National Consultant: Strengthening statistical accuracy and relevance of products from national sanitation data system, Accra Ghana (Remote)
Job no: 592898
Position type: Consultant
Location: Ghana
Division/Equivalent: Dakar (WCAR), Senegal
School/Unit: Ghana
Department/Office: Accra, Ghana
Categories: WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene)
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.
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For every child, the right to Results
In Ghana, UNICEF cooperates with the Government and other partners to defend the rights of children and help them fulfill their potential. With offices in Accra and Tamale, the UNICEF team seeks to achieve results in strategic programme areas. The overall goal is for every child to survive and thrive, to live in a safe and clean environment, to learn, to be protected from violence and exploitation, and to have an equitable chance in life. The current Country Programme of cooperation is aligned with the Government priorities, the UN Sustainable Development Partnership (UNSDP) and Key Results for Children (KRCs) in the West and Central African Region (immunization, nutrition, learning outcomes, ending child marriage and ending open defecation). UNICEF main strategies include evidence-based advocacy, system strengthening, integrated programming across sectors, emergency preparedness and response, and innovation.
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How can you make a difference?
Under the Government of Ghana-UNICEF WASH Programme, the Basic Sanitation Information System (BaSIS) was developed and operationalized as the first Management Information System for sanitation in Ghana, with capacity to collect and analyse routine data on sanitation in communities and with functions for consolidating data from district level. BaSIS has helped to provide information on the progress of sanitation interventions at district level, allowing the effectiveness of sanitation interventions to be assessed. The roll out of BaSIS offered Environmental Health Officers an appreciation of the use of data and has resolved challenges associated with using paper systems for data collection with the attendant undercounting or overestimation of toilets constructed in communities and errors in the counting of Open Defecation Free (ODF) populations.
Whilst the design of BaSIS made use of analytics to enhance data accuracy, it did not deal with the fundamental issues of data definitions and data literacy among field facilitators and its impact on the data fed into BaSIS. To address this challenge, UNICEF collaborated with the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) in 2021 to review the questionnaires for BaSIS, resulting in the development of a Field Officers Manual for the community baseline questionnaire. Through that collaboration, GSS was also supported to align sanitation data from the Population and Housing Census with global definitions from the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme.
UNICEF seeks to procure the services of a consultant to ensure that data collection instruments and analytical frameworks satisfy all the elements of data quality and integrity, generating information that is accurate and consistent in all contexts and settings. Standardized measurements are expected to be incorporated into analytical and reporting tools, allowing for meaningful comparison of data over time and across different locations.
The assignment will focus on providing specialized statistical input for two interrelated consultancies on developing Climate Resilient Safely Managed Sanitation (CRSMS) Monitoring Tools and a Programme Activity Planning, Budgeting and Implementation (PAPBIM) Toolkit. The assignment to be executed on a retainer basis for three years will ensure that data produced from the use of these sanitation programme management and monitoring tools is statistically accurate and relevant for the sector’s needs.
The consultant will be expected to work with diverse stakeholders including the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, National Development Planning Commission, Office of the Head of Local Government Service and Ghana Statistical Service. The consultancy contract will be signed in two phases with Phase II being subject to performance of the selected consultant, continued relevance of the assignment and availability of funds. The scope of work is outlined below.
Scope of Work:
Phase I- Statistical Reviews, Framework and Manual Development
1. Undertake a statistical review of the district sanitation update tool and reports ensuring that data from the use of the tool is statistically accurate, with provision for longitudinal analysis across years and comparability across districts. The consultant will be expected to recommend sampling frames that ensure data is representative whilst prioritizing affordability of data collection exploring approaches such as the Lot Quality Assurance Survey (LQAS). The consultant will also be required to support delineation and super imposition of boundaries from various sectors at district level ensuring that micro plans can be generated for diverse sub-districts including electoral areas, health sub- districts and education circuits. Specific activities expected to be undertaken include:
o Undertake data assessment of District Sanitation Update Tool
o Propose design and sampling frame for survey components of District Sanitation Update Tool ensuring cost-effectiveness
o Review analytical tools and reporting frameworks with due consideration for various sub-district boundaries.
o Lead the preparation of data collection manuals and training materials
o Support the identification and training of data collectors and supervisors as well as training of district teams including District Environmental Health Staff, Community Development Officers, Statisticians, Engineers and Planners.
o Provide support for data transcription, analysis, visualization and reporting, ensuring strict review through a statistical lens.
