Individual Consultant – Behavioural Scientist, Social and Behaviour Change (Long-Term Agreement)

UNICEF's Global Programme Division is establishing a Long-Term Agreement (LTA) roster of Individual Consultants specialising in Behavioural Science to support its Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) programming worldwide. This is a remote, on-demand consultancy arrangement that will connect highly qualified behavioural scientists with UNICEF Country Offices, Regional Offices, and Centres of Excellence across the full programme cycle — from research and intervention design through to evaluation and scale-up.

As UNICEF expands evidence-based SBC work across health, nutrition, education, child protection, WASH, social policy, and climate resilience, there is a critical and growing need for consultants fluent in both classical behavioural science traditions and contemporary computational methods. Consultants placed on this roster will be called upon to diagnose drivers of behaviour, co-design and test interventions, apply advanced analytical approaches, and translate findings into actionable programme decisions for teams serving children and communities globally.

• Conduct rigorous behavioural diagnosis using frameworks from behavioural economics, social psychology, decision science, and implementation science to identify psychological, social, cultural, and structural determinants of behaviour.
• Design evidence-based SBC interventions and develop theoretically grounded behaviour change strategies tailored to UNICEF programme sectors including health, WASH, nutrition, education, child protection, and climate resilience.
• Apply advanced analytical and computational methods — including machine learning, large language models, agent-based simulation, network analysis, geospatial analysis, and adaptive experimentation — to programme data and behavioural research.
• Lead or support the design and implementation of experimental and quasi-experimental evaluations, including randomised controlled trials, natural experiments, and rapid-cycle testing approaches.
• Translate behavioural science findings into clear, actionable recommendations for non-specialist programme staff and decision-makers at country, regional, and global levels.
• Build internal capacity within UNICEF teams through training, mentorship, tools development, and knowledge-sharing sessions.
• Contribute to the development of technical guidance documents, frameworks, and learning products that strengthen UNICEF's SBC functional capabilities.
• Provide advisory support on the integration of behavioural insights into programme design, monitoring systems, and strategic planning processes.

• Demonstrate advanced training in behavioural science, behavioural economics, social psychology, decision science, or a closely related field, evidenced by postgraduate qualifications and a substantial publication or applied project portfolio.
• Show proven ability to independently conduct behavioural diagnosis across diverse social and cultural contexts, selecting and adapting appropriate frameworks (e.g., COM-B, EAST, Nudge Theory, dual-process models) to real-world programme challenges.
• Demonstrate hands-on experience designing, testing, and evaluating behaviour change interventions in low- and middle-income country (LMIC) settings, particularly within humanitarian or development programme environments.
• Apply quantitative and qualitative research methods competently, including survey design, focus group moderation, ethnographic methods, and statistical analysis.
• Utilise at least one computational or advanced analytical method (machine learning, NLP, agent-based modelling, geospatial analysis, or adaptive trial design) in a programme-relevant context.
• Communicate complex behavioural science concepts clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences including government counterparts, community representatives, and non-technical colleagues.
• Work independently and manage multiple concurrent deliverables within agreed timelines across different time zones in a fully remote environment.
• Demonstrate experience in at least two of UNICEF's core programme sectors: health, nutrition, education, child protection, WASH, social policy, or climate resilience.

UNICEF LTA consultancy fees are negotiated based on the consultant's qualifications, experience, and the specific scope of each assignment. Daily rates for senior international behavioural science consultants on UN rosters typically range from USD 400 to USD 800 per day (approximately KES 52,000–104,000), translating to estimated monthly equivalents of KES 300,000–600,000 for full engagement periods. Consultants are engaged on an as-needed basis; there is no guaranteed minimum volume of work under the LTA. Placement on the roster does not constitute employment with UNICEF.

• Flexible, fully remote working arrangement with global UNICEF teams
• Exposure to high-impact programmes across 190+ countries and territories
• Access to UNICEF's global SBC knowledge networks and learning resources
• Opportunity for long-term, repeat engagements across multiple UNICEF offices

This opportunity is ideal for independent behavioural scientists with a strong academic and applied grounding who are passionate about using rigorous evidence to improve outcomes for children and vulnerable communities. You should have significant experience working in international development or humanitarian contexts and be comfortable operating autonomously across different cultural environments. Candidates who bridge both classical behavioural science methods and emerging computational approaches are particularly encouraged to apply.

This opportunity is NOT suitable for: candidates without a postgraduate qualification in a relevant behavioural science discipline; individuals with no prior experience in development, humanitarian, or public health programme settings; those seeking full-time employment rather than consultancy engagements; or candidates who cannot demonstrate applied experience designing or evaluating behaviour change interventions.

• Visit the UNICEF careers portal at unicef.org/careers and search for Requisition #593846.
• Create or log in to your UNICEF e-Recruit account to access the full Terms of Reference and application form.
• Prepare and upload your updated CV, a cover letter outlining your specific behavioural science expertise and relevant experience, and any supporting portfolio documents or publication samples.
• Complete all required fields in the online application, including your proposed daily consultancy rate.
• Submit your application before the closing date of 29 June 2026. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for a technical assessment and/or interview as part of the selection process.