National Consultant to support National Statistical Office and UNICEF in preparation and implementation of MICS7

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, equity.

Since 1995, UNICEF has supported the implementation of six rounds of MICS around the globe, with more than 407 surveys conducted in 122 countries, out of which 61 surveys were from the UNECE region. MICS has continuously evolved to respond to changing data needs, expanding from a mere 28 indicators in the first round to 177 indicators in MICS7, and becoming a key source of high-quality data on the well-being of children and women. MICS surveys are also a key data source for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) monitoring and reporting. With enhanced content, now MICS surveys will be generating data on 40 SDG indicators – in other words, half of all SDG indicators can be sourced from household surveys. UNICEF launched the 7th round of MICS in 2023. As governments develop and implement national policies, plans and programmes, strategic planning and investments are required to generate robust, representative, and disaggregated data to form the much-needed evidence base. The new round of MICS presents a unique opportunity to support these processes by including full-scale MICS surveys in long-term statistical plans, or if this is not possible, by integrating selected MICS modules in ongoing or planned household surveys. The Global MICS programme has also introduced several new initiatives that were developed and tested during the course of the 6th round, including improvements in survey data processing, MICS GIS, MICS Plus, and MICS Link. As governments develop national frameworks to monitor progress toward the SDGs, strategic planning and investments are required to collect robust, more frequent, and timely data. This round of MICS presents a unique opportunity to support this process. The UNICEF Montenegro Office has already supported MICS surveys in 2006, 2013 and 2018. To support establishing a baseline / As part of the Mid-Term Review / other key objective of the 2023-2027 Country Programme cycle, UNICEF Country Office will support a MICS as part of the 7th round of the survey programme in 2025. To ensure that the implementation of the MICS survey runs smoothly, specific deadlines are met. The implementing partner, the National Statistics Office (MONSTAT) receives the technical assistance necessary to produce statistically sound and reliable data and for this purpose the UNICEF Montenegro Office will hire a full-time consultant to oversee the MICS process from preparatory work to release of results. The 2025-2026 MICS will be implemented using CAPI (Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing), in which the interviewer uses a tablet to record data. CAPI data collection reduces the time needed to collect and process.

How can you make a difference? 

Under the overall supervision of the UNICEF Montenegro Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, the National MICS Consultant (NMC) will support and provide guidance to UNICEF Montenegro and the MONSTAT for the preparation, implementation and completion of the MICS survey in Montenegro. The NMC will advise and support MONSTAT, especially the Survey Coordinator and sampling and data processing experts, during survey planning, questionnaire design, sampling, training, fieldwork, data processing, data analysis, reporting, dissemination and archiving, ensuring that MICS protocols and recommendations are being always followed. The NMC will communicate effectively between the UNICEF CO and MONSTAT, 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 persons 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 Montenegro`s MICS (collectively labeled “The UNICEF MICS Team”).
Scope of the work: 1. Provide technical and managerial support to the MICS Team in MONSTAT, 2. Present the MICS methodology, tools, and guidelines to partners/stakeholders (e.g., ministries, UN Agencies, etc.), 3. Finalize, in collaboration with national partners and UNICEF Montenegro, the Survey Plan and Budget, including the timetable, and share with the Regional MICS Coordinator, 4. 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,5. Oversee each stage of the survey process and ensure that the MICS protocols and standards are followed by the MONSTAT, more specifically during training and field supervision visits,6. Communicate regularly with the UNICEF CO and/or the UNICEF MICS Team, responding to all MICS-related issues in a timely manner,7. Provide monthly updates on MICS activities to the UNICEF Montenegro and Regional MICS Coordinator, 8. Coordinate the work of MONSTAT 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,
9. 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 MONSTAT, 10. 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.),11. Participate in all MICS Steering and Technical Committee meetings,12. Participate in, and contribute to MICS Regional Workshops,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.

Education: Master’s degree in, Demography, Statistics, Social Sciences, Epidemiology, or any other related technical field is required. PhD is desirable.
Skills and Experience: University degree in, Demography, Statistics, Social Sciences, Epidemiology, or any other related technical field is required; 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; Previous working experience with UN/UNICEF on similar assignments. 

Language: Excellent oral and written communication in Montenegrin and English language is required.
Other competencies: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.  Familiarity and previous experience of working in Montenegro 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 National 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.

Payment instruction: The payments will be made upon successful completion of the deliverables and submission of invoices. The Consultant is to develop a lump sum in line with the latest GSSC payment instructions. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines.

e-Learning: Upon conducting the recruitment process and prior to the signing of the contract, the consultant will be required to complete the following online courses. All certificates should be presented as part of the contract.
1. Ethics and Integrity at UNICEF
2. Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Abuse of Authority (PSEAA)
3. Prevention of Sexual Exploitation Abuse (PSEA)

Before commencement of any travel on behalf of UNICEF, the Consultants must complete course on General Information Security Awareness Course.

In addition to above, any consultant who is issued a UNICEF email address must complete the following courses no later than 30 days after signature of contract:  Fraud Awareness.  General Information Security Awareness Course (only for consultants with a UNICEF email address). The above courses can be found on Agora through the following link: AGORA: Log in to the site (unicef.org).

Selection methodology: All applicants will be screened against qualifications and requirements set above. Candidates fully meeting all the requirements will be further evaluated based on the criteria below. The proposal will be evaluated against the following criteria:
A) Technical criteria – Technical evaluation process / Maximum points: 70
1. Technical Criteria – please select:
Desk review of CVs – 70 % of total evaluation– max. 70 points
• Education: 15 points
• Previous experience: 25 points
• Technical questions at interview: 30 points
Only candidates who obtained at least 70% of points from the technical part (who will score at least 49 points) will be qualified for considering for financial proposal evaluation.
B) Financial criteria – evaluation of financial proposal – Maximum points: 30
The applicants are requested to submit their financial proposal as a separate document consisting of all-inclusive professional fee for the services to be provided. Financial scores will be calculated using the formula [lowest offer / financial offer of the candidate x 30].

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

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.