Re-advertised: UNICEF MICS Dissemination Coordinator **Open to Fiji Nationals Only**

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.

For every child, a hero

The Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) is an international household survey programme developed and supported by UNICEF. MICS is designed to collect data on key indicators that are used to assess the situation of children and women. Over the past 25 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 children and women to monitor national goals and global commitments.

Since the inception of MICS in the 1990s, over 343 surveys have been carried out in more than 118 countries. As part of the global effort to further develop national capacities to generate and analyses high-quality and disaggregated data, UNICEF launched the sixth round of MICS in October 2016. This new round is in accordance with the list of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators endorsed by the UN Statistical Commission in 2016, following the global adoption of the 17 SDGs and 169 targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The final SDG indicator framework currently includes 231 global unique indicators, of which around 30 percent are household survey-based. MICS6 modules cover 43 percent of the SDG indicators that are household survey-based and is well-positioned to play a central role in this new Agenda alongside other key demographic, health, and socio-economic surveys and to complement data from administrative sources and censuses. The MICS questionnaires have undergone rigorous methodological and validation work to broaden the scope of the tools and include new topics that reflect SDG indicators and emerging issues in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development context, including rapid water quality testing, social transfers, foundational learning skills (children age 7-14), child and adult functioning, migration status, use of clean fuels and technology, and victimization.

As governments develop national frameworks to monitor progress towards the SDGs and establish baselines, strategic planning and investments will be required to collect robust, more frequent, and timely data. The MICS presents a unique opportunity to support this process.

UNICEF Pacific is implementing a 2018-2022 multi-country programme (MCP) which promotes the rights of all children in the Pacific islands by strengthening national/regional capacities to ensure equitable opportunities for every child to reach full potential. UNICEF Pacific is utilizing six key strategies to achieve planned results:

• Evidence-based advocacy and technical assistance to support formulation and implementation of strengthened child-sensitive legal frameworks, policies, plans, and budgets; • Capacity development for generating data, planning, delivery, and monitoring of strengthened and resilient social services, particularly in rural, remote and other under-served locations; • Community engagement aligned with social and behavioural communication, focused on improved, healthy, protective practices; • Partnership building with regional institutions, civil society organizations and with children and young people; • Modelling of new approaches and technological innovations to enhance learning and link widely dispersed populations for real-time monitoring; • Facilitation of South-South cooperation through knowledge exchange, sharing of good practices and lessons learned, and establishing Pacific regional cooperation.

During the 2018-2022 Pacific Multi-Country Programme cycle, UNICEF Pacific Multi-Country Office is supporting several PICTs to conduct MICS surveys. So far, surveys in two countries (Kiribati and Tonga) are complete, and final survey findings report and microdata are available publicly. Two more country reports will be completed by December 2020 (Samoa and Tuvalu) and a few more in 2021 and 2022.

To increase the intrinsic value of statistically sound data from MICS, it should be further utilized. An increase in data value depends on whether people know about data produced, understand what it suggests, and apply findings to real-world problems. Decisionmakers are overwhelmed with a wealth of information from reports, television, and radio. Unless special attention is focused on disseminating survey results, those results will never reach many of the groups who need the information.

In order to ensure that National Governments, UN partners, and other stakeholders are utilizing the available data generated through MICS and other child relevant data sources, the UNICEF Pacific Multi-country office will hire a consultant to manage the dissemination of MICS and other child and women related data.

How can you make a difference?

1. Develop a MICS Dissemination Strategy or Action Plan for Kiribati, Tonga, Samoa, and Tuvalu to maximize the use of MICS results in order to assist UNICEF and stakeholders a. to report on progress towards national goals and global commitments: SDGs, CRC, etc b. to update the situation analysis of children in Pacific Islands Countries and Territories c. to identify vulnerable groups and highlight disparities (equity focus) d. to stimulate “positive” competition (compare country to better- or worse-off neighbors or sub-national to the national average) e. to advocate for strengthening public policies and programmes in favor of children (promote evidence-based decision making) f. to mobilize stakeholders and stimulate national and local debates g. to facilitate additional in-depth analysis by academia and researchers

2. Develop infographics and other forms of information dissemination that can be used as part of UNICEF’s advocacy efforts on child rights realization.

3. Lead the development of messages relating to MICS data dissemination on UNICEF’s social media platforms and others that the office sees fit.

4. Strengthen knowledge processes and systems within UNICEF Pacific and coordinate closely with programme specialists to gather, extract, package, maintain, distribute and continually update evidence, data, and knowledge on programmatic priorities for internal and external audiences, including on MICS and Early Child Development (ECD).

5. Write/edit technical materials, briefs, infographics, online resources, and other knowledge products, especially for user-facing knowledge repositories like the Pacific regional ECD website.

6. Provide other support needed by the Planning Evaluation & Social Policy (PESP) Team relating to the dissemination of MICS results.

The planned contract duration - 04 January 2021 30 June 2021

Work Assignment Overview

In consultation with the Statistics and Monitoring Specialist, the MICS Dissemination Consultant will perform the following activities for Kiribati, Tonga, Samoa, and Tuvalu.

1) Develop MICS Dissemination Action Plan Guidelines

2) Design and produce a MICS dissemination package for effective communication of findings to non-technical audiences

3) Plan and conduct an effective distribution strategy for dissemination of materials

4) Engage media and journalists

5) Make MICS dissemination materials widely available on the World Wide Web (at the national, regional and international level )

6) Develop other tools and provide support to the PESP Team on MICS results dissemination (as and when needed by the PESP Team)

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

• A first University Degree in Communication, Development Studies, Social Sciences (Health, Education, etc.)
• Knowledge/information management, Graphic Design, or related field
• Strong computer skills, familiarity with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint
• Skills to edit and enhance tables or chats with visual elements such as graphical elements, photos, and maps.
• At least 5 years of relevant work experience working in knowledge management, communication, or related field,
• Experience with managing knowledge products, repositories, and collaboration sites required
• Training experience and ability to organize and facilitate workshops/seminars and presentations
• Fluency in English is required.
• Other Competencies: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, Excellent written and spoken English required, Familiarity and previous experience of working in Pacific countries and /or region highly desirable

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People, and Drive for Results.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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:

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.