International Consultancy - Regional Household Survey (MICS) (Sao Tome, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Equatorial)

The new round of MICS (MICS6) presents a unique opportunity to support the Governments to collect robust, more frequent, and timely data to monitor progress towards the SDGs and establish baselines for strategic planning

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a future

Background

UNICEF places a high priority on the availability of recent and reliable information with which to monitor the situation of children and women. 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, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

UNICEF assists countries in collecting and analysing data in order to fill data gaps for monitoring the situation of children and women through its international household survey initiative the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS). 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. MICS findings are typically among the most important sources of data within a country used as a basis for policy decisions and programme interventions, and for influencing public opinion on the situation of children and women.

The current and sixth round of MICS is taking place in 2016 - 2018. MICS6 questionnaires have a lot of new modules (victimization, functional capacities, water quality tests, foundational skills for children age 7-14, etc.) and were developed through consultations with experts from UN organizations, inter-agency monitoring groups and other global household survey programmes. The survey questionnaires and supporting documents have now been finalized. Regional workshops on survey design and data processing have also been organized to support countries in the planning and implementation of their surveys.

MICS surveys are usually carried out by government organizations, with the support and technical assistance of UNICEF. As part of the MICS6 program, UNICEF will assist countries to implement a quality survey that complies with international standards to guarantee the required level of data quality, by mobilising technical assistance to countries at the regional level.

Across West and Central Africa, DRC, Chad, the Gambia, Central African Republic, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Sao tome and Principe, Equatorial Guinea will be preparing for and conducting fieldwork for MICS6 surveys in 2016-2018 and 2019. All WCAR MICS6 will be implemented with CAPI applications, and data collected directly on tablets.

Countries will request specific support from regional office at different stages of their survey implementation. Due to the overall tasks to be achieved by the M&E Specialist/RMC for attribution or contribution, covering and not limited to: (i) Quality assurance and oversight to WCAR CO planning and monitoring documents submitted for Review; (ii) Progress Monitoring for Regional work plan keys priorities and key result for children; (iii) Ensure the quality assurance of each of the nine, as now, single MICS6 Country survey in line with the MICS technical Assistance Framework; (iv) the management and the coordination activities of the MICS in the Region. It has been agreed by the Global Coordination of the MICS Surveys to increase the workforce to maintain and improve the quality support of MICS survey by hiring at regional level some consultants at some critical step of survey to complement the RMC activities and help to finalized in the required time. Therefore, for the sixth round of MICS, UNICEF West and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO) will hire a highly experienced household survey consultants to provide that necessary technical assistance to Sao Tome, Guinea Bissau and Guinea Equatorial Cos on a timely manner and at critical survey stages including: Designing, Main training, Mapping review, Field work supervision, Result tables review, Report Review.

How can you make a difference?

Objectives

The new round of MICS (MICS6) presents a unique opportunity to support the Governments to collect robust, more frequent, and timely data to monitor progress towards the SDGs and establish baselines for strategic planning. So, the Regional Household Survey Consultant, will be contributing in that technical assistance process to:

• support and provide technical guidance’s to MICS Country team for the preparation, implementation and completion of the MICS survey in Country assigned
• advise the MICS Survey technical committee (composed of 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

communicate effectively between the MICS country team and MICS Regional Coordination, responding promptly to MICS related needs and issues as they arise.

Scope of work

Under the overall supervision of the Regional MICS Coordinator, the Regional Household Survey Consultant is responsible for supporting UNICEF Sao Tome And Principe, Guinea Bissau and Guinea Equatorial UNICEF offices, UNICEF MICS Consultant hired by UNICEF Country Offices and implementing partners in survey planning, questionnaire design, sampling, training, field work, data entry, data processing and report writing, and ensuring that MICS guidelines[1] and protocols are being followed at all times.

