UNICEF Regional Office for Central and Eastern Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States (UNICEF CEE/CIS RO)

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR AN INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT

MULTIPLE INDICATOR CLUSTER SURVEY (MICS) REGIONAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY CONSULTANT

1 February – 31 December 2015

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, about 300 MICS surveys have been conducted in more than 100 countries.

MICS enables countries to produce statistically sound and internationally comparable estimates of a range of indicators in the areas of health, education, child protection, water and sanitation and HIV and AIDS. 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.

During 2015, UNICEF will continue supporting the fifth round of MICS surveys. Apart from generating information for over 20 MDG indicators, MICS will be help establish baselines for the post-2015 sustainable development goals and track national priorities.

MICS surveys are carried out by government organizations, with the support and technical assistance of UNICEF and other development actors. When countries adhere to the MICS protocols and recommendations and make use of the tools provided, the survey process goes very smoothly. However, in many countries, as the evaluations of the third and fourth rounds of MICS also confirm, the provision of survey tools alone has not been sufficient. Additional support of experienced personnel providing technical assistance toand working closely with the survey management team in the country has been essential in ensuring survey quality.
Therefore, as part of the MICS5 programme, UNICEF will continue to strengthen its MICS technical support mechanism at the regional level so that surveys can receive the required level of technical assistance at critical stages.
As of now, all surveys in the CEE/CIS region that are part of the fourth round of MICS have been completed with final reports available. As part of the fifth round, final reports of four surveys have been finalised while three surveys report will be reviewed in early 2015. The fieldwork of two surveys is planned to take place in the fall of 2015. Those surveys will require support in respect to survey and sample design, review of questionnaires, pre-test, main training and fieldwork monitoring. The UNICEF CEE/CIS RO household survey consultant will provide support to selected surveys in the above-mentioned stages as well as help the Regional Office with ongoing further analysis of MICS data.

Purpose

Under thesupervision of the UNICEF Regional M&E Advisor and in close consultation with the Regional MICS Coordinator,the Regional MICS Household Survey Consultanthas the responsibility for supporting the preparation, implementation and completion of the MICS in selected countries in the CEE/CIS region.

Main Tasks

  1. Support the Regional MICS Coordinator in providing technical assistance and oversight for assigned surveys in the region;
  2. Provide support to Regional MICS Workshops;
  3. Data Processing Workshop: when necessary, work bilaterally with different countries on datasets, data quality, tabulation plans and final report contents.
  4. Data Dissemination and Further Analysis Workshop: facilitate selected sessions as needed and work bilaterally with countries on the interpretation of their MICS data and on the development ofdissemination plans
  5. From a distance and in coordination and collaboration with the Regional MICS Coordinator, review and providefeedback to COs on the following documents for compliance with MICS 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 the Regional Sampling Consultant)
  4. Data entry, editing and recoding programmes (in collaboration with the Regional Data Processing Consultant)
  5. Pre-test report
  6. Tabulation plans
  7. Datasets and tabulations (in collaboration with Regional Data Processing Consultant)
  8. Key Findings and final reports
  9. Archives
  1. To provide technical assistance and ensure quality, supportcountries 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. Data analysis
  5. Report writing
  1. As needed, take part in missions carried out by the Regional MICS Coordinator to support COs in negotiating, promoting and presenting MICS to governments and other partners.
  2. Provide support to countries on report writing remotely or duringregional workshops. Review the MICS summary findings and final reports produced by countries
  3. As needed, support countries in data archiving.
  4. Ensure timely update of the regional team’s space with the relevant country documents.
  5. Support the Regional MICS Coordinator with further analysis of MICS data.
  6. In collaboration with the MICS Regional Coordinator, provide country and regional status survey up-dates to RO and HQ.

Qualifications and Competencies

Education

At least a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in Social Sciences, Demography, Statistics, Epidemiology, or other related technical field with significant measurement or analysis component is required.A master’s degree in one of the above fields is desired.

Skills and Experience

  • At least 6years’ experience in the coordination and/or management of quantitative household surveys.(Prior MICS/DHS coordination experience highly desirable);
  • Expertise in statistical analyses (familiarity with data processing and data analysis software, SPSS highly desirable);
  • Experience in survey report writing;
  • Fluency in English and excellent oral and written communications inRussian or another widely-used language in the region;
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
  • Ability and willingness to travel to all countries across of the CEE/CIS region.

Other competencies

  • Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective relationships with national partners;
  • Demonstrated leadership, managerial and supervisory ability.

Deliverables

  1. Report on 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. Regional 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. Feedback on field-check tables through e-mail - within 3 days after submission by the country.
  9. Comments and feedback on each key findings report and final report reviewed using the standard review template -within 7 days after the submission by the country.
  10. Review of data dissemination plans and survey data archiveswith clear recommendations – within 7 days after the submission by the country.
  11. Evidence of other distance technical support through e-mail.
  12. Quarterlyactivity log with the name of a country, type of support, date and time spent for each task specified clearly.

Estimated Duration of the Contract

150 days from 1 February 2015till31 December 2015. The number of days may be increased depending on the technical assistance needs of countries.

Consultant’s Work Place and Official Travel

Regional Household Survey Consultant will work from home using own equipment and stationary. The consultant will be expected to travel to 2-3countries and participate atregional MICS workshops as needed.During country visits, UNICEF country office or the partner will provide working space for the consultant.

How to apply

Qualified candidates are requested to email a cover letter, CV and P11 form (attached) to by 5 January 2015with the subject line ‘Regional MICS Household Survey consultant’. Please indicate your relevant experience, availability and daily rate to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a daily rate will not be considered.

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