National Consultancy - Gilgit-Baltistan Multiple Indicators Cluster Surveys Consultant (09 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, Commitment!

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 others 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 work in Pakistan, please visit the country website, www.unicef.org/pakistan, and videos on YouTube and Vimeo.

The Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) is an international household survey programme developed and supported by UNICEF. MICS is designed to collect estimates of key indicators that are used to assess the situation of children and women. Over the past three decades, MICS has evolved to respond to changing data needs, expanding from 28 indicators in the first round to more than 250 indicators in the current seventh round, and becoming a key source of data on child protection, early childhood education, and a major source of data on child health and nutrition. In addition to being a data collection tool to generate data for monitoring the progress towards national goals and global commitments for promoting the welfare of children, MICS provided valuable data for Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and currently providing data for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) monitoring and reporting.

Scope of Work

Under overall supervision of the Data & Analytic Specialist, Data and Analytics Unit, Planning, Monitoring and Data Pakistan Country Office, the GB MICS Consultant (GBMC) will support and provide guidance to UNICEF Pakistan and the Planning and Development Department GB for the preparation, implementation, and completion of the MICS survey in Pakistan. The consultant will advise and support the P&DD, especially the Survey Coordinator and sampling and data processing experts, during survey planning, questionnaire design, sampling, training, fieldwork, data processing, data analysis, and archiving, ensuring that MICS protocols and recommendations are being followed at all times. The consultant will communicate effectively between the UNICEF CO and P&DD, responding promptly to MICS related needs and issues as they arise.

The GBMC will be responsible for coordinating and supporting the work of other resource persons hired by UNICEF to provide technical assistance to the MICS process. The consultant will work in close collaboration with the survey team, the stakeholders, and Steering and Technical Committees and will represent UNICEF in meetings and workshops in relation to the survey as needed. The consultant will also work in close collaboration with the Data & Analytics Specialist (National MICS coordinator) and the regional MICS coordinator at the UNICEF Regional Office (RO) and the MICS Team at UNICEF Headquarters (HQ), as well as expert consultants assigned to support the GB MICS (collectively labeled “The UNICEF MICS Team”).

Main Task/Milestones:

1. Provide technical and managerial support to the MICS.
2. Present the MICS methodology, tools, and guidelines to partners/stakeholders (e.g. govt line departments, UN Agencies, CSOs etc.).
3. Finalize, in collaboration with partners and UNICEF CO, the Survey Plan and Budget, including the timetable and share with the Data & Analytics Specialist .
4. Ensure that the Ethical Protocol and other ethical recommendations are addressed in the survey implementation process and that all MICS related documents are shared with the national/international Ethical Committee on time for approval;
5. Oversee each stage of the survey process and ensure that the MICS protocols and standards are followed by the P&DD, more specifically during training and field supervision visits.
6. Communicate regularly with the UNICEF Pakistan CO and/or the UNICEF MICS Team responding to all MICS related issues in a timely manner.
7. Provide monthly updates on MICS activities to the UNICEF Pakistan CO.
8. Coordinate the work of P&DD and other resource persons assigned by the UNICEF CO and/or the UNICEF MICS Team to support different survey stages.
9. Ensure that external technical reviews by experts (i.e., Sampling, Data Processing, and Household Survey experts and consultants) are carried out at key survey stages and coordinate the feedback and response between the CO, the UNICEF MICS Team and the P&DD GB.
10. Ensure that all survey related documents and deliverables are properly archived throughout the survey process (for example: Memorandum of Understanding, Survey Plan and Budget, questionnaires, manuals, sample design, training/pre-test reports, expert reports, CAPI application, output and tabulation plan tables, syntaxes, datasets, etc.);
11. Participate in, and contribute to all MICS Steering and Technical Committee meetings.
12. Participate in, and contribute to, MICS Regional Workshops.
13. Ensure that lessons learned, problems, and good practices are documented throughout the MICS process and rapidly share with the MICS community (other MICS implementing countries and the UNICEF MICS Team) through all means available.

