Consultant for Estimating the Prevalence of VAC in Brazil

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF is a global organization dedicated to promoting the rights and well-being of children around the world. Established in 1946, UNICEF operates in over 190 countries and territories, working to ensure that every child has a fair chance in life. The organization focuses on various areas including health, education, protection, and emergency response, aiming to reach the most disadvantaged children and families. UNICEF's mission is to advocate for children's rights, provide essential services, and support governments in creating policies that benefit children. With a workforce that reflects the diversity of the children it serves, UNICEF is committed to inclusivity and equality.

Job Overview:
The consultant will play a crucial role in estimating the prevalence of Violence Against Children (VAC) in Brazil and analyzing the associated loss of productivity over the life cycle of individuals who have experienced violence during their childhood and adolescence. This position requires the application of statistical and econometric methods to conduct a thorough quantitative analysis using secondary data from various administrative records and nationally representative household surveys. The consultant will be expected to identify and extract relevant data, apply econometric exercises to estimate prevalence rates, analyze productivity losses, and produce comprehensive reports that consolidate key findings and provide evidence-based policy recommendations. The work will be conducted in close collaboration with UNICEF and Ipea, contributing to a broader study on the economic costs of VAC and its prevention and response.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Identify and extract relevant data from administrative records and household surveys to calculate the prevalence of VAC in Brazil by type, including homicides, suicides, non-lethal physical assaults, sexual violence, psychological violence, negligence, and self-harm.
• Apply econometric exercises to estimate prevalence rates of different types of violence, referencing the approach developed by Cerqueira and Soares in the IPEA Discussion Paper.
• Analyze productivity losses over the life cycle of individuals who experienced violence during childhood and adolescence.
• Estimate the causal effect of exposure to violence on years of schooling using data from the 2021 PNAD Contínua.
• Estimate a life-cycle earnings model to project the counterfactual wage-earning trajectory in the absence of schooling loss, quantifying future productivity loss.
• Elaborate reports consolidating key findings from the analyses and providing evidence-based policy recommendations, ensuring all key assumptions and limitations are clearly described.

Required Qualifications:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in a relevant field such as Economics or related disciplines.
• At least five years of relevant professional experience in microeconometric modelling and handling microdata from governmental bodies, particularly in research related to crime and VAC.
• Demonstrated advanced programming experience in R or Python.
• Knowledge of geospatial analysis software (e.g., GeoDaSpace) is desirable.
• Proven ability to synthesize complex information from diverse sources and produce high-quality, evidence-based reports.
• Proficiency in developing actionable recommendations based on research findings.
• Ability to deliver high-quality work within tight deadlines and manage multiple tasks effectively.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in a relevant field such as Economics or related disciplines. This educational background is essential for understanding the complex economic models and statistical methods required for the analysis of VAC and its economic implications.

Experience:
The position requires at least five years of relevant professional experience in microeconometric modelling and handling microdata from governmental bodies. Experience in research related to crime, particularly on VAC, is crucial. Additional years of experience in similar roles will be considered an asset, indicating a deeper understanding and expertise in the field.

Languages:
Fluency in Portuguese is mandatory, as the consultant will be working with data and reports primarily in this language. Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English are also necessary, enabling the consultant to produce high-quality reports and communicate findings effectively to stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The contract duration is set for 210 days, with specific deliverables and deadlines outlined for each phase of the project. A financial proposal must be submitted, including all-inclusive fees covering the assignment based on deliverables and the number of days. Consultants are responsible for their tax liabilities and must ensure that their visa and health insurance are valid for the entire contract period. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, including verification of academic credentials and employment history. UNICEF maintains a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with its objectives, including discrimination and abuse, and adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.