Consultancy Title: MICS Regional Sampling Consultant

Consultancy Title: MICS Regional Sampling Consultant

Consultancy Title: MICS Regional Sampling Consultant

 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.

LOCATION/DURATION:

Duration:  11 months

Location: home-based with missions to MENA countries

On-site working days: 25

Off-site working days: 25

Initially 50 days spread over an 11 month period (based on approximately 20 working days per country and 10 days for RO support and workshops). The contract will be amended to include additional country(ies)/days as needed.

Field Missions/Travel: 3-6 (depending on the need of the country)

Estimated Start Date: March 20th 2017

Estimated end Date: February 19th 2018

Reporting to: Regional MICS coordinator

Estimated value: 25,000 USD (500/day)

BACKGROUND:

Statistically sound and internationally comparable data are essential for developing evidence-based policies and programmes, as well as for monitoring countries' progress toward national goals and global commitments. Since 1995, UNICEF has supported the implementation of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), assisting countries in generating high quality data on the situation of children and women. Since then, MICS has evolved to respond to changing data needs, expanding from 28 indicators in the first round to 200 indicators in the current sixth round (MICS6). It was a major source of data for UN secretary general's final Millennium Development Goals progress rerpot. Since its inception in the 1990s, over 270 MICS surveys have been conducted in more than 100 countries.

MICS enables countries to produce statistically sound and internationally comparable estimates of a range of indicators in the areas of health, education, child protection, water and sanitation and HIV and AIDS. For many­­­ countries, MICS surveys are among the most important sources of data used for situation analysis, policy decisions and programme interventions, and for influencing the public opinion on the situation of children and women. With the sixth round of MICS, and after undergoing rigorous methodological work to broaden the scope of the tools, MICS6 questionnaires now cover about 45 percent of household-based SDG indicators.

MICS surveys are usually carried out by government organizations, with the support and technical assistance of UNICEF.  When countries adhere to the MICS protocols and recommendations and make use of the tools provided, the survey process goes very smoothly. However, in many countries, as the MICS3 evaluation also confirms, the provision of survey tools alone has not been sufficient without the additional support of experienced personnel providing technical assistance to MICS implementing partners.

In order to ensure that the implementation of the MICS survey runs smoothly, specific deadlines are met to ensure that the implementing partner receives the technical assistance at critical stages of the survey which is necessary to produce statistically sound reliable data. MENARO will recruit a sampling expert to oversee the MICS sampling processes and compliance to recommendations in all MICS countries that will implement the survey between 2017-18, as part of the sixth round of MICS programme. 

As sampling is a highly technical field on which countries require a significant amount of assistance, it is essential that sampling guidance to countries is given in a standard manner and of highest quality and that countries receive the training and assistance that they need in order to develop and implement appropriate sampling strategies for the forthcoming MICS surveys.

OBJECTIVE:

Under the overall supervision of the UNICEF Regional MICS Coordinator, the Regional Sampling Consultant will be responsible for providing sampling-related technical assistance to surveys across MENA region. Due to the highly technical nature of the work involved, it is essential that experienced experts who will follow specific recommendations of the MICS programme are mobilized.

DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT:

In the sampling-related areas of work, specific support is needed in the following areas:

• Sample size and design
• Sample selection
• Assessment of suitable sample frames
• Updating of sample frames
• Calculation of sample weights
• Calculation of sampling errors

MAIN TASKS:

1. As agreed with the implementing partner and country office, provide in country or remote support to review or develop the sampling plan  for each MICS survey  in MENA region following MICS guidelines;
2. Review or perform sample selection for all stages of selection;
3. Support countries remotely or during country visits to conduct any household listing activities that may be necessary;
4. Facilitate a sampling session during the  regional Survey Design workshop  and advise countries attending the workshop on their sample design;
5. Provide countries with a template for the calculation of sampling weights, and review and finalise the calculated sample weights for countries after the data collection is completed before countries proceed with the data analysis,
6. Review calculations of sampling errors;
7. Prepare or review the sampling appendix  of the final survey report;
8. Respond to technical sampling queries as needed.

KEY DELIVERABLE:

1. Depending on the country capacity and arrangements, either a report on sample design itself or a report for each sample design reviewed outlining key recommendations and proposed changes and how the design meets or does not meet MICS technical standards – within 7 days after the visit to the country or submission of the draft design by the country.
2. Review of the listing and mapping manual and forms, listing training materials and CAPI listing application – within 7 days after submission by the country.
3. As applicable, report on support to household listing activities and first and second stages of sampling – within 5 days after submission by the country.
4. Review of the Listing Report – within 7 days after submission by the country
5. Country visit reports (including presentations and training materials) for each country visited – within 7 days after the visit.
6. Regional workshop trip report – within 7 days after the visit.
7. Presentations and training materials used in workshops and trainings – within 7 days after the workshop/training.
8. Review and finalization of sampling weights for each country – within 5 days after submission by the country
9. Review of Sampling Design Appendix, Sampling Error Appendix and Sample and Survey Characteristics tables for each Survey Findings Report and if applicable, Narrative/Final Survey Report – within 10 days after submission by the country
10. Evidence of other distance technical support through e-mail.
11. Monthly activity log with the name of a country, type of support, date and time spent for each task specified clearly.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

1. Education: At least a Master's Degree or equivalent in Demography, Statistics, Epidemiology or any related technical field with special expertise in survey sampling is required.