Working closely with the Regional Survey Coordinator, the Sampling Consultant and the Data Processing Consultant, the Regional Household Survey Consultant will carry out technical reviews and support COs and implementing agencies at key moments in the survey process. The Regional Household Survey Consultant will also, often together with the Regional Survey Coordinator and / or the Sampling Consultant and / or the Data Processing Consultant carry out a series of country visits, in order to support survey teams and monitor quality of surveys at critical stages of survey implementation.  Specific tasks include:

1. Support the Regional Survey Coordinator in providing technical support and oversight for household surveys, particularly MICS, in the region;
2. Provide support to MICS6 Survey Design, Data Processing and Data Dissemination Workshops: facilitate selected sessions and work bilaterally with participating countries from the region;
3. Directly, provide support to assigned countries in the implementation of MICS6 activities including review and finalization of Country Survey Plan, review and finalization of sampling and questionnaires, testing of CAPI application, training, monitoring of fieldwork through field visits and review of weekly Field Check Tables, data analysis and, report writing.

As needed, the Regional Household Survey Consultant will also take part in missions carried out by the Regional MICS Coordinator to support COs in negotiating, promoting, and presenting MICS to governments and other partners.

Deliverables and Schedules

1. Bi-monthly reports for each survey outlining key recommendations and proposed changes and how the survey plans meet or do not meet MICS technical standards, including review of Field Check tables;
2. Country visit reports (including presentations and training materials) for each country visited;
3. Survey Design, Data Processing and Data Dissemination Workshop trip report;

4.    Presentations and training materials used in workshops and trainings;

5.    All of the above summarized appropriately in consultancy progress reports (incl. documented time spent).

Timing

The total duration of the contract is 120 days over the period of 15 of November 2018 to 31 of October 2019.

The number of days will be distributed based on country needs and immediate availability for urgent work.

The consultant is expected to spend :

• Two-third of his consultancy time dedicated to Sao Tome and Guinea Bissau, in-country at specific moments of the survey implementation process (main training, field monitoring and Report compilation).
• The rest (one third) of the technical support work will be done remotely.

Reporting Requirements

During his period of assignment, the Regional Household Survey Consultant will be providing the  following reports:

• Country visit reports (including Training and or Presentation material if appropriate) for each country mission
• Progress report, bi-monthly

Technical Report, at the end of the consultancy

Administrative Issues

The Regional Household Survey Consultant recruitment conditions :

• He will be recruited for a part-time assignment, home-based
• He will report directly to the Regional MICS Coordinator

• Consultant will be required to sign the Health statement for consultants/Individual contractor prior to taking up the assignment
• The contract may not commence unless signed by both UNICEF and the consultant
• Consultant is sent the forms and the links to the learning portal after he has been selected.

The Monitoring and Evaluation Unit of the Planning Monitoring and Evaluation Section in collaboration with Social Policy Section, UNICEF WCARO, will provide quality assurance and oversight for the consultant’s work with substantial feedback on the quality of the data processing reviews. The consultant will be in charge of paying his own travels and daily subsistence allowances (DSA). WCARO will advance money for this upon request.

The Regional Household Survey Consultant working conditions:

• He will work one third of his consultancy time from home using own equipment and stationary and two third of time in countries
• During missions, UNICEF COs will provide working space for the consultant, preferably with implementing partner

• He should respect the confidentiality of the MICS data as well as any country specific MICS documents that will be produced throughout the MICS process
• He can use the documents and the datasets only for the tasks related to these terms of reference
• He will travel to the 3 MICS countries as necessary and as determined in consultation with the Country Teams. Other travels within and outside region could happen if appropriate.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

At least a Master’s Degree or equivalent in Demography, Statistics or Epidemiology.

Desired competencies, technical background and experience

1. At least 7 years of experience in the coordination and/or management of quantitative household surveys and at regional level. Prior MICS/DHS coordination/management experience is required;
2. Prior experience with implementation of CAPI Household surveys required;
3. Expertise in statistical analyses (familiarity with data processing and data analysis software, SPSS highly desirable);
4. Experience in survey report writing;
5. Fluency in English and French is mandatory. Good command of Portuguese is a good asset.
6. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;

Ability and willingness to travel to all countries across West and Central Africa.

For every Child, you make a difference

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The technical competencies required for this post are….

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

“UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.”

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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