International Consultant (MICS) at the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) - Kebbi and Bauchi

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (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 fulfil their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

We are recruiting to fill the vacant position below:

Job Title: International Consultant - Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS)

Job Number: 527737
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Work Type: Consultancy

Purpose of Assignment

• 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 Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), assisting countries in generating high quality data on the situation of children and women. Over the last two decades, more than 300 MICS surveys have been carried out in more than 100 countries, generating data on key indicators on the well-being of children and women, and helping shape policies for the improvement of their lives.
• 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.
• Beginning in 2016, UNICEF will support the sixth round of MICS surveys. MICS will be generating information for a range of SDG indicators and will be, along with other nationally representative household surveys, critically important for SDG reporting.
• MICS surveys are usually carried out by government organizations, with the support and technical assistance of UNICEF. The entire MICS process can last 12 to 18 months with UNICEF working closely with the implementing agency to ensure that MICS guidelines and international standards are met at all stages.
• Having previously conducted rounds 1-5 of the MICS surveys in in 1995 (MICS1), 1999 (MICS2), 2007 (MICS3), 2011 (MICS4) and 2017 (MICS5), Nigeria will conduct a MICS6 survey in 2020. In order to ensure that the implementation of the MICS survey runs smoothly, specific deadlines are met, and that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) receives the technical assistance necessary to produce statistically sound and reliable data, the UNICEF Nigeria Country Office will hire a full-time consultant to oversee the MICS process.

How can you make a difference?

• Under the overall supervision of the Monitoring Manager, the UNICEF MICS Consultant (UMC) will provide guidance and hands-on support to the UNICEF Nigeria Country Office (CO) and NBS for the preparation, implementation, and completion of the MICS survey in Nigeria.
• The UMC will advise NBS, especially the Survey Coordinator and sampling and data processing experts, during survey planning, questionnaire design, sampling, training, fieldwork, data processing, data analysis, dissemination, and archiving, ensuring that MICS protocols and recommendation are being followed at all times.
• The UMC will communicate effectively between the UNICEF CO and NBS, responding promptly to MICS related needs and issues as they arise.
• The UMC will be responsible for coordinating and supporting the work of other resource persons/consultants hired by UNICEF to provide technical assistance to the MICS process.
• He/she will work in close collaboration with the survey team, the stakeholders, and Steering and Technical Committees and will represent UNICEF in meetings and workshops in relation to the survey as needed.

Major Tasks to be Completed by the Consultant are as follow

• Provide technical and managerial support to the MICS survey;
• Present the MICS methodology, tools, and guidelines to partners/stakeholders (e.g. Federal and States ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), UN Agencies, etc.);
• Finalize in collaboration with national partners and UNICEF CO, the Survey Plan and Budget, including timetable and share with UNICEF Regional Office (RO);
• Ensure that ethical clearance is obtained from the national ethical committee for the survey
• Oversee each stage of the survey process and ensure that the MICS protocols and standards are followed by the NBS, more specifically during training and field supervision visits;
• Communicate regularly with the UNICEF CO, RO and/or Headquarters (HQ) responding to all MICS related issues in a timely manner;
• Provide progress reports on MICS activities to the UNICEF CO/RO/HQ on a monthly basis;
• Coordinate and work with NBS experts and UNICEF Regional Consultants and other resource persons assigned by the UNICEF CO and/or RO to support different survey stages;
• Ensure that external technical reviews by experts (i.e. Regional Sampling Consultant, Regional Data Processing Consultant, and Regional Household Survey Consultant) are carried out at key survey stages and coordinate the feedback and response between the CO/RO/HQ and NBS;
• Ensure that all survey related documents and deliverables (questionnaires, manuals, expert reports, final report, datasets, etc.) are properly archived throughout the survey process;
• Participate in all MICS Steering and Technical Committee meetings;
• Participate in, and contribute to, MICS Regional Workshops;
• 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, RO, and HQ) through all means available.

