Consultancy Title:  Blood Testing Expert Consultant for Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) Support

Section/Division/Duty Station: Data and Analytics, DAPM, Florence (remote-based)

Duration: 01 October 2024 to 30 September 2025

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world’s leading children’s rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection and development. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

UNICEF is a UN organisation mandated by the UN General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. UNICEF is working with its partners to support the Governments to realise children’s rights on survival, development, protection and participation.

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 fulfil their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone

The Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) is an international household survey programme developed and supported by UNICEF. MICS is designed to collect data on key indicators that are used to assess the situation of children and women. Over the past three decades, MICS has continuously evolved to respond to changing data needs, expanding from 28 indicators in the first round in the mid-1990s to more than 250 indicators in the current seventh round, and has become a key source of data on child protection, early childhood education, and a major source of data on child health and nutrition. In addition to being a data collection tool to generate data for monitoring the progress towards national goals and global commitments for promoting the welfare of children, MICS provided valuable data for MDG and recently for SDG monitoring and reporting.

Since the inception of MICS in the 1990s, over 350 surveys have been carried out in more than 100 countries. As part of the global effort to further develop national capacities to generate and analyse high quality and disaggregated data, UNICEF launched the seventh round of MICS in 2023, with results of first surveys expected to be available by mid- to end-2024. This new round is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators endorsed by the UN Statistical Commission in 2016, following the global adoption of the 17 SDGs and 169 targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The final SDG indicator framework currently includes 231 global indicators, of which around one-third are household survey-based. Today, MICS is well-positioned to play a central role in this Agenda alongside other key demographic, health, and socio-economic surveys and to complement data from administrative sources and censuses. After undergoing rigorous methodological and validation work to broaden the scope of the tools and include numerous topics that reflect SDG indicators and emerging issues in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development context, MICS7 questionnaires in the new round cover half of the household survey-based SDG indicators.

Throughout its history, the Global MICS Programme has initiated and developed a wide range methodological advances with support of partners internal and external to UNICEF, both in areas of survey content and operationalisation. Increasingly, additional survey content sought by governments, UNICEF, and partners is of the most challenging nature. Recent additions to the standard MICS questionnaires include administration of reading and maths assessments of children, water quality testing, and the highly sensitive mental health and violence against women questions. The integration of these demanding components is accompanied with matching attention to expert technical assistance, quality control, and oversight. The methods, designs, and delivery of these expert mechanisms are well-established within the MICS Programme.

It is within this context that the Global MICS Programme is currently working towards the development and integration of a survey module and associated protocols on blood testing, specifically for lead, heavy metals, and other environmental health biomarkers, as well as haemoglobin (for anaemia), and malaria. The Programme has prior but limited experience with blood sampling, and while methodological work is ongoing, due to demand, several surveys are already confirming plans to include measurements.

Under the overall supervision of the Household Survey Specialist, the Global Blood Testing Consultant has the responsibility for developing the standard MICS questionnaire module and associated protocols. In collaboration with the Global MICS Team in UNICEF Headquarters (HQ) and Regional Offices (ROs), and the respective UNICEF Country Offices (COs), as well the UNICEF Programme Group staff on Climate, Environment, Energy & Disaster and national partners, the Consultant will support the preparation, implementation, and completion of up to three national MICS surveys in relation to the blood testing component.

Designs and protocols will follow those established for other components of the MICS Programme. The Consultant will work together with the Global MICS Team’s experts on sampling, data processing, and household survey support

Scope of  Work:

Under four broad categories of tasks, the Consultant will lead on the following main tasks, as related to blood testing, supported by the individual experts of the MICS Team.

1.Tools and processes

The MICS Programme has a full suite of tools and processes supporting each aspect of planning, implementing, and reporting surveys. These can be accessed through the MICS website. The Consultant will develop and/or support the development of (as related to blood testing):

1. The Indicators, Questionnaire module, customisation guidance, and complementary topic package document.
2. Field Measurer’s (phlebotomist’s) Instructions with training agenda/content, Measurer selection guidance
3. Sampling guidance and tools adjustment
4. Procurement guidance, computations for amounts.
5. MoU with appendix, Survey Plan, Budget, Ethical protocols, ToRs for survey management and consultants.
6. Technical Collaboration Framework, Global TA system, Global Laboratory system, and associated workshop materials.
7. Pre-test and CAPI test integration.
8. Field check tables, monitoring, quality control.
9. CAPI integration.
10. Tabulation plan.
11. Reporting templates

