UNICEF Regional Office for Central and Eastern Europe and Commonwealth of
Independent States (UNICEF CEE/CIS RO)
TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR AN INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT
MULTIPLE INDICATOR CLUSTER SURVEY (MICS) HOUSEHOLD SURVEY CONSULTANT
26 Sep 2014 – 16 Aug 2015
Background
Statistically sound and internationally comparable data are essential for developing evidencebased policies and programmes, as well as for monitoring countries’ progress toward national
goals and global commitments. Since 1995, UNICEF has supported the implementation of the
Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), assisting countries in generating high quality data
on the situation of children and women. Over the last 17 years and four rounds of MICS, 240
MICS surveys have been conducted in more than 100 countries.
MICS enables countries to produce statistically sound and internationally comparable estimates
of a range of indicators in the areas of health, education, child protection, water and sanitation
and HIV and AIDS. For many countries, MICS surveys are among the most important sources
of data used for situation analyses, policy decisions and programme interventions, and for
influencing the public opinion on the situation of children and women.
During 2013-2015, UNICEF will support the fifth round of MICS surveys. MICS will be
generating information for over 20 MDG indicators and will be, along with other nationally
representative household surveys, important for tracking national priorities.
MICS surveys are carried out by government organizations, with the support and technical
assistance of UNICEF. When countries adhere to the MICS protocols and recommendations
and make use of the tools provided, the survey process goes very smoothly. However, in many
countries, as the evaluation of the third round of MICS also confirms, the provision of survey
tools alone has not been sufficient without the additional support of experienced personnel
providing technical assistance to MICS implementing partners.
Therefore, as part of the MICS5 programme, UNICEF will continue to strengthen its MICS
technical support mechanism at the regional level so that surveys can receive the required
level of technical assistance at critical stages of the survey.
As of now, all surveys in the CEE/CIS region that are part of the fourth round of MICS have
been completed with only one final report pending. Within the fifth round, final reports of two
surveys have been finalised. Fieldwork of six surveys has been completed; they will now
require support with finalisation of datasets and tabulation programmes, finalisation of tables,
report writing, archiving and dissemination. There is another survey that is in a planning/design
stage that will additionally require support in respect to survey and sample design, review of
questionnaires, pre-test, main training and fieldwork monitoring. The UNICEF CEE/CIS RO
household survey consultant will provide support to selected surveys in the above-mentioned
stages of the survey implementation.
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Purpose
Under the supervision of the UNICEF Regional M&E Advisor and in close consultation with the
Regional MICS Coordinator, the Regional MICS Household Survey Consultant has the
responsibility for supporting the preparation, implementation and completion of the MICS in
selected countries in the CEE/CIS region.
Main Tasks
1. Support the Regional MICS Coordinator in providing technical assistance and oversight for
assigned surveys in the region;
2. Provide support to Regional MICS Workshops;
a. Data Processing Workshop: when necessary, work bilaterally with different countries
on datasets, data quality, tabulation plans and final report contents.
b. Data Dissemination and Further Analysis Workshop: facilitate selected sessions as
needed and work bilaterally with countries on the interpretation of their MICS data and
on the development of dissemination plans
3. From a distance and in coordination and collaboration with the Regional MICS Coordinator,
review and provide feedback to COs on the following documents for compliance with MICS
standards;
a. Survey plans (including budget and training plans for pre-test and main fieldworker
training)
b. Questionnaires and Manuals, including the translated versions
c. Sample design (in collaboration with the Regional Sampling Consultant)
d. Data entry, editing and recoding programmes (in collaboration with the Regional Data
Processing Consultant)
e. Pre-test report
f. Tabulation plans
g. Datasets and tabulations (in collaboration with Regional Data Processing Consultant)
h. Key Findings and final reports
i. Archives
4. To provide technical assistance and ensure quality, support countries remotely or through
in-county visits in carrying out the following survey activities:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Survey planning and questionnaire design
Pre-test training and pre-test
Fieldwork training and fieldwork monitoring
Data analysis
Report writing
5. As needed, take part in missions carried out by the Regional MICS Coordinator to support
COs in negotiating, promoting and presenting MICS to governments and other partners.
6. Provide support to countries on report writing remotely or during regional workshops.
Review the MICS summary findings and final reports produced by countries
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7. As needed, support countries in data archiving.
8. Ensure timely update of the regional team’s space with the relevant country documents.
9. Support the Regional MICS Coordinator with further analysis of MICS data.
10. In collaboration with the MICS Regional Coordinator, provide country and regional status
survey up-dates to RO and HQ.
Qualifications and Competencies
Education
At least a Master’s Degree or equivalent in Social Sciences, Demography, Statistics,
Epidemiology, or other related technical field with significant measurement or analysis
component is required.
Skills and Experience



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At least 8 years’ experience in the coordination and/or management of quantitative
household surveys. (Prior MICS/DHS coordination experience highly desirable);
Expertise in statistical analyses (familiarity with data processing and data analysis software,
SPSS highly desirable);
Experience in survey report writing;
Fluency in English and excellent oral and written communications in Russian or another
widely-used language in the region;
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
Ability and willingness to travel to all countries across of the CEE/CIS region.
Other competencies
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Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and
effective relationships with national partners;
Demonstrated leadership, managerial and supervisory ability.
Deliverables
1.
Report on each survey design reviewed outlining key recommendations and proposed
changes and how the survey plans meet or do not meet MICS technical standards – within
7 days after submission by the country.
2.
Feedback on draft questionnaires using the questionnaire review form – within 5 days
3.
4.
5.
Country visit reports (including presentations and training materials) for each country
visited – within 7 days after the visit.
Regional workshop trip report(s) – within 7 days after the workshop.
Presentations and training materials used in workshops and trainings – within 7 days after
6.
Documented review of pre-test report with recommendations – within 7 days after the
after submission by the country.
the workshop/training.
submission by the country.
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7.
Documented review of the fieldwork training and data collection activity in each country
with clear recommendations - within 3 days after the end of the training and 3 days after
a monitoring visit.
Feedback on field-check tables through e-mail - within 3 days after submission by the
country.
9. Comments and feedback on each key findings report and final report reviewed using the
standard review template -within 7 days after the submission by the country.
10. Review of data dissemination plans and survey data archives with clear recommendations
– within 7 days after the submission by the country.
11. Evidence of other distance technical support through e-mail.
12. Quarterly activity log with the name of a country, type of support, date and
time spent for each task specified clearly.
8.
Estimated Duration of the Contract
75 days from 26 September 2014 till 16 August 2015.
Consultant’s Work Place and Official Travel
Regional Household Survey Consultant will work from home using own equipment and
stationary. The consultant will be expected to travel to 2-3 countries and participate at regional
MICS workshops. During country visits, UNICEF country office or the partner will provide
working space for the consultant.
How to apply
Qualified candidates are requested to email a cover letter, CV and P11 form (which can be
downloaded from http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_53129.html) as well as the
attached MICS Consultancy Profile form to smahmudlu@unicef.org by 15 August 2014 with
the subject line ‘Regional Household Survey consultant’. Please indicate your relevant
experience, availability and daily rate to undertake the terms of reference above.
Applications submitted without a daily rate will not be considered.
MICS consultant
profile form.docx
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