2. Undertake a statistical review of all tools for planning, implementation and reporting on sanitation at district level identifying data needs and assessing how workflows have made provision for collection, review, quality assessment and analysis of data. Tools include the CRSMS tools, Area-wide implementation guides, PAPBMIN toolkit, District Sanitation Planning Framework and National Sanitation Protocol.
3. Develop training manuals, guidelines and protocols for data collection, analysis and use, ensuring credibility through processes of quality assurance. The manuals will be used by all relevant stakeholders at national, regional and district level. As the manuals will be used in all 261 districts, provision should be made for guidelines for identifying and training a core group of resource persons who will serve as data champions and train others in the effective use of these manuals.
4. Facilitate a sanitation sub-sector data assessment for sanitation and development of a vision for a national data system on sanitation, complete with a theory of change and plan of action for enhancing data availability, consistency and quality at both national and sub-national levels
Phase II – Operationalising Manuals and Frameworks
5. Facilitate the development and establishment of a framework that integrates sanitation data from multiple complementary sources (Surveys, Census and Routine systems) with features that ensure consistency and comparability of data from all sources and facilitates national level reporting and decision making. Detailed activities include:
a. Develop a set of questions and indicators to be integrated into national surveys such as to Population and Housing Census, Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, Demographic and Health Survey, Ghana Living Standards Survey, Annual Household Expenditure Surveys, and Institutional surveys, to guarantee minimum and comparable sanitation data across board.
b. Link the data generated from national surveys with that from administrative data systems for sanitation and establish clarity on how national progress data should be calculated and reported. The framework should clearly describe the type of data generated from each system, its importance and linkages with others.
c. Clarify linkages between the national progress data and JMP Data for Sanitation and provide technical briefs to support communication and statistical literacy.
6. Facilitate the development and roll -out of a partnership framework through which data availability, quality, consistency and use can be enhanced, resulting in widespread and inclusive data driven decision-making across the country. Activities to be implemented under this task include:
d. Development of a scheme for sustaining data collection, quality assurance, analysis, reporting and use at MMDA level, exploring the complete structure of the district assembly and functionaries available. The scheme should ensure credibility of data at this level through complementary roles and responsibilities across functions.
e. Development of a framework for enhancing data intelligence among different actors in sanitation and transforming them into effective users and data advocates. The framework should classify sanitation actors into data personas in line with expectations for their use of data and indicate specific objectives for each group. The framework should also enable reporting on progress among the various persona groups using qualitative and quantitative measures as a way of building momentum for scaling-up. Actors expected to be considered at district level include community volunteers, field facilitators and district officials in technical, managerial and political categories. Provision should also be made for officials at the regional and national level.
f. Establishment of data interoperability framework for sanitation related indicators across relevant sectors including Health, Education, Business Development and Employment, Gender and Social Protection.
g. Establishment of a collaborative framework for sanitation data management between Government Institutions with oversight functions over MMDAs such as the RCCs, OHLGS, MLGCRA, GSS and NDPC clearly outlining institutional roles and responsibilities.
h. Identification and establishment of cost-effective and sustainable partnerships with research, training and academic institutions to collaborate on sanitation data initiatives clearly outlining roles and responsibilities.
i. Facilitate the establishment of a platform for students and young professionals to engage in data innovations, evidence generation and data advocacy leading to a multiplication of the impacts of sanitation policy interventions. The platform should also enable the injection of fresh expertise into sanitation data management work at MMDA level through collaboration with the National Service Authority.
In applying for this assignment, interested persons are to provide a detailed methodology and workplan clearly depicting the duration over which each task is expected to be completed. The applicant is also required to present a price quotation which clearly states the expected man-days for each task, his/her daily professional fee, DSA and kilometric transportation rates for road transport all in local currency (GHS)
Kindly click on the link to access the template for the financial proposal: [attach JD/TOR here]
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
Education: Advanced Degree in Statistics, Mathematics or related field
Work Experience: At least 10 years of relevant work experience in statistics.
Skills:
- Expertise in complex data analysis, identification of trends and underlying issues
- Experience in WASH data analysis and reporting
- Experience working with Government or Donor Funded projects
- Experience with establishing statistical frameworks and preparing guidelines
Language Requirements: Fluent in English
Desirables:
- Experience in training and capacity building
- Design and implementation of surveys
- Experience working with and providing technical support to persons without statistical background
- Experience in training and capacity building
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. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.
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 candidate 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.
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