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UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to protection

Since 1995, UNICEF has supported 122 countries implementing six rounds of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) globally, facilitating over 407 surveys, including 61 in the Europe and Central Asia region. Over the years, the MICS programme has evolved to meet changing data needs, expanding from just 28 indicators in its first round to 177 in MICS7. Today, MICS is a leading source of high-quality data on the well-being of children and women, and it plays a crucial role supporting countries monitoring and reporting on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With its enhanced content, MICS now generates data on 40 SDG indicators, meaning that household surveys can provide data for half of all SDG indicators.

As North Macedonia establishes national frameworks to track SDG progress, strategic planning and investment in frequent, timely, and high-quality data collection are essential. MICS7 is well positioned to support these efforts.

North Macedonia has already implemented four cycles of MICS surveys, and the 2026–2030 Country Programme anticipates UNICEF support to the State Statistical Office to implement MICS7. In this context, UNICEF seeks to engage a consultant to support SSO in the management of the entire MICS process, from preparatory work through to the release of results.

The 2026–2027 MICS in North Macedonia will utilize Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI), enabling interviewers to record data directly on tablets. This approach streamlines data collection and processing, reducing the time required to deliver high-quality results.

How can you make a difference? 

Under the overall supervision of the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist and the SSO National MICS Coordinator, the National MICS Consultant (NMC) will support the SSO for the preparation, implementation, completion and publication of the MICS survey in North Macedonia. The NMC will support SSO during survey planning, questionnaire design, sampling, training, fieldwork, data processing, data analysis, reporting, dissemination and archiving, ensuring that MICS protocols and quality standards are consistently implemented. The NMC will ensure effective liaison between the UNICEF CO and SSO, responding promptly to MICS-related needs and issues as they arise.

The NMC will be responsible for coordinating and supporting the work of other resource people hired by UNICEF to provide technical assistance to the MICS process. The consultant 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. The NMC will also work in close collaboration with the Regional MICS Coordinator at the UNICEF Regional Office (RO) and the MICS Team at UNICEF Headquarters (HQ), as well as experts and consultants assigned to support the North Macedonia`s MICS (collectively labeled “The UNICEF MICS Team”).

Purpose and Objectives:

Under the overall supervision of the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist and the SSO National MICS Coordinator, the National MICS Consultant (NMC) will support the SSO for the preparation, implementation, completion and publication of the MICS survey in North Macedonia. The NMC will support SSO during survey planning, questionnaire design, sampling, training, fieldwork, data processing, data analysis, reporting, dissemination and archiving, ensuring that MICS protocols and quality standards are consistently implemented. The NMC will ensure effective liaison between the UNICEF CO and SSO, responding promptly to MICS-related needs and issues as they arise. The NMC will be responsible for coordinating and supporting the work of other resource people hired by UNICEF to provide technical assistance to the MICS process. The consultant 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. The NMC will also work in close collaboration with the Regional MICS Coordinator at the UNICEF Regional Office (RO) and the MICS Team at UNICEF Headquarters (HQ), as well as experts and consultants assigned to support the North Macedonia`s MICS (collectively labeled “The UNICEF MICS Team”).

Scope of the work: 

1. Provide technical and managerial support to the MICS Team in SSO.

2. Present the MICS methodology, tools, and guidelines to partners/stakeholders (e.g., ministries, UN Agencies, development partners).

3. Prepare and participate in fundraising activities (develop fundraising materials, liaise with relevant Ministries to identify available national and international funding sources, participate in meetings, documenting lessons learned and best practices from fundraising activities for future reference)

4. Finalize, in collaboration with national partners and UNICEF North Macedonia, the Survey Plan and Budget, including the timetable, and share with the Regional MICS Coordinator.

5. Ensure that the Ethical Protocol and other ethical recommendations are addressed in the survey implementation process and that all MICS-related documents are shared with the national/international Ethical Committee on time for approval.

6. Oversee each stage of the survey process and ensure that the MICS protocols and standards are followed by the SSO, more specifically during training and field supervision visits.

7. Communicate regularly with the UNICEF CO and/or the UNICEF MICS Team, responding to all MICS-related issues in a timely manner.

8. Provide monthly updates on MICS activities to the UNICEF North Macedonia and Regional MICS Coordinator.

9. Coordinate the work of SSO specialists and the UNICEF MICS Team, and other resource persons assigned by the UNICEF CO and/or the UNICEF MICS Team to support different survey stages.

10. Ensure that external technical reviews by experts (i.e., Sampling, Data Processing, and Household Survey experts and consultants) are carried out at key survey stages and coordinate the feedback and response between the CO, the UNICEF MICS Team and the SSO.

11. Ensure that all survey-related documents and deliverables are properly archived throughout the survey process (for example: Memorandum of Understanding, Survey Plan and Budget, questionnaires, manuals, sample design, training/pre-test reports, expert reports, CAPI application, field check tables, output and tabulation plan tables, syntaxes, datasets, cluster geocodes, boundary shapefiles, Survey Findings Report, Statistical Snapshots, dissemination materials, etc.).

12. Participate in all MICS Steering and Technical Committee meetings.

13. Organize, as required, and facilitate the national Data Interpretation and Report Compilation Workshop.

14. 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 and the UNICEF MICS Team) through all means available.

15. Support planning and customization of other MICS initiatives (MICS Plus, MICS GIS, MICS Link) in collaboration with the relevant experts of these initiatives from the Global MICS Team.

For further details on the deliverables and the timeline please review the complete Job Description here:  Work Assignment and timeline.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: University degree in Demography, Statistics, or any other related technical field is required. An advanced degree will be considered as asset.

Skills and Experience:

• Proven minimum of 5-year experience in the coordination and/or management of quantitative household surveys (prior MICS or Demographic and Health Survey (DHS)) preferred,
• Strong computer skills and strong expertise in statistical analyses (familiarity with data processing and data analysis software, particularly SPSS),
• Experience with CAPI data collection,
• Training experience and ability to organize and facilitate training and presentations,
• Experience in data analysis and survey report writing.

Language:

• Fluency in Macedonian and English is required. Knowledge of another local language is an asset.

Other competencies:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills,
• Excellent oral and written communication in Macedonian and English language is required,
• Proven ability to facilitate multi-stakeholder technical discussions and to translate complex methodological issues into clear messages for non-technical audiences.
• Familiarity and previous experience of working in North Macedonia and/or in the region are highly desirable,
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and to establish harmonious and effective relationships both within and outside the organization, more specifically with State Statistical Offices,
• Demonstrated leadership, managerial and supervisory ability,
• Ability and willingness to travel extensively in-country and to attend regional workshops.

Other:

• Confidentiality of Data and MICS documents

How to apply: When applying, please upload

- your most recent CV,

- Cover letter and

- financial proposal. The financial proposal should indicate the Gross amount per month in Macedonian Denars. 

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. 

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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:  

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.