Consultancy – Qualitative survey protocol on children in residential care, Data & Analytics (D&A) Section, DAPM NYHQ (home based)

Consultancy Title: Qualitative survey protocol on children in residential care

Section/Division/Duty Station: Data &Analytics (D&A) Section/DAPM/ NYHQ

Duration: 06 September 2021 to 3 December 2021 – 25 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:

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

Worldwide, an estimated 2.7 million children live in so-called orphanages or other residential care facilities. The figure is likely just the tip of the iceberg, however, since many low-and middle-income countries lack reliable data on this issue. To address this gap, UNICEF developed a comprehensive package to collect data on children living in residential care. It is comprised of a protocol that outlines the recommended steps for gathering data, 12 data collection tools, and an implementation package covering everything from sample design to the dissemination of the findings. The package is designed to generate information on the number and location of all residential care facilities in a country, the number and basic characteristics of children living in them as well as selected measures of their well-being. The protocol has been tested and piloted in three countries (India, Ghana and Kazakhstan) with a number of additional countries planning to implement the protocol over the next two years.

In order to further unpack the context in which children are placed in residential care, the Data and Analytics section is seeking a consultant to develop a protocol for a qualitative follow-up survey with parents/family of separated children (i.e., those living in residential care) to understand the reasons that led to children’s separation and placement in care. The idea is to append the qualitative follow-up survey protocol to the full census/survey protocol mentioned above.

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

Scope of Work:

The consultant should undertake a desk review of any available studies/research that have collected data on children in residential care/institutions using qualitative methodologies. Based on this, the consultant should prepare a database/inventory of possible questions (both open-ended and closed-ended) for possible use and inclusion in the qualitative/semi-structured interviews with parents of separated children.

The consultant will be responsible for preparing a full protocol for the qualitative follow-up survey that includes the following components:

1) Background and rationale
2) Aim and objectives
3) Survey design
4) Participant identification

a. Inclusion/exclusion criteria 
b. Sampling strategy

5) Interviewers

a. Qualifications
b. Training

6) Data collection

a. Informed consent
b. Note taking/transcribing interviews

7) Data management and analysis
8) Quality assurance procedures
9) Ethical considerations

The protocol will need to be accompanied by the actual semi-structured interview guide that should include an introduction, closing and questions (with probes/follow-ups).

Qualifications

1) Education

Master’s degree or higher in social sciences, development studies, social work, public health or a related field

2) Work experience

• Minimum 8 years relevant professional work experience in conducting qualitative research and designing data collection tools using qualitative methodologies is required

• Previous experience working with UNICEF or other UN partners is an asset

3) Competencies

• Technical knowledge of alternative care/residential care is required
• Strong technical and analytical writing skills in English is required
• Ability to work independently in a timely manner
• Attention to detail
• Ability to meet deadlines
• Fluency in English

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 
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • 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.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.  

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.