National Expert in Data Analysis

Damascus

Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
Location: Damascus
Grade: Mid level - NO-C, National Professional Officer - Locally recruited position
Occupational Groups:
- Statistics
- Information Technology and Computer Science
- Social and Economic Policy
Closing Date: Closed

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

Objectives of the consultancy:

UNICEF is seeking a national expert in data analysis (data analyst -team leader) to provide technical support to UNICEF for the implementation of survey and the analysis of collected data. The expert in data analysis will collaborate with a data entry agent to complete the required deliverables. The consultant will assist UNICEF in (1) the design of the questionnaire, (2) the administration of collected data and (3) the analysis of results based on the merge of data sets and time series analysis that should be useful for benchmark or trend analysis.

The consultant is requested to prepare quarterly reports, presenting the data collected in the post-distribution monitoring exercise (the survey) with the data collected from the delivery & progress update reports.

Supervisor:

The consultant will be supervised and report to the Social Protection Program Specialist, with regular de-briefing about the progress of the consultancy.

Description of assignment:

Based on lessons and experiences from other countries, a post-distribution monitoring (PDM) system will be put in place to further verify whether support reached the intended beneficiaries, collect complaints and suggestions from beneficiaries to enable timely corrective actions and, most importantly, verify the effects of the cash transfers on the well-being of the families (by monitoring how the money was spent). The survey which is a crucial component of the post-distribution monitoring is expected to involve approximately 5-10% of beneficiaries (335 – 670 beneficiaries). Quarterly reports should be published on the results of the programme, allowing for further adjustments based on the evidence produced from Delivery reports and progress update reports.

The survey should answer a number of key questions including but not limited to the following:

Did the child cash transfer achieve its intended results among the recipient families? If not, why not?

a. Are eligible (recipient) families aware of the purpose of the cash transfer? How did they find out about it?

b. What are the trends in overall household expenditure patterns? What are the differences – if any - between different heads of household (female-headed household, male-headed household, household head under 18)? How have spending patterns changed over time?

c. What are the specific trends in child-related expenditure patterns, e.g. education, health, other expenditures? Are there any changes seen on child-related issues, e.g. children's education, working children, and/or perception of grant recipient families on the effect of the child cash grant etc.?

d. What are the trends in coping mechanisms, if any?

e. What are the remaining unmet needs for children?

f. Any problems faced due to child cash grant?

g. Did families receive C4D messages?

h. What is the usefulness of the C4D messages?

As indicated above, other information will be retrieved from Delivery reports and progress update reports.

This monitoring exercise (the survey) should cover the programme implementation during a period of 12 months, from the start of the initiative (in December 2016, during the distribution of the 1^st Round of cash assistance) through December 2017, when the 12 months period of cash transfers will end), with a possibility of continuation beyond this period.

Tasks:

1)Survey framework and process are developed for the Child Cash Transfer Programme

2) Research tool developed and pretested

3) Quality assurance of the PDM data: oversight the PDM data entry every second month ( 4 sequences of data entry 3^rd, 5^th, 7^th, 9^th month to produce 4 reports pertaining to Four surveys)

4) Four (04) Reports prepared with key results of quantitative and qualitative data collection (4^th, 6^th, 8^th, 10^th month)

5) final compiled report prepared with recommendation

Qualification and specialized knowledge/experience required for the assignment:

The Expert in data analysis (Data analyst - team leader) must demonstrate:

-Advanced university degree in in social sciences, social research or related areas

– Minimum of 5 years' experience in data analysis and social research related discipline

-A solid record of managing and coordinating high quality research projects, demonstrated by a sample of reports produced

- knowledge and experience with work on social inclusion and children with disabilities

-Proven experience of conducting social research utilising a mixed methods approach and with solid experience of conducting interviews with vulnerable respondents on potentially sensitive issues

-Solid knowledge of the relevant computer applications and statistical and specialized packages such as EVIEWS, STATA, SPSS , SAS or other pertinent software systems.

-Excellent research, analytical and English writing skills

-Expertise preferably in one or more of the following areas: Statistical analysis, Nonparametric or Semi-Parametric Statistics, Survey sampling, Survey research, Large or medium Scale Data Analysis, Longitudinal Data Analysis and data modelling

In addition the consultant must possess the following:

- familiarity with human rights standards and principles

-Excellent analytical and problem solving skills with attention to details and data accuracy

-Strong interpersonal skills and team work skills

-Ability to present and convey results of analysis to various audiences

Estimated cost to UNICEF:

The total consultancy fee covering 140 working days and will be paid in following instalments:

a) 10% upon approval of the written methodology note

b) 15% upon submission of the 1^st quarterly report (4^th month)

c) 15% upon submission of the 2^nd quarterly report (6^th month)

d)15% upon submission of the 3^rd quarterly report (8^th month)

e)15% upon submission of the 4^th quarterly report (10^th month)

f) 30% Upon submission of the final report

Other conditions:

The selected consultant will not be allowed to work in UNICEF premises unless otherwise agreed and will have to utilize a personal laptop for his/her work.

Whenever the consultant will be required to travel within Syria a travel authorization (TA) will be issued to the consultant and travel expenses provided on the basis of UNICEF standards. UNICEF does not provide or arrange health insurance coverage for consultants.

Life and health insurance

UNICEF does not provide or arrange life or health insurance coverage for consultants and individual contractors, and consultants and individual contractors are not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to United Nations staff members. Consultants and individual contractors are fully responsible for arranging, at their own expense, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the period of their services as they consider appropriate. The responsibility of UNICEF is limited solely to the payment of compensation for service-incurred death, injury or illness as per the provisions detailed below.

Insurance for service-incurred death, injury or illness

Consultants and individual contractors who are authorized to travel at UNICEF expense or who are required under their contract to perform services in a UNICEF or United Nations office shall be provided with insurance coverage, through a UNICEF-retained third party insurance provider, covering death, injury and illness attributable to the performance of official UNICEF duties. Compensation in the event of service-incurred death, injury or illness shall be equivalent to amounts stipulated in the agreement between UNICEF and the insurance provider.

Payment

The payment will be processed by bank transfer to the consultant upon completion of the assignment or as per payment schedule, and upon presentation and certification of an invoice to be submitted by the consultant. An evaluation of the consultant's performance is required for periodical payments and final payment.

The contract signed with the consultant will include the other general terms defined by UNICEF.

Nature of Penalty Clause to be stipulated in the contract:

UNICEF Syria reserves the right not to pay the Contractor or withhold part of the payable amount if one or more requirements established for this assignment is not met or deadline set for the accomplishment of the tasks is missed