2. Support to relevant components of surveys piloting the module

All MICS surveys are provided expert technical assistance as outlined in the Technical Collaboration Framework (see bullet 5 above). However, as part of the development of the module, extensive technical assistance and support to quality assurance and oversight must be provided to the piloting surveys. The Consultant will support specific adaptation of the tools and processes as listed above (as related to blood testing) for:

12. One survey fielding in 2024 and planning of two more fielding in 2025.
13. As part of direct survey support, several missions relating to a) Protocol training and pre-test, b) Main fieldwork training (Measurer’s training) and pilot, and c) Fieldwork monitoring and field-to-lab logistics, must be undertaken.
14. Specifically for lead and other heavy metals, the Consultant will also, from a household survey point of view, contribute to design of follow-up environmental assessments to identify the sources of contamination, as related to the findings of the MICS surveys.

3. Design, implementation, analysis, and reporting of field test

The MICS Programme plans to undertake a dedicated field test on blood testing to fine tune protocols and to possibly test different options for measurements. The Consultant will support (as related to blood testing):

15. Development of test questionnaire and protocols as necessary.
16. The field test will be support on mission for training and fieldwork monitoring.

4. Global coordination

With keen interest from several partners, growing global demand, and coordination needs of an emerging topic, the Consultant will support (as related to blood testing):

17. The MICS Programme’s communication internally and externally. This will include conveying the progress and methodological findings of MICS to non-MICS surveys and partners, such as the DHS Program.

Represent the Programme on technical matters.

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

Output 1: Tools and Processes

Deliverables

(a) Review of the entire suite of standard MICS tools and processes to assess where updates or new tools/processes are required: Summary report of plan.

Delivery deadline: 30 October 2024

(b) Questionnaire module and associated tools (customisation guide, instructions, tabulation plan) drafted.

Delivery deadline: 30 October 2024

(c) Final Questionnaire module and associated tools.

Delivery deadline: 15 May 2025

(d) Completion of and reporting on effected or suggested updates to the existing suite of standard MICS tools.

Delivery deadline: 15 August 2025

Output 2: Survey fielding in 2024

Deliverables

(a) Design and pre-test training and fieldwork support, including logistics review.

Delivery deadline: 30 January 2025

(b) Fieldwork training and monitoring.

Delivery deadline: 30 January 2025

(c) Analysis and reporting

Delivery deadline: 15 May 2025

Output 3: Surveys fielding in 2025

Design and pre-test training and fieldwork support, including logistics review.

Delivery deadline: 15 August 2025

Output 4: Field test

(a) Design and implement field test.

Delivery deadline: 15 May 2025

(b) Report on field test.

Delivery deadline: 15 August 2025

Output 5: Coordination

Monthly summary reports of communication and progress.

Delivery deadline: 15 August 2025

Travel International

Country visits: Three visits to Bangladesh, one to Kenya and two to be decided.

Estimated number of days: 15 days

Qualifications:

Education

• Master’s degree in social sciences, Demography, Statistics, Epidemiology, or related technical field or Biochemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Laboratory Medicine, Toxicology, or related field.
• Expertise in statistical analyses (familiarity with data processing and data analysis software, SPSS highly desirable).

Work experience

At least 8 years’ experience in either:

• The coordination and/or management of quantitative household surveys, with significant experience in implementation of biomarkers, venous blood sampling, and associated logistics, or
• Coordination of large-scale studies involving blood sampling, with significant experience in quantitative household surveys

Competencies

• Fluency in English required. Knowledge of French, Russian, Arabic, and/or Spanish is an asset.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability and willingness to travel to all countries and to any location for fieldwork monitoring.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective relationships with national partners.
• Demonstrated leadership, managerial, and supervisory ability.

Requirements: 

• Completed profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system
• Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include:
• the costs per each deliverable and the total all-inclusive (lump-sum) fees for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

Health Insurance:

The Consultant is fully responsible for arranging at their own expense, such as life, health, and other forms of insurance covering the term of the Contract as he or she considers appropriate.  The Consultant is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members.

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: 

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.