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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 fordeveloping 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.

Consultancy: Ensuring Health and Demographic Data Continuity: the Role of MICS in a Changing Global Survey Landscape  

Duty Station: DAPM, Data & Analytics Section – Data Collection Unit

Duration: 30 November 2025 – 31 December 2026  

Home/ Office Based: Remote

 

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

The discontinuation of the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) has created significant gaps in the global production of reliable, internationally comparable data on population, health, and social indicators. This shift threatens the availability of high-quality, disaggregated data required for monitoring progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and informing evidence-based policy and programming.

 

UNICEF’s Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS)—implemented in over 120 countries and aligned with 22 of 23 SDG indicators previously monitored through DHS—represent one of the world’s leading sources of internationally comparable data on children and women. In this evolving context, there is a growing expectation that MICS could play an expanded role in addressing the data gaps left by DHS. However, this potential requires careful assessment of both external opportunities and internal readiness, including questions of institutional capacity, financial sustainability, and strategic prioritization.

 

The purpose of this consultancy is therefore to assess and articulate the extent to which MICS can and should respond to the changing global survey landscape, and under what conditions—institutional, technical, and financial—such an expanded role would be viable and sustainable. The work will examine how MICS could contribute to maintaining continuity in global demographic and health statistics while reinforcing existing national data infrastructures and avoiding the creation of parallel systems.

 

This assignment will produce an evidence-based analysis and a strategic framework to guide UNICEF’s decisions on the internal investments, partnerships, and operational adjustments required to strengthen MICS’s position within the global data ecosystem. It will be conducted in alignment with the ISWGHS Task Force on Sustainable Demographic and Health Statistics and UNICEF’s Global Data Strategy, ensuring that all recommendations are grounded in principles of national ownership, complementarity, and sustainability.

 

MICS and DHS have historically collaborated to ensure synergies and complementarities in country coverage, indicator alignment, and data sharing. Building on this legacy, the purpose of this assignment is not to assess whether MICS can fill the DHS gap, but to articulate why and how it must..

 

This work is grounded in the Shared Principles of the ISWGHS Task Force on Sustainable Demographic and Health Statistics through Surveys, particularly the commitment to:

• “Build on what exists—nationally and globally”, and
• “Support countries to leverage, where possible, existing national surveys for future demographic- and health-related survey data production.”

The assignment will reinforce the principle that all actions should strengthen and integrate existing survey and data infrastructures, rather than create parallel systems. It will also consider the implications of modifying existing surveys, including:

• The potential increase in respondent burden and associated risks to data quality, and
• The risk of breaking intertemporal comparability of both health-related and non-health-related statistics

Scope of Work:

The consultant will undertake a comprehensive analytical and strategic assessment to examine the extent to which MICS can and should respond to the evolving global survey landscape following the reduction of the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS). The work will focus on both external positioning and internal readiness, identifying the institutional, technical, and financial conditions under which MICS could sustainably assume an expanded role in producing health, demographic, education, and well-being statistics.

 

The consultancy will be structured around five interlinked work streams:

 

1. Technical and Methodological Comparison

• Conduct a systematic comparison of MICS and DHS methodologies, including survey design, sampling, indicator coverage, and data quality frameworks.
• Map areas of convergence and divergence, particularly in fertility, mortality, and population health indicators.
• Identify methodological gaps or innovations required for MICS to generate comparable or improved estimates across these domains.
• Summarize the implications of methodological alignment or divergence for SDG monitoring and global comparability.

 

2. Assessment of MICS Capabilities and Internal Readiness

• Review the current capacity and infrastructure of the MICS programme—including staffing, financing, partnerships, and technical support mechanisms—to sustain an expanded role.
• Assess internal institutional readiness, including governance, coordination with regional and country offices, and alignment with UNICEF’s Global Data Strategy.
• Evaluate the adequacy and sustainability of existing financial and human resource models, identifying potential areas for internal investment or restructuring.
• Document MICS’s coverage of SDG indicators and its comparative advantages in supporting country and global reporting needs.

