Consultancy: Consultant for Monitoring Principles, Monitoring Quality Assurance & Value for Money, WASH Programme Group, HQ New York/Remote Ref

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Consultancy Title: WASH Consultant – Monitoring Principles, Monitoring Quality Assurance & Value for Money

Section/Division/Duty Station: WASH Programme Group/ NYHQ

Duration: 75 Billable days – December 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023

Home/ office Based: Remote

BACKGROUND

Annually UNICEF captures its annual results on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) via the Core Standard Indicators (CSIs) of the Results Assessment Module (RAM). The CSIs have been developed to align with the UNICEF 2022-25 strategic plan results framework indicators and become the corporate measurement mechanism for that plan. During 2022 guidance was developed on these indicators for the initial data collection period to happen at the end of 2022, whilst this guidance covered the technical elements of indicators, it did not elaborate on some key principles of WASH monitoring that would help country offices to determine whether their systems for monitoring are aligned with expectations of global standards. A series of technical notes and checklists require development for each of the principles.

At the beginning of 2023, data submitted by country offices in the CSI reporting portal will need to undergo quality assurance (QA) by HQ (following regional office QA) against pre-identified checks. With the creation of the new CSI platform a method will need to be rapidly developed to complete these checks and enable the headquarters and regional office teams to offer timely feedback to country offices to ensure finalised data is of high quality.

Finally, for the new strategic plan period, new codes to categorize spending have been developed, the 2022 reporting period will be the first opportunity to compare these to the reported results, and initial testing of potential value for money (VFM) assessments. These results will also need to be visualized, along with overall 2022 results.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The purpose of the consultancy is divided into the following three areas:

1. Develop a series of technical notes that provides a guidance on each of the monitoring principles that have been developed, namely in the areas of accountability, assumptions, triangulation, definitions, data validation, disaggregation, and indirect results (as part of these guidance notes, a short checklist shall be developed to assist WASH Chiefs to determine whether their systems align with the better-defined principles)
2. Assist in the manipulation of data into a form to rapidly complete a set of pre-identified data checks (and advise on potential additional data checks), enabling HQ based teams and regional offices to follow-up quickly on key issues of data quality with country offices
3. Assist in the visualization of 2022 results, and also the initial assessment of value for money metrics using the newly developed strategic intervention codes for the 2022-25 of the strategic plan

Key tasks and deliverables include:

1. Development of technical notes and checklists on WASH monitoring principles

• Overall, 4-page Summary Technical Note - provides a summary of each of the topics below and some examples, but does not go into all the detail (a key document for senior management). The document will contain hyperlinks to the below more detailed document on each principle and also link to the guidance of each WASH CSI. The note would also consolidate the most important checklist items from the other technical notes (below).
• Technical Note on Accountability (2 page): a focus on who is accountable for accurate data at different stages of the process, focusing on reinforcing ultimate responsibility for accurate data, but how these are also replicated to others e.g. partners who report to UNICEF, and clarifying how systems can be developed that ensure UNICEF can demonstrate due diligence
• Technical Note on Assumptions (2 page): Overview of need for assumptions, and need to test those assumptions. Some examples of assumptions and how we might test them, including by role those completing quality assurance must play
• Technical Note on Triangulation (2 page): focus on some of the possible data sources for triangulation and examples of them in action and correction of data, notably utilization of JMP data in triangulation, to include a summary of triangulation done by HQ on results reported (to help offices understand the standards being applied)
• Technical Note on Definitions (2 pages): mostly we use JMP definitions. But sometimes our own/others. This will not detail all of these, but point to key data sources and note importance of consistent definitions. Examples of misinterpretation of definitions (particularly JMP definitions)
• Technical Note on Data Validation (2 pages): UNICEF receives data on results from a variety of sources (governments/NGOs/contractors), reported data should be validated to a reasonable level e.g. via UNICEF corporate assurance processes, third party monitoring (links to be made to accountability note also)
• Technical Note on Disaggregation (2 pages): covering our main areas of gender, disability and urban/rural. Focus on some common errors and good examples. Include summary of the gender/disability checklist (including the reduced scope checklist for rapid assessment)
• Technical Note on Indirect Results (4 pages): noting that all of above still apply, but additional elements need to be covered i.e. data shared and agreed with in-country partners/government, acknowledging partners where resources overlap, and QA has been performed on the measurement considering the inputs that the project has made

2. Assist in the quality assurance of 2022 reported WASH data

• Finalise the data checks that will be performed on 2022 WASH data and organize, in advance of data submission, how the data will be analysed based on the format it will be exported from the CSI platform
• Upon finalization of data, rapidly prepare a report to headquarters and regional offices colleagues to enable them to follow-up with submitting offices, notably this system should update readily as changes are made to the data
• Post data entry and QA, have a structured follow-up with select ROs and COs on the CSI platform, identifying areas of improvement – simultaneously reviewing with ROs/COs on any issues of data inconsistency/issues (including using 2018-21 data analysis already completed)

3. Visualization of 2022 WASH Results and testing of VFM metrics

• Visualize the 2022 WASH results, in a way that enables rapid interpretation of data from key WASH decision makers within UNICEF
• Develop the first trial run of develop VFM metrics using the CSIs and newly developed specific intervention codes to categorize financial expenditure

DUTY STATION: Remote, home-based, with potential visit to New York for initial discussions with WASH Specialist and during the annual data quality assurance process

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

Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s degree in data, monitoring, statistics, or a WASH related field

  Language Proficiency:

• An excellent command of the English language is required (writing, speaking, and comprehension). Fluency in another UN language is an asset, but not required.

Work experience:

• A minimum of five years of recent related professional experience in monitoring in the WASH sector
• Firm grasp of the key definitions of WASH programming
• In-depth understanding of data analysis mechanisms and data collection systems
• Excellent English language skills
• Strong skills using Microsoft Excel
• Familiarity with UNICEF online corporate reporting systems
• Proven ability to work under tight deadlines and drive for results
• Previous working experience with the United Nations and/or an international organization is desirable.

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.
  • 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.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.

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 here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

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.