Consultancy: Data & Statistics Analyst (HSS) - Health Section, PD - NYHQ, Requisition #510174

The six months SSA terms of reference will focus on a) strengthening knowledge base; b) Develop conceptual framework for Nutrition to apply in EQUIST 2.0; c) Develop conceptual framework for HIV/AIDS to apply in EQUIST 2.0; d) Identify major data sources and guide implementation of APls; and e) Document implementation of EQUIST 2.0 during the first six months of 2018 including by the 4 LTAs established for the purpose.

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.

Background & Rationale

As part of its refocus on equity, UNICEF has developed EQUIST with the support of the Community Systems Foundation (CSF). EQUIST is meant as a tool to guide equity focused evidence based analysis and planning for child and maternal health and nutrition.

EQUIST was developed in 2014-2015 and launched in January 2016. I t is structures as a web based platform that gives access to different forms of evidence to end users in a logical, structured and user-friendly way. It helps analyse how different factors (including socio-cultural ones) affect the adoption of adequate behaviours and practices and the uptake of high impact health and nutrition interventions.

EQUIST has the capacity to analyse data for a large number of indicators pertaining to communication for development, immunization, nutrition and other health-related indicators. EQUIST functions as a knowledge base that can readily provide easy access to data as a means of sharing knowledge and timely new data updated by countries.

This broad scope of data helps create an overview of the level and inequities in mortality and malnutrition within a country and identify areas where interventions can be implemented to reduce mortality and disease burden. Through a bottleneck analysis process, the main constrains for effective coverage can be identified, and strategies to address them can be selected.

Impact and costing can be estimated through the EQUIST tool so as to compare various scenarios created by the user to pinpoint which are more cost effective and impactful in terms of mortality/burden reduction.

Moreover, through the use of the Lives Saved tool (LiST) running in the background of EQUIST, the amount of lives saved can be estimated, as well as cost per capita for each strategy introduced in bottleneck analysis.

The EQUIST platforms serves as a knowledge sharing platforms, where user-generated scenarios can be shared among EQUIST user accounts and compared with scenarios of other users to share ideas of which strategies could be most impactful and cost-effective to aid health planners in drawing up national plans or planning health programmes for implementation.

EQUIST is currently operational, but requires to be further strengthened on the following areas:

1. Strengthen the knowledge base on the basis of published literature and include in EQUIST 2.0
2. Develop the draft conceptual framework for Nutrition and HIV/AIDS outcomes based on updated version of LiST and also on the basis of AIM (a tool in the Spectrum suite) as appropriate.
3. Identify major data sources and guide implementation of appropriate APIs for online linkages in EQUIST 2.0
4. Document implementation of EQUIST 2.0 during January to June, 2018 for learning lessons and develop good practice notes.

Purpose

The six months SSA terms of reference will focus on a) strengthening knowledge base; b) Develop conceptual framework for Nutrition to apply in EQUIST 2.0; c) Develop conceptual framework for HIV/AIDS to apply in EQUIST 2.0; d) Identify major data sources and guide implementation of APIs; and e) Document implementation of EQUIST 2.0 during the first six months of 2018 including by the 4 LTAs established for the purpose.

Expected results: (measurable results)

The specific objectives of the consultancy are as follows:

1. Updated knowledge base on ‘effects size’ sourced from literature review and multiple publications to be uploaded in EQUIST 2.0 for all of the ‘Service Delivery Modes’ and for ‘Intervention packages’ [Estimated number of days – 10 days each in Feb & Mar followed by 5 days each in April to June – Total 35 days];
2. Developed conceptual framework for Nutrition to apply in EQUIST 2.0 in consultation with internal and external stakeholders [Estimated number of days – 5 days each in Feb, March and April – Total 15 days];
3. Developed conceptual framework for HIV/AIDS to apply in EQUIST 2.0 in consultation with internal and external stakeholders [Estimated number of days – 3 days in March and 6 days each in April and May – Total 15 days];
4. Guidance given to implement APIs for major publically available data sources by regular discussions with the EQUIST development team [Estimated number of days – 3 days each in in Feb and Mar, 5 days each in April and May – Total 16 days]; and
5. Good practice notes developed by documenting implementation of EQUIST in different countries including through the LTAs through regular contact with LTA focal points externally. [Estimated number of days – 2 days in Feb, 6 days in May and 15 days in June – Total 23 days]

Duty Station

New York Headquarters based, with occasion travel to countries and regions to facilitate implementation of the specific objectives of the consultancy and documentation as per Terms of reference.

Timeframe

The duration of the contract will be five months with a total of 84 days starting on February 1st, 2018 and ending on June 30th, 2018.

Start date:  Feb 1, 2018                                    

End date:             June 30, 2018

Key competences, technical background, and experience required Deadline  

• An Advanced degree (Master's) in Public Health on other relevant studies is required.
• A minimum of (3) three or more years of professional experience in relevant field.
• Familiarity with tools (especially EQUIST) and frameworks for analysis and modelling of health systems.
• Knowledge of main globally available data sources on epidemiology, demography, intervention coverage and health system functioning.
• Experience and ability to facilitate capacity building workshop on tools application.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships with both UNICEF headquarter and field staff.
• Computer skills, including Excel, internet navigation and various Office applications.
• Ability to liaise with partners within and outside the organization.
• Excellent communications skills: Ability of communicating complex contents in a clear way in writing.
• Knowledge of UNICEF as an organization, its levels and their functions, and ability to interact with ROS and COs from HQ would be an asset.

Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable). Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.

Remarks
With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.    

At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.