Current vacancies

Title:  Long-Term Agreement (LTA) for Data Processing Expert Consultants (remote-based); Duration: 3 years

BACKGROUND/RATIONALE-Household surveys such as the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) and Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) enable countries to produce statistically sound and internationally comparable estimates of a range of indicators on the situation of children and women in areas such as health, education, early childhood development, child protection, water and sanitation, and nutrition. For many countries, household surveys have been among the most important data sources used for situation analyses, policy decisions, programme interventions, and informing the public about the situation of children and women.

Currently, UNICEF’s Global MICS Programme, coordinated by the Data Collection Unit in the Data and Analytics Section of the Division of Data Analytics, Planning and Monitoring, is in its 7th round, supporting, in addition to the face-to-face MICS household surveys, initiatives and innovations such as MICS Plus household phone surveys, MICS Link, MICS GIS and MICS Tabulator development. As we approach 2030, monitoring and measuring the progress towards achievement of SDG targets is pushing more and more countries to face challenges in vital data collection on children, women, and households, undermining global (health, nutrition, etc.) monitoring and policymaking. In addition, the recent closure of the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) program in many countries has led to an increasing number of government requests to transition to MICS as the primary household survey programme. Therefore, there is an increasing need and demand from National Statistical Offices (NSOs) and UNICEF Country Offices (COs) to support ongoing and planned household surveys.

Current and future country/survey teams implementing MICS and similar child-centric household surveys are and will need technical support on planning, sample design, questionnaire customisation, pre-test of questionnaires, customisation of tabulation plans, fieldworker training, fieldwork monitoring, data analysis and, report drafting and dissemination. Consultant involvement and support will also be needed for the planning and organisation of the regional and/or global survey design, data processing, and data interpretation and further analysis workshops.

Experience has shown that implementing household surveys is labour-intensive and requires dedicated human resources to provide technical support, including preparation, implementation, and completion. With more countries implementing household surveys frequently and in regular intervals, more human resources are needed to provide the technical assistance necessary to support the production of statistically sound and reliable data and ensure that these surveys are conducted with best practices and acceptable quality standards. To meet this requirement, UNICEF would like to engage the services of experts in different areas of survey implementation to support the Data Collection Unit and relevant UNICEF Country and Regional Offices in providing high-quality and continuous technical support to countries implementing household surveys.

PURPOSE OF ASSIGNMENT: In order to provide technical support to the National Statistical Offices (NSOs), UNICEF will hire consultants (preferably with previous MICS, DHS, or similar household survey experience). The consultants will support the data processing and analysis activities in selected countries, from preparatory work to results dissemination, in consultation with UNICEF HQ, RO, and CO staff members designated to coordinate and provide technical support to survey implementation.

PROGRAMME AREA AND SPECIFIC PROJECT AREA:Cross-cutting. Data Collection, Household Surveys.

OBJECTIVE(S)
The overall objective of this Terms of Reference is to establish a Long-Term Agreement to facilitate and expedite the process by which the UNICEF Data Collection Unit, or relevant UNICEF Country and Regional Offices coordinating household survey implementation, can hire consultants as needed to support data processing and analysis activities. This includes the preparation of digital data collection applications, development of standard analysis and tabulation programs, and creation of monitoring tools, supporting the full cycle of household surveys — from preparation and implementation to completion — in implementing countries.

MAJOR TASKS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED
The consultants will be responsible for supporting the data processing and analysis components of household surveys in implementing countries, under the guidance of the UNICEF Data Collection Unit or the relevant UNICEF Country and Regional Offices. The work will focus on assigned activities across the survey cycle, including the preparation of digital data collection applications, development and adaptation of data processing systems, creation of standard tabulation and analysis programs, and support in data quality monitoring and validation. Consultants may also assist with related aspects of survey planning, questionnaire design, training, and dissemination, while collaborating with other survey, sampling, and data processing experts as needed. All work must adhere to standard global survey protocols and technical recommendations. Additionally, consultants are expected to contribute to the development and improvement of methodologies and tools used in household surveys. Tasks include, but are not limited to:

1. Provide technical assistance in data processing and analysis to household survey managers and coordinators (in UNICEF HQ, RO, CO), supporting survey implementing countries. This includes contributions to the preparation, review, and finalization of key data-related components at each stage of the survey: feasibility assessment, planning, survey design, data collection, data processing, analysis, and dissemination.

