Consultancy, Supporting UNICEF Activities for Child Mortality Estimation(UN Children's Fund)-Job vacancies in USA

Job title:Consultancy, Supporting UNICEF Activities for Child Mortality Estimation
Organization: UN Children's Fund
Job Location: United States of America
Deadline: 18 Feb 2014
Terms of Reference:
Consultancy, Supporting UNICEF Activities for Child Mortality Estimation
New York, 2014

Background:
Child survival monitoring is one of the main activities for UNICEF as a response to the commitments to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and other international agreements as well as the A Promise Renewed. UNICEF has direct responsibility to monitor and assess child mortality indicators at the global, regional and country level and to these efforts, the organization is engaging governments, civil society, international organizations, academic organizations and individuals working in this area. UNICEF and other members of the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (IGME) including WHO, the UN Population Division and The World Bank generate child mortality estimates every year for monitoring MDG 4. The IGME and its Technical Advisory Group aim to work on improving the methodology to access data quality and to estimate child mortality.

As the leading agency of the IGME, UNICEF maintains the child mortality database – CMEInfo. CMEInfo is a comprehensive data portal on child mortality. It uses leading-edge information technology to visualize in a transparent way how national data can be used to generate child mortality trend estimates. During the last three years, the user workspace/ interface of CMEInfo has been improved greatly. Due to the increasing demands for using CMEInfo to generate under-five mortality estimates, UNICEF is working on further enhance CMEInfo to make the expert workspace/interface of CMEInfo more efficient in producing estimates.

UNICEF is producing more child mortality estimates than previous years including newly added sex-specific estimates, neonatal mortality estimates, uncertainty intervals for mortality estimates, uncertainty intervals for annual rates of reduction.

Due to the increasing emphasis on equity, UNICEF and the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (IGME) are now regularly compiling child mortality data by gender, residence, wealth quintiles and mother’s education and conducting more analyses on equity in child mortality.

In the context of A Promise Renewed (APR), more in-depth analyses on child mortality are required. Preparation and analyses for the APR report requires additional staff time and resources.

In addition, UNICEF HQ is planning to provide more technical support to countries for trend analyses on child mortality and identifying gaps in the context of APR.

UNICEF will conduct country consultations prior to the release of the child mortality estimates to allow for feedback from countries on the underlying data and estimates. Two regional workshops on child mortality estimation are planned during 2013 to provide technical training to countries.

Due to the increasing demand mentioned above, UNICEF Statistics and Monitoring Section seeks two consultants to assist in accomplishing these tasks.

Objective:
The main objective of this consultancy is to further enhance the expert workspace/interface of the CMEInfo, maintain and optimize the child mortality database, assist in generating child mortality estimates, prepare for country consultations, prepare for the Child Mortality Report and A Promise Renewed report under the supervision of the child mortality specialist in SMS, Policy and Strategy.

Specific duties:
a. Compile child mortality data in specific format that required by the database, including under-five mortality, infant mortality, neonatal mortality by sex, wealth quintiles, residence and education of mother, as well as ratio of neonatal to under-five mortality and ratio of neonatal to infant mortality
b. Upload data on child mortality for all of countries and areas into CMEInfo and ensure all data are correctly uploaded. The data include newly available vital registration data from WHO, data from newly available surveys, for total, male and female.
c. Generate draft estimates of under-five mortality and infant mortality rate for total, male and female as well as number of deaths
d. Generate draft estimates of neonatal mortality rate as well as number of neonatal deaths
e. Prepare the work for the IGME meeting
o make estimates available for review during the meeting
o assist in the preparation of the meeting, including printing agenda, make presentation files, etc.
o attend the meeting to review the estimates along with other IGME members
o write notes of the meeting
f. Revise estimates based on the recommendations from the IGME meeting.
g. Prepare the paper work to conduct country consultation for the estimates and follow up with countries and UNICEF regional or country offices on feedbacks.
h. Finalize estimates based on feedback from country consultation and assist in preparing child mortality reports.
i. Assist the APR report preparation including conducting analysis and drafting the report.
j. Prepare the launch of the Child Mortality 2014 Report and the A Promise Renewed Report, including printing relevant documents, Making CMEInfo and relevant websites ready to be launched, disseminating the report, review press release documents, etc.
k. Test CMEInfo at every step during the period advancing and improving CMEInfo to ensure high quality output.
l. Assist in the preparation of regional workshops, webinars and brownbag presentations on child mortality
m. Assist in the preparation of the Technical Advisory Group meeting
n. Assist in the preparation of the MDG storylines, including conducting relevant analyses, preparing tables and graphs.

Duty Station:
The consultant will be based in UNICEF Headquarters in New York.

Duration:
The consultancy will take place between 3rd March 2014 and 31st Jan 2015.