 

3. Country-Level Readiness and Partnership Landscape

• Identify countries and regions where MICS could feasibly fill data gaps created by DHS discontinuation, based on demand, statistical capacity, and existing survey cycles.
• Conduct structured interviews and consultations with national statistical offices, UNICEF country offices, and key partners to assess local needs, capacities, and preferences.
• Analyze the partnership landscape, including the roles of other household survey programmes (e.g., LSMS, HBS, LFS), to ensure complementarity and coherence.
• Develop short case studies illustrating opportunities and constraints for scaling MICS in diverse contexts.

 

4. Strategic and Policy Positioning

• Develop a strategic framework articulating how MICS could contribute to a sustainable global architecture for health and demographic statistics, in coordination with other actors.
• Outline policy and programmatic recommendations for UNICEF, governments, and development partners, ensuring that any proposed evolution of MICS strengthens—rather than duplicates—existing national data systems.
• Highlight governance and coordination options to support alignment with the ISWGHS principles and ensure continued collaboration with partners formerly engaged through DHS.
• Facilitate a validation workshop to discuss findings and gather feedback from key stakeholders

5. Sustainability and Business Framework

• Prepare a business and sustainability framework identifying financial, technical, and partnership requirements to operationalize MICS’s potential expanded role.
• Propose options for resource mobilization, cost-sharing, and internal investment, considering different implementation scenarios.
• Recommend practical steps for UNICEF to ensure long-term sustainability, including institutional strengthening, workforce development, and global–regional–country coordination mechanisms.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Work Assignment Overview/Deliverables and Outputs/Delivery deadline

Task 1

a) Inception Phase and Work Plan

- A detailed work plan outlining methodology, stakeholder engagement strategy, timelines, and key milestones.

Facilitation of an inception meeting with UNICEF and key partners to align on objectives, expectations, and scope

Inception report (max 10 pages)

b) Technical Comparative Analysis 

- Conduct structured comparison of MICS and DHS methodologies, sampling, and indicator coverage.
- Identify complementarities and differences in domains such as fertility, mortality, and health.
- Reference public documentation, metadata, and survey results. Analytical report (approx. 25–30 pages)

15 February 2026

Task 2

a) Country Readiness and Stakeholder Consultations

- Conduct semi-structured interviews with NSOs, UNICEF country offices, and selected partners.
- Assess institutional and technical readiness of selected countries (3–5 case studies).
- Identify potential models for integrating MICS into broader health and demographic statistics plans. Summary matrix + short narrative (10–15 pages)

b) Validation Workshop and Strategic Positioning Framework

-  Organize and facilitate a validation workshop to present preliminary findings and gather feedback from key stakeholders

- Develop a concise framework outlining strategic directions, coordination mechanisms, and key policy message. Draft strategic framework (PowerPoint + 10-page summary)

30 April 2026

Task 3

a) Business Plan and Resource Mobilization Strategy

- Outline financing, capacity-building, and sustainability requirements and strategies for UNICEF’s expanded MICS role

- Identify key partners (bilateral, multilateral, philanthropic) and engagement approaches. Draft business plan (15–20 pages)

b) Policy and Programmatic Recommendations Report

- Synthesize analytical and strategic findings.

- Provide actionable recommendations for UNICEF, governments, and partners.

- Deliver executive summary and presentation materials

- Final integrated report (max 40 pages)

30 June 2026

c) Dissemination and advocacy

- Organize two webinars with key stakeholders and

- Prepare a 5 page summary of the events

10 December 2026

Travel: Validation workshop in Florence 

Qualifications

Education:

Advanced University degree inSocial Sciences, Demography, Statistics, Epidemiology, or other related technical field with significant measurement or analysis component

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

• At least a master’s degree or equivalent in Social Sciences, Demography, Statistics, Epidemiology, or other related technical field with significant measurement or analysis component is required;
• Work experience: At least 3  years of working experience in the area of statistics, national surveys or  global household survey programmes;
• Computer skills: Competent in advanced Excel, Word, PowerPoint, SPSS.
• 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.