International Consultancy Assignment- Field Data Coordination Consultant

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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, Education

Background/Rationale for the Assignment

UNICEF seeks to recruit a consultant to support an impact evaluation (IE) of the joint UNICEF-WFP programme on ‘Strengthening Community Resilience in South Sudan’s Urban Settings. The objective of the IE is to examine what combinations and sequences of interventions are most effective in building and strengthening resilience capacities related to food security, nutrition, health and education in South Sudan’s urban and peri-urban settings. The consultant will work with the UNICEF Monitoring & Evaluation team and partner organizations on the implementation and analysis of a baseline survey and subsequent high frequency surveys for the impact evaluation.

Purpose/task & Expected Results

The consultant will work with external researchers at the World Bank as well as programme staff at UNICEF and WFP to adapt the baseline questionnaire to the South Sudanese context, and to ensure buy-in from all relevant programme focal points. The consultant will travel to programme sites in Juba, Torit, Yambio, and Aweil counties to meet with stakeholders and field test the baseline survey and protocols and monitor data collection.

The expected outputs are a set of finalized baseline questionnaire, enumerator manual and training materials as well as final baseline report.

Tasks include:

• Act as a liaison among members of the research team, government representatives, local stakeholders and other locally hired field staff to promote understanding of and support for the impact evaluation.

• Contribute to the development and implementation of field protocols and procedures and survey instruments, including field protocol, data quality protocol, recruitment of field staff, field staff training, and survey pilots

• Conduct 5 in-person training sessions on impact evaluation implementation with stakeholders covering programme staff in each county, as well as programme staff in education, health, WASH, nutrition, and livelihoods divisions of UNICEF and WFP.

• Supervise the implementation of primary data collection and data entry activities (including field monitoring) and act as the primary point of contact with the research firm hired to conduct surveys.

• Ensure that impact evaluation interventions are carried out as planned, adhering to implementation protocols and timelines. This may include ensuring IT systems for inspections are installed, inspection forms and checklists are properly used, tablets are prepared and available, and other similar tasks. Closely monitor the implementation of the interventions to be evaluated to ensure that the identification strategy is not compromised.

• Support in-country capacity building by helping train local hires and stakeholders in impact evaluation methodology, data collection, etc.

Deliverables

The consultancy duration consists of a total of 35 flexible working days starting from 1 February 2020 to 29 June 2020 (TBC):

DELIVERABLES (SMART)

A completed and context-appropriate baseline survey questionnaire (paper and coded in an ODK-based application) with enumerator manual and training materials. Duration (Estimated # of Days 7), Deadline March 1, 2021.

Completed mission and progress report from programme sites in Juba Duration (Estimated # of Days 7), Deadline March 31, 2021.

Completed mission and progress report from programme sites in Yambio Duration (Estimated # of Days 7), Deadline April 30, 2021.

Completed mission and progress report from programme sites in Torit Duration (Estimated # of Days 7), Deadline May 31, 2021.

Completed mission and progress report from programme sites in Aweil Duration (Estimated # of Days 7), Deadline June 29, 2021.

Estimated Duration of the Contract is 35 days over a period of 5-month period (non-consecutive days)

Duty Station and Official Travel

The consultant will be working from home with one time travel to South Sudan to carry out programme activities.

Payment Schedule

• Payment is made monthly on satisfactory completion of deliverables duly authorized by the Supervisor of contract. Note, It is expected that each deliverable be submitted to and reviewed by the Supervisor of the contract prior to proceeding to the next stage of the contract. All comments and inputs are expected to be addressed by the consultant, either through revision or justification.
• All applicants must submit a stipulated all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable as part of the financial proposal.

Travel Clause

• All UNICEF rules and regulations related to travel of Consultants/ Individual Contractors apply.
• All travels shall be undertaken only upon the prior written approval by UNICEF.
• The eligible maximum amount for travel is specified in the contract.
• The consultant is responsible for his/her travel arrangements. The most economic and direct route is authorized.
• Travel costs will be reimbursed after the completion of mission. UNICEF will pay the applicable DSA rate and other travel related expenses upon submission of the invoice together with the supporting documentation.

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

• Academic specialization: A Master’s degree in economics, public policy, statistics, computer science or related field with strong quantitative research skills is essential.
• Technical skills: Advanced skills using either Stata or R for data processing and analysis. Experience with survey programming in an ODK based platform (experience with Survey CTO a plus).
• Experience: 3+ years of experience in impact evaluation and econometric analysis and working with raw household survey data. Field experience working on impact evaluations, and/or managing data collection, is required. Experience coding in a team environment and using GitHub is highly desirable. Knowledge about the relevant sectors is desirable. Experience working in conflict affected or developing countries preferred.
• Capacity Building Skills: Demonstrated ability and experience in designing and delivering training and capacity building activities or other teaching experience is a plus.
• Language: Superior written and oral communications skills in English is essential.
• Interpersonal skills: Motivated self-starter, with demonstrated ability to work effectively and sensitively in teams, and excellent cross-cultural communication skills.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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.

Remarks:

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.

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