Organization: UN Children's Fund
Country: Panama
Closing date: 07 Nov 2018
The UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN’S FUND (UNICEF)TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR CONSULTANT
Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS)
REGIONAL SAMPLING CONSULTANT 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
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. The type of support required by countries at different stages of a national household survey requires specialized skills that are not usually among the skills sets of UNICEF staff members. Therefore, UNICEF Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office (LACRO) is using a highly experienced consultant to provide the necessary technical assistance at critical survey stages on a timely manner.
This consultancy is part of the Regional Office strategy for providing technical support and quality assurance to Country Offices undertaking MICS 6. This consultancy will focus on sampling design, calculation of weights and finalisation of the sampling related parts of the final report.
Purpose
Under the overall supervision of the UNICEF Regional Monitoring Specialist, the Regional Sampling Consultant will be responsible for providing sampling-related technical assistance to MICS surveys in selected countries across the region. This includes provide assistance on sampling design, calculation of weights and finalisation of the sampling related parts of the final report ensuring that MICS guidelines and protocols are being followed at all times.
Expected Results or Main Tasks related to the Job
1. Technically review the sample design of new MICS surveys in LAC ensuring that each design follows MICS guidelines;
2. Compile reports with technical comments and recommendations highlighting proposed changes, if any, to the sample designs. Comments will be shared by UNICEF with the implementing partner;
3. Review or perform sample selection for all stages of selection;
4. Review the calculation of sampling weights and provide technical comments and recommendations as applicable;
5. Review the sampling errors and the sampling appendix and other sampling related parts of the final report. Provide technical comments and recommendations highlighting proposed changes, if any to the sampling chapter and the appendix on sampling;
6. Facilitate a sampling session during the Regional Survey Design Workshop and advise countries attending the workshop on their sample design;
7. Respond to ad-hoc technical sampling queries from MICS 6 countries by e-mail within a maximum delay of 5 days;
8. At the request of the UNICEF Regional Monitoring Specialist, the Regional Sampling expert will take part in country missions and will participate as an expert in regional/global UNICEF MICS related meetings. All communication with Country Offices and implementing partners will always be channeled through the Regional Monitoring Specialist.
Deliverables
Deliverable description
Duration
(Estimated # of Days)
Target Deadline
Depending on the country capacity and arrangements, either a report on sample design itself or a report for each sample design reviewed outlining key recommendations and proposed changes and how the design meets or does not meet MICS technical standards
On-going
within 7 days after the visit to the country or submission of the draft design 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
On-going
within 7 days after the visit
Presentations and training materials used in workshops and trainings
On-going
within 7 days after the workshop/training
As applicable, report on support to household listing activities and first and second stages of sampling
On-going
within 5 days after the submission by the country
Final sampling weights for each country
On-going
within 5 days after submission by the country
Sampling chapter of each survey final report reviewed and with proposed modifications and/or additional information required
On-going
within 5 days after submission by the country
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 Competencies
Education
At least a Master’s Degree or equivalent in Demography, Statistics, Epidemiology, or any other related technical field with special expertise in survey sampling is required.
Skills and Experience
Other competencies
Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective relationships with national partners;
Contract Duration & Fees
The contract will have a maximum duration of 11.5 months. Monthly payments based on fees agreed 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.
Consultant’s Work Place
Regional Sampling 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.
Official Travel Involved
The consultant will be expected to travel to countries and to facilitate at one regional MICS workshop, when required by LACRO.
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).
Type of Supervision Required and Cooperation with other Consultants
The LACRO 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, other UNICEF Regional Consultants, and sampling expert of the implementing partner in that country. During country visits, the consultant will be expected to implement capacity development activities with the implementing partner as required and organised by the UNICEF Country Office.
Confidentiality of data and MICS documents.
The Regional Sampling Consultant 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 Sampling Consultant can use the documents and the datasets only for the tasks related to these terms of reference.
Nature of Penalty Clause in Contract
If the final reports and documents are not submitted according to the deliverables stated in this TOR, the payments will be withheld
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 Demography, Statistics, Epidemiology, or any other related technical field with special expertise in survey sampling is required.
10
Work Experience
At least 8 years of experience in designing samples for household surveys (experience in countries without recent census information highly desirable);
20
Knowledge
Expertise in sampling techniques for socio-demographic surveys (DHS, MICS, etc)
Training experience
Excellent analytical and writing skills in Spanish
Excellent analytical and writing skills in English
Experience working in LAC region
15
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 your comments 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 Data
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=517086
