UNICEF Home-Based Research Assistant Job for 2026

Overview

UNICEF is seeking a National Research Assistant (job number 595682) for a home-based consultancy under its Office of Strategy and Evidence, Innocenti. The work supports qualitative research on the Maternal and Child Cash Transfers Plus programme, known as MCCT+, in Sudan.

MCCT+ is a social protection programme for vulnerable pregnant women and lactating mothers during the first 1,000 days of life. It pairs regular cash assistance with access to health, nutrition, protection and skills-development services. UNICEF Innocenti and UNICEF Sudan are running a mixed-methods evaluation of its effects on household food security, maternal and child health, nutrition, WASH practices, caregiver wellbeing and household resilience. The assistant supports the qualitative midline research.

What you will do

The consultant takes part in an induction with the QuIP researcher and Research Specialist and reviews the research protocol and data collection instruments. They help train the fieldwork team together with the research team and the data collection firm. A main task is quality checking 140 translated transcripts against the original audio recordings, identifying errors, and giving detailed feedback.

The study uses the Qualitative Impact Protocol, with individual interviews and focus group discussions, to explore changes experienced by beneficiaries and how the programme may have contributed to them.

Who can apply

Applicants must be currently based in Sudan and hold a Master's degree in sociology, anthropology, public or social policy, public health or a related social science. They need at least two years of professional experience supporting research in Sudan, experience supporting quantitative or qualitative data collection, and work on at least two different research studies or projects in Sudan. Experience with qualitative research in development, humanitarian or fragile settings is desirable. Fluency in English and Arabic and excellent writing skills are required.

What you get

This is a consultancy, not a UNICEF staff appointment. Consultants do not receive staff benefits such as leave or medical insurance and are responsible for their own taxes and duties.

Key dates

The vacancy was advertised on 11 September 2026, and the deadline is 16 September 2026.