Consultancy to support the impact evaluation design and baseline data collection of the Cambodia Family Package - Global Office of Research and Foresight - 70 working days - remote/work from home

We are seeking to engage a consultant to support UNICEF Innocenti and UNICEF Cambodia in the design of a rigorous impact evaluation and baseline data collection activities of the Family Package programme.

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, answers.

UNICEF's Global Office of Research and Foresight – Innocenti (UNICEF Innocenti) undertakes high quality research contributing to evidence-informed policy making by UNICEF and its partners. Researchers of UNICEF's Global Office of Research and Foresight’s Social and Economic Policy (SEP) are engaged in several impact evaluations of social protection programmes.
UNICEF Innocenti has signed an agreement with UNICEF Cambodia Country Office to lead the baseline impact evaluation activities around the Family Package programme to inform UNICEF country programming and policy dialogue with the Royal Government of Cambodia.
The Family Package is an integrated social assistance framework designed to support poor and vulnerable families (17.8 per cent of the population – Ministry of Planning, 2021) across the country; protect them from poverty; accelerate human capital accumulation; and promote inclusive growth, leaving no one behind. By integrating existing and planned/future social assistance interventions, thereby ensuring their improved coverage, cost-efficiency and sustainability, the Family Package aims to strengthen the ability of families to invest in human capital and achieve longlasting prosperity.
The specific objectives of the Family Package include the provision of comprehensive and adequate social assistance covering families and children throughout the life cycle; Improvement of the accessibility and coverage of social assistance benefits for populations in need; Strengthening of the institutional framework for social assistance delivery; Establishment of shared systems/functions to improve the operational efficiency of social assistance benefits; and strengthening of linkages with complementary programmes, social care services and social security.
The package is intended to integrate all existing and planned social assistance benefits in the country – Cash Transfer for Pregnant Women and Young Children under 2 (CT-PWYC), Cash Transfer for Children from Poor Households in Primary and Secondary Schools, Cash Transfer for Persons with Disabilities and the planned Cash Transfer for Elderly People – and will introduce a Cash Transfer for Persons Living with HIV/AIDS. The package will also replace the ongoing Covid-19 Cash Transfer Programme, which has successfully supported the resilience of poor and vulnerable households during the pandemic.
Since the new 7th mandate of the RGC has been in place following the 2023 general election, it has been announced that the Family Package will be officially launched by the Prime Minister in December 2023, with enrolment and implementation starting in April-May 2024. Therefore, the time is right to put in place the framework for a strong evidence base that will support the rigorous assessment of impact of the Family Package.

How can you make a difference? 

The objective of this consultancy is to support UNICEF Innocenti, UNICEF Cambodia and partners in the baseline data collection activities of the Family Package programme, baseline data analysis and drafting of a baseline report. A local firm will be contracted directly by UNICEF Cambodia to carry out the baseline data collection.

Activities of this assignment include:

1. Data collection stage: Contribute to the baseline questionnaire and support ethical clearance and study registration. Conduct data collection preparation and supervision (enumerators training, field test, monitoring and quality assurance during field work) in collaboration with the local data collection firm. This will imply a mission to Phnom Penh.
2. Data cleaning and analysis: in collaboration with the local data collection firm, perform data management (cleaning, building variables) for baseline data. Perform data analysis under the supervision of SEP staff for the baseline report. Prepare tables and other output for the baseline report.
3. Report writing and dissemination: in collaboration with SEP staff, write sections of the baseline report, draft one policy brief summarizing the results of the baseline study, and prepare one presentation with the main results.

The consultant will work under the direct supervision of a Social Policy Specialist and coordinate with the other research teams’ members.

1. UNICEF Innocenti does not issue computer equipment to consultants. The consultant will be responsible for providing the necessary computer equipment for the consultancy themselves and should include the cost implications of this responsibility in their bid for the consultancy. The cost of software and subscriptions that may be necessary to complete the consultancy (e.g., Microsoft Word) also needs to be factored into the bid for the consultancy.
2. This consultancy requires the consultant to travel in order to complete the required deliverables effectively and efficiently. The full cost of travel should be included into the bid for the contract. While UNICEF Innocenti does not make travel arrangements for consultants, there are value for money rules that apply to consultant travel. The consultant will arrange their own travel, clear the anticipated cost with UNICEF and invoice UNICEF for the travel cost as soon as the travel has been completed.
3. UNICEF Innocenti will assist consultants with arrangements for visas to the work destination.
4. UNICEF does not regard Individuals engaged under a consultancy contract as “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures. Consultants are therefore not entitled to benefits such as leave, pension 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.
5. 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. Prospective consultants are encouraged to ensure that they fully understand (a) the requirements of each deliverable and (b) the workload associated with reaching a deliverable.
6. UNICEF Innocenti recognises that, due to the locations of some of its research, events may occur that either delay deliverables or prevent them from being completed. These events need to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine the impact on the payment schedule of the contract. It is UNICEF Innocenti’s objective to be fair to consultants in situations where deliverables are delayed or no longer attainable through no wrongdoing of the consultant.
7. Consultants 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.

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

Essential skills:

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in social sciences, economics, public/social policy or related field. A PhD would be an asset.
• At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in quantitative research and impact evaluation. Exposure to different kind of quasi-experimental impact evaluation methods is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience in research in low- and middle-income contexts. Experience in Cambodia or South-East Asia is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience with planning, managing and monitoring fieldwork and quantitative data collection.
• Demonstrated knowledge of social research designs, survey questionnaire design and development.
• Excellent quantitative analytical skills with advanced knowledge of Stata (or another statistical software).
• Demonstrated experience in writing reports based on analysis of survey datasets..
• Ability to speak and write fluently in English.
• Ability to organize own work and to carry out a research project with limited supervision according to deadlines.
• Ability to work as part of a research team in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships both within and outside the organization.

Desirable qualifications:

• A PhD (or close to completion) in Social sciences, Economics, Public/Social Policy or related field
• Research experience or familiarity with Cambodia or South-East Asia
• Previous experience with designing and implementing (quasi-)experimental impact evaluations

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:  

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.