MICS Regional Household Survey Consultant

Under the overall supervision of the UNICEF Regional MICS Coordinator, the MICS Regional Household Survey Consultant has the responsibility for supporting the preparation, implementation and completion of MICS surveys in countries in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

LOCATION/DURATION:

Duration:  11 months

Location: home-based with missions to MENA countries

On-site working days: 18

Off-site working days: 12

30 days spread over an 11 month period to support MICS preparations and implementations in MENA region (Algeria, Lebanon and Palestine). 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 and workshops)

 

Estimated Start Date: ASAP

 

 

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. Over the last 21 years and five rounds of MICS, 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 analyses, policy decisions and programme interventions, and for influencing the public opinion on the situation of children and women.

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.

As part of the MICS6 programme, UNICEF will continue to strengthen its MICS technical support mechanism at the regional level so that country offices can receive the required level of technical assistance at critical stages of the survey and are in a better position to support the implementing partner.

Across MENA current plans suggest that in 2019-2020 planning, preparation and fieldwork for MICS surveys will be initiated in three countries. The number of surveys may increase as countries finalize their plans on SDGs Baselines or decide to conduct MICS for monitoring of national development plans. MENARO will, therefore, hire experienced household survey consultants to provide necessary technical assistance to country offices and their partners in a timely manner.

OBJECTIVE:

Under the overall supervision of the UNICEF Regional MICS Coordinator, the MICS Regional Household Survey Consultant has the responsibility for supporting the preparation, implementation and completion of MICS surveys in countries in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

 

DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT:

The regional household survey consultant provides technical support and in-country quality assurance of the MICS survey proceedings to minimize bias. In addition build capacity of various partners on MICS6 progamme.

 

MAIN TASKS:

1. Support the Regional MICS Coordinator in providing technical assistance and oversight for MICS surveys in the region;
2. Provide support to Regional MICS Workshops;
   1. Survey Design Workshop: facilitate selected sessions and work bilaterally with different countries on questionnaires, survey plans and budgets;
   2. Data Processing Workshop: when necessary, work bilaterally with different countries on datasets, data quality, tabulation plans and final report contents.
   3. Data Dissemination and Further Analysis Workshop: facilitate selected sessions and work bilaterally with countries on the interpretation of their MICS data and on the development of dissemination plans
3. From a distance and in coordination and collaboration with the Regional MICS Coordinator, review and provide feedback to COs on the following documents for compliance with MICS standards;
   1. Survey plans (including budget and training plans for pre-test and main fieldworker training)
   2. Questionnaires and Manuals, including the translated versions
   3. Sample design (in collaboration with the Regional Sampling Consultant)
   4. CAPI application, editing and validating programmes (in collaboration with the Regional Data Processing Consultant)
   5. Pre-test report
   6. Tabulation plans
   7. Datasets and tabulations (in collaboration with Regional Data Processing Consultant)
   8. Summary findings and final reports
4. Support countries remotely or through in-county visits in carrying out the following survey activities:
   1. Survey planning and questionnaire design
   2. Pre-test training and pre-test
   3. Fieldwork training and fieldwork monitoring
   4. Support the analysis of field check tables and feedback to teams
   5. Data analysis
   6. Report writing
5. As needed, 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.
6. Provide support to countries on report writing remotely or during regional workshops. Review the MICS survey findings reports with all its annexes.
7. As needed, support countries in data archiving.
8. In collaboration with the MICS Regional Coordinator, provide country and regional status survey up-dates to RO and HQ.
9. Support RO in the review of the MICS6 tools and their translation

 

 

KEY DELIVERABLES:

 

1. Survey Preparations is completed (7 days)

• This include participation in Regional workshop for Survey Design (trip report(s) – within 7).      
• Presentations and training materials used in workshops and trainings to be provided within 7 days after the workshop/training.
• Report review for each survey design reviewed outlining key recommendations and proposed changes and how the survey plans meet or do not meet MICS technical standards – within 7 days after submission by the country.
• Feedback on draft questionnaires using the questionnaire review form – within 5 days after submission by the country.

2. PRE-TESTING OF QUESTIONNAIRES AND CAPI TESTING is completed (7 days)

• Country visit reports (including presentations and training materials) for each country visited – within 7 days after the visit.
• Documented review of pre-test report with recommendations – within 7 days after the submission by the country.
• Documented review of the data processing activities with clear recommendations

3. FIELDWORK support is provided (7 days)

• Documented review of the fieldwork training and data collection activity in each country with clear recommendations - within 3 days after the end of the training and 3 days after a monitoring visit.
• Provide Feedback on field-check tables through e-mail.

4. Support to Data interpretation and Survey Finding Report is provided (9 days)

• Data Interpretation and Report Compilation (DIRC) Workshop in Country
• Comments and feedback on each survey summary findings and final report reviewed using the standard review template -within 7 days after the submission by the country.
• Review of data dissemination plans and survey data archives with clear recommendations – within 7 days after the submission by the country.

