With an estimated 50 million children on the move in the world today, and millions more deeply affected by migration, the need for in-depth evidence to inform better policy on child migration has never been greater. In response, UNICEF Innocenti has launched a new edition of Research Watch – an online portal for researchers and policy analysts – on the theme Children on the Move. The new edition brings together top researchers, policy experts and children themselves, to explore a wide range of topical research and evidence questions. Children on the Move has been launched in coordination with UNICEF’s new global migration report Uprooted: The Growing Crisis for Migrant and Refugee Children.     “It is a fantastic opportunity to launch a new edition of Research Watch in coordination with release of a major global report on child migration – one of the world’s most urgent challenges for children,” said Dale Rutstein, Chief of Communication at UNICEF Innocenti. “We hope to highlight the critical role for in-depth research, especially involving the voices of children, in efforts to develop better policies and programmes for migrant and refugee children.”After more than a year in hiatus, Research Watch has been completely revamped as digital first multimedia content. It provides multiple thematic expert videos, topical written commentaries, in-depth podcasts and suggested research resources. As always, the content presents the views and experience of some of the leading thinkers on the current topic. Featured expert voices for Children on the Move include Simon Parker, at the University of York, Jacqueline Bhahba, of Harvard Law and Harvard Kennedy Schools, Victoria Rietig, with the Migration Policy Institute, Andrea Rossi, UNICEF social policy specialist and Mike Dottridge, an independent child rights in migration expert. The main research themes highlighted in the videos include: Push and Pull Factors Affecting Children in Migration, Child Migration and the Law, and Challenges in Protecting the Rights of Migrating Children. Two additional videos tell the story of migrant children in Guatemala and Greece. There are also written think pieces on a wide range of child migration questions. Professor François Crépeau, UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Migrants on administrative detention of children and Michelle May, of the Harvard Program on Refugee Trauma writes on unaccompanied minors from Afghanistan, Hanne Beirens of the Migration Policy Institute in Brussels writes on EU child oriented asylum policy among others. The podcasts contain all full un-edited interviews with featured experts. Research Watch and the global report Uprooted are key elements in UNICEF’s call for improved global cooperation on child migration on the eve of the 19 September UNGA Summit on Large Scale Movements of Refugees and Migrants and President Obama’s 20 September Leaders’ Summit on Refugees.GO TO THE RESEARCH WATCH PAGE(7 September 2016)

Research is gaining prominence in UNICEF’s strategic agenda. As the world comes to grips with the challenge of meeting the SDGs, UNICEF and its partners will continue to increase the time, energy and investment required to build the evidence base to inform the best programmes and policies for children. Against this backdrop, the Best of UNICEF Research competition – UNICEF Innocenti’s annual effort to recognize the best research across the entire organization – recently culminated with publication of the 2016 results. Three research studies were singled out for distinction and an additional study given special recognition for potential impact by an external review panel (see below), from a shortlist of twelve ‘finalist’ papers from among all research projects submitted to the 2016 round.The top three studies are excellent examples of UNICEF’s effort to conduct far-reaching, innovative research with and for children to address urgent issues in the regional and country level contexts. The West and Central African Regional Office conducted a moving study on the perceptions of children receiving paediatric hospital care: Des enfants d’Afrique de l’Ouest parlent de la maladie, des soins, de l’hôpital. Comment leur répondre? Jaffré Y. and ENSPEDIA team. Marseille: Éditions Résurgences; 2015. The research dramatically changes traditional perceptions of children in care, allowing them to ‘assess’ the quality of care with full respect and value being given to their point of view. Starting with the point of view of the child, it designs improved tools to sensitize health professionals and improve the quality of care. The Zambia Country Office produced a thought provoking study on the social, cultural and economic factors that underpin the practice of child marriage: Qualitative study of child marriage in six districts of Zambia. Mann G., Quigley P., Fischer R. Zambia: Republic of Zambia; 2015.  This in-depth paper uncovered important evidence which showed child marriage to be less a 'cultural practice' than a reflection of social and economic conditions. It is not a ‘monolithic’ phenomenon and it frequently involves children in a different way than the passive role assigned to them by traditional stereotypes. The report calls for nuanced policy responses, where children’s perspectives and opinions are heard.The Indonesia Country Office produced a ground-breaking study which shed light on current menstrual hygiene management practices among school-going adolescent girls: Menstrual Hygiene Management in Indonesia: Understanding practices, determinants and impacts among adolescent school girls. Kennedy E. et al. Indonesia: UNICEF Indonesia; 2015. This crucial aspect of adolescent health and wellbeing has received very limited attention in literature. The study rigorously identified key practices and challenges to girls' ability to manage menstruation hygienically and with dignity in schools which have led to school-drop out and reproductive health concerns that can have negative long-term impact on adolescent girls’ lives. Given special recognition for potential wider impact, the Education Unit of the UNICEF Programme Division in New York produced: The Investment Case for Education and Equity. Wils A., Bonnet G., Brossard M. New York: UNICEF; 2015. This study analyzes a wide range of data sources to build a thorough case for an increase in funding for education with emphasis on investments that enhance educational equity and efficiency. Sarah Cook, Director at UNICEF Innocenti said pressure on development actors to produce evidence led research fostered a higher demand for policy relevant research.