Consultancy: Statistics and Monitoring Consultant, Regional Household Survey Expert, LACRO, Panama

Panama City

Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
Location: Panama City
Grade: Consultancy - Consultant - Contractors Agreement
Occupational Groups:
- Statistics
- Monitoring and Evaluation
- Population matters (trends and census)
- Statistics and Monitoring
Closing Date: Closed

Under the direct supervision of the UNICEF Regional Monitoring Specialist, the Statistics and Monitoring consultant will promote comparability, data harmonization and elimination of data gaps on the situation of children in LAC countries by supporting the launch of the new round of MICS in selected countries in LAC; and assisting LAC RO in the function of technical secretariat of the Group on Statistics on Children and Adolescents of the Statistical Conference of the Americas/ECLAC.

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, commitment

How can you make a difference?

BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION

UNICEF provides technical assistance to countries in collecting and analysing data in order to fill data gaps for monitoring the situation of children and women and to respond and track the progress on the Agenda 2030. Within this framework, technical assistance is required to a) support LAC RO in the launch of the new round of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS6) in LAC, and b) support LAC RO in the activities of the Working Group on Statistics on Children and Adolescents from the Statistical Conference of the Americas (ECLAC).
Since 1995, UNICEF has supported the implementation of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), assisting governments in generating high quality data on the situation of children and women. In 2017, the sixth round of MICS surveys (MICS6) has been launched with the objective of supporting countries to produce statistically sound and internationally comparable estimates in the areas of health, education and child protection, including a number of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicators. This data is essential for developing evidence-based policies and programmes, as well as for monitoring countries’ progress toward national goals and global commitments. Currently 12 countries are doing MICS in the region, with potentially 3 more starting soon.

Finally, UNICEF LAC Regional Office is the technical secretariat of the Working Group on Children and Adolescents Statistics from the Statistical Conference of the Americas (SCA-ECLAC) co-chaired by Costa Rica and Mexico National Statistical Offices with the participation of 16 National Statistic Offices (NSO) from LAC. The current work plan of the group focuses on promoting horizontal cooperation among NSOs to collect child-focused SDG indicators, strengthening administrative data systems and promoting a more effective dissemination and use of child-related data.

To respond to the increasing demands for technical support on the described initiatives, the Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office (LAC RO) requires a consultant to work with its Monitoring & Evaluation team.

This consultancy is part of the Regional Office strategy for providing technical support and quality assurance to Country Offices undertaking MICS and supporting the Working Group on Children and Adolescents of the Statistical Conference of the Americas/ECLAC.

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

EXPECTED RESULTS or MAIN TASKS RELATED TO THE JOB

Assist in the preparation and adaptation to the regional context of the new survey tools launched for the MICS6 round.
Support countries conducting/planning a MICS survey (or related surveys) remotely or through in-county visits in carrying out the following MICS survey activities:
- Survey planning and questionnaire design
- Pre-test training and pre-test monitoring
- Fieldwork training and fieldwork monitoring
- Key Findings and Final Report
Provide organizational, logistic and technical support in any regional or national events related to MICS in LAC. This includes facilitating selected sessions and working bilaterally with different countries in the design of their initial survey plans and budgets.
Support UNICEF’s LAC RO technical secretariat functions of the Group on Statistics on Children and Adolescents of the Statistical Conference of the Americas.
Provide country and regional status updates to the RO and HQ on the monitoring of the situation of children in the region, as well as background material and working papers for briefing and review sessions.

DELIVERABLES

Consultant will be paid by deliverable and based on working days per task agreed with the Supervisor (Regional Monitoring Specialist).

Expected deliverables for this consultancy are:

Review of Survey Plan of surveys to be conducted in 2019/20 (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 LAC RO)
Feedback on draft questionnaires using the questionnaire review form – within 5 days after submission by LAC RO
Country visit reports (including presentations and training materials) for each country visited – within 7 days after the visit.
Survey tools reviewed/adapted for MICS 6 (it includes questionnaires, manuals, templates, presentations, tabulations (within 7 days after submission by HQ)
Feedback on field-check tables for ongoing surveys through e-mail (under request)
Ongoing comments and feedback during all survey activities (within 5 days of request)
Comments and feedback on the Key Finding Report and Final Report for ongoing surveys within 7 days after the submission by the country.
Report for each activity of the Group on Statistics on Children and Adolescents of the SCA supported- 7 days after the finalization of the activity
Produce fact sheets and analysis for advocacy materials on the situation of children in the region.

For tasks 8-9, the deliverables will be agreed upon on the basis of short ToRs with a description of the assignment. For the others, deliverables will follow established Global MICS guidelines. Additional tasks could be included based on the needs and demands of the Regional Office.

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

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;
Oral and written fluency in English and Spanish;
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
Ability and willingness to travel to all countries across LAC.

Other competencies

Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective relationships with national partners;
Demonstrated leadership, managerial and supervisory ability.

CONTRACT DURATION & FEES:

Approximate contract validity is from October 2019 until September 2020.

Monthly payments on the basis of days worked and upon submission of an activity log and invoice. If the number of days worked is less than 5 days, the payment will be made every two months.

OFFICIAL TRAVEL INVOLVED

The consultant will be expected to travel to countries under his/her supervision and to facilitate at regional MICS workshops.

Expenses related to these travels will be covered by UNICEF and paid to the Consultant as per UNICEF travel rules and regulations.

Consultant will make its own travel arrangements, with prior authorization of the supervisor. Costs for accommodation, meals and incidentals shall not exceed applicable daily subsistence allowance (DSA) rates, as promulgated by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) (CF/AI/2013-001, and Amend. 1, p. 6.31).

CONSULTANT’S 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.

REPORTING RESPONSIBILITIES/SUPERVISION

The Regional Monitoring Specialist 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 and other UNICEF Regional MICS Consultants. Working closely with the Regional Monitoring Specialist and the Regional Sampling and Data Processing Consultants, the Regional Household Survey Consultant will carry out technical reviews and advise COs and implementing agencies at key moments in the survey process. The Regional Household Survey Consultant will also, often together with the Regional Monitoring Specialist and / or the Regional Sampling Consultant and / or the Regional Data Processing Consultant, carry out a series of country visits, in order to monitor progress and be present at critical stages of survey implementation.

CONFIDENTIALITY OF DATA AND MICS DOCUMENTS

The Regional Household Survey Expert 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 Regional Household Survey Expert can use the documents and the datasets only for the tasks related to these terms of reference.

NATURE OF PENALTY CLAUSE IN CONTRACT

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

EVALUATION METHOD AND CRITERIA

Consultants and/or Individual Contractors (CIC) will be evaluated based on a cumulative methodology, being the award of the contract made to the CIC whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

1. Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and;
2. Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 65 points (of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Financial Proposal

A financial proposal that includes the daily fee for the assignment and number of days available per year must be submitted.

HOW TO APPLY

Submit a cover letter that includes the daily fee and availability (number of days available), CV.

***

Please note only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

UNICEF reserves the right to make additional assessment of the pre-selected candidates, if needed

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.

This vacancy is now closed.
However, we have found similar vacancies for you: