National Consultant to coordinate the MICS Survey
Qualifications of National Consultant to coordinate the MICS Survey:
- Location: Panama
- Vacancy No: 582793
- Salary: N/A
- Organization: UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fun
- Deadline: 20 Aug 2025
Brief details about National Consultant to coordinate the MICS Survey:
About
Information about the organization that has offered the job:
The Multiple Cluster Surveys (MICS) is an international household survey program developed and supported by UNICEF. MICS is designed to collect estimates of key indicators used to assess the situation of children and women. Over the past three decades, MICS has evolved to respond to changing data needs, growing from 28 indicators in the first round to over 250 indicators in the current seventh round. It has become a key source of data on child protection, early childhood education, and an important source of data on children’s health and nutrition. In addition to being a data collection tool for generating data and monitoring progress toward national targets and global commitments to promote child well-being, MICS has provided valuable data for monitoring and tracking the Sustainable Development Goals.
The UNICEF Panama Country Office has already supported the 2013 MICS surveys. The UNICEF Panama Country Office will support a MICS as part of the seventh round of the survey program in 2025-2026. To ensure that the MICS survey implementation runs smoothly, specific deadlines are met, and that the implementing partner, the Ministry of Social Development and the National Institute of Statistics and Census, receive the necessary technical assistance to produce statistically reliable and robust data, the UNICEF Panama Country Office will hire a full-time consultant to oversee the MICS process, from preparatory work to the publication of results.
Panama’s 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 required to collect and process survey data, facilitates real-time monitoring, improves data quality, and reduces survey costs.
How can you make a difference?
Under the general supervision of the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, the National MICS Consultant (CNM) will support and provide guidance to UNICEF Panama, INEC, and MIDES in the preparation, implementation, and completion of the MICS survey in Panama. The CNM will advise and support the Government, especially the Survey Coordinator and the sampling and data processing experts, during survey planning, questionnaire design, sampling, training, fieldwork, data processing, data analysis, reporting, dissemination, and archiving, ensuring that protocols and recommendations are followed at all times. The CNM will communicate effectively with UNICEF and the government counterpart, responding promptly to MICS-related needs and issues as they arise.
The CNM will be responsible for coordinating and supporting the work of other specialists contracted by UNICEF to provide technical assistance to the MICS process. The consultant will work closely with the survey team, stakeholders, and the Steering and Technical Committees and will represent UNICEF in survey-related meetings and workshops, as needed. The CNM will also work closely 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 Panama with the MICS (collectively, the “UNICEF MICS Team”).
Main work-related tasks
- Provide technical and managerial support to MICS.
- Present the MICS methodology, tools and guidelines to allies/stakeholders (e.g., ministries, UN Agencies, etc.).
- Finalize, in collaboration with national partners and UNICEF CO, the Survey Plan and Budget, including the timeline, and share it with the Regional MICS Coordinator.
- Ensure that the Ethics Protocol and other ethical recommendations are addressed in the survey implementation process and that all MICS-related documents are shared with the National/International Ethics Committee in a timely manner for approval.
- Oversee each stage of the survey process and ensure that MICS protocols and standards are followed by INEC and MIDES, specifically during training and field supervision visits.
- Communicate regularly with the OC, the UNICEF MICS team, responding to all MICS-related issues in a timely manner.
- Provide monthly updates on MICS activities to the COs and the UNICEF Regional MICS Coordinator.
- Coordinate the work of INEC and MIDES specialists, the UNICEF MICS team, and other specialists assigned by the CO and/or the UNICEF MICS team to support the various stages of the survey.
- Ensure that external technical reviews by experts (e.g., experts and consultants in sampling, data processing, and household surveys) are carried out at key stages of the survey and coordinate feedback and response between CO, the UNICEF MICS team, INEC, and MIDES.
- Ensure that all survey-related documents and deliverables are properly archived throughout the survey process (e.g., Memorandum of Understanding, Survey Plan and Budget, Questionnaires, Manuals, Sample Design, Training/Pre-Test Reports, Expert Reports, CAPI Application, Fieldwork Tables, Production and Tabulation Plan Tables, Syntax, Datasets, Cluster Geocodes, Shapefiles with Boundaries, Survey Results Report, Statistical Snapshots, Dissemination Materials, etc.).
