Household Survey Consultant for Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) Support, Data & Analytics Section, DAPM (Home-Based)

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 smile

MICS enables countries to produce statistically sound and internationally comparable estimates of a range of indicators on the situation of children and women, in areas such as health, education, early childhood development, child protection, water and sanitation, nutrition and HIV/AIDS. For many countries, MICS surveys are among the most important sources of data used for situation analyses, policy decisions, programme interventions, and for informing the public about the situation of children and women.

Currently, the MICS programme is completing its 6th round, and preparing for the MICS7, which will start in 2023.

In recent years, including during the pandemic period, the MICS programme has continued to innovate new methods and protocols for data collection. A recent initiative of the MICS programme is MICS Plus, which is based on the probability selection of a sub-sample of households interviewed during a MICS survey, or any other household sample frame furnished with telephone numbers, and initiating monthly/regular calls to these households for a maximum period of one year to continue data collection. The method progressively builds up longitudinal data on the situation of children and well-being of households; results can be reported on a real-time basis. MICS Plus can be used for various purposes, such as (a) collecting longitudinal data on MICS topics, (b) for opinion polling, (c) generating data on children not available in MICS, for both methodological and practical reasons, (d) for programme monitoring and evaluation, (e) for crisis monitoring.

Currently, MICS Plus surveys are running in Samoa and Mongolia. Several countries are now preparing to conduct MICS Plus in the coming year, including Fiji, Nigeria, and Viet Nam. More countries are expected to join MICS Plus as they complete their MICS towards the end of 2022 and in early 2023.

MICS Plus is largely dependent on MICS itself, in various ways. First, MICS questionnaires have to be prepared in such a way as to enable the collection of phone numbers, which can then be used to conduct MICS Plus. Second, sample frames of MICS have to be designed in a way to account for upcoming MICS Plus. Third, during MICS, forward thinking on questionnaire content is needed, so that data collection can continue on some of the MICS contents during MICS Plus, furnishing the possibility of creating the baselines for MICS Plus longitudinal data.

Current work on the questionnaire architecture and content of standard MICS7 questionnaires is ongoing. Within the scope of this work is considerations on populating the content of MICS7 and identifying topics/indicators/ modules that would be used in MICS Plus surveys as well.

Forthcoming regional MICS7 Survey Design workshops also need the support of a household survey expert as facilitators to present MICS7 topics and methodology as well as to provide technical support to the participating country teams.

How can you make a difference?

In order to fully support the completion of the 6th round of MICS, development and implementation of MICS7, and design and implementation of MICS Plus, UNICEF HQ needs to hire a household survey expert with experience on the management of the global MICS programme and MICS Plus experience.

This assignment will contribute to the following outcomes: (a) support the work on the finalization of the MICS7 questionnaire architecture and content, including the identification of topics for MICS Plus implementation, (b) support the implementation of MICS surveys especially in countries where a MICS Plus is envisaged, (c) support the design and implementation of ongoing and upcoming MICS and MICS Plus surveys and (d) support the implementation of the MICS7 Regional Survey Design Workshops (in-person participation).

The consultant is expected to support MICS implementation worldwide, with specific focus on ECA and MENA regions of UNICEF.

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

• At least a Master’s Degree or equivalent in Social Sciences, Demography, Statistics, Epidemiology, or other related technical field with significant measurement or analysis component
• Work experience: At least 10 years of working experience for implementation and management of global household survey programmes
• Experience in working on tool development for global household survey programmes is required.
• Computer skills: Competent in advanced Excel, Word, PowerPoint, SPSS.
• Languages needed: Native or near-native proficiency in English (oral and written) is required. Knowledge of another UN language is an asset.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks.
• Strong writing and interpersonal communication skills.

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.

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.

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

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: 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 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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.