About the job

UNICEF works globally to protect children’s rights, providing humanitarian and development assistance in 192 countries. The Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) in Nairobi supports 23 countries through technical guidance, oversight, and evidence generation.

The Research Specialist strengthens research governance, quality, use, and capacity across ESARO and country offices. The role supports planning, quality assurance, knowledge management, and evidence uptake. Reports to the Regional Data and Research Manager.

Key Accountabilities

Research Governance (25%)

• Strengthen research planning and governance mechanisms; support IMERP development; ensure coordinated, prioritized research agendas across ESARO.

Quality Assurance (25%)

• Provide technical review of research designs, ToRs, inception/draft reports; establish quality review mechanisms and partnerships.

Capacity Strengthening (15%)

• Identify capacity gaps; deliver trainings; promote responsible, ethical research; collaborate with academic institutions.

Knowledge Generation & Management (25%)

• Draft quarterly regional evidence briefs; produce country profiles; harmonize data/research repositories; monitor research uptake and use.

Partnerships (10%)

• Map and collaborate with research institutions; coordinate with UN and regional partners to enhance research and M&E functions.

Profile Requirements

Education: Master’s degree in social research methods, social sciences, public policy research, evaluation, econometrics, anthropology, or related field with strong research focus.

Languages: English – Fluent (required)

• Arabic, French, Portuguese – Working knowledge (desirable)

Skills & Competencies

• Strong research and evaluation expertise in public policy or child rights.
• Experience in evidence generation, research uptake, implementation research (asset).
• UN/international development experience (asset).
• Excellent writing, analysis, and communication skills.
• Knowledge of knowledge management practices.
• Strong interpersonal skills; adaptable and collaborative.
• Advanced computer literacy, including Excel database management.
• Alignment with UNICEF values: Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability (CRITA).

Volunteer Living Allowance: currently US$ 2,740 to US$ 3,190

UN Volunteers serve full-time in their professional expertise, supported by a benefits package, including a monthly living allowance to ensure a secure standard of living at their duty stations. These allowances are not intended as compensation, reward, or salary for the volunteer's service.

Check out our Entitlement Calculator on UVP, the Unified Volunteer Platform, and learn more.

• Strengthen research planning and governance mechanisms; support IMERP development; ensure coordinated, prioritized research agendas across ESARO.
• Provide technical review of research designs, ToRs, inception/draft reports; establish quality review mechanisms and partnerships.
• Identify capacity gaps; deliver trainings; promote responsible, ethical research; collaborate with academic institutions.
• Draft quarterly regional evidence briefs; produce country profiles; harmonize data/research repositories; monitor research uptake and use.
• Map and collaborate with research institutions; coordinate with UN and regional partners to enhance research and M&E functions.

• Strong research and evaluation expertise in public policy or child rights.
• Experience in evidence generation, research uptake, implementation research (asset).
• UN/international development experience (asset).
• Excellent writing, analysis, and communication skills.
• Knowledge of knowledge management practices.
• Strong interpersonal skills; adaptable and collaborative.
• Advanced computer literacy, including Excel database management.
• Alignment with UNICEF values: Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability (CRITA).

• Master’s degree in social research methods, social sciences, public policy research, evaluation, econometrics, anthropology, or related field with strong research focus.
• English – Fluent (required)
• Arabic, French, Portuguese – Working knowledge (desirable)