Panama: Early Childhood Development Regional Statistical Analysis (Consultancy)

Organization: UN Children's Fund
Country: Panama
Closing date: 06 Dec 2016

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.

Purpose of the Assignment

Under the overall supervision of the Regional Monitoring Specialist and the Early Childhood Development Specialist. UNICEF LAC RO is looking for a qualified and experienced professional to: a) conduct in-depth analyses on Early Childhood Development data collected through households surveys using the MICS module (which includes regional analysis as well as in-depth analysis of national surveys) b) conduct a mapping of the different initiatives to collect data on ECD in LAC region c) Produce a final report with the main findings and recommendations.

Assignment Tasks

Statistical Analysis

Identify, collect and analyze datasets of surveys conducted in LAC region from 2010 onwards that included questions from the MICS ECD module.

Develop a detailed Analysis Plan that includes an equity analysis of the different indicators available to highlight existing disparities as well as bivariate and multivariate analysis aimed at finding correlations among different components that may influence an adequate early childhood development (violence, birth registration, malnutrition, parental arrangements, pre-natal care, etc.….)

Conduct the statistical analysis and produce a background document that includes all the tables and results.

Select the most relevant findings to be presented in the report in agreement with LAC RO focal points.

Organize and conduct a consultation process of the report with relevant experts on M&E and ECD (WB, BID, PAHO/OMS, UNICEF, and others)

Incorporate the recommendations of the experts in the final report.Mapping of ECD data collection initiatives in the region

Identify relevant methodologies used in LAC countries to generate official data /evidence on Early Childhood Development.

Describe data collection instruments and the methodologies identified in the mapping and analyze advantages and disadvantages of using each methodology.

Final Report

Preparation of a final report of not more than 50 pages (including graphs and tables) describing and analyzing the data and the results of the mapping. The final report also will include a short set of recommendations for improving the availability and use of reliable and disaggregated statistics on ECD.

DELIVERABLES TIMELINE AND PAYMENT

The duration for the contract is estimated to be 5 months starting on the date of the signature of the contract.

Payments will be made by UNICEF upon its review and approval of the deliverables submitted by the consultant. The payment and deliverable schedule will be as follows:

By end of Month 1: Inception report that includes a detailed methodology plan for the analysis specifying the indicators that will be studied, the type of analysis and the level of disaggregation that will be considered. It should also include the list of datasets that will be included in the analysis (15%)

By the end of the month 3 – Progress report that includes all statistical analysis included in the analysis plan and the results of the mapping of initiatives to collect data on ECD in the region (25%)

By the end of month 4- Draft report for LAC RO review and conduct consultation process with relevant experts on M&E and ECD (25%)

By the end of month 5- Final report (including an executive summary) taking into account feedback received by Experts consulted and UNICEF LAC RO and a PWP presentation with the main findings (25%)

The final report should have the following characteristics:

Description of the methodology implemented

Description of the results

Tables and graphs with the results.

Key Findings and recommendations.

The report should be organized by chapters and should include an executive summary

The document can be in English or Spanish

QUALIFICATIONS AND SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Education

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

Skills and Experience

Minimum 5 years of experience in the quantitative analysis of household surveys and population census.

Expertise in statistical analyses (familiarity with data processing and data analysis software)

Strong conceptual and analytical skills

Knowledge of the LAC region and in Early Childhood Development is an asset

Languages

Fluency in Spanish and English is required.

CONSULTANTS WORK PLACE

The consultant could work from his/her home. No travel is required in this consultancy.

HONORARIA & FEES:

Budget and 1 page proposal on how to conduct the consultancy must be sent.

Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable). Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.

How to apply: