TERMS OF REFERENCE

Consultancy to support monitoring and database management for HIV/AIDS related indicators

  1. Background

In collaboration with other partners, UNICEF plays a critical role in monitoring the situation of children and women globally and for reporting on progress toward internationally set goals such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the United Nations Global Progress on AIDS, the World Fit for Children (WFFC) goals, and the UNICEF’s Medium Term Strategic Plan (MTSP). To this end, UNICEF’s Statistics and Monitoring Section (SMS) maintains a series of global databases on key indicators, supports countries to collect necessary data through the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), and conducts statistical analyses of the data for global reporting and monitoring of progress.

The global databases are used for reporting on progress toward MDGs, UNGASS, WFFC, MTSP, as well as, regular reporting in the statistical tables of the The State of the World’s Children ‘s report, UNICEF web-related pages, special reports, peer review journal articles and responding to various ad hoc requests for data.

The Global Campaign on Children and AIDS, Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS,launched in October 2005, provides a child-focused framework around four main programme areas, namely: Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV; Paediatric HIV care and treatment; Prevention of infection among adolescents and young people; and Protection and support for children affected by HIV and AIDS. UNICEF maintains leadership in coordinating collection of data on HIV/AIDS and children on the four programme areas. A comprehensive global database on statistics in these areas has been established in order to organize the increased amount of information, and to serve as the primary source of information related to assessing the current status and trends in key indicators related to HIV and AIDS.

UNICEF maintains high standards regarding data included in the global statistical databases. The data undergo a rigorous review process and must meet a series of objective criteria. Comprehensive documentation for the data and estimates is maintained in order for the organization to be able to respond to any queries raised about the validity and quality of data published. The process of assessing data for inclusion in global databases may involve correspondence with UNICEF field offices and/other UN agencies, and involves close coordination with UNICEF staff in Programme Division.

  1. Scope of Work

The primary function of this consultancy is to improve relevance, quality, availability and use of data and contextual information on children and women throughout UNICEF. The work focuses on the areas highlighted by the MTSP and for this consultancy, gives particular emphasis to the areas of HIV/AIDS, although other areas will also be covered. The main functions are to support data analyses and database management of HIV/AIDS related indicators of primary concern to UNICEF, including with quality assurance and fact checking of data; to assist in the analysis of core HIV intervention coverage results in the MICS and DHS and other survey programmes, and from programmeservice statistics and estimates; disseminating findings through different types of media (e.g. website and reports); and to support other interagency related activities.

More specifically, the tasks will include:

I. Maintenance of Global HIV/AIDS Databases (40%)

  • Update and maintain global databases on HIV/AIDS related indicators, including for estimates and programme data
  • Support collation of survey, programme and estimate data at country, regional and global levels, including reviewing data from the annual country reports on indicators for the goals (CRING), and providing feedback to countries.
  • Validate the data from various sources, to ensure they are of high quality and meet the key standards before inclusion into the databases.

End Result(s):

Updated UNICEF global databases that are used for analysis in key reports including flagship and sector specific publications, peer reviewed journal articles, and interagency reports

II. Data analysis (20%)

  • Assist in statistical analysis of HIV/AIDS related data and support the production of key reports on HIV/AIDS in collaboration with the Programme Division and other partners.
  • Produce HIV/AIDS Fact sheets on the four programme areas

End Result(s):

Analytical reports on HIV/AIDS related data; UNICEF related websites updated and fact sheets on the four programme areas produced

III. Data quality assurance and inter-sectoral linkages (20%)

  • Provide technical advice on reporting on the situation of women and children as required, including responding to ad hoc requests to senior management, ROs, COS, partner organizations and others.
  • Validate all of the HIV-related data in UNICEF publications, press releases, briefing notes, and presentations.

End Result(s):

Harmonization of data across UNICEF and partner organizations and accurate data being provided in a timely manner

IV. HIV/AIDS inter-agency and methodological work (10%)

  • Participate in the global HIV/AIDS related data reconciliation and harmonization exercises
  • Contribute to the on-going improvement of data quality at data collection stage, including through household surveys and routine programme reporting systems
  • Support development, modification and testing of measurement tools, where appropriate

End Result(s):

Through interagency work, improved data quality and methods of estimating, collecting, analysing and using HIV/AIDS data

V. Data dissemination and use/advocacy (10%)

  • Support innovative ways to best serve UNICEF's in-house data and information needs at country, regional and global levels.
  • Provide an efficient and effective ways to prepare and disseminate products and provide input into making data, analyses and products accessible and available through different media.
  • Update relevant UNICEF related website pages for HIV/AIDS related indicators

End Result(s):

Updated data available in key global reports, articles, and other data-related sector reports and on

3. Qualifications and Professional Experience Requirements:

  • Education: Advanced degree (Master’s degree or higher in statistics, public health, epidemiology, demography, monitoring and evaluation, or related social sciences preferred)
  • Work experience: Two to four years of experience at national or international levels in monitoring and evaluation, data management, social statistics, survey research and survey data analysis, and report writing and presentation. Previous experience working on HIV/AIDSprogrammess will be an asset.
  • Other skills and attributes: Must have computer skills in advanced Excel, Access, Word, PowerPoint, and other graphical software, as well as manipulation and analysis of data, preferably using STATA or SPSS. Ability to learn and use DEVINFO for analysis and map production would be a must. Strong writing, communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills are required. Ability to cope with pressure and meet strict deadlines.
  • Languages: Ability to speak and write fluently in English is required; in addition, a good working knowledge of French will be an asset.
  1. Duration and fees: 3 Monthsstarting in March 2012.

Payment will be commensurate with the consultant’s experience and qualifications and will be made based on satisfactory submission of deliverables (see above).

  1. Supervision

The consultant will report to DrsPriscilla Idele and Chiho Suzuki at UNICEF New York, Statistics and Monitoring Section, and receive input from other professionals relevant to the assignment.

  1. Application Procedures

Qualified candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, CV and P-11 form (which can be downloaded from our website at to by 29 February 2012 with subject line: Consultancy to support monitoring and database management for HIV/AIDS related indicators. Please indicate your ability, availability and expected daily/monthly rate to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.

PLEASE APPLY ONLY IF YOU HAVE THE QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS AS OUTLINED IN (3) ABOVE.

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