CFAs: Strengthening Evidence Generation and Policy Advocacy on Child Centred Public Policies and Public Financing (Pakistan)

Deadline: 21-Jul-2025

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is seeking to strengthen its collaborations with technically sound research and policy institutions that bring a high level of expertise in empirical research, policy analysis, and data-driven advocacy.

This effort is aimed at advancing child rights and achieving equitable outcomes across social sectors

Sectors and Areas of Specialization

Social Policy and Advocacy
- Public finance and local governance
- Social policy and advocacy – general
- Social protection and multidimensional poverty
- Social safety nets

Scope of Work

Selected institutions will be expected to lead and manage end-to-end research and analytical work, showcase the research products at different venues as technical partners, and disseminate knowledge products through policy advocacy events. This includes research design, development of data collection methodologies and tools, field implementation, and advanced data analysis using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. This also includes leading organization and management of policy advocacy events. Institutions must possess strong competencies in:
- Quantitative Analysis: Design and execution of perception surveys, impact evaluations, baseline/endline assessments, econometric forecasting and modelling, microsimulation, and behavioural data analysis using tools such as STATA, SPSS, R, NVivo, MAXQDA, KOBO, CSPro and other similar software.
- Qualitative Analysis: Designing research protocols, conducting in-depth interviews and focus groups, and applying software such as NVivo and MAXQDA for thematic analysis.
- Policy Engagement: Translating research into policy briefs, case studies, research papers and journal articles, and knowledge products that inform government policy, donor programming, and advocacy.
- Thematic Knowledge: Experience in areas such as adaptive and inclusive social protection systems, public finance for children (including budget analysis, investment cases, costing models, predictive modeling etc.) and social sector governance, macroeconomic outlook and human capital financing (including debt, tax equity, impact bonds), education and learning, health and nutrition, gender and social inclusion, digital development and innovation, climate change and sustainability particularly in relation to its impacts on children.
- Policy Advocacy Event: Lead the design and execution of targeted advocacy events to disseminate research findings, engage policymakers, and shape public discourse. This includes agenda setting, stakeholder outreach, preparation and presentation of advocacy materials (e.g., briefs, presentations), event management, media engagement, and post-event follow-up to influence policy, programming and engagement.

Geographic Focus

Pakistan
- Punjab

Expected Results

Institutions should demonstrate the following: Strong technical leadership in research methodology, survey design, and statistical modelling, economic forecasting, impact evaluations and public finance management including, budget analysis, investment cases, policy position papers and advocacy briefs on public finance management issues e.g. climate, community-based service models.
- Experience in managing large-scale mixed-methods studies, including baseline/endline evaluations.
- Expertise in behavioural change research, including pre- and post-intervention assessments.
- Capacity to develop policy-relevant outputs including briefs, lessons learned documents, synthesis papers and journal articles.
- Ability to manage multiple tasks under tight deadlines, while maintaining high-quality standards.
- Excellent communication and analytical writing skills in English, Urdu and other local languages.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build consensus across diverse stakeholders.
- Strong networking established through high quality work in upper echelons of potential stakeholders in Pakistan
- Proficiency in ICT and research software (STATA, SPSS, R ,NVivo, MAXQDA, KOBO, CSPro and other similar software).
- Demonstrated experience in designing and delivering high-impact policy advocacy events, including stakeholder engagement, policy briefings, roundtables, and multi-stakeholder dialogues. Capacity to translate research into compelling advocacy materials and facilitate evidence-based discussions that inform public policy and programming.