National MICS Consultant

National MICS Consultant Type of contract: National individual consultancy Duration: April 2018 – March 2019, extendable

National MICS Consultant

Type of contract:       National individual consultancy

Duration:                    April 2018 – March 2019, extendable

1. BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION

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 context, including: social transfers, foundational learning skills (children age 7-14), child and adult functioning, migration status, use of clean fuels and technology, and victimisation.

As governments develop national frameworks to monitor progress towards the SDGs and establish baselines, strategic planning and investments will be required to collect robust, more frequent, and timely data. This round of MICS presents a unique opportunity to support this process.

The UNICEF Country Office has already supported MICS surveys in 2005 and 2012. To foster reviewing the progress in realization of Child Rights, setting up and monitoring the attainment of the SDGs, assessing the achievement of results outlined in the Country Programme Document for 2016-2020 and enhance timely revealing of specific bottlenecks to be removed and providing recommendations on public programs improvement UNICEF Belarus Country Office (CO) supports a MICS6 in 2017-2019. To ensure that the implementation of the MICS survey runs smoothly, specific deadlines are met and that the implementing partner the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus (Belstat) receives the technical assistance necessary to produce statistically sound and reliable data, the UNICEF Belarus will hire a full-time consultant to oversee the MICS process from preparatory work to release of results.

In an effort to strengthen the country’s capacity to monitor SDGs and to influence evidence-based policymaking, through MICS and other surveys UNICEF and Belstat combine their efforts to generate quality data.  To improve access to SDG and child rights monitoring indicators, Belstat and UNICEF joint work plan envisages investment in the development of a Universal Data Portal on child-related statistics in line with international standards. Planned investments in data generation and dissemination jointly with national partners will directly contribute to achieving an ambitious goal to improve availability of data needed to analyze the situation of children, women and families and undertake actions that are focused on the most disadvantaged groups to strengthen equity focus and child rights realization.

2. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES

Under the overall supervision of the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, the National MICS Consultant (NMC) will support and provide guidance to UNICEF Belarus and Belstat for the preparation, implementation and completion of the MICS. The NMC will advise Belstat, 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 and quality requirements for Disability survey are being followed at all times. The NMC will communicate effectively between the UNICEF Country Office and Belstat, responding promptly to MICS and Disability survey related needs and issues as they arise. The consultant will also provide technical and managerial support to the development of the Universal Data Portal on child-related statistics and “Gender Statistics” module developed with Belstat.

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 and Disability survey 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.

3. KEY TASKS

1. Update and finalise, in collaboration with national partners and UNICEF Belarus, the Survey Plan and Budget, including timetable, sharing it with UNICEF Regional Office (RO);
2. Ensure that the Ethical Protocol and other ethical recommendations are addressed in the survey implementation process and that all MICS related documents are shared with the identified Ethical Board on time for approval;
3. Oversee each stage of the survey process and ensure that the MICS protocols and standards quality requirements for Disability survey are followed by Belstat, more specifically during training and field supervision visits;
4. Communicate regularly with the UNICEF CO, RO and/or Headquarters (HQ) responding to all MICS related issues in a timely manner, providing monthly updates on MICS activities;
5. Coordinate the work of Belstat specialists and UNICEF Regional Consultants and other resource persons assigned by the UNICEF CO and/or RO to support different survey stages;
6. Ensure that external technical reviews by experts are carried out at key survey stages and coordinate the feedback and response between the CO/RO/HQ and Belstat;
7. Ensure that all survey related documents and deliverables are properly archived throughout the survey process;
8. Participate in all MICS Steering and Technical Committees meetings and MICS Regional Workshops;
9. Ensure that lessons learned, problems, and good practices are documented throughout the MICS process and rapidly shared with the MICS community through all means available;
10. Present the MICS methodology, tools, and guidelines to partners/stakeholders (e.g. ministries, UN Agencies, etc.) and provide as needed technical and managerial support to the MICS and other studies conducted by the CO;

11. Provide technical and managerial support to the development of the Universal Data Portal on child-related statistics on Belstat’s web-page.

    4.  DELIVERABLES 

1.       Survey Planning of MICS:

• A Steering Committee is established and composed of all relevant national and international stakeholders, including National Ethical Committee;
• The Survey Plan and Budget, including timetable is finalized and shared with all stakeholders;
• Survey supplies are procured and distributed in time for training and data collection;
• Sample design is finalized by the sampling expert of Belstat, the final selection of households and weights are reviewed with the guidance of the UNICEF Regional Sampling Consultant.
• Selected Modules of MICS address country data gaps and address SGD data needs and appropriate UNICEF staff and the Committee are involved in reviewing the customization of relevant sections of the MICS questionnaire; Questionnaires undergo translation, an ethical review, are pre-tested and reviewed by the UNICEF RO and HQ before finalization.
• MICS Household Listing and Mapping, Supervisor, Measurer, and Interviewer Manuals are customized for the country specific context and translated.
• CAPI application template is customized by the data processing expert of Belstat with the guidance of the UNICEF Regional Data Processing Consultant; is reviewed by the UNICEF RO and/or HQ before finalization.

