Research Support for Environmental Factors and Community Engagement in Lao PDR

Organizational Context

UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, is dedicated to protecting and promoting the rights of every child globally. Operating in over 190 countries, UNICEF provides essential support in education, healthcare, and sanitation, particularly for children and mothers in developing nations facing poverty, conflict, or disasters. The organization actively pursues the Sustainable Development Goals, collaborating with governments and communities to advocate for children's rights and deliver life-saving aid. UNICEF Lao PDR's programmes focus on social and behaviour change, recognizing the need to better understand how environmental factors influence these dynamics.

Job Purpose

This role supports UNICEF Lao PDR's initiative to integrate environmental factors into Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) and Adolescent Development and Participation (ADAP) programmes. The assignment aims to explore how non-human actors, such as infrastructure, climate, and ecosystems, actively shape community engagement and adolescent participation. By treating these environmental elements as active participants rather than passive backdrops, the research will identify how they enable or constrain desired outcomes. The Online Volunteer's contribution will directly inform the design of more effective, context-aware interventions for children and communities in Lao PDR, enhancing the impact of UNICEF's work.

Responsibilities

The Online Volunteer will support a focused study under the supervision of the Social Behaviour Change Specialist, contributing to the development of an Environmental Actor Mapping framework, a summary document, and potentially presenting findings. Key duties include reviewing UNICEF Lao PDR's SBC, ADAP, and climate-related programme documents to identify how environmental factors are currently considered. The volunteer will conduct targeted literature scans on environmental determinants of participation and social behaviour. They will map non-human actors across programme sites using available data, analyzing how environmental factors like infrastructure, terrain, and seasonal conditions influence community engagement. Findings will be synthesized to refine the mapping framework and prepare a briefing note with actionable recommendations for SBC/ADAP integration.

Work Experience

A strong understanding of environmental issues is required, coupled with a demonstrated interest in the social and behavioural dimensions of international development. The role necessitates strong desk research, synthesis, and structured observation skills, with the ability to connect different academic disciplines. Candidates must be comfortable working independently and managing a project timeline.

Skills

Fluency in English (written and spoken) is required. Essential skills include strong desk research, synthesis, and structured observation abilities. The volunteer must be able to draw connections across disciplines, such as merging environmental science with social behaviour. Independence and the capacity to manage a tight project timeline are also crucial. A demonstrated interest in social and behavioural dimensions of international development is necessary.

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