Scope of Work:

Primary Impact Evaluations: Child Marriage and Social Norms ICF

a) Contribute to planning and implementation of impact evaluations in the thematic area of child marriage and social norms (Türkiye and Ghana). This includes the revision of quantitative and qualitative tools, enumerator training, overseeing data collection, conducting impact analysis, writing up results, presentations and dissemination, monitoring ongoing cost and monitoring data collection and publishing results in peer-reviewed journals.

b) Contribute to the management and coordination of impact evaluations in close alignment with the Türkiye and Ghana Country Office teams, and ensure that independent and credible process meets high professional standards in line with UNEG norms and standards. This includes report writing according to UNICEF evaluation quality assurance standards (GEROS), all UNICEF supported ethical standards and in accordance with international ethics review board protocols.

c) Support the capacity of UNICEF staff and partners in impact evaluation methodology and processes based on ICF studies and lessons learned at the global, regional or national levels through the delivery of training/learning modules, interactive workshops and events, including a focus on innovation and adaptations of impact evaluation methodologies for fragile and humanitarian contexts.

Scale development of child vulnerability and/or resilience index: ASPECT

a) In collaboration with Data Analytics team, contribute to conceptualization, background literature review, module development, analysis, write up of results, dissemination and publication of results in a peer-reviewed journals for a novel scale of child vulnerability and/or resilience in fragile and humanitarian settings, suitable for integration into impact evaluations or large-scale data collection.

The duration of this assignment is 12 months between 1 October 2025 and 30 September 2026. Contractual obligations will be based on 15 days /month (part time). The location of the assignment is remote. The consultant may be required to take one or more international trips to project sites as part of the work for the ICF. The trips are costed as part of the contract, invoiceable based on travel undertaken, and will be agreed upon jointly as part of the work package.

UNICEF reserves the right to terminate this contract without notice due to unsatisfactory performance or to misconduct by the consultant, as UNICEF may determine in its absolute discretion. Payment will also cease on the day of termination. 

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

1. ICF ASPECT

1. Concept note for the child vulnerability and/or resilience index, including: a) overview and objective, b) short literature review, c) methodology, including analysis methodology, index domains, potential indicators and revisions as requested           

October 31, 2025

2. ICF child marriage   

2. Accompaniment and preparation of study materials for the Türkiye ICF follow-up (qualitative and quantitative) study, including any necessary IRB revisions, questionnaire revisions, feedback on Kobo coding modifications, preparation of training material          

November 30, 2025

3. ICF ASPECT

3. Addendum to concept note for the child vulnerability and/or resilience index, including draft questionnaire modules with “tags” for type of fragility (conflict, displacement, natural disaster), presentation to get feedback on index and revisions as requested  

December 31, 2025

4. ICF child marriage   

4. Türkiye ICF follow-up data collection: Remote support to qualitative training and data collection, in-person participation in data collection training for the Türkiye ICF quantitative follow-up, including delivery of training materials (powerpoints) and fieldwork protocols; quality assurance and pre-testing, including data quality checks during the first weeks of data collection (statistical code and output summary in word)

January 30, 2026

5. ICF ASPECT

5. Data analysis and preliminary results of at least one (preferably two, potentially three) application(s) of the child vulnerability and/or resilience index within “pilot case studies” (ASPECT baselines if possible, or secondary MICS data)           

February 28, 2026

6. ICF child marriage   

6. Türkiye ICF final study draft report: Draft of final report for the Türkiye ICF, including cost-effectiveness estimates            

March 31, 2026

7. ICF ASPECT

7. Draft report of the child vulnerability and/or resilience index, combining concept note, results “pilot case studies” and survey tools (option for short vs. long versions) 

April 30, 2026

8. ICF child marriage   

8. Türkiye ICF final revised study report: Final revised report for the Türkiye ICF, dissemination of results in a final workshop and other presentations as requested  

May 30, 2026

9. ICF ASPECT

9. Final report of the child vulnerability and/or resilience index, dissemination material, including a 2-pager write up and presentation (webinar) 

June 30, 2026

10. ICF child marriage  10. Revision of Türkiye ICF impact evaluation results, including cost-effectiveness, suitable for submission to an internationally recognized peer-reviewed journal         

July 31, 2026

11.  ICF ASPECT        

11. Revision of child vulnerability and/or resilience index methodology, analysis and research implications, suitable for submission to an internationally recognized peer-reviewed journal         

August 31, 2026

12. ICF child marriage 

12. Accompaniment of ongoing Ghana ICF impact evaluation, including monthly communication with UNICEF CO teams (deliverable is a briefing note on implementation fidelity and developments), compilation and quality checks of monitoring and costing data (deliverable is a summary of results from monitoring and costing data), support to qualitative study activities as needed (deliverable is revised qualitative study instruments)   

September 30, 2026

Travel: Follow-up data collection training – costs estimated in USD (Gaziantep, Türkiye: 10 days)

Qualifications

(1) Education

Advance University Degree (Ph.D. desirable) in evaluation sciences, psychology, economics, public health, public policy, political science, development studies (*quantitative focus)

(2) Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• Over 10 years of professional experience leading or contributing to rigorous impact evaluations including design, preparation, and study implementation in low-income settings.

• Over 3 years of professional experience in scale development, including multi-dimensional scales focused on children (e.g., child poverty, vulnerability, resilience or similar)

• Solid technical expertise in quantitative research/evaluation methods used for identifying and measuring impacts and complementarity evaluation questions; Track record of authorship/co-authorship in peer- reviewed journals.

• Proficiency in using statistical analysis software packages, including Stata and M-plus.

• Demonstrated knowledge of the current evidence and previous research on gender and harmful practices, including those in fragile states and humanitarian context. Thematic expertise required includes child marriage, child poverty, violence, social norms and adolescent girls.

• Familiarity with UNICEF programmatic mandate and understanding evidence generation process for child- and violence-focused programs, including ethics requirements. Basic ethics certificates to facilitate primary studies on Human Subjects (i.e. CITI certificates or similar)

Additional competences

• Delivering data analysis and evaluations under tight deadlines and through multi-stakeholder consultative process.

• Excellent abilities in presenting technical information to a non- technical audience, including excellent drafting and presentation skills in English.

• Rigorous impact evaluation work experience in Türkiye, Ghana, Mozambique and/or Yemen.

Language requirements

• Proficiency in English is required.

• Working knowledge of Turkish or Arabic is desirable.

Requirements: 

Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and

• Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :
  • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

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UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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Remarks:  

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, are encourage to apply are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (if applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.