MICS Consultant PMC - Punjab (11.5 months)

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, Protection!

Pakistan was the sixth country in the world to sign and ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child less than one year after it was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989. However, children and adolescents living in Pakistan still face acute challenges.

UNICEF supports the Government of Pakistan to accelerate progress for children, work to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and help children realize their rights under the Convention on the Rights of Children. This will be made through, among other things, strong partnerships with provincial authorities, teachers and health professionals, frontline workers and social mobilizers, communities and families, and of course, the children and adolescents themselves.

In particular, UNICEF will work so that:

• Every child survives and thrives -- being in good health, immunized, protected from polio, and accessing nutritious food.
• Every child learns.
• Every child is protected from violence and exploitation and registered at birth.
• Every child lives in a safe and clean environment, with access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.

To learn more about UNICEF’s work in Pakistan, please visit the country website www.unicef.org/pakistan, and videos on YouTube and Vimeo.

Under the overall supervision of the Chief PMD/CFO-Lahore (and coordinate closely with Survey Specialist and PMR Specialist at CO and FO respectively), the Punjab MICS Consultant (PMC) will support and provide guidance to UNICEF Pakistan and the Burau of Statistics, Punjab for the preparation, implementation and completion of the MICS survey in Pakistan. The PMC will advise and support the BoS, especially the Survey Coordinator and sampling and data processing experts, during survey planning, questionnaire design, sampling, training, fieldwork, data processing, data analysis, dissemination and archiving, ensuring that MICS protocols and recommendations are being followed at all times. The PMC will communicate effectively between the UNICEF CO and BoS, responding promptly to MICS related needs and issues as they arise.

How can you make a difference?

Major tasks, deliverables, and proposed payment schedule:

Main Tasks Related to the Job:

Specific Activities

In consultation and collaboration with the UNICEF CO and BoS-Punjab, the PMC will be responsible for ensuring the following activities have been undertaken following the MICS guidelines and will contribute to the coordination of these activities:

1. Survey Planning:

• A Steering Committee is established and composed of all relevant national and international stakeholders, including National Ethical Committee;
• A Technical Committee comprised of all relevant technical experts is established;
• The Survey Plan and Budget, including the timetable, are finalized and shared with all stakeholders;
• A Memorandum of Understanding between UNICEF Country and BoS-Punjab is signed before funds are spent on survey activities;
• Ensure that other MICS initiatives (MICS Plus, MICS GIS, MICS Link) are discussed with national/provincial partners and properly addressed during the survey planning stage,

• Survey supplies are procured and distributed in time for training and data collection;

  Sample design:

• The UNICEF Sampling expert consultant is provided with the necessary information, and visits are well managed and coordinated within survey plans;

• The sampling expert of BoS-Punjab finalizes the sample design with the guidance and review of the UNICEF Sampling expert consultant;
• Listing and Mapping materials and operations are reviewed by the UNICEF Sampling expert consultant and carried out on the field per MICS recommendations.
• Cluster geocodes (cluster Centre points, multi-points, or boundaries), either existing or collected during the mapping and household listing operation, are assessed by the survey team and communicated to the UNICEF MICS Team, together with the shapefile representing the sampling frame, including the boundaries of sample stratification, if GPS coordinators will be collected.
• The UNICEF MICS Team reviews the sample design before finalization.
• The final selection of households is reviewed; and

• The weights are reviewed.

  MICS questionnaires:

• Appropriate UNICEF program staff and the Technical Committee are involved in reviewing the customization of relevant sections of the MICS questionnaire & selected Modules that address country data gaps and address SGD data needs.

• Questionnaires undergo a translation and back-translation process & Questionnaires and manuals undergo an ethical review.

• Questionnaires are pre-tested, and a pre-test report is produced and Questionnaires are reviewed by the UNICEF MICS Team before finalization.

  Manuals:

MICS Household Listing and Mapping (GPS Data Collection, if applicable), Supervisor, Measurer, and Interviewer Manuals are customized for the country-specific context and translated.

CAPI Application Template:

• The CAPI application template is customized by the data processing expert of the BoS-Punjab with the guidance of the UNICEF Data Processing expert consultant;
• The UNICEF MICS Team reviews customized CAPI applications before finalization.
• Secondary editing guidelines and Field Check Table, tabulation plan, and syntax are customized by the data processing expert of the BoS-Punjab with the guidance of the UNICEF Data Processing expert consultant and household survey experts/consultants.

2. Listing and Mapping, Training and Fieldwork, and Data Processing:

• Listing and mapping are planned and carried out per MICS guidelines.
• Training schedules are adequately adapted to the county context while following MICS guidelines.
• Appropriate resource persons are identified to facilitate training (i.e., nutritionists for anthropometry training, survey experts for methodology, etc.);
• Contribute to the pre-test, CAPI test, and fieldwork training.
• Fieldwork and fieldwork monitoring visits are planned and performed according to MICS guidelines.
• Field Check Tables are produced every week and immediately analyzed by survey coordinators/managers, and the main findings are reported to field supervisors for action. Field Check Tables are immediately shared with the Regional MICS Coordinator.
• The participation of UNICEF CO staff is organized to assist in monitoring data collection.
• UNICEF Data Processing expert consultant is timely provided with the necessary information, and country visits are well managed and coordinated.
• Hardware is made available for the CAPI application (data collection and central office menu components), software is properly installed, and a working data transfer system and data backup system is established.
• Monitor sample selection with the BoS after the listing and mapping exercise is completed,
• Monitor pre-test, CAPI test, and main data collection,
• Monitor data processing and secondary data editing.

