National MICS Consultant, Astana, Kazakhstan, 18 months

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Duration: 18 months starting from 1 March 2023 to 31 August 2024 Workplace: office-based

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, a fair chance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=E1xkXZs0cAQ

Background

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 20 years, MICS has evolved to respond to changing data needs, expanding from 28 indicators in the first round to more than 200 indicators in the current sixth 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 SDG monitoring as a major source of data for the UN Secretary General’s Final Sustainable Development Goals Report. In Kazakhstan, UNICEF Country Office has supported MICS surveys implementation in 2006, 2010 and 2015. As part of the 2021-2025 Kazakhstan Programme cycle, UNICEF Kazakhstan Office has planned to support the MICS-7 starting 2023. To ensure that the implementation of the MICS survey runs smoothly, specific deadlines are met and that the the Bureau of National Statistics (BNS) receives the technical assistance necessary to produce statistically sound and reliable data, the UNICEF Kazakhstan Office will hire a full-time consultant to oversee the MICS process from preparatory work to release of results. The MICS7 will be implemented using CAPI (Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing) in which the interviewer uses a tablet to record data. CAPI data collection can reduce the time needed to collect and process survey data, facilitate real time monitoring, improve the quality of the data and reduce survey costs.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment

In line with international MICS survey methodology the need of separate consultant is required. Under the overall supervision of the Child Rights Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist from UNICEF country office in Kazakhstan, the National MICS Consultant (NMC) will support the preparation, implementation and completion of the MICS survey in Kazakhstan. The NMC will work closely with and advise the BNS, 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 NMC will communicate effectively between the UNICEF CO and BNS, participate to the required internal and external meetings, responding promptly to MICS related needs and issues as they arise.

The NMC 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 NMC will also work in close collaboration with 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 Kazakhstan MICS (collectively labelled “The UNICEF MICS Team”).

Main Tasks Related to the Job.docx

Confidentiality of Data and MICS Documents The NMC must respect the complete confidentiality of the MICS data as well as any specific MICS documents that will be produced throughout the MICS process. The NMC can use the documents and the datasets only for the tasks related to these Terms of Reference.

Work Assignment Overview.docx

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… • University degree in Demography, Statistics, Social Sciences, Epidemiology or any other related technical field • Proven minimum of 5 years of 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), quality assurance of the survey process in line with MICS methodology, Financial management of Republican budget • 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 communications in Kazakh, Russian and English; • Familiarity and previous experience of working in Kazakhstan is 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-Kazakhstan and to attend regional workshops.

For every Child, you demonstrate… UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (https://www.unicef.org/about/unicef-culture)

Remarks:

Completion of the UN/UNICEF mandatory trainings is obligatory upon commencement of the contract.

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

All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.

The Individual contractor or Consultant will perform his/her duties in line with UNICEF standards and procedures.

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 NMC should be recruited at the start of MICS planning and should remain on board until the Survey Findings Report, Statistical Snapshots and the survey archive are produced. Without significant and unforeseen delays, the MICS survey can be conducted in 18 months.

The duration of consultancy should cover a minimum 18 months, depending on the time it will take to finalise the whole MICS process.

Only candidates that can commit for this whole duration will be considered.

Financial proposal with all-inclusive and breakdown of cost should be provided by potential candidate.

The candidate is to indicate his/her monthly fee for the services to be provided. The fees payable to a consultant shall follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee. This contract does not allow payment of off-hours, medical insurances, taxes, sick leave.

During the contract period, the NMC is expected to travel within the Kazakhstan and to MICS Regional Workshops in other countries (at least 2 international and 15 in-country business trips). Travel with breakdown of cost (at the reasonable rate not exceeding UNICEF DSA) should be provided by potential candidate.

Costs indicated are estimated.

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant

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.

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.