National MICS Consultant -Tbilisi, Georgia

National MICS Consultant

Background

The Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) is an international household survey programme developed and supported by UNICEF. MICS is designed to collect estimates of key indicators that are used to assess the situation of children and women. Over the past 20 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 child protection, early childhood education, and a major source of data on child health and nutrition. In addition to being a data collection tool to generate data for monitoring the progress towards national goals and global commitments for promoting the welfare of children, MICS provided valuable data for MDG monitoring as a major source of data for the UN Secretary General’s Final Millennium Development Goals Report.

Since the inception of MICS in the 1990s, over 300 surveys have been carried out in more than 100 countries. As part of the global effort to further develop national capacities to generate and analyse high quality and disaggregated data, UNICEF launched the sixth round of MICS in October 2016, with results of first surveys expected to be available by the end of 2017. 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 230 global indicators, of which around 30 per cent are household survey-based. Today, MICS, covering almost half of the SDG indicators that are household survey-based, 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 victimisation.

The UNICEF Georgia has already supported MICS survey in 2005 and in 2018 it will support the 6^th round of MICS to be conducted in the country. To ensure that the implementation of the MICS survey runs smoothly, specific deadlines are met and that the implementing partner, the National Statistics Office of Georgia (GeoStat) receives the technical assistance necessary to produce statistically sound and reliable data, the UNICEF Georgia will hire a full-time consultant to oversee the MICS process from preparatory work to release of results.

It is planned the 2018 Georgia MICS6 to be implemented using CAPI (Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing) in which the interviewer uses a tablet to record data. CAPI data collection can reduce the time needed to collect and process survey data, facilitate real time monitoring, improve the quality of the data and reduce survey costs.

Purpose of the Job

Under the overall supervision of Social and Economic Policy Specialist as well as Statistics and Monitoring Officer of the UNICEF Georgia, the National MICS Consultant (NMC) will support and provide guidance to UNICEF Georgia and the GeoStat for the preparation, implementation and completion of the MICS survey in the country. The NMC will advise the GeoStat, especially the Survey Coordinator and sampling and data processing experts, during survey planning, questionnaire design, sampling, training, fieldwork, data processing, data analysis, dissemination and archiving, ensuring that MICS protocols and recommendations are being followed at all times. The NMC will communicate effectively between the UNICEF Georgia and GeoStat, responding promptly to MICS related needs and issues as they arise.

The NMC will be responsible for coordinating and supporting the work of other resource persons hired by UNICEF to provide technical assistance to the MICS process. The consultant will work in close collaboration with the survey team, the stakeholders, and Steering and Technical Committees and will represent UNICEF in meetings and workshops in relation to the survey as needed. The NMC will also work in close collaboration with the regional MICS Coordinator and the Global MICS Team in UNICEF HQ.

Main Tasks Related to the Job

1. Provide technical and managerial support to the MICS survey;
2. Present the MICS methodology, tools, and guidelines to partners/stakeholders (e.g. ministries, UN Agencies, etc.);
3. Finalise, in collaboration with national partners and UNICEF Georgia, the Survey Plan and Budget, including timetable and share with UNICEF Regional Office (RO);
4. Ensure that all relevant MICS related documents are shared with the national Ethical Committee on time for approval;
5. Support each stage of the survey process and ensure that the MICS protocols and standards are followed by the GeoStat, especially during training and field supervision visits;
6. Communicate regularly with the UNICEF Georgia, RO and/or Headquarters (HQ) responding to all MICS related issues in a timely manner;
7. Provide monthly updates on MICS activities to the UNICEF Georgia/RO/HQ;
8. Coordinate the work of GeoStat specialists and UNICEF Regional Consultants and other resource persons assigned by the UNICEF Georgia and/or RO to support different survey stages;
9. Assist in planning and coordination to ensure external technical reviews by experts (i.e. Regional Sampling Consultant, Regional Data Processing Consultant, and Regional Household Survey Consultant) are carried out at key survey stages and coordinate the feedback and response between the UNICEF Georgia/RO/HQ and GeoStat;
10. Ensure that all survey related documents and deliverables are properly archived throughout the survey process (for example: Survey Plan and Budget, questionnaires, manuals, sample design, training/pre-test reports, expert reports, output and tabulation plan tables, syntaxes, datasets, Survey Findings Report (and Final Report), dissemination materials etc.);
11. Support GeoStat in organizing and participate in all MICS Steering and Technical Committee meetings;
12. Ensure that lessons learned, problems, and good practices are documented throughout the MICS process and rapidly shared with the MICS community (other MICS implementing countries, RO, and HQ) through all means available;
13. Participate in and contribute to MICS Regional Workshops;

14. Undertake other tasks related to MICS as required and/or instructed by UNICEF Georgia.

    Specific Activities

    In consultation and collaboration with the UNICEF Georgia and GeoStat, the NMC together with MICS International Consultant[1] will be responsible for ensuring the following activities have been undertaken following the MICS guidelines and will contribute to the coordination of these activities:

1.       Survey Planning:

• Finalize and share with all stakeholders the Survey Plan and Budget, including timetable;
• Ensure that survey supplies are procured and distributed in time for training and data collection;

• Sample design:

  • Facilitate sample design finalization process by the GeoStat sampling expert with the guidance and review of the UNICEF Regional Sampling Consultant;
  • Organize a review of Listing and Mapping materials/operations, weights and the final selection of households by UNICEF Regional Sampling Expert. Ensure that they are carried out per MICS recommendations.
  • Ensure that sample design is reviewed by the UNICEF RO and/or HQ before finalisation.

