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, Health

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How can you make a difference?

Scope of Work:

The global Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) program was developed by UNICEF in the 1990s. It serves as an international, multi-purpose household survey supporting countries in collecting internationally comparable data. A wide range of indicators related to the situation of children and women can be used to generate data that informs policies, programs, and national development plans.

The Afghanistan MICS 2022-23 was conducted by UNICEF in collaboration with the National Statistics and Information Authority. Although the report has been published and shared with various stakeholders, there is a need for further data analysis to plan tailored interventions at the program level. To address this, the Afghanistan UNICEF country office plans to conduct a secondary analysis of the MICS 2022-23 data. This endeavor requires concentrated efforts and high-level technical expertise to ensure that key areas and requirements outlined in the Terms of Reference (TOR) are thoroughly captured and reflected in the secondary analysis. Therefore, UNICEF Afghanistan is recruiting an international consultant to perform this task.

In addition, the consultant will also review other datasets available related to MNCH services including newborn care, design and manage study to ascertain cost of vaccinating a child in Iraq and help prepared manuscripts at the end of studies and data analysis.

The consultancy is for 70 days of work during a contract period of one year starting (June 2024 – May 2025).  The consultant will work remotely and occasional agreed visits to Kabul with Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) as per the UN rates.

Key Tasks:

The international consultant will have to perform the following key tasks/activities:

1. Coordinate with MoPH and key partners (with UNICEF support), including concerned ministry departments, for the MICS 2022-23 secondary analysis.
2. Secondary analysis of MICS 2023:  20 working days:

• Trend Analysis for Vaccination and MNCH services.
• Recalculate coverage percentage of each antigen against the “N” for each province and at the national level.
• Secondary analysis of full immunization coverage with MCV2.
• Proportion of 3 or more ANC visits with two doses of Td vaccine.
• Immunization Trend analysis and compare with the last Afghanistan MICS 2010-11.
• Determinants of Maternal, Newborn and Child mortality and vaccination coverage.
• Disaggregate key indicators by ethnicity, sex, area of residence (urban/rural), wealth, regions and mother’s education (if possible lower than provinces, e.g.  by district), accompanied by visualization on a map (if possible).
• Assess the rate of skilled birth attendance in non-institutional deliveries.
• Define correlation between postnatal care, diarrhea, ARI, fever, services modality, and health seeking behavior.
• Rank neonatal mortality including still-birth and miscarriages by provinces by highest deprivation for key indicators.
• Compare the MICS 2023 data with the previous MICS data for key indicators (or with any other permissible administrative or study, where possible).

3. Analysis of the data collection on the Assessment of Newborn care in Health Facilities – 15 working days.

UNICEF is undertaking a rapid assessment of RMNCAH services availability assessment across all 34 provinces. Data are being collected from a representative sample of health facilities.

This assessment will help understand the status of RMNCAH needs, identify the gaps, and help with resource mobilization and program support efforts.

Two separate checklists were prepared for BPHS & EPHS facilities. It is an ODK based data collection at the point of use using following indicators:

• RMNCH Services (ANC, PNC, OPD, OT, Delivery room).
• Childcare Services (Child OPD, Pediatric Ward).
• QoC indicator data – records and registers.

Consultant will analyze the data and produce descriptive tables, analyze data and generate a 5-10 pages report on summary findings and generate 1-2 manuscripts.

4.  Coordinate a study “Estimating the cost of Vaccinating a Child in Afghanistan”- 15 working days.

a.  Prepare the RFP for the study and manage the study.

b.  Contribute into the analysis, report writing.

c.  Manuscript writing.

5.  Writing manuscripts on various research priorities to improve program efficiency- 3-4 papers and 2-3 policy briefs based on the above activities – 20 working days.

Payment modality: 

Payment will be made in installments linked to number of days worked and completion of specific tasks/deliverable as described in the ToR under Work Assignment Overview.

Responsibilities of UNICEF:

Provide all details pertaining to and the requirements for each assignment.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

– Applications must include:

• Cover Letter.
• Resume.
• References.
• Technical proposal incl. overview of availability during the 12-month assignment period, per month; and experience with UNICEF donor reporting.
• Financial offer in USD. (This should be the day rate for working days).

–  Applications submitted without financial and technical proposals will not be considered.

–  Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advanced 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.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• A PhD in Public Health or Health-related subjects is a must.
• At least 10 years of experience in Analysis of the MICS Data is must and involvement in cost estimate of vaccinating children studies.
• Knowledge and experience in working with UNICEF and writing Policy briefs.

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 here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

Remarks: 

Interested consultants are required to apply online, indicating availability and all-inclusive lump sum fee to undertake the terms of reference.

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.