UNICEF Remote Research Consultancy 2026: Apply for a UNICEF Research Role in Children, AI and Digital Protection

Overview

UNICEF Innocenti, the Office of Strategy and Evidence, is seeking a Consultant for Qualitative Research on Children and AI (Job Number 594743) in its Digital Engagement and Protection Unit. The assignment is based in Florence, Italy, with a remote working arrangement, and amounts to approximately 115 working days over 16 months.

The wider project studies how children in China experience and perceive AI tools, with particular attention to relational AI systems. It uses a mixed-methods approach, with a qualitative stage followed by a quantitative stage to test broader patterns. The consultant mainly supports the qualitative component.

What the role involves

The consultant helps plan and set up the qualitative research and develops qualitative methods for consultations with children, including instruments, discussion approaches and analytical frameworks. They support piloting of the approach and refine it based on findings, then support the consultations with children, which calls for sensitivity and a strong grasp of ethical research and safeguarding.

The consultant contributes to analyzing the qualitative findings, identifying themes and linking them to the research questions. They also review analysis and outputs produced by the local research implementation partner as a quality check, and contribute to the UNICEF Innocenti research report with analysis, conclusions and recommendations.

Requirements

Applicants should have a relevant Master's degree, such as in a social science or technology-related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. At least five years of relevant experience conducting qualitative research at national or international level is expected, ideally including work on children, technology, digital environments or related policy issues. English is the working language, and Chinese is an asset.

Key dates

Applications close on 11 August 2026.