Duration: from May 2025 to September 2025, 5 months (100 working days)
Workplace: home-based
Modality: part-time

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, a fair chance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=E1xkXZs0cAQ

 Background RSOEBD Expert.docx

Purpose of the assignment

The overall purpose of the assignment is to develop socio-economic briefs that highlight the unique advantages of each region, identify areas for improvement, and support efforts to accelerate human capital development and progress toward the SDGs at the local level.

Scope of Work

The individual contractor will:

Task 1: Analyze MICS 2024 Data and Develop Regional Brief
● Conduct in-depth analysis of MICS 2024 results for each region of Kazakhstan.
● Extract key insights and trends across multiple child well-being dimensions, including but not limited to health, education, nutrition, child protection, WASH, and early childhood development. Specific attention should be dedicated to gender and urban/rural disparities where it applies, disability. Compare with national level / other regions. Review progress against MICS 2015 (cluster of region).
● Compile a comprehensive socio-economic brief for each region, including:
- A summary of key strengths and comparative advantages.
- Identification of critical gaps and vulnerabilities.
- Suggested priorities for subnational policy and programmatic interventions to strengthen human capital outcomes.
● Present visual data summaries (graphs, infographics, maps) to ensure accessibility and relevance for local stakeholders.

Task 2: Recommend Complementary Macro-Economic and Contextual Indicators
● Review existing national and subnational datasets provided by UNICEF to identify relevant macroeconomic, demographic, and contextual indicators not captured by MICS (e.g., regional GDP, employment rates, public spending especially in the social sectors, access to digital infrastructure, climate vulnerability / CCRI, etc.).
● Propose a set of additional indicators to complement MICS findings in each regional brief.
● Justify the relevance and added value of each recommended indicator for advancing local-level human capital development and SDG monitoring.
● Ensure proposed indicators are aligned with existing government statistical frameworks and data availability.

Task 3: Finalize the 20 regions socio-economic briefs, integrating the outcomes of Task 1 & 2.
The briefs should be in word format for printing and dissemination, and in ppt format to support regional consultations.
The individual contractor’s engagement is based on 2023-2025 Work Plan between UNICEF and Bureau of National Statistics under ASPIR RoK.
The contractor will perform his/her duties in line with UNICEF standards and procedures.

Work Assignment Overview

Analyze MICS 2024 Data and Develop Regional Portfolios

1. Task/Milestone: Prepare analytical framework for MICS data interpretation and regional brief development
Deliverable/Output: Draft 20 briefs (in PPPs and world doc format)

2. Task/Milestone: Propose list of complementary indicators with rationale and data sources
Deliverable/Output: List of complementary indicators approved by UNICEF

3. Task/Milestone: Finalized socio-economic briefs incorporating feedback from UNICEF and national stakeholders
Deliverable/Output: Proofread final 20 briefs approved by UNICEF

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
• Education: An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in economics, social policy, development studies, statistics, public administration, or a related field.
• Experience:
- At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in the development field, including data analysis, socio-economic research, public policy, or human capital development.
- Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills, with demonstrated ability to interpret large datasets and translate findings into actionable policy recommendations.
- Experience in developing regional or subnational socio-economic profiles, reports, or briefs for government or development partners.
- Solid understanding of human capital development, child well-being, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the context of Kazakhstan or Central Asia.
- Excellent writing and communication skills, including the ability to present complex data and policy issues clearly and compellingly to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Experience engaging with government stakeholders at both national and local levels, including technical-level consultations and data validation processes.
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple deliverables within tight deadlines.
- Fluency in English and Russian is required; knowledge of Kazakh is an asset.

Evaluation Criteria (This will be used for the Selection Report)
A) TECHNICAL CRITERIA (maximum 65 Points)
- Knowledge and Experience in Statistical Software and Data Collection (20 scores)
Specific experience in using R, Stata, CSPRO, SPSS, or other relevant applications.
Demonstrated knowledge and experience in statistical data collection, analysis, and database management.

- Experience with Large Data Sets and Research Software (10 scores)
Proven experience working with large datasets.
Advanced user of research software for data management and analysis.

- Analytical and Technical Skills (20 scores)
Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills.
Demonstrated ability to interpret large datasets and translate findings into actionable policy recommendations.
Experience in developing regional or subnational socio-economic profiles, reports, or briefs for government or development partners.

- Communication and Interpersonal Skills (15 scores)
Excellent writing and communication skills, including the ability to present complex data and policy issues clearly and compellingly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with government stakeholders at both national and local levels, including technical-level consultations and data validation processes.
Fluency in English and Russian is required; knowledge of Kazakh is an asset
B) Financial Proposal (maximum of 35 Points)
Financial Proposal Candidates must submit a financial proposal for the whole assignment based on these Terms of Reference. The financial proposal should clearly state the cost of the services for the whole workstream
The financial proposal that provides the best value for money, meaning the lowest financial proposal, will receive the highest score during assessment. This is the main principle because saved funds will be directed towards other activities to aid children in Kazakhstan. Only financial proposals that fully cover all workstream outlined in the terms of reference will be considered.

For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (https://www.unicef.org/about/unicef-culture)

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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. 

Completion of the UN/UNICEF mandatory trainings is obligatory upon commencement of the contract.

All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and that UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.

Costs indicated are estimated. Final rate shall follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee. Consultants will be asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.