International Consultant National MICS Consultant

UNICEF is a UN organization mandated by the UN General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. In Lao PDR, UNICEF is working with its partners to support the Government to realize children’s rights on survival, development, protection and participation.

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.

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UNICEF in Vientiane, Lao PDR is looking for an Individual Consultancy: International Consultant National MICS Consultant. The duration of consultancy should cover a minimum of 11.5 months with possibility of extension to a maximum of 18 months starting from August 2021, depending on the time it will take to finalize the whole MICS process. Only candidates that can commit for this whole duration will be considered.  The consultant will be Home based (during survey planning stage) and required in-country station before the training and data collection stages start.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Provide technical and managerial support to the MICS survey;
2. Present the MICS methodology, tools, and guidelines to partners/stakeholders (e.g. ministries, UN Agencies, etc.);
3. Finalise, in collaboration with national partners and UNICEF CO, the Survey Plan and Budget, including timetable and share with the Regional MICS Coordinator;
4. Ensure that the Ethical Protocol and other ethical recommendations are addressed in the survey implementation process and that all MICS related documents are shared with the national Ethical Committee on time for approval;
5. Oversee each stage of the survey process and ensure that the MICS protocols and standards are followed by the LSB, more specifically during training and field supervision visits;
6. Communicate regularly with the UNICEF CO and/or the UNICEF MICS Team responding to all MICS related issues in a timely manner;
7. Provide monthly updates on MICS activities to the UNICEF CO and Regional MICS Coordinator;
8. Coordinate the work of LSB specialists and the UNICEF MICS Team and other resource persons assigned by the UNICEF CO and/or the UNICEF MICS Team to support different survey stages;
9. Ensure that external technical reviews by experts (i.e., Sampling, Data Processing, and Household Survey expert consultants) are carried out at key survey stages and coordinate the feedback and response between the CO, the UNICEF MICS Team and the LSB;
10. Ensure that all survey related documents and deliverables are properly archived throughout the survey process (for example: Memorandum of Understanding, Survey Plan and Budget, questionnaires, manuals, sample design, training/pre-test reports, expert reports, CAPI application, output and tabulation plan tables, syntaxes, datasets, Survey Findings Report, Statistical Snapshots, dissemination materials etc.);
11. Participate in all MICS Steering and Technical Committee meetings;
12. Participate in, and contribute to, MICS Regional Workshops;
13. Organise, as required, and facilitate in the national Data Interpretation and Report Compilation Workshop.
14. Ensure that lessons learned, problems, and good practices are documented throughout the MICS process and rapidly shared with the MICS community (other MICS implementing countries and the UNICEF MICS Team) through all means available.

Specific Activities

In consultation and collaboration with the UNICEF CO and LSB, the NMC will be responsible for ensuring the following activities have been undertaken following the MICS guidelines and will contribute to the coordination of these activities:

1. Survey Planning:

• A Steering Committee is established and composed of all relevant national and international stakeholders, including National Ethical Committee;
• At least one Technical Committee comprised of all relevant technical experts is established;
• The Survey Plan and Budget, including timetable is finalised and shared with all stakeholders;
• A Memorandum of Understanding between UNICEF Country and LSB is signed before funds are spent on survey activities;
• Survey supplies are procured and distributed in time for training and data collection;
• Sample design:
  • The UNICEF Sampling expert consultant is provided with necessary information and visits are well managed and coordinated within survey plans;
  • Sample design is finalised by the sampling expert of LSB with the guidance and review of the UNICEF Sampling expert consultant;
  • Listing and Mapping materials and operations are reviewed by the UNICEF Sampling expert consultant and carried out on the field per MICS recommendations;
  • Geocoding (cluster centre points, multi-points or boundaries), either existing or collected during the mapping and household listing operation, is assessed by the survey team and communicated to the UNICEF MICS Team, together with the shapefile representing the sampling frame, at minimum including the boundaries of sample stratification.
  • Sample design is reviewed by the UNICEF MICS Team before finalisation;
  • The final selection of households is reviewed; and
  • The weights are reviewed.
• MICS questionnaires:
  • Appropriate UNICEF programme staff and the Technical Committee are involved in reviewing the customisation of relevant sections of the MICS questionnaire;
  • Selected Modules address country data gaps and address SGD data needs;
  • Questionnaires undergo translation and back translation process;
  • Questionnaires and manuals undergo an ethical review;
  • Questionnaires are pre-tested and a pre-test report is produced;
  • Questionnaires are reviewed by the UNICEF MICS Team before finalisation.
• Manuals:
  • MICS Household Listing and Mapping, Supervisor, Measurer, and Interviewer Manuals are customised for the country specific context and translated.
• CAPI application template:
  • CAPI application template is customised by the data processing expert of the LSB with the guidance of the UNICEF Data Processing expert consultant;
  • CAPI application template is reviewed by the UNICEF MICS Team before finalisation;
  • Secondary editing guidelines and Field Check Table syntax are customised by the data processing expert of the LSB with the guidance of the UNICEF Data Processing expert consultant.