Deliverables to be achieved

Specific Activities

In consultation and collaboration with the UNICEF CO and P&DD GB, the GBMC 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:

• The Survey Plan and Budget, including timetable is finalized and shared with all stakeholders.
• Survey supplies are procured and distributed in time for training and data collection.
• Sample design:
  • The UNICEF Sampling expert consultant is provided with necessary information and visits are well managed and coordinated within survey plans.
  • Sample design is finalized by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) 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.
  • Sample design is reviewed by the UNICEF MICS Team before finalization.
  • The final selection of households is reviewed; and
  • The weights are reviewed.
• MICS questionnaires:
  • Questionnaires undergo translation and back translation process.
  • Questionnaires and manuals undergo an ethical review.
  • Questionnaires are pre-tested, and a pre-test report is produced.
  • 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:
  • CAPI application template is customized by the data processing expert of the P&DD with the guidance of the UNICEF Data Processing expert consultant.
  • Customized CAPI application is reviewed by the UNICEF MICS Team before finalization.
  • Secondary editing guidelines and Field Check Table, tabulation plan and syntax are customized by the data processing expert of the P&DD GB 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 is 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 on a weekly basis, immediately analyzed by survey coordinator/managers, and the main findings are reported to field supervisors for action. Field Check Tables are immediately shared with the Regional MICS Coordinator.
• Participation of UNICEF CO staff is organized to assist in monitoring data collection.
• UNICEF Data Processing expert consultant is timely provided with 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), and software is properly installed and a working, data transfer system and data backup system is established.
• Monitor sample selection with the P&DD 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 PBS with the guidance and review of the UNICEF MICS Sampling expert consultant.
• MICS tabulation plan and standard syntax are customized, reviewed by the UNICEF MICS Team, and used in generating SPSS dataset 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 PBS, 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 P&DD as per the LOI.

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 P&DD.

Specific Outputs for the consultancy are as under:

1. MICS Questionnaire and Manuals are reviewed (both English and Urdu) and finalized as per guidelines.
2. Submitted monthly progress report of activities and highlighting the lessons learnt challenges faced and implemented solutions to mitigate them as per the provided template
3. Listing and mapping planned, executed as per the MICS guidelines and supported for coordination with PBS and other stakeholders
4. Supported arrangement and management of the trainings (both ToT and main) and ensured that the Training schedules are adequately adapted to the GB context
5. Organized weekly de-briefing session for concerned stakeholders, records minutes and actions, and appropriate follow-up (ongoing and as per template)
6. Developed field plan for each team, in consultation with Team supervisors.
7. Fieldwork and fieldwork monitoring visits are planned and performed according to the MICS guidelines.
8. Field check tables are produced regularly during data collection period as per Standard protocols
9. Weekly and timely feedback is provided to each team supervisor.
10. Reviewed MICS tabulation, coordinated on the customization of standard syntax for generating SPSS dataset and tables.

• Coordinated in Sampling Weights to be included in the datasets and reviewed by the sampling expert of the UNICEF Sampling expert consultant.

1. Ensure that the MICS survey archive with all final survey documents and materials (MoU, SP, questionnaires, manuals, sample design, field reports, CAPI application, syntaxes, database, geocoding, tables) is being produced by the P&DD GB as per required structure.
2. MICS tabulation plan and standard syntax are customized and used in generating SPSS dataset and tables.
3. Ensure that Survey Findings Report and snapshots finalized as per MICS guidelines

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s) in Demography, Statistics, Social Sciences, Epidemiology, or any other related technical field is required.
• Proven minimum of 2-3 years' experience in the coordination and/or management of quantitative household surveys (prior MICS or Demographic and Health Survey (DHS)requested;)
• Strong computer skills and strong expertise in statistical analyses (familiarity with data processing and data analysis software, particularly SPSS and STATA);
• Experience with CAPI data collection.
• Training experience and ability to organize and facilitate training and presentations.
• Experience in data analysis and survey report writing.
• Familiarity and previous experience of working in Pakistan/Gilgit-Baltistan 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 of working with UN agencies is an asset.
• Fluency in English and Urdu is required. Knowledge of a local/ GB language is an asset.

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:

• Estimated Duration: 09 months
• Applicants must submit a financial quotation indicating a monthly fee as part of the application against each deliverable.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have current health insurance coverage in place.
• 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.