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

• Listing and mapping is planned and performed per MICS guidelines and quality requirements for Disability survey;
• Training schedules are adequately adapted to the county context while following MICS guidelines/ planned in line with quality requirements for Disability survey;
• Appropriate resource persons are identified to facilitate training;
• Contribute to the fieldwork training;
• Fieldwork and fieldwork monitoring visits are planned and performed according to MICS guidelines and quality requirements for Disability survey;
• MICS Field Check Tables are produced on a weekly basis, immediately analyzed by survey managers, and main findings reported to field supervisors for action. Field Check Tables are immediately shared with UNICEF RO;
• Participation of UNICEF CO staff is organized to assist in monitoring MICS data collection;
• UNICEF Regional Data Processing Consultant is timely provided with necessary information and country visits are well managed and coordinated;
• 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;
• Monitor data processing and secondary data editing.

3.       MICS Data Analysis and Report Writing:

• Sampling Weights are included in the datasets and reviewed by the sampling expert of Belstat with the guidance and review of the UNICEF Regional Sampling Consultant;
• MICS tabulation plan and standard syntax are customized and used in generating SPSS dataset and tables.
• Dataset/Tables including the wealth index are substantively reviewed by technical (e.g. sampling expert) and subject matter experts at Belstat, as well as by UNICEF RO and HQ MICS Team before the report writing commences;
• Coordinate and contribute substantively to the elaboration of the Survey Final Report, using the MICS template and according to MICS standards to ensure a timely release;
• Ensure that the Survey Final Report undergoes the technical review process by RO and HQ;
• Coordinate the printing and distribution of the Survey Final Report;
• Organise and facilitate the presentation of the Survey Final Report through a national seminar;
• Provide technical expertise and advice for wide dissemination of the Survey Final Report and main results;
• Ensure that the MICS survey archive with all final survey documents and materials is being produced by Belstat.

4.    Technical support of studies conducted by the CO and development of the Universal Data Portal on child-related statistics:

• The Universal Data Portal of child-related statistics development and launch on Belstat web-page is supported in accordance with the data-portal ToR;
• Assistance in management of all phases of the Household survey for a comprehensive assessment of the situation of persons with disabilities in Belarus and other studies and analytical work conducted by the CO is provided timely;
• All ethical recommendations are addressed timely in the implementation of the studies;
• Inception reports/protocols, research instruments, draft and final reports are monitored and reviewed, and revealed weaknesses are addressed in close contact with the study managers;
• The communication and dissemination of studies completed during the last two years is tracked.

5. SUPERVISION, WORK RELATIONS & OVERSIGHT

The NMC will report directly to the M&E Specialist in the UNICEF CO. 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.

6. TRAVEL

Post is office-based, with occasional travels to project sites within the country and outside. Travel expenses will be covered in accordance with UNICEF DSA rates.

7. PAYMENT CONDITIONS

Remuneration amount will be based on the qualification of the consultant and will be paid monthly upon certification of deliverables. The duration of consultancy should cover a minimum of 11.5 months and a maximum of 18 months with a break in 11.5 months after the beginning of the contract. The NMC should remain on board until the Survey Final Report and the survey archive are produced.

8. UNSATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE

Payment of fees to the Contractor under this contractor, including each installment or periodic payment (if any), is subject to the Contractor’s full and complete performance of his or her obligations under this contract with regard to such payment to UNICEF’s satisfaction, and UNICEF’s certification to that effect.

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines. All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and that UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future. This ToR is an integral part of the contract (SSA) signed with the consultant.

 9. QUALIFICATIONS OR SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE/ EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Requirements

• Advanced university degree in Statistics, Social Sciences, Demography, Epidemiology or any other related technical field is required.
• Proven minimum of 5 year experience in coordination and/or management of quantitative household surveys and research requested.
• Strong computer skills and strong expertise in statistical analyses (familiarity with data processing and data analysis software, particularly SPSS);
• Experience with CAPI data collection is an asset;
• Training experience and ability to organize and facilitate training and presentations;
• Experience in data analysis and survey report writing.
• Work experience in the UN or other international development organization is an asset.

• UNICEF is a non-smoking organization.

   

  Languages

  Fluent English and Russian

   

  Other skills and attributes

• Proven organization, analytical, negotiation, communication (oral and written), interpersonal and training skills.
• High sense of responsibility. Tact, discretion, initiative and good judgment in dealing with staff members, local authorities and counterparts.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent oral and written communications in English and Russian is required.
• Familiarity and previous experience of working in Belarus highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and to establish harmonious and effective relationships both within and outside the organisation, more specifically with the Belstat.
• Demonstrated leadership, managerial and supervisory ability.
• Ability and willingness to travel in-country and to attend regional workshops.

10. PROCESS FOR APPLICATION

Proposal from candidates should include:

Cover letter, CV and P11 UNICEF Form should be provided along with estimation for the daily consultancy fee. The consultant is to indicate their monthly fee for the services to be provided. The fees payable to a consultant shall follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee.  

Criteria for the selection of proposals:

Selection of the consultant will be on competitive basis.  

Applications should be in English. Please submit applications by closing date 21 March 2018 to be eligible for consideration.

Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.