JOB DETAILS:
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, Education
Background
The UNICEF Office in Uganda is supporting Uganda’s national endeavors towards expediting the fulfillment of children’s rights as per the provisions outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), while simultaneously advancing progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The partnership between UNICEF and Uganda is formalized through the UNICEF-Government Country Programme Documents (CPD), jointly developed, and formally approved by the UNICEF Board of Directors. The CPD is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). The latter is closely aligned with Uganda’s Vision 2040, the National Development Plan III, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In Quarter 1 of FY2023/24, the Government of Uganda launched the roadmap for developing the National Development Plan IV (NDP IV). In January 2024, the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) followed with a pathway outlining its contributions to the NDP IV process, alongside a detailed roadmap for the development of the next UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2026-2030). In alignment with these efforts, and to shape a new country programme that addresses the most critical rights deprivations faced by children in Uganda, the UNICEF Uganda Country Office has launched the following:

• A detailed Evidence Synthesis: This reflects upon existing and emerging evidence to identify child rights deprivations and the bottlenecks that cause them.
• Situational Analysis of children and adolescents in Uganda: a flagship product, offering an analytical narrative delving into the landscape of children and adolescents’ rights and well-being within Uganda. The SitAn is examining the strides made, the existing hurdles, and the opportunities for advancing child rights and well-being, alongside identifying the prevailing patterns of deprivation affecting children.

Moreover, as part of its learning agenda under its Child Survival and Development programme, UNICEF has conducted a considerable number of studies, research, assessments and evaluations to assess efforts and progress to increasing access to quality integrated health (RMNCAH), nutrition, WASH and HIV services and strengthened nurturing, protective, resilient and clean environment.

In line with this, UNICEF Uganda Country Office is seeking consultancy services to undertake a meta-analysis of all evidence generated under its Child Survival and Development Programme within the 2021-2025 Country Programme. The objective of the meta-synthesis is to consolidate evidence from studies, assessments, research, and evaluations, providing independent and comprehensive insights and recommendations to inform the design of the next UNICEF Country Programme (2026-2030).
Scope of Work:
To guide learning and foresight for the 2026–2030 Country Programme, UNICEF has launched independent evaluations of its Child Protection (Outcome 3) and Basic Education and Adolescent Development (Outcome 2) Programmes. These evaluations are expected to offer forward-looking recommendations to inform the prioritization process. In contrast, given the extensive assessments and evaluations already conducted under Outcome 1 – Child Survival and Development (CSD), UNICEF has adopted a meta-analysis approach, which is more cost-effective, and efficient, and reduces respondent fatigue.

Under the overall guidance of the Chief Child Survival and Development, and the Chief Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation, the consultancy will aim to collate and synthesize available evidence to;

• Assess the relevance and coherence of UNICEF supported interventions geared at strengthening access and quality to health (RMNCAH), HIV, nutrition, and WASH services,
• Appraise progress towards achievement of intended results for children and women,
• Determine the efficiency of UNICEF supported interventions geared at strengthening access and quality to health (RMNCAH), HIV, nutrition, and WASH services in targeted 29 districts.

• Assess the sustainability of UNICEF supported interventions geared at strengthening access and quality to health, nutrition, and WASH services.
• Propose collective foresight leaning recommendations for scaling and adapting UNICEF supported interventions geared at strengthening access and quality to health, nutrition and WASH services.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
A master’s degree (PHD is an added advantage) in Public Health, Health Econometrics, statistics, policy analysis, or another relevant technical field is required.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:
• A minimum of at least 10 years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: public health, policy analysis, political economy analysis, and any other related field.
• Experience of at least 10 years in conducting evaluations, policy analysis, research, and meta-analyses for development and humanitarian Programmes of a similar nature to the UNICEF CSD Programme is of added advantage.
• Experience in the development of analytical reports and policy documents related to children will be an added advantage.
• Familiarity with UNICEF mandate, policy, and programmes,
• Excellent knowledge of qualitative research methods, including experience in literature and desk review
• Advanced skills in diplomacy and strategic thinking.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, international, and multicultural environment.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, and ability to establish and maintain effective working relations within a team.
• Proven ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Exceptional communication skills, verbal and with advanced skills in writing and editing.