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For every child, the right to a future

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Sudan is implementing Maternal and Child Cash Transfers Plus for the first 1,000 days of Life (MCCT+). The MCCT+ is an integrated social protection programme that provides vulnerable pregnant women and lactating mothers with regular cash assistance together with skills and access to basic health, nutrition, and protection services. The programme first started in Red Sea and Kassala States with then further expansion to different States, including in River Nile under MCCT+ phase IV. UNICEF Innocenti is collaborating with the UNICEF Sudan on mixed-methods evidence generation on the MCCT+. As part of this, a mixed-method evaluation of the MCCT+ Phase IV started in 2024, involving three waves of data collection: baseline, midline, and endline. The baseline report was finalized in November 2025. The Midline is planned to start in June 2026. It will rely on an exclusive qualitative methodology. These Terms of Reference (ToR) specifically address support for the qualitative midline data collection activities.

The overarching research questions for the whole study are as follows: what is the impact of the MCCT+ on health care utilization, dietary diversity, infant and young child feeding practices and household food security, what is the impact of the MCCT+ on child health, maternal health, acute and chronic malnutrition, does the MCCT+ contribute to the building of resilience to shocks among beneficiaries ? The Midline will answer more specifically the following sub-question: what are the significant changes that MCCT+ beneficiaries identify in their lives in selected key domains since the start of the programme implementation and as a consequence of the programme, and what are the perceived causal pathways of those changes? Following the programme's theory of change, the key domains will include: dietary diversity, infant and young child feeding practices and household food security, WASH practices, maternal and child health, caregivers' wellbeing and empowerment, households' coping strategies, assets, and livelihoods.

To address this research question, a specific qualitative methodology will be adopted, which is the Qualitative Impact Protocol (QuIP). This is a specialized approach for identifying causal connections from participants of an intervention, relying on an iterative and exploratory causal pathways analysis of the impacts of the intervention on beneficiaries. To collect those narratives, interviews (1) and focus groups (2) will be used (all respondents being sampled from the quantitative sample).

How can you make a difference?

The objective of this consultancy is to support the above-mentioned research activities in Sudan. The consultancy will more specifically be about supporting the training of the fieldwork team and the quality assurance of the transcripts.

Inception: Participate in the induction by the QuIP researcher and the Research Specialist and read all key study documents (study protocol, instrument, etc.).
Support training: Support the facilitation of the training (by the QuIP researcher and the Research Specialist), in close collaboration with the data collection firm.
Data quality check: Check the quality of the translated transcripts (140 transcripts) by reviewing the translated transcripts against the audios, report to the QuIP researcher and the Research Specialist by sharing accurate feedback on improvements needed.

If you would like to know more about this opportunity, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: OSE ToR National Research Assistant EXT.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: Master's degree in sociology, anthropology, public/social policy, public health, or related field (social sciences).
Work Experience: At least 2 years of professional experience supporting research activities in Sudan.
Experience with supporting (quantitative and/or qualitative) data collection operations in Sudan, on at least 2 different studies/projects.
Be currently based in Sudan.
Skills: Excellent writing skills
Language Requirements: Fluency in both written and spoken English and Arabic.

Desirables:

Experience with supporting specifically qualitative research activities.

Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

For every Child, you demonstrate:

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

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.Consultants 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 for ensuring 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.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

Consultancy - National Research Assistant (based in Sudan) - UNICEF OSE - Innocenti - Remote/Work from Home