2. Listing and Mapping, Training and Fieldwork, and Data Processing:

• Listing and mapping is planned and performed per MICS guidelines;
• Training schedules are adequately adapted to the county context while following MICS guidelines;
• Appropriate resource persons are identified to facilitate training (i.e. nutritionists for anthropometry training, survey experts for methodology, etc.);
• Contribute to the fieldwork training;
• Fieldwork and fieldwork monitoring visits are planned and performed according to MICS guidelines;
• Field Check Tables are produced on a weekly basis, immediately analysed by survey managers, and main findings reported to field supervisors for action. Field Check Tables are immediately shared with the Regional MICS Coordinator;
• Participation of UNICEF CO staff is organised to assist in monitoring data collection;
• UNICEF Data Processing expert consultant is timely provided with necessary information and country visits are well managed and coordinated;
• Hardware is made available for the CAPI application (data collection and central office menu components), and software is properly installed and a working, data transfer system and data backup system is established;
• Monitor data processing and secondary data editing.

3. Data Analysis and Report Writing:

• Sampling Weights are included in the datasets and reviewed by the sampling expert of the LSB with the guidance and review of the UNICEF Sampling expert consultant;
• MICS tabulation plan and standard syntax are customised and used in generating SPSS dataset and tables.
• Dataset/Tables including the wealth index are substantively reviewed by technical experts (e.g., sampling and household survey experts) and subject matter experts at the LSB, as well as by the UNICEF MICS Team before the report writing commences;
• Facilitate communication on process of anonymisation of geocodes between the UNICEF MICS Team and the LSB as per Memorandum of Understanding.
• Coordinate and contribute substantively to the elaboration of the Survey Findings Report and Statistical Snapshots, using the MICS template and according to MICS standards to ensure a timely release;
• Ensure that the Survey Findings Reports and Statistical Snapshots undergoes the technical review process by the UNICEF MICS Team;
• Coordinate the printing and distribution of the Survey Findings Report and Statistical Snapshots;
• Organise and facilitate the presentation of the Survey Findings Report and Statistical Snapshots through a national seminar;
• Provide technical expertise and advice for wide dissemination of the Survey Findings Report, Statistical Snapshots and main results;
• Ensure that the MICS survey archive with all final survey documents and materials (MoU, CSP, questionnaires, manuals, sample design, field reports, CAPI application, syntaxes, database, geocoding, tables, Survey Findings Report and Statistical Snapshots, dissemination materials, etc.) is being produced by the LSB.

4. Attend to all MICS Regional and/or National Workshops

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

Education:

University degree in, Demography, Statistics, Social Sciences, Epidemiology or any other related technical field is required.

Skills and Experience:

• Proven minimum of 5 year experience in the coordination and/or management of quantitative household surveys (prior MICS or Demographic and Health Survey (DHS)requested; ;
• Strong computer skills and strong expertise in statistical analyses (familiarity with data processing and data analysis software, particularly SPSS);
• Experience with CAPI data collection;
• Training experience and ability to organise and facilitate training and presentations;
• Experience in data analysis and survey report writing.