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

Survey Planning:

• A Steering Committee is established and comprised of relevant line ministries/Development Partners;
• A Technical Committee comprised of all relevant technical experts is established;
• The Survey Plan and Budget, including timetable is finalized and shared with all stakeholders;
• Survey supplies are procured and distributed in time for training, data collection, and data entry;

Sample design:

• The UNICEF Regional Sampling Consultant is provided with necessary information and his/her visit is well managed and coordinated within survey plans;
• Sample design is finalized by the sampling expert of NBS with the guidance and review of the UNICEF Regional Sampling Consultant;
• Household Listing and Mapping operations are reviewed by the UNICEF Regional Sampling Consultant and carried out on the field according to MICS recommendations
• Sample design is reviewed by the UNICEF RO and/or HQ before finalization.
• The final selection of households is reviewed.

MICS questionnaires:

• Appropriate UNICEF programme staff and the Technical Committee are involved in reviewing the customization of relevant sections of the MICS questionnaire;
• Questionnaires undergo translation and back translation process;
• Questionnaires are pre-tested and a pre-test report is produced;
• Questionnaires are reviewed by the UNICEF RO and HQ before finalization.

Manuals:

• MICS Supervisor and Editor, Measurer, and Interviewer Manuals are customized for the country specific context and translated.

Household Listing and Mapping, Training, Fieldwork, and Data Entry:

• Household listing and mapping is planned and performed according to 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 expert 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 analyzed by survey managers, and main findings reported to field supervisors for action. Field check tables are immediately shared with UNICEF RO;
• Participation of UNICEF CO staff is organized to assist in monitoring data collection;
• UNICEF Regional Data Processing Consultant is timely provided with necessary information and country visits are well managed and coordinated;
• Monitor secondary data editing.

Data Analysis and Report Writing:

• Sampling Weights are included in the datasets and reviewed by sampling expert of NBS with the guidance and review of the UNICEF Regional Sampling Consultant;
• MICS tabulation plan and standard syntax are used in generating SPSS dataset and tables.
• Dataset/Tables including the wealth index are substantively reviewed by technical (e.g. sampling expert) and subject matter experts at NBS, as well as by UNICEF RO and HQ MICS Team before the report writing commences;
• Coordinate and contribute substantively to the writing of the Summary Findings Report and Final Report, using MICS templates and according MICS standards to ensure a timely release;
• Ensure that the reports (Summary Findings and Final) undergo the technical review process by RO and HQ;
• Coordinate the printing and distribution of the Final Report;
• Organize and facilitate the presentation of the Final Report through a national seminar;
• Provide technical expertise and advice for wide dissemination of the Survey Findings Report (and Final Report) and main results.
• Ensure that the MICS survey archive (questionnaires, manuals, sampling frame, field reports, database, tables, final reports, dissemination materials, etc.) is being produced by NBS.

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

• Advanced university Degree in Social Sciences, Demography, Statistics, Epidemiology or any other related technical field is required.

Skills and Experience:

• At least eight years 'experience in the coordination and/or management of quantitative household surveys (prior MICS or Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) coordination experience highly desirable);
• Strong computer skills and strong expertise in statistical analyses (familiarity with data processing and data analysis software, particularly SPSS);
• Training experience and ability to organize and facilitate training and presentations;
• Experience in data analysis and survey report writing;
• Excellent oral and written communications in English required;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Familiarity and previous experience of working in Nigeria and/or in the region highly desirable.
• Ability and willingness to travel extensively in-country and to attend regional workshops.
• Experience in UNICEF or UN, an asset.

Other competencies:

• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and to establish harmonious and effective relationships both within and outside the organization;
• Demonstrated leadership, managerial and supervisory ability.

Duration:

• 11.5 months from the date of signing of the contract

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.

The competencies required for this post are:

• View our competency framework at: http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

Application Closing Date
23rd November, 2019 by 23:55:00 GMT+0100 (West Africa Standard Time).

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• 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.