• MICS questionnaires:

  • Involve appropriate UNICEF programme staff, the Technical Committee and other important stakeholders in reviewing the customisation of relevant sections of the MICS questionnaire;
  • Organize the translation and back translation of the MICS questionnaires;
  • Submit questionnaires and manuals for an ethical review;
  • Ensure that the questionnaires are pre-tested and a pre-test report is produced;
  • Ensure that the questionnaires are reviewed by the UNICEF RO and HQ before finalisation.

• Manuals:

  • Ensure that the MICS Household Listing and Mapping, Supervisor, Measurer, and Interviewer Manuals are customised for the country specific context and translated.

• CAPI application template:

  • Provide organizational support to ensure that CAPI application template is customised by the data processing expert of the GeoStat with the guidance of the UNICEF Regional Data Processing Consultant, and reviewed by the UNICEF RO and/or HQ before finalisation;
  • Provide organizational support during customization of secondary editing guidelines and Field Check Table syntax by the data processing expert of the GeoStat with the guidance of the UNICEF Regional Data Processing Consultant.

2.       Listing and Mapping, Training and Fieldwork, and Data Processing:

• Provide organizational support in the planning and performance of listing and mapping per MICS guidelines;
• Adapt training schedules to the county context while following MICS guidelines;
• Identify appropriate resource persons to facilitate training (i.e. nutritionists for anthropometry training, survey experts for methodology, etc.);
• Provide organizational support in the planning and performance of fieldwork training, fieldwork and fieldwork monitoring visits according to MICS guidelines;
• Follow up to ensure Field Check Tables are produced on a weekly basis, immediately analysed by survey managers, and main findings reported to field supervisors for action. Field Check Tables should be immediately shared with UNICEF RO;
• Organize the participation of UNICEF Georgia staff to assist in monitoring data collection;
• Ensure UNICEF Regional Data Processing Consultant is timely provided with necessary information and country visits are well managed and coordinated;
• Ensure  that hardware is made available for the CAPI application (data collection and central office menu components), and software is properly installed and a working, data transfer system and data backup system is established;
• Provide organizational support during monitoring of data processing and secondary data editing.

3.       Data Analysis and Report Writing:

• Support the inclusion of Sampling Weights in the datasets and ensure their review by the sampling expert of the GeoStat with the guidance from the UNICEF Regional Sampling Consultant;
• Provide organizational support to ensure that MICS tabulation plan and standard syntax are customised and used in generating SPSS dataset and tables, and that the dataset/tables including the wealth index are substantively reviewed by technical (e.g. sampling expert) and subject matter experts at the GeoStat, as well as by UNICEF RO and HQ MICS Team before the report writing commences;
• Coordinate the elaboration of the Survey Findings Report (and eventually to the Final Report), using the MICS template and according to MICS standards to ensure a timely release;
• Ensure that the Survey Findings Reports (and Final Report) undergoes the technical review process by RO and HQ;
• Coordinate the printing and distribution of the Survey Findings Report (and Final Report);
• Organise and facilitate the presentation of the Survey Findings Report (and Final Report) through a national seminar;
• Ensure that the MICS survey archive with all final survey documents and materials (MOU, CSP, questionnaires, manuals, sample design, field reports, syntaxes, database, tables, survey findings report (and final report), dissemination materials, etc.) is being produced by the GeoStat.

4.       Attend to all MICS Regional and/or National Workshops

Deliverables

1. Monthly Progress Report of activities, describing activities undertaken during the month and highlighting problems met and solutions put in place to mitigate them;
2. Field trip reports;
3. Regional workshop trip reports;

4. Presentations and training materials used in trainings, workshops, and other meetings.

   Reporting Line

   The NMC will report directly to the Social and Economic Policy Specialist as well as Statistics and Monitoring Officer in the UNICEF Georgia.

   Confidentiality of Data and MICS Documents

   The NMC must respect the complete confidentiality of the MICS data as well as any specific MICS documents that will be produced throughout the MICS process. The NMC can use the documents and the datasets only for the tasks related to these Terms of Reference.

   Qualifications and Competencies

   Education:

   University degree in Demography, Statistics, Epidemiology, Social Sciences (with quantitative focus) or other related field is required.

    

   Skills and Experience:

• 2-3 years of experience in the coordination of quantitative household surveys (prior MICS or Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) experience is an asset);
• Expertise in statistical analyses (familiarity with data processing and data analysis software, particularly SPSS);
• Strong computer skills
• Training experience and ability to organise and facilitate trainings and presentations;

• Experience in data analysis and survey report writing.

   

  Other competencies:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Excellent oral and written communications in Georgian and English languages required;
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and to establish harmonious and effective relationships both within and outside the organisation, more specifically with National Statistical Offices;
• Demonstrated leadership, managerial and supervisory ability;

• Ability and willingness to travel extensively in-country and to attend regional workshops.

  Office Arrangements and Travel Requirements

  During the contract period, the NMC is expected to travel within the country and to MICS Regional Workshops in other countries and UNICEF Regional Office (as required). The travel expenses will be covered by the UNICEF Georgia. The NMC will be based in GeoStat which will provide her/him space, adequate working conditions with internet access and equipment as necessary.

  Estimated Duration of Contract and Fees

  The NMC should get on board at the start of MICS planning in summer 2017 and should remain on board until the Survey Findings Report (and Final Report) and the survey archive are produced.

  The duration of consultancy should cover a minimum 18 months, depending on the time it will take to finalise the whole MICS process. Only candidates that can commit for this whole duration will be considered.

  The consultant is to indicate her/his gross monthly fee (GEL) for the services to be provided. Sick leave, off-hours, medical insurances, taxes will not be paid by the UNICEF Georgia.

  UNICEF Georgia reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/output is incomplete or not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines.