TERMS OF REFERENCE
Consultancy for the development of the ‘Adolescent Score Card’:
A global framework of indicators that measure and track the progress of adolescent
development and wellbeing
Title:
Duration:
Location:
Consultancy for the development of the ‘Adolescent Score Card’
11 months (approximately 220 days)
Home-based, reporting to the Adolescent Development and Participation Section,
Programme Division
BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE
The identification of a core set of globally comparable indicators measuring adolescent development and
wellbeing is a need that was articulated in both Progress for Children: A report card on adolescents and the
Lancet Series on Adolescents that were launched jointly in April 2012. The publications noted a lack of
globally comparable data to measure progress for adolescents at the country level. The second gap
identified was the lack of a framework focused on the positive development of adolescents.
This consultancy will support the development of a results framework and proposed set of indicators that
will provide a common platform to identify, measure and track progress of adolescent development and
wellbeing across a variety of domains and settings. Based on initial work by UNICEF and WHO, the results
and supporting indicators will form the basis of a ‘score card’ that will support advocacy and policy work
globally while at the same time ensuring that results can be adaptable to national and regional situations
and priorities.
The ‘score card’ will be designed with a rights-based positive development approach that focuses on the
development of adolescents ‘assets’ as well as addressing needs. It will focus on five inter-related
overarching domains that reflect the ways in which national governments are usually organized and
incorporate the core policy and programme elements that have been agreed upon in previous international
consensus meetings.
• Adolescents attain their highest physical health & mental well-being;
• Adolescents feel safe and protected in their families, among their peers, in their schools and in their
social/virtual environment;
• Adolescents are actively engaged in learning in formal or non-formal education systems;
• Adolescents are socially, culturally and civically active in their communities;
• Adolescents are prepared for sustainable and non-exploitative, productive work.
Results and indicators within these domains will be used for target setting across agencies and contribute to
strengthening collaboration between development partners globally.
PURPOSE
UNICEF led an initial exercise to outline a draft set of results for adolescents in a positive development
framework based on the five domains described above. The draft framework is populated by 1) indicators
for which comparable data are currently collected on a regular basis in several countries 2) indicators for
which data are currently available only from a small subset of countries and 3) thematic priorities for which
well-defined validated indicators are currently not available. With this inception work led and supported by
UNICEF resources, the organization is now well-positioned to move this initiative forward to provide
Page | 1
technical guidance on indicators’ development, convening of partners for consensus, piloting the identified
measures in selected countries and advocating for their integration into regular data collection mechanisms.
UNICEF’s Office of Research (OoR) in collaboration with the Adolescent Development and Participation
(ADAP) and Data and Analytics sections in NYHQ is recruiting a senior consultant to lead the development of
a globally agreed framework and indicators to be developed into a ‘report card’ as described above. The
consultant will be responsible for leading technical and political processes in support of the development of
the framework and measures in collaboration with other parts of UNICEF-HQ, including the Data and
Analytics (D&A) team.
Starting in 2009, UNICEF has been working with external partners including representatives from other UN
Agencies (WHO, UNPFA) and others (Population Council, Harvard University, etc.) to develop new indicators
pertaining to adolescents and youth. The work also complements the work of the Lancet Commission on
Adolescent Health and Wellbeing and will serve to inform results measurement across the overall DfID
Global Girls Research Initiative (GGRI). The Consultant will engage with these and other stakeholders in
building consensus around the framework and measures.
STAGE 1
PREPARATORY
WORK
The work to be conducted under this consultancy will follow the project description and timelines described
in the table below.
January –
September
2014
(COMPLETED)
Background
analysis and
design of Draft
Results
Framework
Preparation involves collaboration with subset of Lancet
Commissioners, UNICEF regional and country offices, and other UN
agencies. Includes a verification of the work done to date, in
consultation with a range of partners on a bilateral basis.
15 December
2014- June
2015
Developing
consensus
around set of
domains and
indicators.
Technical
Development
and
Consultations
Consensus achieved through a consultation with civil society, donors,
implementers and other stakeholders including UN agencies on a core
set of domains, existing indicators and additional desirable, but not
readily available, indicators.
STAGE 2
June 2015- 15
November
2015
Piloting of “mini-score card” in three countries in three regions.
Preparation for a series of technical meetings on indicators and data
collection, with the purpose to agree upon an additional set of
indicators to include in the score-card. Meeting to include DHS, WHO
school-based surveys and others.
The agreed-upon discrete set of indicators are developed into a data
collection tool that can be piloted in three countries.
The consultant will work under the strategic guidance of the Chief, ADAP and in close consultation with the
Senior Planning Specialist at the Office of Research and Statistics Specialist in DRP.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Specific Activities to be completed to achieve the objectives
The specific tasks are as follows:
Stage 1: Develop a mini-scorecard based on bi-lateral discussions and technical consultation and pilot in
three countries. This “mini-scorecard” will contain indicators that are already available in the three test
countries. This stage will also include the identification of gaps to be filled in measuring results for
adolescents.
Page | 2
•
•
•
•
•
Consult and work with partners, develop the agenda and inputs, and ensure key stakeholders are
engaged in developing consensus on the process for agreeing on a global framework and domains.
Conduct preparatory meetings in support of the technical consultation and Identify existing indicators
that could form the mini-scorecard.
Hold technical consultation to agree on domains, existing indicators and gaps to be filled.
Create mini-scorecard based on agreed-upon domains and existing indicators
Test mini-scorecard in three countries and revise based on results.
Stage 2: Host a technical meeting(s) on indicators and data collection, with the purpose to agree upon
additional indicators and how additional data gaps can be filled.
• Consult and work with partners, develop the agenda and inputs, and ensure key stakeholders are
engaged in developing consensus on the process for agreeing on and the proposed indicators.
• Conduct preparatory analytic work in collaboration with Statistics Specialist in DRP, including (as
needed) a mapping of the results to existing global indicators, existing indicators collected on a limited
basis and those indicators desired by programming community but that do not yet exist.
• Complete a consultation report that presents the agreed indicators and a draft instrument for data
collection.
DELIVERABLES
Deliverables
Duration
(Estimated # of days)
Deadline
Project conceptualization and timelines completed.
20 days
31 December 2014
Bilateral meetings held, TOR for technical
consultation completed, possible indicators
identified.
20 days
30 January 2015
Invitations extended, draft framework with gaps
identified.
20 days
31 February 2015
Technical meeting held with stakeholders, agreeing
to domains and set of existing indicators for miniscorecard and identify gaps for additional indicators.
20 days
31 March 2015
Mini-scorecard developed for piloting in three
countries.
20 days
28 April 2015
Piloting of mini-scorecard in three countries.
20 days
31 May 2015
Mini-scorecard revised according to experience in
three countries.
20 days
30 June 2015
Conceptualization of technical meeting to fill the
existing gap on indicators; invitations sent.
20 days
31 July 2015
Complete preparatory analytic work and technical
inputs as needed.
20 days
30 August 2015
Technical consultation successfully held.
20 days
31 September 2015
Draft score-card developed, based on technical
consultation report and follow up.
20 days
15 November 2015
TOTAL
220 days
Page | 3
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES
• Advanced university degree in public health, demography, health policy/management or related social
sciences
• Strong substantive, technical background on indicator and framework development
• Experience in hosting global consultations, and consensus-building
• At least 10 years of work experience in public/global health, gender, adolescents or international
development involving data and analysis
• Proven rigor in analytical and conceptual skills relevant to development and comfort with policy analysis
• Strong understanding of data, programming and policies in country contexts, especially Africa and Asia
• Experience at the national and international levels in research and analysis, and especially monitoring
and evaluation and documenting evidence on adolescent issues
• Extensive knowledge of existing large datasets on adolescent health and wellbeing (such as DHS, GSHS
and MICS)
• Previous professional experience in data collection and data analysis on adolescent health and wellbeing
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, with strong interpersonal and presentation
skills
• High level of initiative and ability to undertake complex tasks while proactively seeking relevant input,
cooperation, and guidance from key constituents
• Fluency in English
SUPERVISION AND WORK ARRANGEMENTS
The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Chief of the ADAP unit. The consultant will work
remotely, with continuous interaction with the office. The consultant may be expected to travel, pending
confirmation by the UNICEF Headquarters.
Qualified candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, CV and P 11 form (which can be downloaded
from our website at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc ) to pdconsultants@unicef.org with
subject line “Adolescent Score Card” by Nov 26th, 2014 @ 5:00pm EST.
Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate to undertake the terms of reference above.
Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.
Page | 4