Consultancy title: MENARO Household Survey Consultant, 11 months (full time), MENA Regional Office

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, protection.

Consultancy title: MENARO Household Survey Consultant

Duration: 11 months (full time)

12 July 2021 – 15 June 2022

Duty Station: Home based/Remote support 

Under the overall supervision of the UNICEF Regional Monitoring and Research specialist, the MENARO Household Survey Consultant has the responsibility for supporting the preparation, implementation and completion of MICS surveys in countries in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

How can you make a difference?

The MENARO Household Survey Consultant provides remote and in-country technical support and quality assurance for the MICS surveys and conducts further analysis of household survey data for countries in MENA.

Main tasks

1. Support the Regional Monitoring and Research specialist in providing technical assistance and oversight for MICS surveys in the region;
2. Provide support to National MICS Workshops;
   1. Survey Design Workshop: facilitate selected sessions and work bilaterally with different countries on questionnaires, survey plans and budgets;
   2. Data Processing Workshop: facilitate selected sessions and work bilaterally with different countries on datasets, data quality, tabulation plans.
   3. Data Dissemination and Report writing Workshop: support countries in the interpretation of their MICS data during these country level workshops, and lead/support the compilation of the standard MICS6 report.
   4. Further Analysis workshop: contribute to further analysis of MICS data by working with countries who completed a MICS survey through collaboratively identifying topics and possible methods for further analysis.
3. Review and provide feedback to countries on the following documents for compliance with MICS6 standards;
   1. Survey plans (including budget and training plans for pre-test and main fieldworker training)
   2. Questionnaires and Manuals, including the translated versions
   3. Sample design (in collaboration with Sampling Consultant)
   4. CAPI application, editing and validating programmes (in collaboration with the Data Processing Consultant)
   5. Pre-test report
   6. Tabulation plans
   7. Datasets and tabulations (in collaboration with Data Processing Consultant)
   8. Survey findings Report (SFR)
   9. Archiving (IHSN)
4. Support countries remotely or through in-county visits in carrying out the following survey activities:
   1. Survey planning and questionnaire design
   2. Pre-test training and pre-test
   3. Fieldwork training and fieldwork monitoring
   4. Support the analysis of field check tables and feedback to teams
   5. Data interpretation and analysis
   6. Report writing and compilation
5. As needed, take part in missions to support COs in negotiating, promoting and presenting MICS to governments and other partners.
6. In collaboration with the regional Monitoring and Research specialist, provide country and regional status survey up-dates to management.
7. Support RO in the review of the MICS6 tools and their translation.
8. Support the regional Monitoring and Research specialist on cross-country further analysis of household survey to inform UNICEF MENA’s regional accelerator and other advocacy priorities.
9. Support further analysis of household survey datasets in response to demand and prepare compelling presentations and data visualizations

 

Key deliverables

1. 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 – within 7 days after submission by the country.
2. Feedback on draft questionnaires using the questionnaire review form – within 5 days after submission by the country.
3. Country visit reports (including presentations and training materials) for each country visited – within 7 days after the visit.
4. National workshop trip report(s) – within 7 days after the workshop.
5. Presentations and training materials used in workshops and trainings – within 7 days after the workshop/training.
6. Documented review of pre-test report with recommendations – within 7 days after the submission by the country.
7. Documented review of the fieldwork training and data collection activity in each country with clear recommendations – within 3 days after the end of the training and 3 days after a monitoring visit.
8. Documented review of the data processing activities with clear recommendations.
9. Feedback on field-check tables through e-mail – at most after 3-days of submission by country.
10. Comments and feedback on each survey findings report reviewed using the standard review template – within 7 days after the submission by the country.
11. Review of data dissemination plans and survey data archives with clear recommendations – within 7 days after the submission by the country.
12. Evidence of other distance technical support provided through e-mail.
13. Monthly activity reports with the name of a country, type of support, date and time spent for each task specified clearly.
14. Custom tabulations for household surveys including MICS in support of the MENARO regional accelerators or in response to CO and RO demand for further analysis.

Supervision and cooperation with other consultants

The Monitoring and Research specialist will provide quality assurance and oversight for the consultant’s work with substantial feedback on the quality of the work. 

For each MICS survey, the consultant will work in close collaboration with the UNICEF MICS Focal point, the UNICEF MICS Consultant, other UNICEF Regional household survey Consultants, and other experts of the implementing partner in that country. During country visits, the consultant will be expected together with the regional Monitoring and Research specialist or other regional experts carry out trainings, provide relevant guidance, monitor progress and be present at critical stages of survey implementation.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Consultancy Requirements:

• Master’s degree in the following disciplines: Demography, Statistics, Epidemiology, or other related technical field with significant measurement, analysis or quantitative research background is required
• At least 5 years’ experience in the coordination and/or management of quantitative household surveys.
• Expertise in statistical analyses including familiarity with data processing and data analysis software.
• Experience in survey report writing.
• Ability and willingness to travel to short missions to countries across MENA region.
• Demonstrated ability to work harmoniously within a multicultural environment and communicate complex ideas.
• Proactive and dynamic personality with attention to detail.
• Result driven and strong planning and organizing skills.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic.

 desirable to have:

• Prior MICS/DHS coordination experience
• Experience with SPSS, Stata and/or R
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic or French

Applicants are also required to indicate availability and financial quotation in USD to undertake the terms of reference above.

TRAVEL CONSIDERATIONS:  Home-based consultancy

Payment Schedule:  Monthly

UNICEF will pay a lump sum payment monthly, based on submitted progress reports.  Workplan will be discussed and agreed upon with supervisor at the beginning of each month.

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Cover letter
2. CV or P-11
3. Financial quote as a lump sum, inclusive of professional fees, travel/administrative/subsistence costs, if applicable
4. Names of three referees

Incomplete submissions will not be considered.

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.

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children.

Remarks:

UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/

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