International MICS Consultant (MICS)

Under the overall supervision of the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, the International MICS Consultant (IMC) will support and provide guidance to UNICEF ECA and the Central Statistics Office (CSO) for the implementation and completion of the MICS survey in Trinidad and Tobago

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Location:        Trinidad and Tobago

Duration:        6 months

Start Date:     6/15/2022

End Date:       12/15/2022

Supervisor:      Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist

BACKGROUND:

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 Millennium Development Goals (MDG) monitoring as a major source of data for the UN Secretary General’s Final MDGs Report. As governments develop national frameworks to monitor progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals 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.

During 2019 Trinidad and Tobago signed a MICS Memoradum of Understanding, designed the survey sample, developed the MICS plan and budget, updated the household listing, and customized and pretested the questionnaire and CAPI application. The field work training commenced but was suspended due to the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent restrictions. With the ongoing improvements in the containment of the virus in Trinidad and Tobago, the Government has put measures in place for the safe resumption of the survey. To ensure that the implementation of the MICS runs smoothly, specific deadlines are met and that the implementing partner, the Central Statistics Office, receives the technical assistance necessary to produce statistically sound and reliable data, the UNICEF ECA Multi-Country Office will hire a full-time consultant to oversee the remaining stages of the MICS process.

PURPOSE/SCOPE OF ASSIGNMENT:

Under the overall supervision of the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, the International MICS Consultant (IMC) will support and provide guidance to UNICEF ECA and the Central Statistics Office (CSO) for the implementation and completion of the MICS survey in Trinidad and Tobago. The IMC will advise the CSO, in particular the national MICS Coordinator, national sampling and data processing experts, during training, fieldwork, data processing, data analysis, dissemination and archiving, ensuring that MICS protocols and recommendations are being followed at all times and support the implementation as per the agreed work plans. The IMC will communicate effectively between UNICEF ECA and CSO, responding promptly to MICS-related needs and issues as they arise.

The IMC will be responsible for coordinating and supporting the work of other resource persons hired by UNICEF to provide technical assistance to the MICS 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 about the survey as needed. The IMC will also work in close collaboration with the Regional MICS Coordinator and the Global MICS Team in UNICEF HQ.

MAIN TASKS:

1. Provide technical and coordination support to the MICS survey;
2. Present the MICS methodology, tools, and guidelines to partners/stakeholders (e.g. ministries, UN Agencies, etc.);
3. Oversee each stage of the survey process and ensure that the MICS protocols and standards are followed by the CSO, more specifically during training and field supervision visits;
4. Communicate regularly with the UNICEF ECA, RO and/or Headquarters (HQ) responding to all MICS related issues;
5. Provide monthly updates on MICS activities to UNICEF ECA/RO/HQ; and the Technical Working Group, as needed;
6. Coordinate the work of CSO specialists and UNICEF Regional Consultants and other resource persons assigned by the UNICEF CO and/or RO to support different survey stages;
7. Ensure that external technical reviews by experts (i.e. Regional Sampling Consultant, Regional Data Processing Consultant, and Regional Household Survey Consultant) are carried out at key survey stages and coordinate the feedback and response between the ECA/RO/HQ and CSO;
8. Ensure that all survey related documents and deliverables are properly archived throughout the survey process (for example: Memorandum of Understanding, Survey Plan and Budget, questionnaires, manuals, sample design, training/pre-test reports, expert reports, CAPI application, output and tabulation plan tables, syntaxes, datasets, Survey Findings Report (and Final Report), dissemination materials etc.);
9. Participate in MICS Steering and Technical Committee meetings and provide feedback to technical questions/comments;
10. Participate in, and contribute to, MICS Regional Workshops (as relevant and possible during COVID-19);
11. Ensure that lessons learned, problems, and good practices are documented throughout the MICS process and rapidly shared with the MICS community (other MICS implementing countries, RO, and HQ) through all means available.

SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES:

In collaboration with the UNICEF ECA and CSO, the IMC will be responsible for ensuring the following activities have been undertaken following the MICS guidelines and will contribute to the coordination of the following activities:

1. Training, Fieldwork and Data Processing:

• Survey tools are updated
• Training schedules are adequately adapted to the county context following MICS and COVID guidelines and protocols;
• Appropriate resource persons are identified to facilitate training (i.e. nutritionists for anthropometry training, survey experts for methodology, etc.);
• Contribute to the fieldwork training in Trinidad and Tobago;
• Fieldwork and monitoring visits are planned and performed according to MICS guidelines;
• Field Check Tables are produced on a weekly basis, immediately analysed by survey managers, and main findings reported to field supervisors for action. Field Check Tables are immediately shared with UNICEF RO;
• Participation of UNICEF ECA staff is organised to assist in monitoring 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.

Due to COVID-19 related uncertainties the deliverables may change and will be updated in the work plan as needed.

