Consultancy: Data Processing for UNICEF West & Central Africa, WCARO, Dakar, Senegal, Remote/home-based) 8 months (168 days

Contract

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UNICEF is a UN organization mandated by the UN General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. In Regional Office, UNICEF is working with its partners to support the Governments to realize children’s rights on survival, development, protection and participation.

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 fulfil their potential.

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

For every child, hope

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

Many surveys are carried out by government organizations, with the support and technical assistance of UNICEF. When countries adhere to the UNICEF protocols and recommendations and make use of the tools provided, the survey process goes very smoothly. However, in many countries, the provision of survey tools alone has not been sufficient without the additional support of experienced personnel providing technical assistance to the survey implementing partners.

UNICEF will continue to strengthen its survey technical support mechanism at the regional level so that country offices can receive the required level of technical assistance at critical stages of the survey and are in a better position to support the implementing partner.

Planning, preparation and fieldwork for new surveys – such as the BMZ endline/baseline surveys, or MICS – will be initiated in the region of West and Central Africa (WCA). UNICEF WCARO will, therefore, hire an experienced Data Processing Consultant to provide necessary technical assistance to country offices and their partners at critical survey stages in a timely manner.

Under the overall supervision of the UNICEF Regional Monitoring Specialist (MICS and Other Surveys) in the Planning Monitoring and Research Section of UNICEF WCARO, the Data Processing Consultant will work on supporting the data processing of different surveys conducted in the region of West and Central Africa (WCA), e.g. BMZ endline/baseline survey, MICS, etc.

Scope of Work:

1. Under the overall supervision of the UNICEF Regional Monitoring Specialist (MICS and Other Surveys), the Data Processing Consultant will be responsible to: Support the Regional Monitoring Specialist (MICS and Other Surveys) in providing technical assistance and oversight of data processing activities for different surveys in the WCA Region.
2. Manage and coordinate the survey data processing technical support activities in the surveys in the WCA Region.
3. When necessary, provide support to Regional and Local Workshops:
   • Regional Data Processing Workshop: Facilitate selected sessions and work bilaterally with different survey teams on developing CAPI applications, customising monitoring and reporting tools, and preparation of tabulation programs.
   • Local Data Interpretation and Report Compilation Workshop: Work bilaterally with countries on the review of their survey findings and trouble-shoot the syntaxes in order to adjust when necessary.
4. Remotely and in coordination and collaboration with the Regional Monitoring Specialist (MICS and Other Surveys), review and provide feedback to COs and the survey Implementing Partners on the following materials for compliance with UNICEF standards:
   • Questionnaires and Instructions (in collaboration with the Regional Household Survey Consultant)
   • Sample design (in collaboration with the Regional Sampling Consultant)
   • Survey CAPI Listing Application in CSPro
   • Survey CAPI Application in CSPro
   • Data processing manuals and guidelines
   • Pre-test report (in collaboration with the Regional Household Survey Consultant)
   • Field check tables and Power BI monitoring templates (in collaboration with the Regional Household Survey Consultant)
   • Support integration of analysis programs into any type of data-based monitoring activities
   • Tabulation plans (in collaboration with the Regional Household Survey Consultant)
   • Datasets and resulting tables
   • Weight calculations (in collaboration with the Regional Sampling Consultant)
   • Survey Findings Report and Statistical Snapshots (in collaboration with the Regional Household Survey Consultant)
5. Support countries remotely or through in-county visits in carrying out the following survey activities:
   • Design and testing of CAPI listing and survey applications
   • Pre-test training and pre-test
   • Final review and testing of CAPI applications
   • Deployment of the CAPI applications to the tablets used for data collection and setting up the CAPI system locally
   • Training of fieldwork staff on use of tablets and data collection applications
   • Monitoring of data transfer from the Supervisors in the field to the Central Office
   • Setting up the data editing system locally, and providing training and technical support throughout the data editing process
   • Performing regular consistency and quality data checks, generating survey monitoring reports, and communicating any finding with the survey teams, the Implementing Partners and UNICEF team
   • Preparation of analysis datasets
   • Development of analysis programs and production of tabulations
   • Production of syntaxes to create SPSS outputs (tables) based on tabulation plans
   • Production of syntaxes for additional tables when necessary
6. As needed, support countries in data archiving.

7. In collaboration with the Regional Monitoring Specialist (MICS and Other Surveys), provide country and regional survey status updates to RO.

