International Consultancy on Leading an End line Survey for the Programme of Community and Family-based Integrated Social Services for the Most Vulnerable Children in Azerbaijan

Contract

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For every child, development

Background

A three-year “Development of Community and Family-based Integrated Social Services for the Most Vulnerable Children in Azerbaijan” programme jointly funded by the European Union and UNICEF started in February 2019 with aims on creation of an environment in which more vulnerable, at-risk and under-served children and young people can access quality services through establishing national standards across several sectors, strengthening technical and management capacities of NGO/CSO actors, and modelling high impact, cost-effective services and programmes at national and subnational level.

The targeted beneficiaries of the programme include young children up to school age, the most vulnerable girls and boys, including children with disabilities and in contact with the law, adolescents and young people, parents and caregivers, NGO service providers of early childhood development (ECD), social services and youth development, and academic/research institutions. The overall outcome of the programme is to ensure girls and boys, especially those that are the most vulnerable have access to quality community and family-based integrated social services in health, nutrition, ECD, inclusive education, social services and child protection and adolescent/youth development.

The following three specific outcomes were established to be achieved in the selected pilot districts of the country:

• Outcome 1 - Integrated Early Child Development: By 2021, an increased number of young girls and boys in four districts of Ganja, Aghjabadi, Shirvan and Absheron, from birth to school entry age, including children with disabilities, have equitable access to essential quality, integrated and inclusive Early Childhood Development programmes including health, nutrition, protection, early learning services and parenting education that address their growth and developmental needs.

• Outcome 2 - Community-Based Social Services for children: By 2021, an increased number of vulnerable children in three districts of Ganja, Aghjabadi, Shirvan have access to quality integrated, inclusive child-centred, equity-focused and community-based social services and child protection systems in selected districts, that in turn contribute to the modelling of an integrated social services system.

• Outcome 3 – Youth Friendly Services: By 2021, an increased number of adolescents and youth in eight districts of Baku-Binagadi and Khazar, Mingachevir, Shamkir, Qazakh, Bilasuvar, Tartar, Geranboy and Barda have equitable access to integrated youth-friendly services provided through a cross-country system of district-level youth facilities and other platforms, functioning in compliance with national standards with promotion of gender equality and social inclusion.

A baseline survey was conducted at the beginning of this cross-sectional programme in 2019 year with totally 2,427 households in four selected districts. It was aiming to collect the comprehensive and up-to-date data to set-up baselines for the programme indicators under Outcomes 1 and 2 to be able further monitor, track and report on the progress made throughout the programme implementation cycle. An endline survey as a part of impact assessment is planned to be conducted with the same sample size to determine the effect of the programme on beneficiaries at the end of programme. For this purpose, UNICEF Azerbaijan Country Office is looking for an international expert to lead the mentioned end line survey.

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Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The main purpose of the end line survey is to collect a set of final data and information at the end of the programme to measure progress made relating specifically to the programme outcome 1 (ECD) and 2 (Social Services) in the four selected districts, for which the convergence between the two interventions were considered to achieve optimal results for children and strengthened coordination among sectors in three out of four districts. The end line survey will not cover the outcome 3 (Youth development).

The specific objectives of the end line survey are as follows:

1. This end line survey intends to capture the current status and provide up-to-date information for all programme’s indicators under the Outcomes 1 and 2 of the Log frame in four districts of programme implementation that enables to measure progress made as the result of key programme interventions.

2. The end line survey will apply the same methodology and survey tools used in the baseline survey held at the beginning of the programme to ensure consistency in assessing the impact of programme’ interventions, understanding changes in the situation of the target population in the selected districts and providing evidence for future programme scale-up.

The collected data will also provide additional quantitative information for the country in understanding the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, and impact of specific and innovative programme’s interventions and contribute to the broader interpretation and use of programme achievements. Findings of both surveys (baseline and end line) and its comparative assessment will inform UNICEF and the Government on the programme results and generate evidence of effectiveness, good practices and lessons learned from the pilot for further replication by the Government.

