National Statistical Data Consultant

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Type of contract: Consultant Duration:15 months starting July 2023 Workplace: Home 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 fulfil 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

Purpose of Activity/Assignment: UNICEF country programme in Albania 2022-2026 has included Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) as a priority, aiming to produce data for:

a) the monitoring of the situation of children and adolescents;

b) the monitoring of the SDG realization;

c) the monitoring of the implementation of the National Agenda for Children and other sectorial strategies focusing children;

d) the monitoring of the implementation of the UN CRC recommendations in Albania, etc.

MICS stands as a commitment of the Government of Albania in both the National Agenda for Children 2022-2026 and the National Program of Official Statistics. In May 2022, UNICEF Albania and INSTAT signed the Partnership Agreement for the conduct of MICS. Soon after that, both parties started the preparatory work, including the MICS data gap assessment, drafting of initial survey plan and budgets, etc. Owing to the postponement of the Population and Housing Census (PHC) in 2023, UNICEF and INSTAT have agreed to postpone MICS data collection early in 2025. In addition, early this year, UNICEF MICS team launched the 7th round of MICS featuring a new questionnaire architecture and expanded its content. Considering the volume and the complexity of the preparatory work for MICS, UNICEF requires support from a national external expert, advertised through this Terms of Reference (TOR). UNICEF Europe and Central Asia Regional Office annually updates and maintains the TransMonEE dashboard1, based on a questionnaire submitted by the Countries National Statistical Office, covering statistics in the area of child protection. For the case of Albania, the Questionnaire is filled out by INSTAT annually. A validation exercise should be done by UNICEF, and as it has been the case in previous years, support from external expert is required in order to assure highest quality of reporting for both years, 2023 and 2024. Based on the 2018 Decision of the Council of Ministers (DCM), the State Agency on Child Rights and Protection has introduced a statistical visualisation dashboard2 for data on children. The DCM contained 58 indicators on a wide range of child rights, and was revised on 6/7/2022, changing the number of indicators to 61, whilst revising a number of other indicators. Support is required from the external expert, advertised through this TOR, to update the dashboard annually; to help address the issues raised by DCM changes, and validate the quality of the existing indicators during the 2023 and 2024 reporting cycle.

Scope of Work: The statistical consultant will be responsible for the following tasks: • Provide technical support for MICS7 in Albania by: - Contributing to and support the international consultant for the completion of Data Gap Assessment in frame of new MICS7 modules and content. - Customizing the survey plan and budget tool for Albania following updates from MICS7 and Albania Housing and Population Census, considering different scenarios. - Organizing MICS7 orientation trainings for UNICEF. - Establish a filing system for MICS related documentation. - Facilitating the organization of the Steering and Technical committee meetings. - Support preparation of MICS related fund raising concept notes. • Undertake preparations at UNICEF Albania CO for the annual data collection and transmission through TransMonEE. • Develop and update the data collection tools for the maintenance of the State Agency on Child Rights and Protection digital platform. • As need arises, support UNICEF CO with statistical related tools for office planning, mid-year and end-year reporting. • Prepare factsheets with statistical data on situation of children for UNICEF internal use. The consultant is expected to work closely with entire UNICEF programme team and INSTAT staff.

Work Assignments Overview:

Deliverable 1: Data mapping tool in excel updated and completed with the new indicators from MICS7. Task 1.1 - Populate the data gap assessment tool (excel sheet) with all relevant information, including the additional indicators from MICS7 Task 1.2 - Provide feedback to the draft Report of the MICS data gap assessment Task 1.3 - Facilitate dialogue between international consultant and UNICEF team in terms of information collection and validation of findings Task 1.4 - Archive documents in the SharePoint platform of UNICEF Albania and when applicable in the SharePoint platform of ECAR-MICS