Other competencies:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent oral and written communications in English required; Knowledge of Lao language is an advantage.
• Familiarity and previous experience of working in Lao PDR and/or in the region highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and to establish harmonious and effective relationships both within and outside the organisation, more specifically with National Statistical Offices;
• Demonstrated leadership, managerial and supervisory ability; Ability and willingness to travel extensively in-country and to attend regional workshops. (providing that COVID 19 situation allowed).

Languages

• Fluency in English 

Submission of applications

Interested candidates are kindly requested to apply and upload the following documents:

• Letter of Interest (cover letter)
• CV or Resume
• Performance evaluation reports or references of similar consultancy assignments (if available)
• Financial proposal: All-inclusive lump-sum cost including travel and accommodation cost for this assignment as per work assignment.

The deadline for applications is 4 August 2021

Assessment Criteria:

 A two stage procedure shall be utilized in evaluating proposals, with evaluation of the technical proposal being completed prior to any price proposal being compared.

Applications shall therefore contain the following required documentation:

1. 1. Technical Proposal, including a cover letter, updated CV, and copies of 2 relevant evaluations performed earlier by the consultant.
   2. Financial Proposal: Lump-sum offer with the cost breakdown: Consultancy fee, travel costs (economy class), per-diem to cover lodging, meals, and any other cost related to the consultant’s stay in Vientiane, including transportation inside the city and other costs. The travel (if involved) shall be based on the most direct and economy fare.

No financial information should be contained in the technical proposal.

Assessment Criteria for International Consultant

I) Technical Qualification (max. 100 points) weight 70 %

• Education Degree will have a maximum of (10 points)

• Advanced university degree in social sciences, demography, statistics, epidemiology or any other related technical field is required.
• Qualification in research methods, qualification specifically in monitoring and evaluation an advantage.

• Knowledge of the below will have a maximum of (30 points)
• Strong analytical and writing skills and the ability to present the results in a simple language, making use of interesting visual aids (maps, graphs and other visual tools)

• Strong computer skills and strong expertise in statistical analysis (familiarity with data processing and data analysis software, particularly, CS Pro and SPSS);
• Track record of successful delivery of high-level expert advice to governments and international organizations; previous work with the UN is an asset
• Familiarity with and experience in analysis complex data
• Excellent analytical skills
• Good English language skills

• Experience in the below will have a maximum of (30 points)

• At least five years of experience in the coordination and/or management of quantitative national household surveys (prior MICS or/and DHS coordination experience highly desirable);
• Training experience and ability to organize and facilitate training and presentations, including on-the-job training;
• Experience in survey report writing;
• Experience with CAPI data collection is an advantage;
• Excellent oral and written communications in English.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability and willingness to travel extensively in-country and, if necessary, internationally.

• Quality of past work (e.g. understanding, methodology) in the below will have a maximum of (30 points)

• Track record of successful delivery of high-level expert advice to governments and international organizations; previous work with the UN an asset;
• Substantial experience working cross-culturally, with familiarity and previous experience of working in Lao PDR highly desirable
• National level experience in working across complex data and national information systems, knowledge products and reports across social and economic sectors
• Familiarity with and experience in the socio-economic and political environment of the Southeast Asian Region and Lao PDR is an asset;
• Experience of providing technical assistance to government for sector development and capacity building;
• Experience in similar assignment and in Lao PDR is preferable.

II) Financial Proposal (max. 100 points) weight 30 %

The maximum number of points shall be allotted to the lowest Financial Proposal that is opened / evaluated and compared among those technical qualified candidates who have attained a minimum 70 points score in the technical evaluation. Other Financial Proposals will receive points in inverse proportion to the lowest price.

The Contract shall be awarded to candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores, subject to the satisfactory result of the verification interview.

The applicants should provide medical insurance covering medical evacuation for the whole duration of the assignment -as part of the financial proposal submission.

Please find attached the TOR here: National MICS Consultant TOR for VA.pdf

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.

View our competency framework at here

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:

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