Result of Service

Project orientation a) With support from ESCAP and UNICEF technical team, co-facilitate two two-day orientation workshops (one in Jharkhand and one in Bihar) which includes training on the principles, concepts and methods of CRVS systems and the CRVS Improvement Framework for the Core Teams of CRVS stakeholders; b) In consultation with the local consultants, develop a data mapping and needs assessment for each State; Business Process Improvement (BPI) c) Provide guidance to the local consultant to conduct consultations with stakeholders to develop the ‘as-is’ process descriptions for current CRVS business processes in both Jharkhand and Bihar; d) In consultation with the local consultant, develop a first draft of ‘as-is’ process descriptions for current CRVS business processes; e) With support from ESCAP and UNICEF technical team, co-facilitate two four-day capacity building and consultation workshops for Business Process Improvement in Jharkhand and Bihar; f) In consultation with the local consultant, develop the final reports from the business process improvement activity which contains the results and recommendations. Following the development of the work programme, the consultant will be asked to submit a monthly progress report assessing the progress against the work programmes and outline the work provided. The senior advisor will use pre-existing training material for the webinars to be delivered to the Core Team of CRVS stakeholders and the local consultant.

Work Location

Jharkhand and Bihar, India

Expected duration

01 Aug – 31 Dec 2024

Duties and Responsibilities

At the Ministerial Conference on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in Asia and the Pacific held in November 2014, governments in Asia and the Pacific adopted the Ministerial Declaration to “Get Every One in the Picture”, as well as the Regional Action Framework on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in Asia and the Pacific, and declared the Asian and Pacific Civil Registration and Vital Statistic Decade, 2015-2024 (CRVS Decade). The Regional Action Framework outlines goals and targets to support the achievement of the shared vision outlined in the Ministerial Declaration that, by 2024, all people in Asia and the Pacific will benefit from universal and responsive CRVS systems facilitating the realization of their rights and supporting good governance, health and development. According to the midterm reports submitted by countries in 2019/2020 (halfway through the CRVS Decade), many still need to invest significantly to accomplish the vision of universal and responsive CRVS systems, including by improving CRVS business processes, producing civil registration-based vital statistics and assessing inequalities related to CRVS experienced by subgroups of the population. The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) collaborates with development partners to provide coordinated support to member States in strengthening their national CRVS systems through the development of technical and operational resources, carrying out regional research and analysis, delivering technical advisory services, providing training and facilitating the sharing of experiences. At present, ESCAP is collaborating with the Bloomberg Philanthropies Data for Health Initiative (D4H) to support improvements to CRVS systems in Asia and the Pacific. More specifically, the project aims to develop statistical capacity and demographic skills within National Statistical Offices (NSOs) and other line ministries/organizations responsible for the production of vital statistics. This includes various activities at national, subregional and regional levels such as capacity building workshops, technical advisory services, knowledge sharing activities as well as development of knowledge products. UNICEF supports CRVS system strengthening efforts focused on improving birth registration, a fundamental right under Article 7 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989. In India, UNICEF supports governments at the national level as well as select lagging states to strengthen data and governance, systems and financing and access to improved birth registration services. One in five children under five years of age is neither registered nor have a birth certificate in four states (Nagaland, Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh), making these states a clear priority for accelerated action. Jharkhand is among few states in India where universal registration of births and deaths is yet to be achieved, as per the mandated timeline and completeness provisioned by the RBD Act, due to challenges related to IT infrastructure, duplicate applications and limited public awareness of the importance of civil registration. In Jharkhand, UNICEF is supporting community-facing campaigns jointly with the Government of Jharkhand to catch-up progress to expand coverage of registration services of vital events online. In Bihar, UNICEF is working with the Government to develop extensive Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaigns to improve coverage of online registration throughout the State. The revamped CRS portal developed by the Office of the Registrar General (ORGI) is soon to be launched in the State and IEC materials will be redesigned to promote the additional features of online registration, including self-registration. ESCAP and UNICEF India have developed a joint proposal for CRVS strengthening activities with the Department of Planning and Development, Government of Jharkhand and Planning and Development Department, Government of Bihar, India. The proposed activities aim to strengthen the civil registration and vital statistics systems in Jharkhand and Bihar, in addition to building the capacity of CRVS stakeholders to undertake business process improvement as part of routine system performance monitoring. The joint programme of work includes two main elements: – Business Process Improvement (Assessment, Analysis and Redesign of CRVS Business Processes); – Comprehensive data mapping (as a pre-requisite for the production of civil registration-based vital statistics) A Core Team of CRVS stakeholders for the State of Jharkhand and the State of Bihar will be established who will participate in project activities. To work with the Government of Jharkhand and the Government of Bihar in implementing these activities, ESCAP seeks to hire a consultant with expert knowledge and skills in civil registration and vital statistics, as well as experience in providing technical advice to countries. The consultant will be jointly reporting to ESCAP and UNICEF India.

Qualifications/special skills

A degree from a recognized university in demography, statistics, public health, policy analysis or related fields A minimum 10 years of work experience on CRVS related issues, including supporting countries strengthening their CRVS systems. Have recognized expertise in the subject of civil registration and vital statistics, including expertise with using the CRVS Systems Improvement Framework and familiarity with the CRVS system in India.

Languages

Good communication skills in English and good communication skills in Hindi desirable.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.