   Administrative Requirements:

8. The consultant is expected to travel in the designated countries for the surveys. Travel costs will be reimbursed based on the most direct and economy fare.

9. The consultant will work from his/her own office, provide their own equipment (stationary, hardware and software) and organize all aspects of field logistics themselves. During country visits, UNICEF CO or the implementing partner will provide working space for the consultant.
10. Payment will only be made for work satisfactorily completed and accepted by UNICEF and submission of an activity log and invoice.
11. If the final reports and documents are not submitted according to the deliverables stated in this TOR, the payments will be withheld.
12. The Data Processing Consultant must respect the confidentiality of the survey data as well as any country specific survey documents that will be produced throughout the survey process. The Data Processing Consultant can use the documents and the datasets only for the tasks related to these terms of reference.

Type of Supervision Required and Cooperation with Other Consultants:

1. The Planning, Monitoring and Research section from the WCAR Office will provide quality assurance and oversight for the consultant’s work with substantial feedback on the quality of the work.
2. For each assigned survey country, the consultant will work in close collaboration with the UNICEF Regional Monitoring Specialist (MICS and Other Surveys), the National Consultant and other UNICEF Regional Consultants. Working closely with the Regional Monitoring Specialist (MICS and Other Surveys) and the Regional Sampling and Regional Household Survey Consultants, the Data Processing Consultant will carry out technical reviews and advise COs and implementing agencies at key moments in the survey process. The Data Processing Consultant will also, often together with the Regional Monitoring Specialist (MICS and Other Surveys) and / or the Regional Sampling Consultant and / or the Regional Household Survey Consultant, carry out a series of country visits, in order to monitor progress and be present at critical stages of survey implementation.

How can you make a difference?

Work Assignment Overview:

Work Assignments OverviewDeliverables/OutputsDelivery deadlineEstimated BudgetBMZ – Planning (3 countries)a. Review report for each CAPI Listing Application outlining detected issues, key recommendations and proposed changes, as well as ideas for further improvements of programs and applications towards alignment with the UNICEF technical standards – within 3 days after submission by the country. b. Review report for each survey’s CAPI Application outlining detected issues, key recommendations and proposed changes, as well as ideas for further improvements of programs and applications towards alignment with the UNICEF technical standards – within 3 days after submission by the country.September –November 2023

USD 7,200 18%BMZ - Set Up CAPI, Training, Fieldwork (3 countries)

c. Documented review of pre-test CAPI applications with recommendations – within 2 days after the submission by the country. d. Final CAPI applications reviewed and tested – within 2 days after the submission by the country. e. Documented review of the fieldwork training and initial data processing activity in each country with clear recommendations - within 3 days after the end of the training

f. Country visit reports (including presentations and training materials) for each country visited – within 3 days after the visit.

December 2023USD 21,600 51%BMZ - Secondary Data Processing (3 countries)g. Technical review report outlining detected issues as well as key suggestions for further improvements of the survey’s analysis files (survey’s datasets) – within 1 weeks after submission by the country. h. Technical review report outlining comments and feedback on detected issues as well as key suggestions for further improvements of the survey’s tabulation programs (SPSS syntaxes are customized correctly to be in line with the tabulation plans) – within 1 weeks after submission by the country.January 2024USD 12,000 28%BMZ - Otheri. Other tasksSeptember 2023 – January 2024USD 1,200 3%To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advance degreed in Information Technologies, Statistics, Demography, or any other related technical field with expertise in data management. A Batchelor Degree is accepted if work experience is more than 12 years.
• At least 8 years’ experience in data processing in household surveys. Prior MICS or DHS data processing experience is highly desirable
• Advanced knowledge of CSPro
• Advanced knowledge of SPSS
• Familiarity with Power BI
• Fluency in English or French
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability and willingness to travel to all countries across WCA Region

Other competencies

• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective relationships with national partners

• Demonstrated leadership, managerial and supervisory ability

  Requirements

• Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system /P11/ Resume

• Academic credentials/certificates
• Consultancy proposal
• Financial proposal that will include
• Costs for each deliverable and total all-inclusive (lump sum) fees for the whole assignment
• Travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TO
• Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
• Previously relevant consultancy products & final evaluations (if available)
• Indicate your availability.
• 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 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.

UNICEF and other UN Agencies will be moving to the new United Nations House, presently under construction in Diamniadio, 30 kilometers from downtown Dakar. The name of the duty station for this position will remain Dakar, Senegal.