Case-based Causal Methods Lead Consultant, Evaluation Office, New York, USA (Remote), 6 months - Req: 594411

Organizational Context

UNICEF operates in over 190 countries and territories, dedicated to saving children’s lives, defending their rights, and helping them fulfill their potential from early childhood through adolescence. We are committed, passionate, and proud of our work, viewing the promotion of every child's rights not just as a job, but as a calling. UNICEF fosters careers with diverse opportunities for professional and personal development.

Job Purpose

The Evaluation Office of UNICEF is undertaking a significant evaluation of child protection systems strengthening for the prevention of and response to violence against children and women, a key component of the UNICEF Plan for Global Evaluations 2026–2029. This evaluation is crucial given the extensive child rights deprivations addressed by UNICEF programmes, the scale of investment, and the strategic importance of violence prevention and response. Its purpose is to provide accountability and generate learnings to inform adjustments in programmes, policies, and resource mobilization, ensuring alignment with the Strategic Plan 2026–2029. The evaluation will produce independent evidence on the effectiveness of UNICEF’s child protection systems strengthening (CPSS) approach, focusing on outcome-level changes during the 2022–2025 Strategic Plan period, while also offering a forward-looking perspective for 2026–2029 implementation. It will assess the relevance, coherence, and effectiveness of UNICEF's approach and country programme performance, identifying key investments and conditions associated with progress in child protection systems maturity.

Responsibilities

The Case-based Causal Methods Lead Consultant will be responsible for providing methodological leadership and executing the Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) component of the evaluation. This includes designing and implementing the QCA to address causal questions using a programme theory-based approach. The consultant will oversee the application of the case-based causal technique, ensuring its integration and alignment with other evaluation components. Key responsibilities involve generating cross-nationally comparable and high-quality evidence on the outcome-level results of UNICEF’s CPSS strategy for preventing and responding to violence. This includes leading the design, implementation, reporting, and dissemination of QCA results. The consultant will also contribute to assessing the relevance, coherence, and effectiveness of UNICEF's approach and country programme performance, identifying specific UNICEF investments and conditions that correlate with advancements in child protection systems. Furthermore, the role involves identifying best practices and actionable lessons to guide the refinement, adaptation, and scaling-up of interventions, thereby supporting both organizational learning and accountability for results. The consultant will ensure the evaluation generates robust evidence to inform UNICEF's strategic direction and programmatic interventions in child protection.

Work Experience

Minimum of 10 years of demonstrated experience in designing and applying Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) within international development or for complex research/evaluation designs. Experience working with the UN system or international organizations, and a track record of leading multi-country comparative studies are also required.

Skills

Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), Causal inference methods, Evaluation design and implementation, Quantitative methods, Data management and analysis, Child protection programmes, Report writing, Communication skills, Team collaboration, Independent work, UN system or international organizations experience, Multi-country comparative studies leadership

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