Activities and Outputs:
Main outputs/deliverables Estimated
Duration
(days) Deadline
1. Updated neonatal mortality database, including neonatal mortality, ratio of neonatal to under-five mortality, ratio of neonatal to infant mortality and ratio of neonatal to infant mortality 21 March 31, 2014
2. Updated database on under-five mortality rate, infant mortality rate; update mortality disparity database, including under-five, infant and neonatal mortality by sex and by other sub-group 21 April 30, 2014
3. Draft estimates of under-five and infant mortality rates and number of deaths for total, male and female; draft estimates of neonatal mortality rates and number of deaths; draft documents for IGME meeting 21 May 30, 2014
4. Draft IGME meeting minutes; Revised estimates of under-five and infant mortality for total, male and female as well as revised neonatal mortality estimates based on recommendations from IGME meeting in May; Well-organized country consultation on the IGME estimates 21 June 30, 2014
5. Finalized child mortality estimates after country consultation; Draft results from analysis for the Child Morality Report; draft results from analysis for the A Promise Renewed Report 22 July 30, 2014
6. Final analysis results for the Child Morality Report and the A Promise Renewed Report; Final Child Mortality Report, A Promise Renewed Report and Statistical Snapshot on Child Mortality 21 August 31, 2014
7. Launch of child mortality estimates, reports and CMEInfo; Updated data.UNICEF.org; finalized tables for SOWC report 21 September 30, 2014
8. Draft documents including presentation files, meeting agenda, training documents for regional workshops and webinars. 22 October 31, 2014
9. Completed regional workshops, webinars and brownbag presentations on child mortality and relevant reports if necessary; Completed Technical Advisory Group meeting 19 November 30, 2014
10. Compile newly available data on child mortality including neonatal, infant and under-five mortality; Updated child mortality database and enhanced CME Info; 22 December 31, 2014
11. Draft storylines for the MDG report and analysis on mortality disparity 21 January 31, 2014
TOTAL person days 232 working days

Travel:
One trip to field is expected for this consultancy.

Key skills and experience required:
The consultant should have the following skills and qualifications:
• Minimum Bachelor Degree in statistics, demography or public health.
• Minimum 3 years of professional experience in the area of database management, demographic and statistical analysis.
• Advanced experience in statistical programming with R or Splus.
• Experience of working on CMEInfo expert workspace.
• Detail-oriented.
• Excellent communication and writing skills.
• Ability to take initiatives and work independently.
• Creativity and enthusiasm.
• Ability to work well in a team environment.
• Fluent in English.

General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants / Individual Contractors

Legal Status:
The individual engaged by UNICEF under this contract as a consultant or individual contractors (the “Contractor”) is engaged in a personal capacity and not as representatives of a Government or of any other entity external to the United Nations. The Contractor is neither a “staff member” under the Staff Regulations of the United Nations and UNICEF policies and procedures nor an “official” for the purpose of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, 1946. The Contractor may, however, be afforded the status of “Experts on Mission” in the sense of Section 22 of Article VI of the Convention and the Contractor is required by UNICEF to travel in order to fulfill the requirements of this contract, the Contractor may be issued a United Nations Certificate in accordance with Section 26 of Article VII of the Convention.

Obligations:
The Contractor shall complete the assignment set out in the Terms of Reference for this contract with due diligence, efficiency and economy, in accordance with generally accepted professional techniques and practices.
The Contractor must respect the impartiality and independence of UNICEF and the United Nations and in connection with this contract must neither seek nor accept instructions from anyone other than UNICEF. During the term of this contract the Contractor must refrain from any conduct that would adversely reflect on UNICEF or the United Nations and must not engage in any activity that is incompatible with the administrative instructions and policies and procedures of UNICEF. The Contractor must exercise the utmost discretion in all matters relating to this contract.
In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, the Contractor (a) will conduct him- or herself in a manner consistent with the Standards of Conduct in the International Civil Service; and (b) will comply with the administrative instructions and policies and procedures of UNICE relating to fraud and corruption; information disclosure; use of electronic communication assets; harassment, sexual harassment and abuse of authority; and the requirements set forth in the Secretary General’s Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse.
Unless otherwise authorized by the appropriate official in the office concerned, the Contractor must not communicate at any time to the media or to any institution, person, Government or other entity external to UNICEF any information that has not been made public and which has become known to the Contractor by reason of his or her association with UNICEF or the United Nations. The Contractor may not use such information without the written authorization of UNICEF, and shall under no circumstances use such information for his or her private advantage or that of others. These obligations do not lapse upon termination of this contact.

Title rights:
UNICEF shall be entitled to all property rights, including but not limited to patents, copyrights and trademarks, with regard to material created by the Contractor which bears a direct relation to, or is made in order to perform, this contract. At the request of UNICEF, the Contractor shall assist in securing such property rights and transferring them to UNICEF in compliance with the requirements of the law governing such rights.

