ToR_NC_MICS_Reporting2.pdf
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, opportunity
UNICEF in Turkmenistan supports the Government of Turkmenistan in meeting its commitment to the Convention on the Rights of the Child as pledged in Turkmenistan’s National Plan of Action for Realization of the Rights of the Child. The current UNICEF Country Programme 2021 – 2025 responds to the strategic priorities of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).
How can you make a difference?
The Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) is an international household survey programme developed and supported by UNICEF. MICS is designed to collect estimates of key indicators that are used to assess the situation of children and women. Over the past 20 years, MICS has evolved to respond to changing data needs, expanding from 28 indicators in the first round to more than 200 indicators in the current seventh round, and becoming a key source of data on child protection, early childhood education, and a major source of data on child health and nutrition. In addition to being a data collection tool to generate data for monitoring the progress towards national goals and global commitments for promoting the welfare of children, MICS provides valuable data for the SDG monitoring.
The UNICEF Turkmenistan has already supported several MICS surveys in the past. Currently it supports the 7th round – MICS7. The MICS7 in Turkmenistan is at its final stages of finalizing the reporting products such as snapshots, Key Indicators Report and Survey Findings Report. In early 2025, Turkmenistan is to launch the MICS+ survey to complement the MICS7 with data on wellbeing of women and children in Turkmenistan. To ensure that the State Statistics Committee of Turkmenistan (SSC) is supported with the technical assistance necessary to produce statistically sound and reliable data, as well to streamline all implementation processes of MICS+, the UNICEF Turkmenistan Country Office is to hire a national consultant to provide needed technical support to the SSC and the UNICEF MICS Team.
Purpose of the Job
Under the overall supervision of the Monitoring and Evaluation (Child Rights) Specialist, and the Survey Coordinator from the SSC, the National MICS Consultant (NMC) will support UNICEF Turkmenistan and the SSC with the preparation, implementation and completion of the MICS+ survey in Turkmenistan. The NMC will advise the SSC, especially the Survey Coordinator and sampling and data processing experts, during the MICS+ planning, questionnaire design, sampling, training, fieldwork, data processing, data analysis, and dissemination, ensuring that MICS protocols and recommendations are being followed at all times. The NMC will communicate effectively between the UNICEF CO and SSC, responding promptly to MICS related technical needs and issues as they arise.
The NMC will be responsible for coordinating and supporting the work of other resource persons UNICEF may hire 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 with the Turkmenistan MICS Team.
Main Tasks Related to the Job
- Provide technical and facilitating support to the MICS+ survey.
- Present the MICS+ methodology, tools, and guidelines to partners/stakeholders (e.g. ministries, UN Agencies, etc.).
- Finalize, in collaboration with the SSC and UNICEF CO, the Survey Plan and Budget, including timetable and share with the Regional and Global MICS teams.
- 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 Ethical Committee on time for approval.
- Oversee each stage of the survey process and ensure that the MICS+ protocols and standards are followed by the SSC, more specifically during training and monitoring.
- Communicate regularly with the UNICEF CO and/or the UNICEF MICS Team responding to all MICS related issues in a timely manner.
- Take part in the calls with the MICS teams and provide updates on MICS+ activities.
- Coordinate the work of SSC 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.
- Ensure that external technical reviews by experts (i.e., Sampling, Data Processing, and Household Survey expert consultants) are carried out at key survey stages and coordinate the feedback and response between the CO, the UNICEF MICS Team and the SSC.
- 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, output and tabulation plan tables, syntaxes, datasets, Survey Findings Report, Statistical Snapshots, dissemination materials etc.).
- Participate in the MICS Steering and Technical Committee meetings.
- Organize, as required, and facilitate in training for interviewers and supervisors, and the national Data Interpretation and Report Compilation Workshop for MICS+.
- 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.
- Provide technical guidance on the dissemination methods and tools for MICS+ data nationally and sub-nationally.
Confidentiality of Data and MICS Documents
The NMC must respect the complete confidentiality of the MICS data as well as any specific MICS documents that will be produced throughout the MICS process. The NMC can use the documents and the datasets only for the tasks related to these Terms of Reference.
- MICS+ Planning:
- The Survey Plan and Budget, including timetable are finalized and shared with all stakeholders.
- In close consultations with UNICEF and SSC, survey supplies identified, list and specifications prepared.
- Sample design:
- Sample design is finalized by the sampling expert of SSC with the guidance and review of the UNICEF sampling expert;
- Sample design is reviewed by the UNICEF MICS Team before finalization;
- MICS+ questionnaires:
- Appropriate UNICEF programme staff and the Technical Committee are involved in reviewing the customization of relevant sections of the MICS+ questionnaire.
- Selected Modules address country data gaps and address SGD data needs.
- Questionnaires undergo translation and back translation process.
- Questionnaires and manuals undergo an ethical review.
- Questionnaires are pre-tested and a pre-test report is produced.
- Questionnaires are reviewed by the UNICEF MICS Team before finalization.
- Manuals:
- Supervisor and Interviewer Manuals are customized for the country specific context and translated.
|
-
-
-
- MICS+ Planning documents including the Survey Plan, budget, survey supplies specifications developed (10 days).
- Sample design facilitated by supporting the sampling expert and the SSC MICS team, Sampling completed (7 days)
- MICS+ questionnaire finalized in consultations with the SSC and UNICEF MICS teams, translation to Russian and Turkmen crosschecked with English; questionnaire and instructions submitted for ethical review, questionnaires pre-tested and relevant report developed; questionnaires review by the UNICEF MICS team coordinated and facilitated (10 days).