2. Collaborate with sampling expert consultants, supporting tasks such as sample design, calculation of sample weights, and evaluation of sample implementation — with attention to implications for data structure and quality in processing and analysis stages.

3. Collaborate with and support the work of household surveys expert consultants, focusing on the preparation and deployment of digital data collection applications, validation tools, data management systems, and quality assurance throughout the data lifecycle. Assist in the development of standard syntax and tabulation programs to enable consistent and comparable analysis.

4. Support the Data Collection Unit and relevant UNICEF Country and Regional Offices in the development and improvement of data processing and analysis methodologies and tools for household surveys, including contributions to documentation, capacity building resources, and innovations in data workflows.

Responsibilities of the Consultant:
i. Consultants will use their own equipment: laptops, software and other accessories that may be required for these tasks.
ii. Consultants will not share the content/material, or any part thereof, with any third party without the written permission of UNICEF. All components will be the property of UNICEF, and the consultant will not share the same with anyone else.
iii. Consultants will not put their name, logo/emblem on the content / any final product.

Responsibilities of UNICEF:
i. UNICEF will provide all details pertaining to the activities and the requirements.
ii. UNICEF will orient the consultant on UNICEF’s best practices and acceptable quality standards

Consultants may be required to work on weekends and official holidays based on the requirements of the assignment.

DELIVERABLES
Specific delivery dates/deadlines for completion of deliverables will be as and when requested by UNICEF.

S.No. Services/Category Deliverable
1. Data Processing: Technical Survey Readiness and Infrastructure Planning
- Support the implementation of survey feasibility studies, specifically focusing on data processing components.
- Assess the technical capacity of the National Statistical Office (NSO) and other implementing partners to manage the data processing and management components of the survey.
- Evaluate the availability, functionality, and suitability of equipment needed for data processing activities, including tablet and mobile devices for data collection, computers for processing, and accessories such as routers, power banks, and servers.
- Assess requirements for server setup, including secure hosting for central data synchronization, backups, and user access management.
- Review the IT infrastructure and internet connectivity to ensure readiness for real-time data transmission, monitoring dashboards, and technical support during fieldwork.
- Identify potential gaps in staff skills or institutional readiness for handling data processing workflows and propose capacity-building measures.
- Develop a data processing readiness plan outlining responsibilities, infrastructure requirements, software tools, and support structures needed to ensure smooth implementation of MICS data management and analysis.

2. Data Processing Support for Survey Design and Implementation Survey design
- Support development and review of:
o Survey plan (including budget and timetable) – contribute to preparation by reviewing data processing-related components *
o Customised indicator list and questionnaires – provide feedback on structure and data capture implications *
o Customised tabulation plans – review for alignment with questionnaire and processing feasibility *
o Customised manuals for Interviewers and Supervisors – review with focus on CAPI workflows and guidance *
o Digital data collection application – review and test for structure, logic, and compatibility with processing tools *
o Pre-test report of the customised questionnaires – provide input on CAPI performance and processing-related issues *
- Participate in regional data processing workshops **
Data collection
- Support and facilitate CAPI training for data collection personnel, including hands-on sessions and technical support during the first week of fieldwork **
- Support development and deployment of field check tables and Power BI dashboards, and conduct regular data quality checks, providing feedback to survey managers with suggestions for improvement throughout data collection *

* Reviews with feedback and suggestions for documents drafted by the local survey implementing agencies
** Require international travel
3. Data Processing Support for Analysis and Dissemination

- Support development and review of:
o Initial survey results based on the tabulation plan, including analysis programs, output validation and troubleshooting *
o Final versions of datasets for analysis and public sharing, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and adherence to data documentation standards *
- Provide online training on data analysis workflows, including the use of standard tabulation programs in SPSS, Stata, or R
- Participate in local data interpretation and report compilations workshops **

* Reviews with feedback and suggestions for documents drafted by the local survey implementing agencies
** Require international travel
4. Digital Listing and Sampling System Development

- Support preparation of listing, mapping, and sampling digital applications*
- Review of listing data for quality and completeness*
- Integration of the selected sample into the CAPI application*
- Review of sample weights calculation and outputs*
- Collaborate with GIS experts to review maps, GIS points, and protocols for geospatial data analysis and dissemination
- Participate in and facilitate online trainings on digital listing, mapping, and sampling procedures *

