Consultancy - Sampling Consultancy for Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), Data & Analytics (D&A) Section, DAPM NYHQ (home based)

As part of the MICS6 programme, UNICEF continues to strengthen its MICS support mechanism at all levels, so that implementing partners in countries can receive the required level of technical assistance on a timely basis at critical survey stages and are in a better position to support the implementing partner. The number of MICS6 surveys included in the programme during 2017-2021 has now reached 69, which is the largest number of surveys in the history of the programme (http://mics.unicef.org/surveys).

Consultancy Title: Sampling Consultancy for Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS)

Section/Division/Duty Station: Data & Analytics (D&A) Section / Data Analytics, Planning and Monitoring (DAPM) / New York HQ

Duration: 1 July 2021 – 30 November 2021 (75 working days)

About UNICEF

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. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

As part of the MICS6 programme, UNICEF continues to strengthen its MICS support mechanism at all levels, so that implementing partners in countries can receive the required level of technical assistance on a timely basis at critical survey stages and are in a better position to support the implementing partner. The number of MICS6 surveys included in the programme during 2017-2021 has now reached 69, which is the largest number of surveys in the history of the programme (http://mics.unicef.org/surveys).

As of April 2021, there are 15 surveys in pre-fieldwork stages and 12 surveys in fieldwork or post-fieldwork stages. 42 surveys are fully complete. Survey managers are encouraged to continue carrying out survey activities effectively, despite the pandemic, through virtual interaction (emails, calls, and meetings on Skype, Zoom and similar platforms) between local survey team members, international consultants and UNICEF staff members. The Global MICS Programme team and consultants are expected to continue to provide online support and concrete guidance to survey teams on a case-by-case basis. All survey teams are encouraged to communicate regularly with Regional MICS Coordinators to share updates on their country situation, assess the implications of the current situation on their surveys, plan required adjustments to survey operations and overall planning, identify technical assistance needs, and develop a contingency plan for the way forward.

During the rest of the year, it is expected and also strongly encouraged by the Global MICS programme that survey teams that have completed data collection and have not released their survey results continue and even accelerate the data processing, sample weighting and report writing activities so that new data become available as early as possible. It is critical that the efforts to disseminate the results are accelerated as, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a short window of opportunity to facilitate access to most recent pre-COVID data and contribute to UNICEF’s latest communication and advocacy strategies regarding the global emergency.

The consultant is also expected to help the Child Protection team in Data and Analytics Section to review and provide feedback on draft sampling plans for the surveys on children living in Residential Care Facilities in Myanmar and forthcoming surveys in a few other countries..

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

In order to fully support the MICS implementation and COVID-19 related data collection and dissemination activities, UNICEF HQ needs to hire a high-level sampling consultant to advise on sampling related issues, provide feedback on data analysis (calculation of sample weights) and report writing (review of sampling related components of final reports).

Specifically, consultant support is needed in the following sampling-related areas of work:

1. Reviews of sample designs
2. Calculation of sample weights
3. Calculation of sampling errors
4. Reviews of sampling related chapters of the survey final reports
5. (To support the Child Protection team in Data & Analytics Section) Reviews of the sampling plan of the surveys of children in residential care in Malaysia and other planned countries

Qualifications

(1) Education

• At least a Master’s degree or equivalent in Survey Sampling or Statistics with special expertise in survey sampling
• The individual should be highly proficient in a range of PC/web applications, including but not limited to: SPSS, MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint.

2) Work experience

• At least 15 years’ experience at senior level in designing samples for household surveys
• Expertise with the sampling methodology of MICS and/or DHS (Demographic and Health Surveys)
• Extensive experience of working in developing countries on sampling

3) Competencies

• Strong organizational, planning, and analytical skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication in English and at least one of the following languages: Spanish, French, Arabic, Russian

Requirements:

• Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and provide Personal History Form (P11) Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include:
• your daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference (can be downloaded here: https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_consultancy_assignments.html 
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

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

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.