- Participate in all meetings of the MICS Steering and Technical Committee.
- Participate and contribute to MICS Regional Workshops.
- Organize, as needed, and facilitate the National Data Interpretation and Report Compilation Workshop.
- Ensure that lessons learned, challenges, and good practices are documented throughout the MICS process and promptly shared with the MICS community (other MICS implementing countries and the UNICEF MICS team) through all available means.
- Support the planning and customization of other MICS initiatives (MICS Plus, MICS GIS, MICS Link) in collaboration with the experts of these initiatives from the Global MICS Team.
- Provide assistance to the UNICEF Panama Office in other processes related to data, surveys, studies, and strengthening the national statistical system.
- Technical proposal that must include:
- Consultant’s cover letter, indicating previous experience and motivation for undertaking the consultancy.
- Resume that verifies each of the requirements detailed in the “Consultant Profile” section.
During the proposal evaluation period, if necessary, applicants may be invited to exploratory calls to learn more about the proposed methodology for achieving the consultancy’s objectives.
- Detailed financial proposal indicating monthly fees. The total cost of the requested deliverables/products is considered the financial proposal. For the delivery of the consultancy products, ongoing on-site work with government institutions located in Panama City is required. Approved missions within and outside Panama will not be included in the consultant’s fees and will be paid based on actual costs in accordance with UNICEF regulations. Fees payable to a consultant must follow the principle of “best value,” that is, achieving the desired result at the lowest possible rate. This contract does not allow for payment of time off, sick leave, or taxes. Important note: In the case of residence outside of Panama, the financial proposal must include (on a separate line) the cost of the round-trip airfare, at all costs and under all conditions, for the consultant’s proper transportation.
Qualification of proposals
The technical proposal is evaluated on a maximum of 70 points distributed as follows:
- Consultant profile (70 points maximum)
| A university degree in Demography, Statistics, Social Sciences, Epidemiology or any other related technical field is required. | Without a bachelor’s or postgraduate degree: 0 points
Bachelor’s degree: 15 points Postgraduate or master’s degree: 25 points |
| Minimum of 5 years’ proven experience in coordinating and/or managing quantitative household surveys (MICS, Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), others) | No: 0 points
Yes, between 1 – 2 previous surveys: 15 points Yes, 3 or more previous surveys: 20 points |
| Strong computer skills and strong experience in statistical analysis (familiarity with data processing and data analysis software, particularly SPSS) | No: 0 points
Yes, between 3 and 5 years of experience: 15 points Yes, more than 5 years of experience: 25 points |
To qualify as a children’s rights defender you must meet these requirements:
Education: University degree in Demography, Statistics, Social Sciences, Epidemiology or any other related technical field is required.
Skills and Experience:
- Minimum of 5 years’ proven experience in coordinating and/or managing quantitative household surveys (previously MICS or Demographic and Health Survey (DHS)) is desirable.
- Strong computer skills and strong experience in statistical analysis (familiarity with data processing and data analysis software, particularly SPSS).
- Experience with CAPI data collection.
- Experience in training and ability to organize and facilitate training and presentations.
- Experience in data analysis and survey report writing.
Other skills:
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills,
- Excellent oral and written communication in Spanish.
- Familiarity and previous work experience in Panama and/or the region are highly desirable,
- Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective relationships within and outside the organization, more specifically with National Statistical Offices.
- Demonstrated leadership, management and supervisory skills.
- Ability and willingness to travel extensively in the country and attend regional workshops
Terms of payment:
- Subject to conditions established in the contract.
- Payment upon delivery of the product to the complete satisfaction of the UNICEF supervisor. To receive payment, an invoice must be submitted in accordance with current Panamanian regulations.
- Payments will be credited to the consultant’s and/or contractor’s account approximately 15 days after the invoice is submitted to UNICEF.
Penalties for poor performance:
Payment of fees to the consultant and/or contractor in accordance with this contract, including periodic installments or payments (if any).