UNICEF

Home Based Data Processing Consultant



Posted	August 04, 2013



Employment Type	Independent Contractor



Compensation



Company



Location	3 United Nations Plaza New York, NY 10017 US

JOB DESCRIPTION

If you are a passionate and committed professional and want to make a lasting difference for children, UNICEF, the world’s leading organization working for the rights of children, would like to hear from you. We are seeking four consultants for Data Processing support for Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS).

UNICEF places a high priority on the availability of recent and reliable information with which to monitor the situation of children and women. Since 1995, through Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), UNICEF has supported countries for the collection of statistically sound and internationally comparable data essential for developing evidence-based policies and programmes, as well as for monitoring countries’ progress toward national goals and global commitments, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Over the last 17 years and four rounds of MICS, 240 MICS surveys have been conducted in more than 100 countries. The fifth round of the MICS is scheduled for 2013-2015. Survey results from participating countries will be available starting from the end of 2013. The data generated in the fifth round of MICS surveys (and other nationally representative household surveys) will be critically important for final MDG reporting. MICS5 surveys will generate data on more than 20 MDG indicators. The United Nations Secretary General’s Final MDG Progress Report will be launched in September 2015. Given the time constraints to produce first survey results by April-May 2014, fieldwork (data collection) for MICS surveys that will be conducted mainly for the producing data for the final MDG assessment should be completed by the end of 2013 or during the first quarter of 2014. Beyond final MDG reporting, MICS5 surveys will contribute to the evidence base of other important initiatives.

The number of countries planning to conduct MICS in 2013-2014 is expected to be around 40, but may increase further as countries finalize their MDG reporting plans or decide to conduct MICS for monitoring of national development plans.

In order to ensure that the final MICS5 results are produced in accordance with international standards and best practices, UNICEF is encouraging implementing countries to use a standard CSPro data entry and editing application, as well as SPSS tabulation syntax files developed for data processing and analysis purpose. Countries are introduced to the CSPro and SPSS software as well as customization recommendations during the MICS “Data Processing” regional workshops. A customized set of standard programs is later used for producing the MICS survey results.

In order to ensure that the survey data is properly entered and edited and that analysis of the survey results is carried out in accordance with the global standards, UNICEF has developed standard MICS5 data entry and editing application templates, a standard data collection application for CAPI data collection in CSPro, tabulation and analysis programs in SPSS, and manuals and guidelines for the data processing process in MICS. Implementing countries will be required to customize and adapt the standard MICS5 programs for data entry, editing, and analysis, and country data processing teams will be introduced to the CSPro and SPSS software during the MICS “Data Processing” workshops in 2013 and 2014.

Under the overall supervision of the Statistics Specialists (Data Processing Experts) of the MICS Team, the Data Processing Consultants will support the on-going methodological work on MICS, provide further review and recommendations for improvements of standard tools, facilitate a MICS Data Processing Workshop, and provide coordinated feedback, customized data processing tools, and applications.

The selected consultants are expected to:

Provide support to one MICS Data Processing Workshop by facilitating selected sessions and working bilaterally with different countries on data entry, editing, analysis, and archiving programs
Provide technical inputs for further development and improvement of the MICS5 data processing tools
Technically review the standard MICS5 data entry and editing application in CSPro by checking the consistency between questionnaires, CSPro, MICS5 dictionaries, forms, and algorithms
Technically review all the components of the data entry system, including operator’s and supervisors menus, secondary editing application, fieldcheck tables, and export programmes
Technically review the standard MICS5 data collection application in CSPro by checking all the components of data collection system, including the interviewers' system (collecting data for the new household, revisit household, modify completed household, list eligible individuals, record anthropometry, individual questionnaire menu, data utilities, list questionnaires), the supervisor’s system (data monitoring and control for the following: assign households, receive data from interviewers daily, keep track of status for every household, check data structure, report overall summaries for the cluster, ZIP data to send to central office, get and distribute system updates, backup data to SD cards), and central office system (centralized data and monitor fieldwork designed to: receive clusters from supervisors via internet, prepare system updates, reports & structure checking by cluster, review interviewer notes for cluster, run secondary editing programs by cluster, modify data using the same data collection applications, close clusters after they are reviewed, run field check tables, monitor fieldwork operation by cluster or supervisor)
Technically review the standard MICS5 tabulation programs by checking the consistency between questionnaires, list of indicators, tabulation plan, and algorithms
Technically review MICS5 data processing manuals and guidelines
Report and document suggested improvements of the data entry, editing, and tabulation programs
Review and provide feedback (working remotely and in coordination and collaboration with the Global MICS Team) on the following country survey Data Processing materials to ensure that they comply with MICS standards: data entry/collection and editing application, analysis programs and produced tabulations, survey archive

Four consultants are sought depending on skill sets of incumbents for a total of 206 days. The activities will be distributed based on expertise, languages, and immediate availability for urgent work.

The ideal candidates for this position are experts in data management with a master’s degree or higher in Information Technologies, Statistics, Demography, or a related technical field and the skills and work experience described in the Qualifications section. The Consultants will work remotely with travel required (to be determined based on project qualifications/assignments). The project will start September 1, 2013 and end June 30, 2014.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Data Processing Workshop: 11 days plus 2 days travel and preparation per consultant (2): 26 days
Technical review of standard survey tools and recommendation for further improvement: 60 days
Review and feedback on country data processing programs and materials: 120 days

QUALIFICATIONS

Master’s Degree or equivalent in Information Technologies, Statistics, Demography, or any other related technical field with special expertise in data management
Eight years of experience in data processing for household surveys at a minimum
Knowledge of the CSPro
Knowledge of the SPSS
Must be familiar with the data processing approach of both MICS and Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS)
Experience working in developing countries
Excellent computer and internet skills
Fluent English-speaking and writing skills
Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills
Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships both within and outside the organization
Willing to preserve confidential information
Willing to travel to other countries as required
Previous experience working with the UN system is a plus
Able to meet project dates starting September 1, 2013 and ending June 30, 2014

BENEFITS

There are no benefits associated with this position.