Roster of Data Analyst/Researcher Consultant, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO), Bangkok, Thailand

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 fulfilling 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, a better future

UNICEF works to ensure the rights of all children in the East Asia and Pacific Region.  This means the rights of every child living in this country, irrespective of their nationality, gender, religion or ethnicity, to:

• survival – to basic healthcare, peace and security;
• development – to a good education, a loving home and adequate nutrition;
• protection – from abuse, neglect, trafficking, child labour and other forms of exploitation; and
• participation – to express opinions, be listened to and take part in making any decisions that affect them

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office is issuing a call for the expansion of an evaluation roster expertise as part of ongoing efforts to enhance evaluation capacities in the East Asia and the Pacific (EAP) Region. Consultancies being sought include Team Lead Evaluator, Senior Consultant, Mid-level/National Consultant, Data Analyst/Researcher, and Young Emerging Evaluators. 

Background

Evaluation in UNICEF is a critical function for understanding if development objectives have been met in a way that contributes to the progressive realization of children’s rights. The evaluation function contributes to UNICEF’s organizational accountability and learning by conducting strategic, independent evaluations and setting standards and guidelines on evaluation for the organization. UNICEF evaluation work is guided by the 2023 Revised UNICEF Evaluation Policy and the Norms and Standards of the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG). At the decentralized level, the Evaluation function works independently to determine the effectiveness and impact of the strategies and programs of Country Offices (COs) to realize the rights of all children. Based on multi-year costed evaluation plans (CEPs), the EAP region and its COs conduct a series of country programme evaluations, corporate and thematic evaluations, and evaluation syntheses. These evaluations provide independent and objective assessments of programmatic performance at the country level as well as of thematic strategies at the regional level, informing the future work in the COs and the Regional Office.

Purpose

UNICEF EAPRO is issuing a call for the expansion of an evaluation roster expertise as part of ongoing efforts to enhance evaluation capacities in the EAP Region. Consultancies being sought include Team Lead Evaluator, Senior Consultant, Mid-level/National Consultant, Data Analyst/Researcher, and Young Emerging Evaluators.  

This specific announcement aims to attract qualified individual consultants for the position of Data Analyst/Researcher, to be included in the UNICEF’s roster of evaluators for the region. Candidates from the EAP region are strongly encouraged to apply. Details regarding the nature of this roster system and qualifications for each role are outlined in this Terms of Reference (TOR). Additionally, a separate TOR will be provided for each evaluation project to which the consultant is assigned, offering more specific details.

The roster system will complement UNICEF’s ongoing effort to strengthen its evaluation capacity. This announcement targets candidates outside of UNICEF (non-staff) with interest in providing evaluation services at the regional and CO level. The roster will contain only pre-screened individuals found suitable to conduct evaluations in EAP region specifically. Candidates will be placed in the roster for a period of 36 months and will be called up depending on suitability of assignment and availability. However, actual contracting will be based on specific TORs. Note that inclusion in the roster does not guarantee any future contractual relations with UNICEF.

Scope of work

The Data Analysts / Researchers – selected for the EAP Roster – are specialists who contribute to independent evaluations by conducting background document review, data processing, statistical analysis, and research to support evidence-based findings. Once rostered and selected for a particular evaluation, the evaluation consultants will carry out the agreed assignments, as guided by the specific TORs drafted by the Evaluation Manager (Regional Evaluation Adviser – REA) for regional level evaluations or Multi-Country Evaluation Specialist (MCES) for CO evaluations.

Based on the needs, the Data Analyst/Researcher will support the overall process of the evaluation project by taking a key role in data analysis under the guidance of the Team Leader. Responsibilities are diverse, include contributing to the document and data review, development of data collection plans, stakeholder mapping, and evaluation tools, collecting and analysing data, supporting the drafting of reports, assisting with the dissemination of evaluation findings, and supporting and developing the use of Artificial intelligence (AI) in the evaluation process to enhance data analysis and insights, as outlined in the TOR. 

The role will align with assigned programs and areas of expertise within UNICEF programming, including Early Childhood Development (ECD), Education, Child Protection, Health and Nutrition, Water and Sanitation (WASH), Adolescents and Development, and Social Protection. Additionally, the candidate will contribute to cross-sectoral program areas such as Climate Change, Environment, Energy, Disaster Risk Reduction (CEED), Gender, Mental Health, and Emergency Response. Evaluations may cover UNICEF strategic plan change strategies such as Advocacy and communications; Community engagement, social and behaviour change; Data, research, evaluation, and knowledge management; Digital transformation; Gender transformative programming; Innovation; Partnerships and engagement: public and private; Risk-informed humanitarian and development nexus programming; Systems strengthening to leave no one behind. Evaluations may also include assessment of National Evaluation Capacity Development (NECD) activities in EAP region.

Programme Areas and Specific Projects Involved

Evaluations will encompass various types as defined under UNICEF’s evaluation coverage norms outlined in the 2023 Revised Evaluation Policy (pages 8–10).

Applicants for the Data Analyst/Researcher position are expected to have a good understanding of research, evaluations and overall data analysis. They should be able to contribute effectively to the evaluation team and collaborate under the guidance of Team Leader.

Work assignment and expected deliverables:

The selected individual consultant will be provided with specific TOR for each assigned evaluation. Working under the supervision of the respective evaluation manager or evaluation specialist and Team Lead Evaluator, the consultant will be responsible for producing standard outputs and deliverables as outlined for each evaluation and activity. The consultant is required to provide regular progress updates throughout the evaluation process and ensure the timely delivery of outputs.

