Education research consultant, New Delhi, India, Education section, 11.5 months Remote (With Possible Travel) Nationals Only#596578
Organizational Context
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. We are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.
Job Purpose
The consultant will provide independent technical review and advisory support to UNICEF India to strengthen the methodological rigour, implementation quality, and analytical robustness of three education research studies. The assignment will focus on reviewing research designs and methodologies, monitoring progress against agreed milestones, assessing implementation readiness and data quality, and critically reviewing analytical outputs and emerging findings. The consultant will identify methodological gaps, implementation risks, and areas requiring further technical attention, providing evidence-based recommendations to strengthen the credibility and policy relevance of the research. The consultant will prepare defined technical review reports, progress monitoring updates, and a consolidated technical handover report to support UNICEF’s oversight of research quality and inform its engagement with the agencies undertaking the studies. Responsibility for conducting the research, collecting and analysing data, and producing the research outputs will remain with the respective research agencies.
Responsibilities
Provide independent technical review and advisory support to UNICEF India for education research studies. Review research designs and methodologies to ensure methodological rigour. Monitor progress against agreed milestones and assess implementation readiness. Evaluate data quality and critically review analytical outputs and emerging findings. Identify methodological gaps, implementation risks, and areas requiring further technical attention. Provide evidence-based recommendations to strengthen the credibility and policy relevance of the research. Prepare defined technical review reports, progress monitoring updates, and a consolidated technical handover report. Support UNICEF’s oversight of research quality and inform engagement with research agencies. Ensure that the research conducted by agencies meets high standards of quality and relevance. Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to facilitate effective research review and advisory processes. Contribute to the overall enhancement of UNICEF India's research capacity and impact in the education sector.
Work Experience
Minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience in education research, social science research, policy research, programme evaluation, or related fields, including experience in reviewing research designs, methodologies, data collection tools, analytical outputs, and research reports.
Skills
Designing, reviewing, or managing quantitative and qualitative research studies, Research methodologies (design, sampling, data collection, analysis, quality assurance), Reviewing research instruments, data quality processes, and analytical approaches, Analyzing education-related data and evidence, Critically reviewing technical research documents, Providing evidence-based recommendations, Monitoring research progress, Coordinating with research teams and technical experts, Strong analytical skills, Strong report-writing and synthesis skills, Translating research evidence into policy/programme recommendations, Strong written and verbal communication in English