Deadline: 1-May-23
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has launched the “Centre of Excellence on Data for Children with Disabilities” Initiative, an opportunity to design and conduct innovative data analysis on topics relating to children with disabilities.
The Centre’s aim is to fill data gaps and meet the growing need for coordination, quality oversight and technical expertise in the field.
This initiative is designed to build capacity for data analysis and to promote collaboration between skilled and early career researchers/data analysts, as well as collaboration among associated institutions. The recipients will have the opportunity to design and conduct innovative data analysis on topics relating to children with disabilities; the results will be published in a format to be determined by UNICEF.
Its priority areas include supporting a broad range of activities to build the capacity of data producers and data users, facilitate the development of new methods and tools, and support data collection, data analysis, data interpretation and use, and knowledge generation. To promote the use of data and the generation of knowledge on the state of children with disabilities, the Centre has committed to sponsoring innovative data analyses.
Benefits
- Each successful candidate will receive up to a total of US$9,000 for a period of nine months. The amount will depend on the complexity of the project. Upon selection, the recipients will be required to enter into a consultancy agreement with UNICEF for the duration of the project.
Outcome
- At the end of the nine months, the recipients are required to submit a manuscript for publication. In addition, the recipients are required to present either the preliminary and/or final results of their work during seminars, workshops and/or conferences. Recipients are required to ensure that their final work is accessible to persons with disabilities. The recipients are also encouraged to conduct and disseminate their findings in local and national languages, as applicable.
Eligibility Criteria
- This Call for Proposals is open to candidates of all nationalities who are in the process of completing a PhD, have recently completed a PhD and are still affiliated with a university or research institution, or who have completed a master’s degree and have at least five years of relevant experience in research or data work. Degrees in a variety of disciplines – including, but not limited to, anthropology, child development, disability studies, economics, public health, public policy, psychology, sociology and statistics – will be considered.
- The applicants must be willing to commit to a nine-month project. The recipients will be hosted by the university or research institution they are affiliated with or where they are completing their studies. Alternatively, junior professionals must be supported by their offices and have a senior professional within the organization to oversee their work. The supervisors must submit a letter of recommendation and willingness to support the work.
- A letter of commitment is required from the university, research institution or national statistics office to host the applicants and attest to their competency and commitment.
- The applicants will need to possess a combination of the following skills and experience:
- Advanced training in quantitative research methodology, demonstrating a sound grasp of statistical theory and its application to practical policy
- Ability to analyse large data sets using a variety of statistical software
- Excellent writing skills
- Ability to communicate complex technical ideas to non-specialists, verbally and in writing
- Demonstrated interest and experience in the field of child disability data
- Ability to work independently and meet strict deadlines
- Motivated to seize the opportunities in this initiative and become an active member of the hosting university or research institution to champion child disability data research
- Ability to think creatively about child disability data collection, analysis, dissemination, and implications for policy, and to develop unique article topics
- Willingness to learn and accept advice.
- UNICEF reserves the right to disqualify any entry that contains hurtful, misleading, libelous or vulgar content, or that contains any material that could constitute or encourage conduct that would be considered a criminal offence, give rise to civil liability, or otherwise violate any national or international law or UNICEF standard.
- Individuals who have recently obtained a PhD, are currently enrolled in a PhD programme, or hold a master’s degree with five years of relevant experience in research or data work
- Are affiliated with a university, research institution or national statistics office
- Applications from qualified candidates from low- and middle-income countries and/or who identify as having a disability are encouraged.
For more information, visit UNICEF.