UNICEF Opens Remote Consultancy for Child Participatory Research Experts|Apply before 22 Jul 2026

Experienced researchers passionate about children’s rights and participatory research have an exciting opportunity to work with UNICEF. The organization is recruiting consultants for a Long-Term Agreement (LTA) Consultancy – Services Relating to Child Participatory Research with the Office of Strategy & Evidence (OSE) – Innocenti. This is a remote/work-from-home consultancy designed to support UNICEF’s global research initiatives that amplify children’s voices and strengthen evidence-based decision-making.

The consultancy offers professionals the opportunity to contribute to high-impact international research while collaborating with UNICEF teams and partners across multiple countries.

About the Consultancy

UNICEF’s Office of Strategy and Evidence – Innocenti is dedicated to generating high-quality research that informs policies and programmes benefiting children worldwide. As global challenges such as climate change, conflict, digital transformation, and economic instability continue to affect children’s lives, reliable evidence has become increasingly important.

Through this Long-Term Agreement (LTA), UNICEF seeks to establish a roster of expert consultants who can support research projects focused on child participation. Consultants will work under the guidance of UNICEF research managers and specialists to ensure children and young people actively contribute to research processes and help shape solutions affecting their lives.

Assignments under the LTA will vary depending on project needs and may be based on specific deliverables or the number of working days required.

Key Responsibilities

Selected consultants will contribute to a variety of research activities, including:

• Designing child participatory research studies to address specific research questions.
• Developing research methodologies that meaningfully involve children and young people.
• Piloting research tools and refining methodologies based on lessons learned.
• Preparing documentation for ethical review boards.
• Developing research toolkits and guidance materials.
• Delivering training for UNICEF staff and research partners.
• Supporting field researchers during data collection.
• Conducting qualitative research with children.
• Analyzing and interpreting research findings.
• Writing reports, research papers, and policy outputs.
• Preparing presentations and disseminating research findings to diverse audiences.

The role combines research design, field implementation, training, analysis, and knowledge sharing.

Required Qualifications

Applicants must possess:

• A Master’s degree that includes substantial coursework in qualitative research, children’s studies, or a closely related discipline.

Candidates should also demonstrate:

• At least five years of experience conducting qualitative research with children.
• Significant experience using participatory research methods.
• Experience conducting field research with children across diverse settings, including countries in the Global South.
• Experience training and supporting research teams.
• Fluency in English and at least one additional language.

Desired Skills and Experience

UNICEF is particularly interested in professionals who have:

• Advanced knowledge of qualitative and participatory research methodologies.
• Strong understanding of ethical principles for research involving children.
• Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication abilities.
• Experience working in multicultural and international environments.
• Availability to undertake international assignments lasting one to two weeks when required.

Additional advantages include:

• Fluency in another official United Nations language, including Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish.
• Experience working in humanitarian settings, fragile contexts, or international development programmes.

Deliverables

Depending on the assignment, consultants may be responsible for producing:

• Child participatory research tools.
• Research guidance documents and toolkits.
• Training materials for UNICEF staff and partners.
• Qualitative data analysis reports.
• Research publications.
• Policy briefs.
• Presentations and dissemination materials.

Each assignment will have clearly defined deliverables aligned with UNICEF’s research priorities.

Why Work with UNICEF Innocenti?

UNICEF Innocenti is internationally recognized for producing evidence that shapes global policies for children. Consultants joining this roster will contribute to research that influences decision-makers, strengthens child participation, and improves programmes affecting millions of children worldwide.

The consultancy offers:

• Flexible remote working arrangements.
• Opportunities to collaborate with global experts.
• International research assignments.
• Meaningful work supporting children’s rights.
• Exposure to innovative research methods and evidence generation.

This opportunity is particularly suitable for experienced qualitative researchers, child participation specialists, social researchers, and development professionals committed to ethical and inclusive research.

Position Summary

• Position: LTA Consultancy – Services Relating to Child Participatory Research
• Organization: UNICEF
• Department: Office of Strategy & Evidence (OSE) – Innocenti
• Contract Type: Long-Term Agreement (LTA) Consultancy
• Work Arrangement: Remote / Work from Home
• Duty Station: Florence, Italy
• Categories: Social Policy, Research, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation
• Travel: International assignments of one to two weeks may be required
• Application Deadline: 22 July 2026

Professionals with strong expertise in qualitative research, child participation, and international development are encouraged to apply. This consultancy presents a valuable opportunity to help generate evidence that influences global policies and programmes while ensuring children’s voices remain at the heart of research and decision-making.

APPLY HERE

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