- Supervisor and Interviewer manuals/instructions are customized (5 days).
|
Deliverables #1 and 2 - March 2025
Deliverables #3 and 4 – April 2025
|
- Training, Data Collection and Processing:
- Training schedules are adequately adapted to the county context while following MICS+ guidelines.
- Contribute to organizing training.
- Monitoring performed according to MICS+ guidelines.
- Hardware is made available for the CAPI application (data collection and central office menu components), and software is properly installed and a working, data transfer system and data backup system is established.
- Monitor data processing and secondary data editing.
|
-
-
-
- Training of interviewers and supervisors facilitated by developing schedules, co-leading some sessions, and providing organizational support (7 days).
- Data collection process monitored ensuring MICS instructions and ethical standards are followed up by the interviewers (10 days).
- Data collection hardware and software available, and data transfer and back-up systems are operational (2 days).
- Data processing and editing processes monitored (5 days).
|
Deliverables #5,6,7, 8 – April-May 2025
|
- Data Analysis and Report Writing:
- Sampling weights are included in the datasets and reviewed by the sampling expert of the NSO with the guidance and review of the UNICEF sampling expert consultant.
- MICS+ tabulation plan and standard syntax are customized and used in generating SPSS dataset and tables.
- Dataset/Tables including the wealth index are substantively reviewed by technical experts (e.g., sampling and household survey experts) and subject matter experts at the SSC, as well as by the UNICEF MICS Team before the report writing commences.
- Coordinate and contribute substantively to the elaboration of the Survey Findings Report and Statistical Snapshots, using the MICS template and according to MICS standards to ensure a timely release.
- Ensure that the Survey Findings Reports and Statistical Snapshots undergoes the technical review process by the UNICEF MICS Team.
- Organize and facilitate the presentation of the Survey Findings Report and Statistical Snapshots through a national seminar.
|
-
-
-
- Data analysis and reporting technically supported by ensuring sampling weights are included in the datasets and reviewed by the sampling expert (5 days)
- The SSC MICS team supported with the customization of a tabulation plan and syntaxes; ensure the dataset/tables are regularly reviewed by the UNICEF MICS team; ensure and facilitate the communication of the SSC and UNICEF MICS team (10 days).
- The SFR and snapshots development coordinated and supported; ensure they are timely developed by the SSC and reviewed by the UNICEF MICS team (10 days).
- Support the organization and facilitate the MICS+ results launch event (2 days).
|
Deliverables #9, 10, 11, 12 – May-June 2025
|
- MICS data popularization and dissemination
- Provide technical expertise and advice for wide dissemination of the Survey Findings Report, Statistical Snapshots and main results.
|
-
-
-
- The SSC a schedule for MICS+ data dissemination meetings and events at national and local levels developed and consulted with the SSC and UNICEF (2 days).
- PPTs focusing on key results and territorial distribution (specific PPTs for 5 velayats and Ashgabat) developed for MICS popularization purposes (5 days).
|
Deliverables #13 and 14 – June-July 2025
|
Tasks are not chronological and will require simultaneous management. The NMC will be required to produce reports with updates describing his/her contribution to the progress of key deliverables described in this ToR or any other activities identified by the supervisor.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have
Education:
University degree in Economics, Statistics, Social Sciences or any other related technical field is required.
Skills and Experience:
- Proven minimum of 5 year experience in the coordination and/or management of quantitative household surveys.
- Strong computer skills and strong expertise in statistical analyses
- Experience with MICS or CAPI data collection.
- Training experience and ability to organize and facilitate training and presentations.
- Experience in data analysis and survey report writing.
- Excellent knowledge of Russian and English. Turkmen is desirable.
Other competencies:
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Excellent oral and written communications in language(s) required.
- 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 Statistics Committee
Submission of applications
The technical proposal should include
- A cover letter and CV, including P11 form
- Comments and suggestions on the ToR and proposed workplan and deliverables
Financial Proposal: Candidates needs to submit a financial proposal (All-inclusive consultancy fee) as a separate attachment in pdf file to complete the entire assignment based on the terms of reference. All-inclusive consultancy fee should be broken down to show the detail for the following:
|
Items
|
Quantity
|
Unit cost in USD
|
Total in USD
|
|
Consultancy Fee
|
90 days
|
|
|
|
Travel lump sum
(DSA and ticket included)
|
|
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
|
Total in USD
|
90 days
|
|
|
Applications without financial proposal will be disqualified.
The applicants should ensure that all pricing information is provided in USD. Invoicing will be in the currency of the proposal.
Selection Criteria
Each proposal will be assessed first on its technical merits and subsequently on its price. In making the final decision, UNICEF considers both technical and financial aspects to ensure best value for money. The Evaluation Team first reviews the technical aspects of the offer (on the basis of the qualifications described above), followed by review of the financial offers of the technically compliant candidates. The proposal obtaining the highest overall score after adding the scores for the technical and financial proposals together, that offers the best value for money will be recommended for award of the contract.
A cumulative analysis will be used to evaluate and award proposals. The evaluation criteria associated with this TOR is split between technical and financial as follows: 70% Technical, 30% Financial, 100 % Total.
For every Child, you demonstrate respect
UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).
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.