Social and Behavior Change - Research and Data Analysis Consultant

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

Consultancy: Social and Behavior Change - Research and Data Analysis Consultant

Duty Station: Global Programme Division - SBC

Duration: 1 March 2026 – 30 June 2026

Home/Office Based: Remote

Background and Purpose of Activity/Assignment

The SBC Section in the Programme Group Leadership Team at UNICEF Headquarters is seeking an individual consultant to continue strategic projects for advanced analytics and monitoring of social behavior change programming. This role specifically relates to the Behavioral and Social Drivers of Vaccination (BeSD) surveys and the strengthening of Social and Behavior (S&B) data systems across countries. The consultant will focus on several key objectives:

• Conduct additional analysis and quality control for BeSD surveys across specific countries, including for zero-dose children and improvements in HPV and malaria vaccination.
• Provide technical guidance for integrating key social and behavioral data components into national statistical systems. This includes Community Rapid Assessments, mapping for health statistical data, sample design for technical surveys, and data integration for platforms like DHIS2, MICS, and other national statistical platforms.
• Support Country Offices with the roll-out and dissemination of the Implementation Toolkit for Monitoring Social and Behavior Change Programming, including advanced analytics and segmentation analysis.

The Social and Behavior Change Data, Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist will supervise this contract, with close collaboration with programme specialists in the Social and Behavior Change team and the Demand for Immunization team in Health.

Scope of Work

The Social and Behavior Change - Research and Data Analysis Consultant will undertake the following key responsibilities:

• Prepare comprehensive decks of inferential statistics and segmentation analysis based on UNICEF’s BeSD surveys, building on country-specific analyses.
• Review and draft technical guidance for integrating social and behavioral data and BeSD survey results into national data systems, including DHIS2, MICS, and other key statistical platforms.
• Provide SBC Research Technical Advice and support to country offices for Social and Behavioral Data integration and for the roll-out and data analysis monitoring of Social and Behavior Change Programming.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables

• Regression Analysis and Segmentation Analysis of Behavioral and Social Drivers of Vaccination Surveys (Due: 30 May 2026)
  • Review and synthesize findings from 2025 BeSD Survey results (8 countries), producing visualizations for a research report.
  • Develop and implement a Regression Analysis Model and Segmentation Analysis Model for global BeSD Survey results.
  • Draft a research report detailing regression and segmentation analysis from Global Results Analysis, including deployment design and implementation logs.
• Social and Behavioral Data Integration in National Statistical Systems (Due: 30 June 2026)
  • Develop a technical note on integrating social and behavior data into national statistical systems.
  • Develop 8 technical notes (for country pilots in multiple regions) to guide SBC data integration.
  • Revise existing DHIS2 and MICS Modules and draft a Social and Behavioral Data integration proposal for these platforms.
• Roll-Out and Implementation of Toolkit for Monitoring Social and Behavior Change (Due: 30 June 2026)
  • Review and finalize the draft Implementation Toolkit for Monitoring Social and Behaviour Change.
  • Prepare 1 training material deck and related rollout annex tools (minimum 3 topics: Segmentation Analysis, National Systems S&B Data, and Monitoring as Evidence) for capacity building sessions on Social and Behavioural Data.
  • Plan and conduct 3 support sessions on social and behavioral data advanced analytics for 8 countries, including a roadmap document for next steps.

Travel: International - 1 trip

Qualifications

Education:

• A Master's degree or its equivalent is required in fields such as social and behavioral sciences, public affairs, economics, statistics, data and M&E, or related subjects.

Language Proficiency:

• Oral and written proficiency in English is required.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• 7 years of experience in applied social science research, Programme Monitoring and Evaluation, or data visualization.
• Proven experience in developing Social and Behaviour Change data analysis products and training materials.
• Prior experience in data analysis for Social and Behaviour Change in international organizations and for Public Health Emergencies.
• Prior experience in leading and drafting analytical models under BeSD Surveys and managing the design and weighting of national BeSD surveys.
• Proven experience in developing Segmentation Analysis models and training for partners and government officials on Social and Behavioural data segmentation analysis and programme monitoring.
• Experience in drafting research decks/reports and/or data analysis decks/reports for Social and Behaviour Change for international organizations.

Requirements

• Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system.
• Upload copy of academic credentials.
• Financial proposal detailing costs per deliverable and total lump-sum (in US$).
• Indicate availability.
• Any emergent/unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• Current health insurance coverage required at contract award.
• Payment based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables.

Key skills/competency

• Social Behavior Change (SBC)
• Data Analysis
• Research Methodology
• Programme Monitoring & Evaluation
• Statistical Modeling
• Segmentation Analysis
• Public Health
• Immunization Programs
• National Data Systems
• Technical Guidance