Consultancy for Technical Support: Evaluation and Research
Organizational Context
UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. The UNICEF Thailand Country Office is seeking a consultant to provide technical and coordination support in planning, managing, and assuring the quality of research and evaluation activities.
Job Purpose
The purpose of this consultancy is to provide essential technical and coordination support to the UNICEF Thailand Country Office. This role is critical for the effective planning, management, quality assurance, and utilization of research and evaluation activities. The consultant will ensure that all research and evaluation initiatives are designed and implemented in strict accordance with UNICEF and UNEG norms and standards. A key responsibility will be to ensure that the findings from these evidence-generation activities directly inform UNICEF's programmes and policy decisions aimed at improving the lives of children in Thailand. This involves overseeing the entire evidence generation cycle, from initial planning and management to the conduct of studies and the final reporting of results, thereby contributing to a stronger evidence base for child-focused interventions.
Responsibilities
Provide technical and coordination support to the UNICEF Thailand Country Office in the planning, management, quality assurance, and use of research and evaluation. Ensure research and evaluation are designed and implemented in line with UNICEF and UNEG norms and standards. Facilitate the use of research and evaluation findings to inform programmes and policy decisions for children in Thailand. Oversee the evidence generation process, including planning, management, conduct, and reporting. Engage and manage external consultants or firms undertaking evidence-generation activities. Design or oversee evaluations and research in development, humanitarian, and/or social sectors. Lead and manage evaluations and research to ensure strategic relevance, high quality, credibility, and use. Establish and maintain effective and broad partnerships in development and humanitarian environments. Support and advise on ethical review processes for evidence generation. Contribute to the development and implementation of innovative approaches to evidence generation. Ensure compliance with UNICEF policy on ethics in evidence generation. Prepare and disseminate reports on research and evaluation findings. Facilitate knowledge sharing and learning from evidence generation activities. Support capacity building of country office staff in evaluation and research methods. Monitor and track progress of ongoing research and evaluation projects. Ensure timely completion of all assigned tasks and deliverables.
Work Experience
At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in evaluation and research, including managing external consultants. Demonstrable experience designing or overseeing evaluations and research in development, humanitarian, or social sectors. Proven track record in leading high-quality, credible, and usable evaluations and research. Experience in establishing partnerships and familiarity with ethical review processes are required. Experience in Thailand or Southeast Asia is preferred.
Skills
Evaluation methodologies, Research methodologies, Project management, Data analysis (quantitative and qualitative), Report writing, Stakeholder engagement, Partnership building, UNICEF and UNEG norms and standards, Ethical review processes, Data analysis software, Communication skills, Coordination