REPORTING LINE:

The IMC will report directly to the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist in the UNICEF ECA Office.  In addition, the IMC will collaborate closely with the Technical Working Group to enhance the quality of the deliverables. This group will review key products. The consultant is required to address all comments of the group completely and comprehensively.

CONFIDENTIALITY OF DATA AND MICS DOCUMENTS:

The IMC 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 IMC can use the documents and the datasets only for the tasks related to these Terms of Reference.

WORK ASSIGNMENT OVERVIEW

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

The consultant is responsible for arranging his/her own travel, including bearing the costs visas and travel insurance. Accommodation, meals and incidentals costs must not exceed the UN daily subsistence allowance rates. The costs for approved travels will be reimbursed by the UNICEF ECA upon submission of receipts and based on applicable UN DSA rates. All approved travels to be conducted in accordance with UNICEF travel rules and regulations.

ESTIMATED DURATION OF CONTRACT AND FEES:

The duration of consultancy is expected to cover 6 months. Only candidates who can commit for this whole duration will be considered. The consultant is to indicate their all-inclusive monthly fee (in US$) for the services to be provided during the period of the consultancy.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE:

The consultant will be paid on a monthly basis against a monthly report detailing progress on the tasks undertaken. Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables which receive satisfactory quality review.  In general, individual contracts shall not allow for fee advances. However, a maximum of 30 per cent of the total contract value may be authorized by the Approving Authority in cases where advance purchases, for example for supplies or travel, may be necessary.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE / QUALIFICATIONS:

• A Master’s Degree in Demography, Statistics, Social Sciences, Epidemiology or any other related technical field
• Proven minimum of 5-year experience in the coordination and/or management of quantitative household surveys. Prior MICS or Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) requested;
• Previous experience of working with MICS in the Eastern Caribbean Area highly desirable.
• Strong computer skills and strong expertise in statistical analyses (familiarity with data processing and data analysis software, particularly SPSS);
• Experience with CAPI data collection;
• Training experience and ability to organise and facilitate training and presentations;
• Experience in data analysis and survey report writing.
• Proven ability to collaborate with teams and implement work plans.
• Language(s) needed if any: Fluency in English

Other competencies:

• Excellent oral and written communications in English;
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and to establish harmonious and effective relationships both within and outside the organisation, more specifically with Central Statistical Offices;
• Demonstrated coordination ability and willingness to travel in the Eastern Caribbean Area and to attend regional workshops.

For every Child, you demonstrate UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS:

During the contract period and provided COVID-19 measures permit, the IMC is expected to travel to Trinidad and Tobago to undertake this assignment. UNICEF will reimburse round-trip economy class travel to and from the region of assignment at the beginning and end point of the contract in accordance with UNICEF rules & regulations. The IMC will be based at the CSO in Trinidad and Tobago who will provide him/her office space and adequate working conditions with Internet access. The selected consultant is expected to provide his/her own laptop. UNICEF will provide dedicated email account.

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE:

Before commencing work, a consultant or individual contractor shall submit a statement of good health and take full responsibility for the accuracy of that statement, including confirmation that he or she has been informed of the inoculations required for the country or countries to which travel is authorized. Consultants and individual contractors shall assume all costs that may occur in relation to the statement of good health.  Consultants and individual contractors are required to certify that they are covered by medical/health insurance.

RECOURSE:

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. Performance indicators against which the satisfactory conclusion of this contract will be assessed include: timeliness/quality of submission and responsiveness to UNICEF and counterpart feedback.

TITLE RIGHTS:

All materials created by the Contractor which bears a direct relation to, or is made in order to perform, this contract and any intellectual property rights thereof, including but not limited to patents, copyright and trademarks, shall be jointly owned by UNICEF and the Contractor. At the request of UNICEF, the Contractor shall assist in securing such property rights and transferring them to UNICEF in compliance with the requirements of the law governing such rights. Any third party usage shall require written permission from both parties.

TRAININGS:

Consultants and Individual contractors, even those working from home, must complete the following online courses prior to signature of contract.  All certificates should be presented as part of the contract:

• Ethics and Integrity at UNICEF
• Prevention of Sexual Harassment & Abuse of Authority
• Sexual Exploitation Abuse (PSEA) 

Consultants and Individual Contractors must complete the following course before commencement of any travel on behalf of UNICEF. 

• BSAFE Security Training 

Any consultant or individual contractor who is issued a UNICEF email address must complete the following courses no later than 30 days after signature of contract. 

• Fraud Awareness
• General Information Security Awareness Course

HOW TO APPLY:

Prospective consultants should apply through UNICEF jobs website using the following link: 

https://jobs.unicef.org/en-us/job/551182/international-mics-consultant-mics no later than 1 June 2022. The application package should include the following:

1. A cover letter
2. Detailed Curriculum Vitae
3. A proposal stipulating all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.

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

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.

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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. The candidate may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid).