Consultancy - Real-Time Monitoring: Data Collection and Visualization Services for the Education Sector, 3 months, Home-based, MENA Regional Office - Jordan

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Application deadline 1 year ago: Thursday 14 Jul 2022 at 20:55 UTC

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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, commitment.

Consultancy title: Real-Time Monitoring: Data Collection and Visualization Services for the Education Sector.

Duration: 3 months (50 working days)

Duty Station: Home-Based

Over the years, UNICEF has adopted a Results-Based Management (RBM) approach promoting a results-based culture in the organization to support positive change for children in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Therefore, in addition to programme performance monitoring, situation monitoring of child rights is also undertaken linked to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A core component of the RBM strategy is to strengthen the system and capacity of UNICEF Country Offices across the MENA region on programme performance monitoring and learning for timely decision making and to inform programme design and improvement in achieving results for children. UNICEF MENA, ROSA and HQ have recently developed a methodological framework and generic tools that can be customized for use in national contexts, for monitoring hybrid learning, aiming to lay the foundation for improving national capacity to generate critical data needed by countries themselves for their own use and to adapt statistical data collection systems to emerging contexts that require system changes to ensure continued monitoring and evaluation. More importantly, the methodological framework highlights key recommendations on how MOEs can incorporate monitoring mechanisms of hybrid learning into their existing systems.

As the digital divide narrows across developing countries, the momentum of Real Time Monitoring (RTM) innovations will likely accelerate. The question for UNICEF is how to best support staff at various levels— COs/ROs/HQ and its partners1‘ capacity and improve coordination in designing and implementing RTM frameworks and systems that are flexible, agile and easy to customize for a given country context towards strengthening national government data and monitoring systems in the education sector.

There is a growing demand for new data and international comparative data, while existing national education statistical infrastructures are not prepared to provide accurate data on national education responses to the COVID-19 pandemic nor to generate up-to-date evidence needed at country level to gauge the effectiveness and appropriateness of national responses and education systems that include multiple pathways. Information on overall reach of hybrid learning may be available, data on access, attendance and effectiveness of those learning options is limited, mostly due to the lack of methodological frameworks and data collection tools at country level to generate required data to guide national efforts and for regional and global reporting.

How can you make a difference?

The current initiative is to strengthen both UNICEF and its partners’ data and monitoring systems towards the establishment of functional and effective evidence generation and tracking mechanisms through the design and development of real-time monitoring systems for both development and humanitarian settings with the following capabilities:

Data import: Ability to import Education indicator datasets from existing standard database management systems.

Data collection: Where existing Education Management Information databases are not available the real time monitoring system should support data collection using different technologies such as SMS-based (structured and or interactive SMS), mobile apps, web apps. The data collection tool should support offline data collection and provide the same level of data collection features as the online modality.

Data visualization and reporting: Ability to generate automated reports to support monitoring and tracking of Education indicators. The system should also support development of customized reports to meet UNICEF and government partners requirements.

The scope of this initiative will cover three selected Country Offices: Sudan, Libya and Yemen.

The main objective of this consultancy is:

(i) to strengthen both government, Education sector (4Ws) and UNICEF data and monitoring systems, and procedures towards enhancing coordinated efforts for better planning and monitoring of Education programme needs; and

(ii) to develop a real time monitoring system prototype to facilitate data import, data collection, and data visualization and reporting of Education indicators in the selected countries.

Under the overall oversight of the UNICEF Regional Education Advisor and technical supervision of the Education Specialist (M&E) and the UNICEF Regional Monitoring and Research specialist, the consultant has the responsibility for supporting the design of a comprehensive real-time monitoring system prototype with data import, data collection and data visualization and reporting capabilities for monitoring the implementation of education programmes. The expected outcome of this consultancy is a real time monitoring system prototype. The prototype will be validated through user acceptance test and used to inform the development work of the real-time monitoring system to support Education monitoring across the MENA region and with potential roll out and scale up in other regions. The development work for the real-time monitoring system will be through a separate consultancy.

Main tasks

1. Review existing data collection systems in the targeted countries— undertake a comprehensive comparative review of existing data collection systems in the targeted countries, with the aim to identify integration needs and where they would be most appropriate. This review should also identify governance process required to support access to existing Education management information databases (government or other Education partners).

2. Real-time monitoring framework landscape analysis— undertake a comprehensive comparative analysis of the existing Real Time Monitoring (RTM) frameworks and data collection tools (i.e. RapidPro, ODK, DHIS2, InForm, etc.), capabilities vs functionalities including strengths and weaknesses. This includes a comprehensive analysis of cost implications in terms of maintenance and hosting options.

3. Undertake a comprehensive review of UNICEF, government, and Education partners data needs and processes for the establishment of a functional RTM system— including a suggested list of potential indicators (see UNESCO Education Indicators Technical guidelines), data flows, roles and responsibilities in data collection and analysis, infrastructural needs, frequency of data collection and timing in the education sector to better understand potential opportunities and also gaps to be addressed towards a functional RTM system.