“UNICEF makes a significant investment in research, evaluation and other evidence-generating activities,” she said. “Research managed by UNICEF staff in both country and headquarter offices aims to improve policies, programmes and interventions that protect and enhance children’s rights and well-being; it may additionally help shape the strategic directions of the organization and more widely inform the fields of child rights, protection and development.”Kerry Albright, chief of research facilitation and knowledge management at UNICEF Innocenti praised the efforts of the researchers in putting together the reports.“It is always so interesting to view the types of research and variety of methods being adopted by UNICEF offices in conducting research throughout the world.  This competition continues to unearth fascinating pieces of research whose findings and lessons can then be shared with colleagues globally and to recognise good practice”“In looking to assess what makes good research, we look at the quality of research design and delivery as well as originality. We also look for pieces which balance academic quality with the potential for tangible impact on policy and practice as well as the skills demonstrated in communicating quite often complex scientific messages in a clear and coherent way for non-specialists.  It is the combination of these characteristics which we feel will maximise the potential contribution of this research to evidence-informed decision-making throughout UNICEF and elsewhere and it is for these reasons that these twelve finalists were selected.”The Best of UNICEF Research 2016 publication contains summaries of all twelve finalist papers. Here is a list of the additional eight finalist research projects, covering a wide range of critical issues facing children.Formative Research for Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices and Micronutrient Powder Programming in Nigeria: Summary of Key Findings. (UNICEF Nigeria Country Office)Sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics of stillbirths in China: a census of nearly 4 million health facility births between 2012 and 2014. (UNICEF China Country Office)Elements of the Financial and Economic Costs of Disability to Households in South Africa. A Pilot Study. (UNICEF South Africa Country Office)Evaluation of the Social Cash Transfer Pilot Programme, Tigray Region, Ethiopia: Endline Report. (UNICEF Ethiopia Country Office)How does Nepal’s Child Grant work for Dalit children and their families? A mixed-methods assessment of programme delivery and impact in Bajura and Saptari. (UNICEF Nepal Country Office)Child Fosterage and Child Domestic Workers in Haiti. Analytical Report. (UNICEF Haiti Country Office and Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office)Towards a more comprehensive understanding of the direct and indirect determinants of violence against women and children in South Africa with a view to enhancing violence prevention. (UNICEF South Africa Country Office)2014 Citizens’ Assessment Report on the Capitation Grant Scheme. NDPC, ISSER, UNICEF Ghana. (UNICEF Ghana Country Office)As in past years, UNICEF Office of Research-Innocenti research staff in Florence perform the initial round of shortlisting, this year reviewing a total of 79 accepted studies from all regions of the world. The final round of adjudication is carried out externally. Once again Best of UNICEF Research was supported by an eminent external review panel comprised of academics and experienced development professionals familiar with children's rights and UNICEF's mandate: Mehr Khan Williams, former Director of the UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti; Professor Dr. Ton Liefaard, UNICEF Professor of Children’s Rights at Leiden Law School; Théophane Nikyèma, Executive Director at the African Child Policy Forum; and Professor Dr. Cesar Victora, Emeritus Professor of Epidemiology at the Federal University of Pelotas in Brazil. Overall, this year’s Best of UNICEF Research crop represents another tangible leap forward in depth, quality, inclusiveness and creativity in research design and methodology being undertaken in UNICEF. A significant characteristic of the highest distinction category defined by the external panel was research design which gathered robust data based directly on the views of children and collected with due respect for their right to have their opinions taken into account on matters that affect them. It is also worth noting the significance of a number of high-quality qualitative research pieces amongst the finalists this year. Some Facts and FiguresThe largest share of submitted research came from the health sector, at 23% followed by WASH & Nutrition at 22%.The region with the highest rate of submissions was EAPRO at 24%, followed by ESARO at 19%.More than 40% of submissions employed primarily quantitative methods, with about 22% employing qualitative methods and 38% mixed methods.About 65% of submissions were produced by mixed external and internal research teams, with about 27% conducted solely by external researchers and more than 8% by internal UNICEF research teams.(9 August 2016)