Timeline - By October 2023

Deliverable 2: Three versions of Survey Draft Plan and Budget are prepared. Task 2.1 - Customize the survey plan and budget tool for Albania following updates from MICS7 and Albania Housing and Population Census 2024 Task 2.2 - Complete and update 3 versions of the budget subject to the sampling scenarios and above-mentioned updates, along the process of MICS planning Task 2.3 - Interact with UNICEF and INSTAT team to validate the information Task 2.4 - Archive documents in the SharePoint platform of UNICEF Albania and when applicable in the SharePoint platform of ECAR-MICS

Timeline - By October 2024

Deliverable 3: Agenda and PPT for MICS 7 workshops. Task 3.1 - Support organization of 2 trainings to present the new MICS7 content, tools, and guidelines to UNICEF staff. Archive documents in the SharePoint platform of UNICEF Albania and when applicable in the SharePoint platform of ECAR-MICS.

Timeline - By December 2023

Deliverable 4: Technical notes and discussion points during the 3 meetings of Technical and Steering committee. Task 4.1 - Facilitate the organization and participate in the Steering and Technical committee meetings Task 4.2 - Prepare any documents to be shared with the committees Task 4.3 - Prepare technical notes and discussion points of meetings Task 4.4 - Archive documents in the SharePoint platform of UNICEF Albania and when applicable in the SharePoint platform of ECAR-MICS

Timeline - By October 2024

Deliverable 5: Two concept notes for MICS fund raising. Task 5.1 - Develop/update two fundraising concept note proposals fit to audience based on the country survey plan

Timeline - By December 2023 and May 2024

Deliverable 6: Two Validation reports for Transmonee questionnaire. Task 6.1 - Ensure TM guidelines and technical instructions are reflected in data collection Task 6.2 - Collect and review feedback from UNICEF Albania CO Task 6.3 - Submit the questionnaire in the SharePoint-based platform against the approved schedule by Coordinators Task 6.4 - Review completeness and accuracy of submissions as confirmed by the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist Task 6.5 - Review completeness and accuracy of submissions as confirmed by the TransMonEE Database Coordinators Task 6.6 - Integrate comments of RO and UNICEF CO to draft submissions

Timeline - By September 2023 and September 2024

Deliverable 7: Time-series excel sheets updated with 2022 and 2023 data for the 61 indicators. Task 7.1 - Support troubleshooting, maintenance and update of the dashboard in collaboration with the developers as per the changed presented by the DCM NO. 471 on 6/7/2022 Task 7.2 - Support UNICEF and Agency in the update of the dashboard with statistics of 2022-2023, including the quality check of the data, and update of the tools for data assembling as per the changes presented by the DCM No.471 on 6/7/2022 Task 7.3 - Develop the English version of the above-mentioned updates of indicators, tools and methodologies

Timeline - By September 2023 and September 2024

Deliverable 8: Two Brief statistical analysis of Situation of children (internal use). Task 8.1 - Provide support to the office with statistical related tools for office planning, mid-year and end-year reporting Task 8.2 - Prepare for year 2023 and 2024, 2 pagers with statistical data on situation of children for UNICEF internal use

Timeline - Task 8.1 November 2023; Task 8.2 October 2024

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

- Advance University Degree in statistics, data analytics, information systems, economics and/or related technical field and disciplines - At least 5 years’ experience in working with statistics, preferably official statistics targeting children - Knowledge of MICS / household surveys - Strong expertise in statistical analyses and familiarity with data processing and data analysis software - Preferably previous experience with INSTAT and UN in Albania - Excellent communication and interpersonal skills - Fluency in written and spoken English.

What to submit 1. Updated Resume 2. Letter of interest, summarising the educational background, the working experience that is relevant to the assignment, and the specific role the candidate will play in collaboration with the other experts and the inter-institutional working group 3. Concept note, providing an overview of how the candidate proposes to complete the tasks/deliverables specified in the TOR 4. Financial proposal in Local Currency (inclusive of all taxes).

The financial proposal shall be submitted in local currency (LEK) and must include the consultancy fee, the communication costs and all other individual expenses or applicable costs such as travel.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS), and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. To view our competency framework, please visit 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.

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.