*Reviews with feedback and suggestions for documents drafted by the local survey implementing agencies
5. Methodological Development and Innovation in Data Processing and Analysis Data Processing Systems and Workflow Management:
- Development and refinement of standard data processing workflows and tools
- Innovation and modernization of systems to align with evolving data standards and technologies
- Documentation of standard operating procedures for data processing activities
- Harmonization of data structures, indicator definitions and variable formats across survey rounds
- Development and maintenance of central repositories (e.g., SharePoint, GitHub) for data processing materials
- Design and testing of quality control protocols and automated consistency checks
- Strategic planning and coordination of resources for multi-survey data processing

- Collaboration with partners (e.g., IPUMS, UNICEF’s ICTD) on long-term system improvements and integration
Data Quality Assurance and Validation
- Development of standard data quality assurance protocols and automated validation tools
- Refinement of consistency checks and logical validation rules across surveys
- Integration of paradata analysis to support systematic quality monitoring
- Design of centralized scripts and dashboards for cross-country data validation
- Documentation of best practices for data review and quality control procedures
- Contribution to the methodology and tools used for the MICS Survey Quality Index
- Support to the development of guidance materials and quality checklists for country teams and consultants
- Exploration of AI applications to enhance efficiency and accuracy in data quality review processes
Data Analysis and Tabulation
• Further analysis on selected topics
• Support for the design and evolution of digital platforms such as the MICS Tabulator

ESTIMATED DURATION OF LTA
The Long-Term Agreement will be for a duration of three years.The services of the consultant(s) selected under the LTA would be under controlled use and managed by the Data Collection Unit in Data and Analytics Section/DAPM/HQ,and may be used to support Regional and Countries Offices.
QUALIFICATIONS / SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE / EXPERIENCE/ COMPETENCIES: (CORE/TECHNICAL/FUNCTIONAL) / LANGUAGE SKILLS REQUIRED FOR THE ASSIGNMENT

Note: Candidates are free to apply to any category based on their qualifications and experience. They can also apply for multiple categories. A candidate may be awarded an LTA for one or more than one category.

Language:
• Fluency in oral and written English is required

TECHNICAL EVALUATION CRITERIA (WITH WEIGHTS FOR EACH CRITERIA)

The selection of consultants for the LTA will be based on technical evaluation and financial offers in the ratio of 80:20. The criteria for technical evaluation will be as follows:

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

Financial Proposals should be submitted as a separate document from the materials required for the technical evaluation and should follow the template provided below. Include the name of the consultant, signature, address, contact no., email address, and date.

For each category, candidates should submit daily fees.

CONTRACTS CREATED AGAINST THE LTA

Whenever daily services are required, details of the assignment/deliverables including quantities and deadlines will be presented to the top-ranking LTA holder. Should this consultant not be available for this assignment, UNICEF will contact the second-ranked consultant (if applicable).
Upon receipt of confirmation of availability and interest in the assignment, a contract will be issued with the prices/fees as agreed in the LTA. The consultant must sign the contract prior to the commencement of work.
Payment will be made after the completion of deliverables and submission of invoices for the actual work completed, subject to satisfactory performance and timely delivery.

HOW TO APPLY:

The application to be submitted through the online portal should contain four separate attachments:

i. A Cover letter outlining the motivation for applying and suitability for position (to be uploaded online under “Cover Letter” tab)
ii. Curriculum Vitae (CV) (to be uploaded online under “Resume” tab)
iii. Minimum of three work samples for each Category applied (to be uploaded online under “Other – Applicant” as a single document containing work samples for all categories applied)
iv. A financial proposal (for each category applied) as per the template shown above. Please do not forget to specify your name in the file while saving (to be uploaded online under “Financial Proposal” tab).

Important Note: Please do not indicate financials anywhere else in the online application form, please mark "n/a or 00", under the fee related questions in the online application form.

Note: Only candidates who will be selected for the LTA will be asked to send these certificates of mandatory courses, consolidated in one single pdf: Ethics and Integrity at UNICEF,Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Abuse of Authority,BSAFE, and Sexual Exploitation Abuse (PSEA).

Without all the above 4 documents, your application will be considered incomplete and invalid and will not be considered further.
• Any attempt to unduly influence UNICEF’s selection process will lead to automatic disqualification of the applicant.
• Joint applications of two or more individuals are not accepted.
• Please note, UNICEF does not charge any fee during any stage of the 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 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.
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 (where 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.