National Consultant (Education Data Collection and Analysis Expert); Dhaka; Bangladesh (Only for Bangladeshi)

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.

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

As part of the need-based technical assistance support to the sub-component ‘Data Systems for Decision-Making’, UNICEF has been supporting DPE in the preparation, validation, and finalization of the ASPR, APSC, and IPEMIS. UNICEF is committed to continuing this support during the PEDP4 period.

The objectives of this assignment are to provide technical assistance to DPE on:

1. Analyzing the PEMIS data for all relevant indicators by relevant disaggregation
2. producing high-quality ASPR 2022 and APSC 2022 with better synchronization between the two reports, and
3. Ensuring systematic capacity building of and gradual transfer of knowledge to respective divisions for them to perform these reporting functions independently.

The assignment covers the following activities.

• Understanding the data needs: The consultant is expected to review various sources of data on primary education and the relevance and scope of the available data sources to inform sub-sector program planning as well as monitoring of results. The Consultant is expected to do this by reviewing the available data, but also through discussions with relevant stakeholders. The main agency for producing ASPR is DPE, while several other technical agencies like NCTB, BNFE, NAPE, LGED, and DPHE also have stakes in the implementation of PEDP4 as well as other activities in the sub-sector. Within DPE, there are several discrete projects that are being implemented, which are also contributing to the results of PEDP4. Administrative data of these projects are also to be analyzed to prepare the ASPR.
• Identifying data from different sources and compiling them for analysis: The ASPR draws on a range of data sources, especially the APSC of the past few years, the National Student Assessment (NSA) reports, the results of the Grade 5 Primary and Ebtedayee Education Completion Examination (PECE/EECE) and DPE line divisions datasets, like the statistics on book distribution, stipend, and other administrative processes. It also uses material and data from different surveys, such as the Education Household Survey (EHS), Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES), Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), and other statistics prepared by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and Bangladesh Bureau of Education Information and Statistics (BABIES). The Consultant is expected to use these multiple datasets to triangulate the findings from administrative data, particularly the Primary education census. The Consultant is expected to compile data from different sources for further analysis, triangulation, and validation. The key data gaps also need to be highlighted so that the APSC questionnaire can be adjusted to ensure that the data gaps are duly addressed in the future. The Consultant is expected to review various sets of indicators to see if there are duplications, gaps, and overreporting or underreporting. The collection of data/information on program progress from different divisions needs to be systematized with clear deadlines and periodicity established.
• Data analysis: The most crucial part of the report is the analysis of the findings in a scientific manner. The result-based approach is used for PEDP4 progress monitoring and reporting. There are a number of composite indicators used for data analysis and generation of the report. It is important to analyze the data in a way that properly and adequately reviews the performance in a given year. This means that only reporting the data is not enough, rather it is expected that the expert will critically look at the data, identifying what is working well and what is not, as well as generating recommendations and priority actions to strengthen the sector performance further.
• Report writing: The consultant is expected to write the drafts of the ASPR, and APSC reports with the help of the relevant M&E division officials, as well as a Report Writing Expert[1] to be engaged to support the writing of ASPR, and APSC reports.
• Communication and coordination: All the activities under this assignment will be accomplished in collaboration with the M&E Division of DPE, with technical support from UNICEF. Frequent contact with responsible DPE officials will have to be maintained throughout the process of accomplishing this assignment. All the documents and materials submitted by the expert will be reviewed both by DPE and UNICEF. The Data Collection and Analysis Expert is expected to maintain close contact with the Report Writing Expert and work as a team. Besides, the expert will be attending review and coordination meetings related to this assignment and making presentations when required.

[1] Conditional upon various factors. Recruitment might or might not happen.

Please see the attached TOR for Major Tasks and Deliverables:

Brief ToR DCA Expert.pdf

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Statistics, Education, Development Studies, Social Sciences, and any other discipline related to education, statistics, and data analysis
• At least 5 years of professional work experience in the areas of statistical analysis, research, and documentation, preferably in education program contexts. The expert should be able to provide evidence of such activities.
• Demonstrated experience in planning, managing, and conducting the large-scale study.
• Proven experience in collecting, managing, and analyzing sector-level data.
• Proven experience in preparing sector reports/research reports.
• Prior experience of working with government entities and facilitating effective communication and coordination with the government.
• Experience working with UN and/or donor agencies.
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision.
• Excellent writing skills with the analysis of technical and critical points.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills in both Bangla and English.

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 a reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterward 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, 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.