Scope of Work:

The proposed consultancy assignment is to support UNICEF Azerbaijan Country Office and its partners to conduct the End line Survey in four districts selected for implementation of the programme – Absheron, Aghjabedi, Ganja and Shirvan. The selected consultant is expected to provide technical leadership in design, implementation and reporting of the survey in close consultation with UNICEF staff, governmental and non-governmental partners from all relevant sectors. The survey will be carried out in collaboration with a local research agency, which will be responsible to organize fieldwork for data collection.

The specific tasks of the selected consultant are enumerated as follows:

1. Undertake a desk review of key programme’s documents (proposal, Logical Framework, Baseline Survey Report, Annual Progress Updates, etc.) and other relevant documents (UNICEF strategy on ECD and Social Services, etc.). Discuss with UNICEF programme professionals to further understand and clarify programme results and expectations.

2. Update a comprehensive research protocol to be reviewed and agreed with the UNICEF, relevant partners, and external ethical board. It should include the following aspects such as:

- Sample size and all survey relevant methodology must be remained the same as in the baseline to ensure consistency for comparing the results.

- Review a list of key indicators to be collected through the end line survey.

- Create a work plan for implementing the sample design, data collection and data analysis.

- Ensure adequate quality control and supervision mechanism.

- Ensure ethical approach to obtaining information from children, adolescents, vulnerable families, and other key informants. Provide with an appropriate informed consent forms for research participants

- Ensure data confidentiality and ownership

- Concepts, definitions, and classification of different terminologies used in the survey should be clearly spelt out.

- All key survey findings must be carefully disaggregated by age, sex, and other socio-demographic and economic determinants, to the extent possible.

3. Review and update the questionnaires, ensuring the questionnaire is appropriate for the local situation and used all the lessons learnt during the baseline survey. Format the questionnaires, make sure all skip patterns and logical checks are clear and all questions are coded. Clear the final version of the questionnaire with UNICEF.

4. Prepare a final plan for field-work logistics, including monitoring and supervision plan with the local research agency/research coordinator in two scenarios: if the travel within the country is restricted and if there is no restriction.

5. Develop data processing and analysis framework.

6. Review and update all necessary support documentation including coding guides, a training package for field interviewer and all the required manuals.

7. Design CAPI programming for data entry. Digitalize updated questionnaires to be used in tablet devices.

8. Provide training to local field interviewers. Pre-test the research tools and techniques with the help of a local research team and adjust as necessary. Strengthen the capacity of the local research agency and/or researchers throughout the survey process through training, guidance, and direct supervision.

9. Provide on-line technical guidance, regular quality assurance of the collected data and support to each stage of the survey process.

10. Conduct data analysis including comparison with the baseline data and produce a final assessment report including key findings on end line survey results and programme progress.

11. Prepare a Brief Summary of the key findings (not more than 4 pages) and a PowerPoint presentation on the results to be presented to a wider stakeholder group identified by UNICEF.

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

• Advanced university degree in Demography, Statistics, Social Sciences, Epidemiology or any other related technical field is required.
• Previous minimum of 7 years’ experience of supporting and conducting similar quantitative surveys and assessment in the related field. Experiences in managing MICS, DHS or other large-scale survey activities will be an asset.
• Strong computer skills and strong expertise in statistical analyses (familiarity with data processing and data analysis software).
• Excellent analytical and report writing skills.
• Familiarity with UNICEF's mission and mandate. Experiences of working with UNICEF/UN and working in the Europe and Central Asia region will be an added benefit.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Application: Interested candidates should submit application (CV/cover letter), financial and technical proposals.

All consultants & individual contractors regardless of contract duration must complete the applicable mandatory online courses prior to signature of contract. The link to these courses will be provided during the selection process for the successful candidates.

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:

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.