JOB DESCRIPTION

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child,  a champion. 

Bangladesh has advanced its Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) policy and program landscape significantly over the past two decades. From 2001 to 2021, the Early Childhood Development Project (ECDP), implemented through the Bangladesh Shishu Academy (BSA) under the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MoWCA) in partnership with UNICEF, has strengthened institutional capacity at national and sub-national levels to support young children’s development and protection. Since the adoption of the Comprehensive ECCD Policy (2013), awareness of the importance of early childhood care has increased, along with a growing emphasis on parenting education to address the holistic needs of children.

Despite these strides, recent evidence shows persistent challenges in parenting practices. The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2025 preliminary findings reveal that violent discipline remains widespread: 86% of children aged 1–14 have recently experienced violent discipline by caregivers, indicating entrenched use of physical punishment and other harmful practices at home. Preliminary MICS data also suggest only gradual changes in attitudes toward physical punishment, with a notable proportion of adults still considering it necessary. Evidence suggests that children who are subjected to chronic violence develop toxic stress that affects their developmental potential and derails the process of brain development which marks to a lifetime negative impact. Banu (2012) found that in Bangladesh parents have traditionally showed lack of interest to be involved in the children’s learning and development (as cited in Källebo, 2020). Rahman et al. (2019) found that parent’s perception about their role for child development means merely dropping and picking the child to schools. Chronic negative experiences, such as exposure to family violence, chronic and harsh parenting, maltreatment, this threatens secure attachment and has consequences for later social development of the children. Based on analysis of secondary data, the findings show that little progresses have been made in introducing parenting education in Bangladesh and significant gaps remain in parenting programme, related policies, and provisions.

In response, the Government of Bangladesh, through MoWCA and in collaboration with UNICEF, is prioritizing parenting education to strengthen caregiver capacities. Recognizing the potential of digital platforms for broad outreach. The Babuni digital parenting support programme of UNICEF is an innovative digital intervention designed to empower parents and caregivers of children aged 0–6. Centered around a mobile app, it offers evidence-based guidance on child development, health, and parenting practices, addressing a critical need for accessible, reliable parenting information. By leveraging the power of digital solutions, Babuni equips parents with the tools and knowledge to provide nurturing care and foster positive early childhood outcomes.

Babuni is a free, easily accessible mobile application available on both iOS and Android platforms, designed to provide evidence-based guidance on childcare, child development, and parental well-being. The app addresses critical areas such as health, nutrition, play, safety, responsive parenting, and mental well-being, offering parents customizable tools tailored to their child’s age, gender, and developmental stage. Additional functional features include the ability to monitor and record vaccinations, track child growth, and log key developmental milestones. Furthermore, Babuni’s multilingual capabilities and its centrally developed content, managed through a Drupal-based Content Management System (CMS), ensure that the app is adaptable and culturally relevant across diverse regions.

How can you make a difference?

Study Purpose

The purpose of this study is to generate actionable insights into the effectiveness and potential of the Babuni programme to support its ongoing development, implementation, and scaling efforts. The study is being conducted at this time to align with Babuni’s expansion into additional tracks (community health workers and government systems) and its growing adoption across multiple countries. These findings will inform strategic decisions and improvements to enhance Babuni’s impact. UNICEF’s Bangladesh Country Office is looking for a researcher to carry out this study. The Babuni parenting programme is also known as Bebbo parenting programme in some of the other countries.

To support the study, UNICEF’s Bangladesh Country Office will hire a local data collection agency for participant identification, interviews, data collection and translation based on the protocols shared by the researcher. Researcher is expected to have regular coordination calls with the data collection agency to ensure smooth process.

 

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  Babuni app impact study ToR_BCO.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Masters.  Education, Psychology, Child Development and Educational Research
• Work Experience: A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in conducting impact assessments, program evaluations, or operational research, in the areas of early childhood development (ECD), or parenting programs, or digital interventions.
• Demonstrated experience in applying mixed-methods research methodologies, including quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis.
• Demonstrated experience in using methodologies such as outcome harvesting
• Proven track record of working with digital interventions or mobile-based programs, with a focus on user engagement and behaviour change.
• Prior experience working with or within multilateral organizations (e.g., UNICEF, WHO) or conducting studies in the development sector.
• Skills : Expertise in causal analysis methods such as Process Tracing, Causal Mapping, or Outcome Harvesting.
• Proficiency in data analysis software, such as SPSS, Stata, R, NVivo, or equivalent tools.
• Strong skills in designing and implementing surveys, conducting focus groups, and analyzing app-based user data (e.g., Firebase analytics).
• Experience in assessing policy alignment and national system integration for digital or health-related interventions is an asset.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in spoken and written English

Desirables:

[Include the position desirables, including complementary education, additional experience, additional language, specific skills, etc]

• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts. (This criteria is essential as a desirable and should be included in all job postings.)

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others

[add the 8th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role].

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

[Remove the following paragraph if not a child safeguarding elevated risk role] This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children’s data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks: 

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable [Insert candidates from targeted underrepresented groups] are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

[Applicable to HQEI positions, remove the below text if not applicable]

In this role, you will collaborate with colleagues across multiple locations. For effective collaboration, we encourage flexible working hours that accommodate different time zones while prioritizing staff wellbeing.

[Remove the below paragraph if not applicable]

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

[Do not remove the below paragraph]

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

[Adapt the below paragraph or remove it if not applicable]

[CO/ HQ specific: visa residence requirements: i.e.: UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.]

[Do not remove the below paragraph]

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements