Call for Interest: MICS and CMC-RTM Data Processing Consultant, Data & Analytics Section, DAPM (Homebased)

Contract

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a future

Throughout the past 25 years, the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) programme has come a long way to bring robust data on children and women to the forefront of the development agenda. Conceived initially as an idea in the field, the programme has helped transform the data landscape in countries by generating much-needed data for policy and programming, highlighting inequalities and identifying the under-served. The sheer number of countries implementing surveys has in turn transformed MICS into an indispensable source of data for key global development initiatives, such as the SDGs.

UNICEF is currently supporting the sixth round of MICS and preparing for launching the seventh round. The sixth round introduced a number of topics that has considerably expanded the coverage of MICS of the SDGs: with new modules such as water quality testing, early learning, social transfers, victimization and child functioning, MICS now covers 33 global SDG indicators.

The MICS programme has a firm commitment to ensuring that both methods and data from surveys meet or surpass internationally agreed-upon standards. MICS surveys are almost always carried out by government organizations, in particular by the National Statistics Offices, with the support and technical assistance of UNICEF. When countries adhere to the MICS protocols and recommendations, and make use of the standard tools provided, the survey process goes very smoothly. However, in many countries, the provision of survey tools alone is not sufficient unless complemented with additional support of experts providing technical assistance. The MICS programme has continued to strengthen technical support to countries, so that implementing partners can receive the required level of technical assistance at critical survey stages, on a timely basis.

Furthermore, UNICEF, in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, is launching a real-time health and monitoring (RTM) initiative in support of the Child-Friendly Communities (CFC) approach in five countries, three (DRC, Guinea, and Liberia) with a BMGF grant and (Chad and Togo) with other grants. The CFC initiative with its RTM component (CFC/ RTM) applies an integrated approach to address the overlapping deprivations of children and incorporates a robust program monitoring component that makes key sectoral data, as well as citizen feedback, available in real time to guide decision making and action. This initiative will serve as a proof of concept to inform programming and scaling up in the West and Central Africa Region (WCAR).

In order to assess progress toward the CFC/RTM goals, UNICEF has undertaken a baseline study in each of the implementing countries to determine the availability and functionality of the CFC/RTM components described; the availability, quality, and use of data currently being collected, as well as willingness to implement RMT; caregiver knowledge, attitudes, and practices; and coverage of maternal and child health services at the start of the project. A final study will be conducted in 2022 to measure changes in the CFC/RTM indicators assessed at baseline.

To support the planned surveys for 2022 and first half of 2023, UNICEF HQ will hire experienced data processing consultants to advise countries on data processing related issues, provide support on setting up the digital data collection systems, review analysis programs and produce final tables.

How can you make a difference?

Under the overall supervision of the Statistics and Monitoring Specialist (Data Processing Expert) of the MICS Team, the Data Processing Consultant will have the responsibility for supporting on-going methodological work on MICS, further review and provide recommendations for improvements of standard MICS data processing tools, and provide coordinated feedback on MICS and CMC-RTM survey specific customized data processing tools and applications, as follows:

1. Provide technical inputs for further development and improvement of the MICS6 data processing tools;
2. Technically review the standard MICS6 CAPI Application in CSPro by checking the consistency between questionnaires, CSPro, MICS6 dictionaries, forms and algorithms;
3. Technically review the standard MICS6 tabulation programs by checking the consistency between questionnaires, list of indicators, tabulation plan and algorithms;
4. To support improvement of MICS Plus CATI applications, with special focus on developing programs and protocols for centralized data processing;
5. Technically review MICS6 data processing manuals and guidelines;
6. Report and document suggested improvements of the data collection (CAPI) and tabulation programs;
7. From a distance and in coordination and collaboration with the Global MICS Team, review and provide feedback on the following country survey Data Processing materials, in order to ensure that they comply with MICS standards:

• Data entry /collection and editing applications,
• Analysis programs and produced tabulations;

8. Provide data processing technical support to the Implementing Partners;
9. Support development of digital listing application for MICS surveys;
10. Provide technical support for data processing related activities for CFC-RTM surveys.

Three to four consultants are sought depending on skill sets of incumbents for a total of 290 days. The activities will be distributed based on expertise, languages, and immediate availability for urgent work.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

1) Education

• At least a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in Information Technologies, Statistics, Demography, or any other related technical field with special expertise in data management.
• The individual should have:
  • Knowledge of the CSPro;
  • Knowledge of the SPSS;
  • Fluency in English and knowledge of another UN language as an asset;
  • Fluency in French (specifically for supporting CMC-RTM surveys).

2) Work experience

• At least 8 years’ experience in data processing for household surveys;
• Must be familiar with the data processing approach of both MICS and Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS);
• Experience of working in developing countries;

3) Competencies

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Application requirements

• Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and provide Personal History Form (P11) Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include:
• your daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference (can be downloaded here: https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_consultancy_assignments.html
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.