 

For all the above deliverables consultant should maintain the following:

1. Evidence of other distance technical support through e-mail.
2. Monthly activity log with the name of a country, type of support, date and time spent for each task specified clearly.

 

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education

 

At least a Master’s Degree or equivalent in Social Sciences, Demography, Statistics, Epidemiology, or other related technical field with significant measurement or analysis component is required.

 

Skills and Experience

 

• At least 8 years’ experience in the coordination and/or management of quantitative household surveys. (Prior MICS/DHS coordination experience highly desirable);
• Expertise in statistical analyses (familiarity with data processing and data analysis software, SPSS highly desirable);
• Experience in survey report writing;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Ability and willingness to travel to all countries across MENA region.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective relationships with national partners;
• Demonstrated leadership, managerial and supervisory ability.

 

Language

• Fluency in English/French; knowledge of Arabic is highly desirable.

 

 

 

Consultant will work from home using own equipment and stationary. The consultant will be expected to travel to MENA countries and participate at regional MICS workshops as needed. During country visits, UNICEF country office or the partner will provide working space for the consultant.

 

 

TRAVEL CONSIDERATIONS:

 Mission travel

All travel arrangements to commence the assignment, including insurance and visas, will be managed and paid by the individual.  Therefore, expected travel costs must be included as a budget item in the financial proposal. 

During mission travels to MENA countries, UNICEF will manage and pay for travel via Travel Authorization.  However, this will be subject to the following prerequisites:  Medical Clearance, Security Clearance through the Travel Request Information Process (TRIP) system, the Basic and Advanced Security in the Field Trainings, Travel Visa, and liability waiver. Trip prerequisites will be met at the expense of the consultant.

 

These travel costs will be covered by UNICEF MENA regional office as per UN rules and regulations (against travel authorizations).

 

 

ESTIMATED DURATION OF CONTRACT:

forty days spread over an 11 month period. The number of days of work might vary, given countries might drop out of the MICS programme or new countries might join-in.

 

UNICEF will only be liable to pay against the working days accounted for and reported in the log sheet, and not against the total number of days indicated here for estimating purposes.

 

OFFICIAL TRAVEL INVOLVED:

The consultant will be expected to travel to countries where possible and security conditions permit, and to facilitate at regional MICS workshop.

Travel costs will be covered by UNICEF MENA regional office as per UN rules and regulations.

 

 

PAYMENT SCHEDULE:

 

1. Survey Preparations is completed (25%)
2. PRE-TESTING OF QUESTIONNAIRES AND CAPI TESTING is completed (25%)
3. FIELDWORK support is provided (25%)
4. Support to Data interpretation and Survey Finding Report is provided (25%)

 

 

TYPE OF SUPERVISION REQUIRED AND COOPERATION WITH OTHER CONSULTANTS

The Monitoring and evaluation section will provide quality assurance and oversight for the consultant’s work with substantial feedback on the quality of the work. 

 

For each assigned MICS survey country, the consultant will work in close collaboration with the UNICEF MICS Focal point, the UNICEF MICS Consultant, other UNICEF Regional Consultants, and data processing expert of the implementing partner in that country. During country visits, the consultant will be expected to implement capacity development activities with the implementing partner as required and organized by the UNICEF Country Office. 

 

CONFIDENTIALITY OF DATA AND MICS DOCUMENTS

The Regional household survey Consultant must respect the confidentiality of the MICS data as well as any country specific MICS documents that will be produced throughout the MICS process. The Consultant can use the documents and the datasets only for the tasks related to these terms of reference.

 

WORK PLACE

Regional household survey consultant will work from home using own equipment and stationary. During country visits, UNICEF CO or the implementing partner will provide working space for the consultant.

 

CONDITIONS

 

• The Regional household survey Consultant will work from home using own equipment and stationary. During missions, UNICEF COs will provide working space for the consultant, preferably with implementing partner.
• Ticket and Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) during travel will be paid as per UNICEF regulations, separate TAs will be issued to cover travel by the RO.
• The contract may not commence unless signed by both UNICEF and the consultant.
• Consultant will be required to sign the Health statement for consultants/Individual contractor prior to taking up the assignment.
• The Form 'Designation, change or revocation of beneficiary' has to be completed by the consultant and submitted to the HR Section.
• Travels to countries in MENA region as necessary as determined in consultation with the Country Teams. During country visits, UNICEF CO will facilitate working space for the consultant (preferably at implementing agency).The consultant will also work from home. Other travels within and outside region as appropriate.
• As per UNICEF financial policy, payment is made against the days/hours worked at the daily rate specified and against the approved deliverables specified.
• The candidate selected will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions for individual contracts.

 

EVALUATION PROCESS:

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Cover letter/application.
2. Financial quote as lump sum for professional fees, and lump sum for travel/administrative/subsistence, if applicable.
3. CV
4. Examples of previous, relevant work as applicable
5. Proposed methodology/approach to managing the project.
6. 3 Referees
7. P 11 form (which can be downloaded from our website at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_53129.html ).

 

Late submissions, incomplete packets, or submissions will not be considered.

 

“UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations, 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.”