Travel:
If UNICEF determines that the Contractor needs to travel in order to perform this contract, that travel shall be specified in the contract and the Contractor’s travel costs shall be set out in the contract, on the following basis:

(a) UNICEF will pay for travel in economy class via the most direct and economical route; provided however that in exceptional circumstances, such as for medical reasons, travel in business class may be approved by UNICEF on a case-by-case basis.

(b) UNICEF will reimburse the Contractor for out-of-pocket expenses associated with such travel by paying an amount equivalent to the daily subsistence allowance that would be paid to staff members undertaking similar travel for official purposes.

Statement of good health:
Before commencing work, the Contractor must deliver to UNICEF a certified self-statement of good health and to take full responsibility for the accuracy of that statement. In addition, the Contractor must include in this statement of good health (a) confirmation that he or she has been informed regarding inoculations required for him or her to receive, at his or her own cost and from his or her own medical practitioner or other party, for travel to the country or countries to which travel is authorized; and (b) a statement he or she is covered by medical/health insurance and that, if required to travel beyond commuting distance from his or her usual place or residence to UNICEF (other than to duty station(s) with hardship ratings “H” and “A”, a list of which has been provided to the Contractor) the Contractor’s medical/health insurance covers medical evacuations. The Contractor will be responsible for assuming all costs that may be occurred in relation to the statement of good health.

Insurance:
The Contractor is fully responsible for arranging, at his or her own expense, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the term of this contract as he or she considers appropriate taking into account, among other things, the requirements of paragraph 5 above. The Contractor is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members. The responsibility of UNICEF and the United Nations is limited solely to the payment of compensation under the conditions described in paragraph 7 below.

Service incurred death, injury or illness:
If the Contractor is travelling with UNICEF’s prior approval and at UNICEF’s expense in order to perform his or her obligations under this contract, or is performing his or her obligations under this contract in a UNICEF or United Nations office with UNICEF’s approval, the Contractor (or his or her dependents as appropriate), shall be entitled to compensation from UNICEF in the event of death, injury or illness attributable to the fact that the Contractor was travelling with UNICEF’s prior approval and at UNICEF’s expense in order to perform his or her obligations under this contractor, or was performing his or her obligations under this contract in a UNICEF or United Nations office with UNICEF’s approval. Such compensation will be paid through a third party insurance provider retained by UNICEF and shall be capped at the amounts set out in the Administrative Instruction on Individual Consultants and Contractors. Under no circumstances will UNICEF be liable for any other or greater payments to the Contractor (or his or her dependents as appropriate).

Arbitration:
(a) Any dispute arising out of or, in connection with, this contract shall be resolved through amicable negotiation between the parties.

(b) If the parties are not able to reach agreement after attempting amicable negotiation for a period of thirty (30) days after one party has notified the other of such a dispute, either party may submit the matter to arbitration in accordance with the UNCITRAL procedures within fifteen (15) days thereafter. If neither party submits the matter for arbitration within the specified time the dispute will be deemed resolved to the full satisfaction of both parties. Such arbitration shall take place in New York before a single arbitrator agreed to by both parties; provided however that should the parties be unable to agree on a single arbitrator within thirty days of the request for arbitration, the arbitrator shall be designated by the United Nations Legal Counsel. The decision rendered in the arbitration shall constitute final adjudication of the dispute.

Penalties for Underperformance:
Payment of fees to the Contractor under this contractor, including each installment or periodic payment (if any), is subject to the Contractor’s full and complete performance of his or her obligations under this contract with regard to such payment to UNICEF’s satisfaction, and UNICEF’s certification to that effect.

Termination of Contract:
This contract may be terminated by either party before its specified termination date by giving notice in writing to the other party. The period of notice shall be five (5) business days (in the UNICEF office engaging the Contractor) in the case of contracts for a total period of less than two (2) months and ten (10) business days (in the UNICEF office engaging the Contractor) in the case of contracts for a longer period; provided however that in the event of termination on the grounds of impropriety or other misconduct by the Contractor (including but not limited to breach by the Contractor of relevant UNICEF policies, procedures, and administrative instructions), UNICEF shall be entitled to terminate the contract without notice. If this contract is terminated in accordance with this paragraph 10, the Contractor shall be paid on a pro rata basis determined by UNICEF for the actual amount of work performed to UNICEF’s satisfaction at the time of termination. UNICEF will also pay any outstanding reimbursement claims related to travel by the Contractor. Any additional costs incurred by UNICEF resulting from the termination of the contract by either party may be withheld from any amount otherwise due to the Contractor under this paragraph 10.

Taxation:
UNICEF and the United Nations accept no liability for any taxes, duty or other contribution payable by the consultant and individual contractor on payments made under this contract. Neither UNICEF nor the United Nations will issue a statement of earnings to the consultant and individual contractor.

How to apply:
Qualified candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, CV and P 11 form (which can be downloaded from our website  to pdconsultants@unicef.org with subject line “Consultancy, Supporting UNICEF Activities for Child Mortality Estimation” by 18 February 2014, 5:00 pm EST.
Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.