Organization: UN Children's Fund
Country: Panama
Closing date: 07 Nov 2018
The UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN’S FUND (UNICEF)TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR A CONSULTANCY
Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS)
REGIONAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY EXPERT
Level of experience: Junior [ ] 1-3yrs Medium [X] 4-10yrs Senior [ ] more than 10yrs
Location: UNICEF Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean [LACRO]
Language(s) required: Fluency (oral and written), required in Spanish and English
Closing date for applying to this consultancy: 6 November 2018
Estimated start date of this consultancy: 1 December 2018 Estimated end date: 15 November 2019
BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
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 20 years and five rounds of MICS, more than 300 MICS surveys have been conducted in more than 100 countries.
MICS surveys are usually carried out by government organizations, with the support and technical assistance of UNICEF. 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.
In 2017, the sixth round of MICS surveys (MICS6) was launched to enable 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 the global Agenda 2030.
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.
This consultancy is part of the Regional Office strategy for providing technical support and quality assurance to Country Offices (CO) undertaking MICS 6. This consultancy will focus on questionnaire design, pre-test and fieldwork training, fieldwork monitoring, data analysis and report writing for new MICS 6 surveys.
PURPOSE OF THE JOB
Under the overall supervision of the Regional Monitoring Specialist, UNICEF LAC RO is looking for qualified and experienced professionals for supporting the preparation, implementation and completion of the MICS in selected countries in LAC.
EXPECTED RESULTS or MAIN TASKS RELATED TO THE JOB
The Regional Household Survey Consultant will inform and advise UNICEF LAC Regional Office and selected Country offices during survey planning, questionnaire design, sampling, training, field work, data entry, data processing and report writing, ensuring that MICS guidelines and protocols are being followed at all times.
7. Support countries remotely or through in-county visits in carrying out the following survey activities:
8. Provide support to countries on report writing remotely or during regional workshops. Review the MICS key findings and final reports produced by countries
9. As needed, support countries in data archiving.
10. In collaboration with the MICS Regional Coordinator, provide country and regional status survey up-dates to RO and HQ.
DELIVERABLES
Deliverable description
Duration
(Estimated # of Days)
Target Deadline
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
On-going
within 7 days after submission by the country
Feedback on draft questionnaires using the questionnaire review form
On-going
within 5 days after submission by the country
Country visit reports (including presentations and training materials) for each country visited
On-going
within 7 days after the visit
Regional workshop trip report(s)
On-going
within 7 days after the workshop
Presentations and training materials used in workshops and trainings
On-going
within 7 days after the workshop/training
Documented review of pre-test report with recommendations
On-going
within 7 days after the submission by the country
Documented review of the fieldwork training and data collection activity in each country with clear recommendations
On-going
within 3 days after the end of the training and 3 days after a monitoring visit
Comments and feedback on each survey summary findings and final report reviewed using the standard review template
On-going
within 7 days after the submission by the country
Review of data dissemination plans and survey data archives with clear recommendations
On-going
within 7 days after the submission by the country
Documented review of the data processing activities with clear recommendations.
On-going
On-going
Feedback on field-check tables through e-mail.
On-going
On-going
Evidence of other distance technical support through e-mail
On-going
On-going
Monthly activity log with the name of a country, type of support, date and time spent for each task specified clearly.
On-going
Monthly-basis
TOTAL Duration
11.5 Months
QUALIFICATIONS AND SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE/ EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
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
Other competencies
CONTRACT DURATION & FEES:
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.
Technical Component
Candidates must send their curriculum vitae, a cover letter including their availability and daily fee and 3 contact references from previous work experience.
Technical Evaluation
Technical Criteria
Technical Sub-criteria
MaximumPoints
Education
Master’s Degree or equivalent in Social Sciences, Demography, Statistics, Epidemiology, or other related technical field with significant measurement or analysis component is required.
10
Work Experience
At least 8 years experience in the coordination and/or management of quantitative household surveys. (Prior MICS/DHS coordination experience highly desirable);
25
Knowledge
Expertise in statistical analyses (familiarity with data processing and data analysis software, SPSS highly desirable)
Experience in survey report writing
Excellent analytical and writing skills in Spanish
Excellent analytical and writing skills in English
Experience working in LAC region
10
10
10
10
5
Total Maximum obtained for Technical Criteria
(Note: the total maximum score must be equivalent to the weight assigned to the technical score)
80
Minimum score for technical compliance
65
Financial Proposal
A financial proposal that includes the daily fee for the assignment and number of days available per year must be submitted.
The total amount of points allocated for the economic component is 20. The maximum number of points will be allotted to the lowest price proposal and compared among those consultants which obtain the threshold points in the evaluation of the technical component. All other price proposals will receive points in inverse proportion to the lowest price;
Max. Score for Financial proposal * Price of lowest priced proposal
Score for price proposal X = —————————————————————————
Price of proposal X
HOW TO APPLY
To apply, click on the Apply link found either at the beginning or at the end. Submit a cover letter that includes the daily fee and availability (number of days available), CV. In case of doubts please send them to lacro-ops@unicef.org at least 3 working days before the deadline.
Example:
Please provide in the motivation letter the relevant experience, availability, and requested daily fee following the terms presented here.
CLOSING DATE:
Applications must be received by 6 November 2018. The pre-selection of candidates will be done after closing date. Please note only selected candidates will be contacted.
Remarks:
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
How to apply:
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 organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=517087
