Household Survey Consultant – support to the MICS programme in MENA – creation of a roster of experts

Consultant Leadership

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, Happiness

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

UNICEF Regional Office for Middle East and North Africa (MENA) seeks to establish a pool of technically vetted candidates specializing in supporting household surveys as consultants.

The type of expertise looked for include:

(1) household survey expertise (survey design, questionnaire design and testing, fieldwork training and monitoring),

(2) data processing and

(3) sampling experts.

Becoming a technically vetted candidate with UNICEF is a one-off standard application that opens the door for potentially multiple consultancy assignments (short or long term) in MENA Region within 3 years following the selection and reference checks process. Over these three years, UNICEF will make extensive use of the pool for eligible consultancy requirements at the regional office and/or country offices; this is, therefore, a unique opportunity for any interested and qualified consultant to submit one single application and, if selected to be considered for any future assignments by UNICEF MENA in the relevant area of expertise.

How can you make a difference?

Background

UNICEF is an organization with a universal mandate, representing the interest of children –- over one-third of the global population. The mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child and ensure every child has the opportunity to lead a decent life, realize their potential, and have their rights respected, protected, and fulfilled. The Strategic Plan 2022-2025 explicitly recognizes the critical role of evidence in achieving these results.

The household survey enables getting the right data into the right hands at the right time to impact decisions for children. It requires the appropriate balance of data demand, supply, and use. When all three pieces are functioning well, data can inform strategic planning, situation monitor and adjust government system performance, and engage communities in dialogue. When any element of this chain falls short, the potential of data to improve results for children also falls short. UNICEF's approach to data is based on a commitment to strengthening government systems. Because data are a core element of every part of the government with which UNICEF interacts, it is not limited to a single government office or sector. UNICEF also has a leadership role in influencing the policies, standards, and investments – both within and outside of government – that shape the future of data.

Since 1995, UNICEF has supported the implementation of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), assisting countries in generating high quality data on the situation of children and women. Over the last 21 years and five rounds of MICS, 300 MICS surveys have been conducted in more than 100 countries.

MICS enables countries to produce statistically sound and internationally comparable estimates of a range of indicators in the areas of health, education, child protection, water and sanitation and HIV and AIDS. For many countries, MICS surveys are among the most important sources of data used for situation analyses, policy decisions and programme interventions, and for influencing the public opinion on the situation of children and women, and equally importantly, for establishing baselines for the indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

MICS surveys are usually carried out by government organizations, with the support and technical assistance of UNICEF. When countries adhere to the MICS protocols and recommendations and make use of the tools provided, the survey process goes very smoothly. However, in many countries, as the evaluation of previous MICS rounds also confirms, the provision of survey tools alone has not been sufficient. Additional support of experienced personnel providing technical assistance to and working closely with the survey management team in the country has been essential in ensuring quality.

Thus, as part of the MICS programme, UNICEF will continue to strengthen its MICS technical support mechanism at the regional level so that country surveys can receive the required level of technical assistance at critical stages of the implementation.

MENARO is supporting with planning and implementation of MICS across the whole region. Currently, Yemen and Qatar are in the process of field work preparations. Sudan, Lebanon and Syria are in preparation stages. Tunisia, Libya, Morocco, Iraq, Iran are at the discussion stage and other countries are exploring to integrate MICS modules to the existing Surveys.

Taking into account, the complexity of requests coming from Country Offices, UNICEF MENARO would like to develop a Roster of consultants, that could be used in the period of next 3 years (September 2022 – September 2025). The consultancy roster will be periodically reopened for new application, as per needs.

The UNICEF MENA Regional Office seeks technical expertise, competencies, and skills in household survey design, data processing and sampling to support the above. Therefore, potential candidates will be required to have relevant professional experience (at least five years) as well as expertise and competencies in the majority of these sub-areas as below and as applicable to the applicant.

1. Household Survey Expertise

- Design a survey plan

- Develop/customize questionnaires

- Pre-test questionnaires, including preparation of pre-test report

- Manage/facilitate field-work training of enumerators/interviewers

- Monitor fieldwork and interpretation of field check tables

- Review and finalize tabulation plan in line with indicators

- Prepare/review and finalize survey report

2. Data Processing Expertise

- Develop and/or customize CAPI applications for survey

- Test the survey CAPI application

- Train the enumerators/interviewers and supervisors

- Provide data processing support to survey teams in the field

- Develop, customize and review SPPS syntaxes in line with the agreed tabulation plan

- Monitor the quality of data

- Facilitate primary and secondary data editing

- Incorporate weights in the survey database

- Finalize survey data for analysis

3. Sampling Expertise

- Lead sample size calculation and sample allocation

- Lead selection of enumeration areas from the latest sampling frame

- Support household listing training and operation

- Support selection of households

- Lead sample weight calculations

Supervision and cooperation with other consultants

The Monitoring and Research specialist will provide quality assurance and oversight for the consultant’s work with substantial feedback on the quality of the work.

How to Apply

Applicants are invited to apply online and duly complete the online profile and application form.

Please apply to the call by the stated in the announcement deadline.

Please include in the cover letter a specific reference to type of expertise, listed above, the candidate is to apply and briefly describe the experience in the selected field of work.

The consultant should also include in its application to his/her daily rate expressed in USD

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 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.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Demography, Statistics, Epidemiology, or other related technical field with significant measurement, analysis or quantitative research background is required.
• Minimum of five years of experience in one or more of the areas listed above
• Sectoral expertise in at least one of UNICEF's regional priorities for children in the region: human and child rights; child protection; access to the justice system; early learning and school readiness; Early Childhood Development; inclusive quality education; maternal and child health; prevention, care and treatment of children with HIV and AIDS; social protection; social inclusion; gender equality; public finance management; protection from risks of disasters; and adolescent well-being.

Competencies of Successful Candidate:

Meet the requirements of the survey expert profiles as above and as indicated in the additional technical questions of the application.

Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment;

Able to work with different stakeholders from government institutions, academia, and NGOs;

Able to produce high-quality reports and presentations;

Able to demonstrate, apply and share evidence derived from research;

Adopt a flexible attitude and adaptability to rapidly changing circumstances

Computer literate – MS office – Excel, PowerPoint;

Fluent in English, preferably at least one of the major languages (Arabic and French) used in the region (desirable),

Knowledge of statistical tool (desirable)

Publications in reputed journals (desirable);

Experience in the MENA region is an asset and have to be clearly indicated in the CV and Cover letter.

Limited capacity of the MENARO SM&R section and Arabic language skills of existing staff experienced in household surveys.

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.

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