4. Develop a conceptual framework for integrated Programme Performance Monitoring which includes all core functionalities of a real-time monitoring system that can be easily rolled out across the MENA region. The consultant is expected to design a comprehensive real-time monitoring framework that is modular and supports digital integration needs identified in task# 1 above. It is expected that the conceptual framework includes provisions for creating a feedback loop for ensuring continuous improvement of the monitoring system in a dynamic way.

5. Develop a real-time monitoring system prototype including: (i) data management including data import; (ii) Data collection and (iii) data visualization and reporting for pilot Country Programmes — Sudan, Libya and Yemen, using sector-specific programmatic and cross-cutting strategies and results frameworks at Country Office level and align the model with decentralized state-level results measurement. For the prototype the data will be based upon publicly available data sets, however the prototype should include data integration with existing RTM systems in the selected countries. Finally, provide guidance for User Acceptance test and feedback on the prototype against the business requirements to determine whether it can be accepted or not.

EXPECTED RESULTS / DELIVERABLES

1. Desk review existing data collection systems in the targeted countries analyzing the following key aspects: (i) education focused indicators to be monitored and data is most effectively collected from various pre-existing data gathering initiatives; (ii) suitability of existing arrangements for administrative and other data collection methods and room for improvement; (iii) scope of using innovative methods and new technologies including, but not limited to, mobile phones to help, accelerate and/or build controls into data collection; (iv) identified integration needs and where they would be most appropriate; (v) identified governance process required to support access to existing Education management information databases (government or other Education partners).

2. Real-Time Monitoring frameworks landscape analysis which includes (i) comparative analysis of existing data collection and Real Time Monitoring tools and platforms (i.e. ODK, ONA, “InForm”, KoBoToolBox, RapidPro, U-Report, Chatbots) in terms of completeness, quality, as well as key challenges and lessons learnt in their rollout and uptake and (ii) a comprehensive analysis of cost implications in terms of hosting arrangement to ensure sustainability and national ownership.

3. Undertake a comprehensive review of the UNICEF, government, and Education partners data needs and processes for the establishment of a functional RTM system which will include (i) suggested list of potential education indicators, (ii) data flows, roles and responsibilities in data collection and analysis, (iii) infrastructural needs, frequency of data collection and timing in the education sector to better understand potential opportunities and also gaps to be addressed towards a functional RTM system.

4. Conceptual framework for integrated Programme Performance Monitoring which includes all core functionalities, technical and functional specifications of a real-time monitoring system that can be easily rolled out across the MENA region.

5. Prototype of a real-time monitoring system developed—which will include data management with focus on (i) data import, (ii) data collection and (iii) data visualization and reporting to meet the needs and technical specifications of the real time data collection and visualization to support.

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks/Milestone

Monthly Deliverables/Outputs

Timeline

Objective 1: Desk review of existing data collection systems in the targeted countries

An inception report highlighting:

  • Mapping of existing monitoring systems.

  • Consultation process, use cases, data flow and data governance for the selected countries – Libya, Sudan, Yemen

  • Proposed list of indicators methodologies for data collection and analysis
  • Mapping of existing arrangements and their suitability.
  • Mapping of existing technology options for data collection—innovative methods and new technologies (Pros vs Cons)
  • Integration requirements
  • Governance process to access data on existing Education management information databases.

10 days

Objective 2: Real-time Monitoring landscape analysis globally and in MENA in particular

  • real-time monitoring framework landscape analysis.
  • comprehensive analysis of costing implications in terms of maintenance and hosting options

5 days

Objective 3: Undertake a comprehensive review of the UNICEF, government, and Education partners data needs and processes for the establishment of a functional RTM system

  • suggested list of potential education indicators, data flows roles and responsibilities in data collection and analysis.
  • infrastructural needs, suggested frequency and timing of data collection in the education sector

5 days

Objective 4: Develop a conceptual framework for integrated programme performance monitoring and an operational guideline.

  • Conceptual framework for integrated programme performance monitoring developed with comprehensive operational plans and procedures for implementing a Realtime Monitoring System.

15 days

Objective 5: Prototype of real-time monitoring system developed— Libya, Sudan and Yemen

  • Validated prototype for a Real Time Monitoring system

15 days

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

  • An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Economics, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Information and Communication Technology and/or related discipline
  • Minimum 7 years of working experience in working with data collection and analysis
  • Demonstrated experience in conducting qualitative and quantitative research, designing and implementing household surveys and/or administrative data and monitoring systems, capacity to collect and analyse diverse data sets.
  • Experience in the development of rapid and real-time monitoring
  • Solid knowledge of statistics, econometrics, survey methodologies
  • Familiarity with innovative methods of data collection, dissemination and use
  • Capacity to work independently yet with the ability to share information, receive feedback and engage in dialogue with other partners
  • Expertise in report writing
  • Previous work with the UN or International Organizations is an asset
  • Proven track record of research and report writing in education
  • Excellent communication and writing skills in English. French and Arabic will be an asset.
  • Familiarity with UNICEF Mission and mandate is a key asset
  • Relevant work experience in low- and middle-income countries

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

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.

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unicef.org

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