How can you make a difference?
UNICEF Innocenti, the Office of Strategy and Evidence, undertakes and commissions research on emerging and critical issues impacting children and their rights globally. Through evidence generation, foresight, and strategic influence, Innocenti supports UNICEF's policy, programming, and advocacy priorities while shaping global discourse on children's rights.
UNICEF Office of Strategy and Evidence – Innocenti uses foresight to set the agenda for children uncovering emerging trends and deepening understanding of key issues facing girls and boys and serving as a go-to office for advising UNICEF and a diversity of actors, including governments, the United Nations, private sector, civil society and children and young people themselves in the face of the continually changing global economy, political and security environment.
UNICEF Office of Strategy and Evidence – Innocenti also strives to lead global discourse by creating an enabling environment and platform for children and young people along with global influencers and decision-makers to transform their contributions into future strategies, policies and actions of UNICEF and the world. Thereby positioning children and UNICEF at the centre of theglobal conversation through prominent external engagement, communication, and influence.
This role is especially important in the context of UNICEF’s new Centre of Excellence structure, including its support to the Prevention of Harmful Practices agenda. The Centres of Excellence represent UNICEF’s commitment to delivering high-quality, demand-driven technical assistance to Country Offices, Regional Offices and partners. They serve as a single entry point for tailored support, bringing together specialized expertise in thematic programming, financing for scale and institutional strengthening, while also advancing global policy leadership, normative standard setting and cross-sectoral coordination.
Within this structure, the research post based at Innocenti provides critical evidence, research and strategic support to the Centre of Excellence on the Prevention of Harmful Practices
The Manager reports to the Chief, Research Gender Equality, Rights and Protection.
UNICEF Innocenti has a dedicated research portfolio on the prevention of harmful practices focused on strengthening evidence, learning, and research uptake to inform policies, programmes, and investments to end child marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), and related issues affecting girls and adolescents globally.
The harmful practices research portfolio supports UNICEF’s strategic leadership and technical engagement on harmful practices through evidence generation, synthesis, agenda-setting, implementation learning, and evidence translation. Research undertaken by the team is closely aligned with UNICEF programme priorities and is implemented in collaboration with UNICEF country and regional offices, governments, UN agencies, academic institutions, civil society organizations, and global research networks.
The harmful practices research portfolio is comprised of four interconnected workstreams
- Research prioritisation and agenda-setting
- Evidence generation, thought leadership, and strategic direction
- Evidence-informed programme strengthening
- Evidence dissemination, uptake, and strategic influence
Desirables
- Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
- Relevant experience with research communication, producing diverse publication outputs, convening and coordinating evidence to action
- Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.
For every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others
UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.
UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments are conditional on the selected candidates’ willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel.
Remarks
As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.
UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.
Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.
UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants' bank account information.
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.
All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.