As noted, the specific deliverables for each evaluation and activity will be defined in the respective TOR. Typically, the evaluation process involves the following key tasks: 

1. Inception Report Preparation

• Participate in the introductory kick-off meeting with UNICEF and key stakeholders and record the proceedings.
• Collect relevant documentation on the programme interventions, literature, policy documents, and guidelines, and share it with team members. Ensure all documents are properly referenced for inclusion in the final report.
• Review the programme interventions, relevant literature, policy documents, and guidelines.
• Assist in developing a data collection plan, stakeholder mapping, and evaluation tools, ensuring they are tailored to specific criteria and incorporate innovative approaches (e.g., youth engagement, technology, or GIS integration).
• Support team members in drafting the inception report, including an evaluation matrix, methodology, draft tools, and country samples for data collection.
• Support the team in developing a dissemination plan for the evaluation, including tailored dissemination products for various audiences, ensuring accessibility for individuals from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.

Deliverables: A reference list of reviewed documents, meeting notes drafted and shared with UNICEF, and evaluation tools developed.

2. Data collection, analysis and draft report of the evaluation

• Collect secondary data for an in-depth desk-based analysis, share it with teammates, and analyse the findings.
• Collaborate with CO focal points to conduct primary data collection in consultation with other team members.
• Ensure data tools are tested before they are finalized.
• Support the field missions, if applicable, to collect data from target populations, ensuring the inclusion of hard-to-reach geographic areas and populations.
• Provide support to quantitative and qualitative data analysis using appropriate software, sharing statistical results and qualitative summaries with the team.
• Support the development of documents summarizing preliminary findings, conclusions, lessons learned, and recommendations for the validation workshop, including infographics.
• Support the Team Lead and Senior/Mid-level Consultants in drafting the evaluation report, ensuring it follows UNEG norms and standards for evaluation reports and GEROS. 

Deliverables: Itinerary for field data collection and field trip report (if applicable), statistical tables and qualitative summaries, and validation workshop report with evaluation recommendations.

3. Final report and dissemination
   • Actively participate in presenting the final report to UNICEF, ERG, and other key stakeholders, and record the meeting.
   • Collaborate with team members to ensure all comments are addressed.
   • Draft infographics and summarize key findings, then share them with the Team Lead and Senior/Mid-level Consultant for finalization.
   • Participate in key dissemination activities for different audiences and record the meetings.

 Deliverables: Drafted meeting notes with the ERG, a tracking matrix for comments, a summary report with infographics, and recorded dissemination meeting notes with action points.

Specific tasks are not limited to above, and the estimated working days and deadlines for each phase and deliverable will be detailed in the specific TOR for each evaluation and finalized during the inception phase.

Duration of Contract:  The duration of each contract will be specified in the specific TOR, as it varies based on the scope of each evaluation. Successful candidates will be placed in the roster for a maximum period of 36 months and will be called up depending on the suitability of assignments and needs. Consultants are expected to be ready to commence assignments within one month of confirming their availability.
 

Work Modality and Duty Travel:  This position is fully remote/home-based and not office based with possible mission travel, depending on the assignment. The consultant is expected to provide their own computer, communication devices, internet connection, and workspace. 

Duty travel is applicable only if a deliverable cannot demonstrably be produced through remote work. Depending on the nature of the evaluation, fieldwork travel for data collection may be required in certain countries, – typically, any travel is reflected in the TOR, or determined during the inception phase. The consultant is responsible for arranging their own logistics, including transport, communication, insurance, and security.  Travel expenses will be covered by UNICEF.

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

The Data Analyst/Researcher specializes in data collection and analysis, ensuring the quality of both quantitative and qualitative data. They develop data collection tools, conduct field missions if applicable, and lead data analysis, including preparing statistical summaries. They also assist in drafting the evaluation report and create visual contents and summary documents.

Essential Qualifications for the Data Analyst/Researcher:

• A university degree in evaluation, social sciences, economics, public policy, law, management, or a related field from an accredited institution. 
• At least five years of professional experience in evaluation, research, or as a data analyst at the international level or in a global context.
• Experience working in developing settings, including managing programs and/or conducting research. 
• Relevant experience with a UN system agency or organization is an asset. 
• Expertise in qualitative and quantitative data collection, analysis techniques, and use of tools like N-VIVO and similar data software.
• Experience integrating new technology such as AI, innovative methods and ideas into evaluation processes. 
• Proven ability to produce high-quality research outputs for diverse stakeholders and audiences.
• Commitment and willingness to work in a challenging environment and ability to produce quality work under limited guidance and supervision.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with various stakeholders and express ideas and concepts clearly and concisely, both in writing and orally in English
• Experience with the ethics of evidence generation, including data collection from vulnerable groups and familiarity with ethical safeguards, and awareness of human rights (including child rights), gender equality, and equity in evaluation.    
• Ability to think strategically and synthesize information from varied sources into actionable conclusions and recommendations.    
• Adherence to UNEG’s and UNICEF’s norms, standards, and ethical guidelines[1]. 
• Concern for accuracy and quality in work.     

Required documents and information 

1. Curriculum Vitae and/or Resume
2. Cover letter (2-page maximum): Please include the following:
   • Provide a summary of your evaluation skills and experience.
   • Indicate your thematic areas of expertise related to UNICEF’s mandate (e.g., gender, WASH, early childhood development, etc.)
3. Contact details for three references from evaluations conducted, preferably with UN agencies, including UNICEF, especially in the EAP region.
4. Indicate your daily rate in United States Dollars (excluding travel costs).
5. Evaluation Work Examples:
   • Provide two recent examples of evaluation or research projects you have been a part of – added advantage for evaluations for UNICEF or other UN agencies.  

Interested candidates are requested to submit the above-mentioned documents and information by 24 March 2025. 

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.