Consultancy – Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) Household Survey Support, Data Collection Unit, DAPM, NYHQ (Remote) – Req # 576768

UNICEF HQ needs to hire a household survey expert with strong experience on the management of the global MICS programme.

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, hope

Vacancy Announcement: Consultant

Consultancy Title: Household Survey Consultant for Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) Support

Section/Division/Duty Station: Data & Analytics Section, DAPM, NYHQ

Duration: 18 November 2024 to 17 November 2025

Home/ Office Based: NYHQ / Remote

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:

MICS enables countries to produce statistically sound and internationally comparable estimates of a range of indicators on the situation of children and women, in areas such as health, education, early childhood development, child protection, nutrition, water, sanitation, and hygiene.  For many countries, MICS surveys are among the most important sources of data used for situation analyses, policy decisions, programme interventions, and for informing the public about the situation of children and women. 

Currently, the MICS programme is in its 7th round, while completing the last few surveys from the 6th round. The 7th round of MICS supports, in addition to the face-to-face MICS household surveys, MICS Plus, MICS Link, MICS GIS and MICS Tabulator development.

Current work on the questionnaire architecture and content of standard MICS7 questionnaires is nearly completed following the MICS7 Regional Survey Design Workshops (7 completed so far). Current and future MICS participating country/survey teams are and will be in need of technical support on

• finalizing and updating the full content of MICS7 survey tools
• providing technical support to ongoing MICS7 (as well as MICS6) surveys including the planning, sample design, questionnaire customisation, pre-test of questionnaires, customisation of tabulation plans, fieldworkers training, fieldwork monitoring, data analysis and report drafting, and dissemination,
• support to planning and organisation of the regional and/or global MICS Survey Design, Data Processing and Data Interpretation and Further Analysis workshops, and
• Oversee and contribute to the acquisition of GIS data, anonymization and dissemination of surveys

Scope of Work:

In order to fully support the completion of the 6th round of MICS, finalisation and updating of the MICS7 tools, and providing expert technical support for the implementation of MICS, UNICEF HQ needs to hire a household survey expert with strong experience on the management of the global MICS programme.

This assignment will contribute to the following outcomes: (a) support the work on the finalization and updating of the MICS7survey tools, (b) support the implementation of MICS surveys (in-person participation for select countries depending on need), (c) support the design and implementation of ongoing and upcoming MICS, (d) support the implementation of the MICS7 Global Survey Design, Data Processing, and Data Interpretation and Further Analysis Workshops (in-person participation, if needed), and oversee and contribute to the acquisition of GIS data, anonymization and dissemination of surveys.

The consultant is expected to support MICS implementation worldwide, with specific focus on ECA, MENA, and English-speaking countries in ESA and WCA regions of UNICEF.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

1. Support the organization of online consultations on MICS7, internally and with external stakeholders by 31 January 2025
   • Package of documentation including PowerPoint presentations to support the MICS7 consultations in 7 countries including consultations minutes and follow-up reports.
2. Support the finalization and updating of the survey analysis and dissemination tools of MICS7 by 31 January 2025
   • Finalized questionnaire architecture and content.
3. Support the design and implementation of MICS surveys in 7 countries by 31 January 2025, 30 June 2025, and 31 October 2025
   • Documentation on survey design, implementation and support to MICS, specifically, finalised Survey Plan and Budget, Sampling Plan, Questionnaires, Training agenda and related materials, Tabulation Plan, and draft Survey Final Report and Snapshots for each survey supported.
4. Oversee and contribute to the acquisition of GIS data, anonymization and dissemination of surveys in 5 countries by 31 January 2025, 30 June 2025, and 31 October 2025.
   • Documentation on completed MICS GIS work: Survey-specific boundary shapefiles, survey GPS Datasets and the information file to be accompanying the datasets.
5. Support the MICS7 Progress Review Meeting in Florence, Italy by 30 June 2025.
   • Documentation of MICS7 progress report meeting.
6. Support the organization and implementation of the 4 Global MICS Survey Design, Data Processing, or Data Interpretation and Further Analysis Workshops as Facilitator by 30 June 2025 and 31 October 2025.
   • Documentation on MICS design workshops preparations and implementation.

Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s Degree
• Discipline: Social Sciences, Demography, Statistics, Epidemiology, or other related technical field with significant measurement or analysis component.

Work experience:

• At least 10 years of working experience for implementation and management of global household survey programmes.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

• Experience in standard tool development for household surveys;
• Experience in working on tool development for global household survey programmes is required;
• Computer skills: Competent in advanced Excel, Word, PowerPoint, SPSS. Also R, Python, and GitHub experience is an asset;
• Languages needed: Native or near-native proficiency in English (oral and written) is required. Knowledge of another UN language is an asset;
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks;
• Strong writing and interpersonal communication skills.

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system and

– Upload copy of academic credentials

– Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :

• • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • 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 core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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:  

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.