National /International consultancy: Research Coordinator for Advancing Evidence on Scaling Foundational Learning in Sierra Leone

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, inspiration.

Please access UNICEF Sierra Leone information here and here

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose and Objectives:

The purpose of this consultancy is to coordinate and manage the research activities related to scaling foundational learning in Sierra Leone.

The key objectives include:

1. Coordinate co-creation workshops and regular consultations with government officers to advance the implementation research on teacher training, classroom observations, coaching, and the development of Teaching and Learning Materials (TLMs).
2. Coordinate and conduct data collection activities alongside government entities and pre-primary and primary school actors, including classroom observations, semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and surveys with schools, communities and government stakeholders.
3. Support the recruitment, training, and coordinate field data collectors/assessors for effective data collection in the field, including developing training manuals, conducting training sessions, and pilot-testing data collection tools for reliability and validity.
4. Analyse qualitative and quantitative data in collaboration with UNICEF to produce research reports, and other resources, including a cost analysis report, research findings, factsheets, case studies, and policy briefs to inform decision-making.
5. Engage government stakeholders through regular feedback sessions and workshops to inform policy and practice.

Methodology and Technical Approach:

Using a co-creation approach with government and school actors, the Research Coordinator will adopt a mixed-methods strategy to ensure comprehensive evidence generation for scaling foundational learning in Sierra Leone. This will involve regularly engaging key stakeholders such as government institutions, schools, School Quality Assurance Officers (SQAOs), donors, and other partners to collect and use evidence on teacher training, classroom instruction, coaching, and the development of Teaching and Learning Materials (TLMs).

Methodological approaches will include a desk review of in-country literature and similar contexts, along with mixed methods data collection using electronic tools to gather qualitative and quantitative data on pedagogy, instructional methods, schools’, and government actors’ feedback. Quantitative data analysis will involve cross-tabulation and potentially regression analysis, while thematic content analysis will be used for qualitative information. Triangulation between quantitative and qualitative data sources will ensure accuracy and depth.

The Research Coordinator will contribute to knowledge products, such as reports and policy briefs with effective data visualizations, and factsheets, and facilitate dissemination of findings through workshops and feedback sessions to inform evidence-based policy and practice.

The Research Coordinator will work under the overall guidance and supervision of the UNICEF Education Specialist responsible for Data, Monitoring, and Evaluation.

Please see attached ToR for detailed information.  ToR WWHGE Research Coordinator.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Education, Statistics, Social Science, International Development, related fields (not specified but inferred to be fields related to the ones listed)
• At least 5 years of demonstrated experience in:
• Education research, with previous experience in Sierra Leone or similar contexts being an asset.
• Demonstrated experience in mixed-methods research (quantitative and qualitative), including co-creation approaches and stakeholder engagement.
• Proficiency in data cleaning, quality assurance, and analysis, using statistical packages such as Stata or R.
• Familiarity with electronic data collection tools, such as Kobo Toolbox, and managing data collection in education settings.
• Demonstrated skills in managing field data collection, including recruiting, and coordinating data collectors/assessors.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively within geographically dispersed teams.
• Experience in producing knowledge products, such as research reports, policy briefs, and factsheets, and facilitating the dissemination of findings.
• Commitment to UNICEF’s core values of care, respect, integrity, transparency, and accountability.
• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment; experience with the UN or other international development organizations is an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset. 

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

 To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility jobs-near-me.org UNICEF.

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.

Remarks:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.