Consultancy: Learning and Skills Data Analyst Consultant - Req.#581598

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, HOPE!

Vacancy Announcement: Consultant Consultancy Title: Learning and Skills Data Analyst Consultant Section/Division/Duty Station: Division of Data, Analytics, Planning and Monitoring (D&A education DAPM), NYHQ  Duration: June 2025 to July 31, 2026 Home/ Office Based: REMOTE 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. 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. BACKGROUND Purpose of Activity/Assignment:   The overarching aim of this consultancy is to work with foundational learning data from past and forthcoming Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS). Since 2016, the foundational learning module has been administered in over 50 countries and territories, and about 20 surveys are expected to collect this data next year. The consultant will work with both historical and upcoming data to maintain the database, update code in Stata and R, and manage the GitHub repository. In addition, the consultant will use microdata to support three analytical and knowledge products based on key research questions, which requires familiarity with building dashboards using Shiny in R or creating innovative data visualizations. Lastly, the consultant will support the Learning and Skills Data Lab, focusing on harmonization efforts and maintaining the database in preparation for the lab. Scope of Work  The Consultant will perform the following tasks: 1. Maintain the Database for Foundational Learning Calculated using MICS: o Database Management & Estimation Production: •  Facilitate the maintenance and updating of the foundational learning database • Produce regular estimates using R and ensure that all code and outputs are maintained in a GitHub repository for transparency and reproducibility o Quality Assurance: • Verify and validate the estimates against SFR  • Develop and implement a reproducibility workflow, including routine checks and documentation of any discrepancies or updates 2. Support Three Analytical and Knowledge Products Using These Data: o Econometric Analysis: • Conduct comprehensive econometric analyses using the maintained database to extract policy-relevant insights and trends • Prepare detailed analytical reports, presentations, or policy briefs that support decision-making and further research o Collaboration & Dissemination: • Work closely with internal teams and stakeholders to ensure that the analytical outputs meet the needs of the knowledge products • Participate in review sessions to refine analyses and incorporate feedback 3. Support the Harmonization Work for the Learning and Skills Data Lab: o Data Integration & Harmonization: • Collaborate with teams working on different assessments to gather, clean, and standardize diverse datasets • Produce a unified repository of estimates derived from various assessments, ensuring consistency across methodologies o Documentation & Methodology: • Document the harmonization process and methodologies used to create the repository • Provide a comprehensive guide to support future updates and scalability of the data lab o Visualizations and dashboards: •  Support with interactive visualizations and dashboards for the foundational learning data and harmonized data Terms of Reference / Specific Deliverables  Develop and implement a reproducible workflow with routine checks and documentation of any discrepancies or updates - Reproducible R code on GitHub 20th June 2025 Maintain the Database for Foundational Learning Calculated using MICS • Oversee the maintenance and updating of the foundational learning database • Produce regular estimates using R, ensuring that all code and outputs are maintained in a GitHub repository for transparency and reproducibility • Verify and validate the estimates against SFR - 10 country codes on GitHub with foundational learning data harmonized - One database with updated estimates 30th Sept 2025 30th Mar 2026 Three Analytical products using FLS/FLM2.0 data - 3 knowledge/analytical products (blogs, briefs or das