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.

 

Consultancy Title: Consultancy for Digital Data Collection Tools Comparison

Section/Division/Duty Station: Division of Analysis, Planning & Monitor, Data and Analytics, UNICEF NYHQ

Duration: 10 December 2024 to 15 February 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:

In today's dynamic landscape of survey and census activities, digital data collection has become the established standard procedure. However, with a wide array of tools designed for various applications, including household surveys, face-to-face interactions, and telephone surveys, the decision-making process around tool selection has become a complex task. Currently, UNICEF's headquarters, regional and country offices independently make these selections without access to a comprehensive overview of the respective advantages and disadvantages.

Recognizing the critical importance of well-informed tool choices in this digital age, the primary objective of this consultancy is to conduct a thorough and detailed review of the digital data collection tools available today. These versatile tools are compatible with a variety of platforms and offer unique capabilities. The purpose is to perform a comprehensive assessment that will cover technical specifications for each tool, providing insight into their complexities, strengths, and areas for improvement, while also encompassing practical recommendations. These will include best practices concerning ease of use, associated costs, training resources, and technical support. The desired outcome of this consultancy is to offer clear guidance on which digital data collection tools are best suited for specific data collection activities. By pursuing this informed approach, UNICEF aims to not only prevent the potential selection of less suitable or inappropriate tools but also ensure the highest standards of efficiency, data security, and child protection in the realm of digital data collection.

SCOPE OF WORK:

Working under the guidance of the Statistics Specialist/Data Processing Manager within UNICEF HQ's Data Collection Unit, DAPM, and in close partnership with the Office of the Chief Data Officer (CDO) and UNICEF Regional Offices, the chosen candidate will be responsible for the following:

• Thoroughly cataloguing and analysing the available digital data collection tools.
• Defining comprehensive evaluation criteria, encompassing factors such as cost-effectiveness, data security measures, data transfer capabilities, ease of utilization, adaptability to existing questionnaire resources from the questionnaire bank, technical specifications, and the level of technical proficiency required.
• Conducting a comprehensive scoping exercise to delineate the strengths and weaknesses of each tool.
• Identifying the optimal use cases for these tools across diverse data collection scenarios, including face-to-face interviews, telephone interviews, internet-based surveys, and their suitability for deployment in emergency contexts.

In this role, the selected candidate will play a vital part in advancing UNICEF's data collection capacities, contributing to more effective and secure data collection processes.

 

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Thoroughly cataloguing and analysing the available digital data collection tools.

A detailed catalogue of available digital data collection tools, including an assessment of their features, capabilities, and suitability (15 February 2025)

Defining comprehensive evaluation criteria, encompassing factors such as cost-effectiveness, data security measures, data transfer capabilities, ease of utilization, adaptability to existing questionnaire resources from the questionnaire bank, technical specifications, and the level of technical proficiency required.

A comprehensive set of evaluation criteria that covers cost-effectiveness, data security protocols, data transfer capabilities, user-friendliness, compatibility with existing questionnaire resources, technical specifications, and the requisite technical expertise (15 February 2025)

Conducting a comprehensive scoping exercise to delineate the strengths and weaknesses of each tool.

A thorough scoping report outlining the strengths and weaknesses of each digital data collection tool, providing valuable insights for decision-making (15 February 2025)

Identifying the optimal use cases for these tools across diverse data collection scenarios, including face-to-face interviews, telephone interviews, internet-based surveys, and their suitability for deployment in emergency contexts.

A practical guide delineating the optimal use cases for these tools across a range of data collection scenarios, specifically focusing on face-to-face interviews, telephone interviews, internet-based surveys, and their applicability in emergency contexts (15 February 2025)

 

Qualifications

Education: 

Advanced university degree (Masters) in the area of Information Technologies, Statistics, Demography, or any other related technical field with expertise in data management. A Bachelor’s Degree may be accepted in lieu of Master degree if work experience is more than 12 years.

 

Work experience:

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *: 

• Minimum of ten years' working experience in digital data collection, data processing and statistical analysis.
• Expertise in programming with major data collection digital tools: CSPro, ODK, Survey Solutions, KOBO, Inform.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in English.

 

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.