Consultant for Global Evidence Review, Child-Centred Evaluation, # 596717
Organizational Context
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. We are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling. UNICEF is a place where careers are built.
Job Purpose
UNICEF is seeking a consultant to undertake a global landscape and evidence review on communication blackouts and restrictions, and to develop a child-centred evaluation framework and practical package for subsequent application with Country Offices. The assignment is evidence-first, aiming to determine what is known about the effects of communication blackouts on children, whether and how these effects can be credibly assessed, and where further country-level research is justified. The consultancy will generate a defensible global picture of communication blackouts and restrictions, an evidence-based narrative for donor engagement and policy discussions, and a practical, fundable model for country-level research and action. The consultant will help UNICEF answer key questions regarding the scale, nature, causes, and distribution of these events, their effects on children and services, the strength of existing evidence, and potential indicators and data sources for assessment.
Responsibilities
The consultant will conduct a comprehensive global landscape and evidence review on communication blackouts and restrictions, focusing on their implications for children, child-critical services, and humanitarian operations. This will involve identifying and synthesizing available literature on the scale, nature, causes, and geographic distribution of these events. The consultant will critically assess the direct, indirect, and cascading effects on children, child-critical services, and humanitarian operations, evaluating the strength of the evidence and identifying significant knowledge gaps. Based on this review, the consultant will develop a child-centred evaluation framework and a practical package for application by UNICEF Country Offices. This package should include guidance on indicators, data sources, and analytical methods for assessing the impact of communication blackouts. The consultant will also develop an evidence-based narrative suitable for donor engagement, conferences, and policy discussions, and a fundable model for country-level research and action. The final output will provide UNICEF with a defensible global picture and practical tools to address the challenges posed by communication blackouts.
Work Experience
A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in research, evaluation, or policy analysis, with a focus on child rights, humanitarian affairs, or communication technologies. Experience in conducting systematic literature reviews and developing evaluation frameworks is essential.
Skills
Research and Analysis, Evaluation Framework Development, Child Rights, Humanitarian Affairs, Communication Technologies, Literature Review, Policy Analysis, Report Writing, Stakeholder Engagement, Data Synthesis, Project Management, Evidence-Based Recommendations