3. Data Analysis and Report Writing:

• Sampling Weights are included in the datasets and reviewed by the sampling expert of the BoS-Punjab with the guidance and review of the UNICEF Sampling expert consultant.

• MICS tabulation plan and standard syntax are customized, reviewed by the UNICEF MICS Team, and used in generating SPSS datasets and tables.

• Dataset/Tables, including the wealth index, are substantively reviewed by technical experts (e.g., sampling and household survey experts) and subject matter experts at the BoS-Punjab, as well as by the UNICEF MICS Team before the report writing commences.

• Facilitate communication on the process of anonymization of geocodes between the UNICEF MICS Team and the BoS-Punjab as per the Memorandum of Understanding/LOI.

• Coordinate and contribute substantively to the elaboration of the Survey Findings Report and Statistical Snapshots, using the MICS template and according to MICS standards to ensure a timely release.

• Ensure that the Survey Findings Reports and Statistical Snapshots undergo the technical review process by the UNICEF MICS Team;

• Coordinate the printing and distribution of the Survey Findings Report and Statistical Snapshots.

• Organize and facilitate the presentation of the Survey Findings Report and Statistical Snapshots through a national seminar.

• Provide technical expertise and advice for the wide dissemination of the Survey Findings Report, Statistical Snapshots, and main results.

• Ensure that the MICS survey archive with all final survey documents and materials (MoU, CSP, questionnaires, manuals, sample design, field reports, CAPI application, syntaxes, database, geocoding, tables, Survey Findings Report and Statistical Snapshots, dissemination materials, etc.) is being produced by the BoS-Punjab.

• Attend all MICS Provincial and Divisional Workshops.

Deliverables:

1. Survey Planning :

• A Steering Committee is established and composed of all relevant national and international stakeholders, including National Ethical Committee
• At least one Technical Committee comprised of all relevant technical experts is established.
• The Survey Plan and Budget, including the timetable, is finalized and shared with all stakeholders.
• A Memorandum of Understanding between UNICEF Country and BoS-Punjab is signed before funds are spent on survey activities.

• Well-managed and coordinated Sample design, MICS Questionnaire, Manuals, and CAPI application are prepared as per guidelines.

  2. Listing and Mapping Training Fieldwork, and Data Processing:

  Hardware is made available for the CAPI application (data collection and central office menu components), the software is properly installed, and a working data transfer system and data backup system are established. Hardware is made available for the CAPI application (data collection and central office menu components), the software is properly installed, and a working data transfer system and data backup system are established

3. Data Analysis and Report Writing:

• Sampling Weights are included in the datasets and reviewed by the sampling expert of the BoS-Punjab with the guidance and review

of the UNICEF Sampling expert consultant

• MICS tabulation plan and standard syntax are customized and used in generating SPSS datasets and tables.
• Coordinate and contribute substantively to elaborating the Survey Findings Report and Statistical Snapshots, using the MICS template and according to MICS standards, to ensure a timely release.
• Ensure that the MICS survey archive with all final survey documents and materials (MoU, CSP, questionnaires, manuals, sample design, field reports, CAPI application, syntaxes, database, geocoding, tables, Survey Findings Report and Statistical Snapshots, dissemination materials, etc.) is being produced by the BoS-Punjab.
• Monthly Progress Report of activities, describing activities undertaken during the month and highlighting problems met and solutions put in place to mitigate them.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in a relevant field combined with professional experience in Demography, Statistics, Social Sciences, Epidemiology, or any other related technical field is required. *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• Minimum 4 years of relevant experience in the coordination and/or management of quantitative household surveys (prior MICS or Demographic and Health Survey (DHS).
• Strong computer skills and strong expertise in statistical analyses (familiarity with data processing and data analysis software, particularly SPSS);
• Experience with CAPI data collection.
• Training experience and ability to organize and facilitate training and presentations.
• Experience in data analysis and survey report writing.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication in Punjabi, Saraiki is required.
• Familiarity and previous experience of working in Pakistan/Punjab and/or in the region highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and to establish harmonious and effective relationships both within and outside the organization, more specifically with National Statistical Offices.
• Demonstrated leadership, managerial and supervisory ability; Ability and willingness to travel extensively in-country and to attend regional workshops.
• Experience working with UN agencies is an asset.
• Fluency in English is required and a local language is an asset.
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

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.

Candidates are requested to submit their monthly/lumpsum fee with the application for the consultancy.

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 for ensuring 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 before 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, program 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.