Household survey support – direct country support consultant, LAC RO, Panama, 3 months (Remote-based)

The MICS consultant will support countries implementing MICS to ensure comparability, standardization of methods and adherence to MICS protocols

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, an opportunity

Under the direct supervision of the Data and Monitoring Manager/Regional MICS Coordinator in LACRO, the MICS consultant will support countries implementing MICS to ensure comparability, standardization of methods and adherence to MICS protocols. This will lead to data harmonization and elimination of data gaps on the situation of children in LAC countries by supporting the implementation of sixth round of MICS in selected countries in LAC. The consultant will also support the regional offices efforts to measure the situation of children in LAC through other surveys, further analysis of existing data, support to regional statistics groups, and other duties as  needed. 

How can you make a difference? 

Scope of work

Support the Regional MICS Coordinator in providing technical assistance and oversight for MICS in implementing countries. This will include providing support for the preparation, review, and finalisation of the products/activities in each stage of the survey implementation. This function commonly includes travel to countries implementing MICS: Survey design, pre-test, training, data collection, analysis, and dissemination.

The consultant will have the following Deliverables:

• Survey design (Deadline: December 30, 2023)
  • Preparation and review of survey tools and materials with feedback and suggestions:
  - Survey plan (including timetable, budget training plans for the pilot and monitoring plan)
  - Indicator list and tabulation plan
  - Questionnaire and manual for Interviewers
  - Questionnaire pre-test report
• Support to data collection related activities (Deadline: February 15, 2023)
  • Preparation and a review with feedback and suggestions for data collection related materials eg:
  - Agenda, methodology, and resources of the main data collection training
  - Pilot data collection
  - Systematic review with feedback and recommendations of the Field Check Tables
  - Participate in and provide support in the facilitation of the main fieldwork training
  - Country visit to support specific processes.

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

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, Demography, Statistics, or other related technical fields with significant measurement or analysis component: Master’s degree or PhD would be a plus
• At least five (5) years of experience in working with quantitative household surveys
• Experience in statistical analyses (familiarity with data processing and data analysis software)
•  Excellent knowledge of MS Office is necessary
• Prior MICS/DHS experience is desired
• Experience in survey report writing and reviewing.
• Experience in working with developing countries
• Fluency in English and Spanish is a requirement.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective relationships with national partners
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

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:  

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

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. 

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.