Needed National Migration Data Specialist

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children’s rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world.

Consultancy Title:National Migration Data Specialist ,Amman, Jordan (11.5 months), Child Protection Section

BACKGROUND:

Millions of children are affected by migration or forced displacement either within their countries or beyond borders around the world. While we know that data on children’s safety, well-being, and their access to services allow us to better protect them, evidence shows that national ministries, offices and agencies collect and share data on children on the move on a limited and often ad-hoc basis. In some cases, the lack of resources or analytical capacities hampers timely analysis of the data, even where such data exist. These problems are particularly prevalent in low-income countries, and to a lesser extent in middle- and high-income countries.

Data gaps seriously impact the countries’ and international organizations’ ability to effectively protect children such children. Timely, high-quality data is necessary for evidence-based resource planning and mobilization, policy development and programme implementation that can protect children, ensure they have access to social services including schooling and receive support to realise their rights as enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Sufficient data on refugees with proper disaggregation exists in Jordan from UNHCR. Also, the census data covers other nationalities (regardless of refugee status) but does not include “Migrants” as a status. In addition, more information is needed on different groups of minorities on the move that include children (such as Roma children, Pakistani, Sudanese etc). To overcome these data and knowledge gaps and strengthen data structures, UNICEF aims to map available data and good practices in local data capacities in Jordan and provide recommendations on how to sustainably enhance the collection, analysis and use of high-quality, timely and disaggregated data in the area of migration and displacement, with a focus on child-specific data.

To implement the project UNICEF is recruiting one international consultant with expertise on migration data. Under the direct supervision of the UNICEF project leads at Headquarters and Country level in Jordan, the consultancy seeks to develop comprehensive data assessment tools, design questionnaires, map existing data and structures to collect, analyse and share data across governmental units and with international agencies. The consultant will also analyse the collected information and prepare a report providing an overview of existing data collection, analysis and sharing mechanisms, and recommendations to improve data quality, collection, sharing and hosting on migrant and forcibly displaced children in Jordan. The consultant will work closely together with the Department of Statistics (DoS) and other relevant institutions, including ministries, agencies and other data collecting bodies.

OBJECTIVE:

The main purpose of the consultancy is to provide support to Jordan Country Office, seek information, and carry out training to government agencies on use of child migration and displacement data, and provide recommendations on how to enhance these systems, and provide training as applicable.

DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT:

This assignment is part of a UNICEF HQ lead initiative to develop data assessment tools to understand data availability, data analysis and reporting flow, identify bottlenecks in the collection, analysis, and use of child migration and displacement data (with focus on all children on the move including Dom population in Jordan), and provide recommendations on how to enhance these systems. All tasks to be carried out as part of this consultancy should be done under the technical guidance of Data and Analytics Section, DRP, UNICEF HQ, and in consultation with UNICEF Jordan Country Office. The main responsibility of the consultant is to provide technical expertise and support to DoS for the smooth implementation of the DoS, MOPIC, UNICEF protocol

KEY TASKS/DELIVERABLES/TIME FRAME

• Coordinate project participation and work between DoS, UNICEF and other participating national ministries and offices;
• Adjust the general assessment tools developed by UNICEF HQ to the Jordanian context;
• Support in designing questionnaire and develop assessment tools to understand data availability in relation to migrant and refugee children, as well as data analysis and reporting flow;
• Conduct desk review on data and research on data collection and reporting flows in Jordan
• Conduct surveys and interviews with national stakeholders and authorities and develop and submit preliminary reports and assessments;
• Assist as needed in organizing national consultations with government institutions involved in data collection on international migration to assess the methodology currently used for data collection, analysis and sharing, and the quality and comprehensiveness of the information;
• Based on scope of the project and national consultation, support in project implementation to map and compile a directory of data collecting entities, data collection and sharing mechanisms, and hosting environments, and assess existing data on migrant and forcibly displaced children in terms of accuracy, reliability, validity, coverage, timeliness, frequency, relevance, usefulness, comparability, access, transparency and data protection;
• Present final results and roadmap and materials for trainings and review process;
• Identify key indicators on children on the move to report against, according to national priorities, in light of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as well as processes related to the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) and the Global Compact for Refugees (GCR), and in line with international standards and recommendations;
• Develop an action plan to enhance existing data collection, analysis, sharing and reporting structures, in close coordination with relevant national authorities;
• Provide inputs to the training materials developed and facilitate technical trainings and strategic workshops aimed at improving the capacity of staff in migration-relevant ministries and the NSO to provide policy-relevant information on children on the move;
• Provide input for the final report based on the data assessment exercise, comprising a description of available data and existing systems of collection, analysis and sharing of data on migrant and forcibly displaced children, as well as a detailed list of recommendations with action points to be implemented in short-to-medium and longer term.
• Provide on-going support to the working group member organisations and other relevant agencies for the implementation of the list of recommendations with action points throughout 2020.

The table below details expected deliverables estimated days and :

Key Tasks

Deliverables

• Establish necessary documentation for establishing the technical working group developed under DoS;

Terms of reference for the technical working group,

Template for meeting minutes and reports

• Conduct desk review on data and research on data collection and reporting flows in Jordan;

Report of the desk review

• Tailor general assessment tools including questionnaire to the Jordanian context to understand data availability in relation to migrant and refugee children, as well as data analysis and reporting flow

Questionnaire and assessment tools

• Prepare and organize national consultations with government institutions with relevant stakeholders and agencies involved in data collection on international migration to assess the methodology currently used for data collection, analysis and sharing, the quality and comprehensiveness of the information;

The National Consultation report in consultation with UNICEF and DoS;

• Coordinate with technical group and DoS to prepare the implementation of the project

Meeting minutes

• Conduct surveys and interviews with national stakeholders and authorities and draft preliminary reports and assessments

Report including roadmap and materials submitted

• Develop training materials

Training material

• Facilitate the national consultation workshop on improving migration data to

Powerppoint presentation, workshop report

Road map

for capacity building, monitoring and review

• Facilitate technical trainings for improving the capacity of staff in migration-relevant ministries and the DoS to provide policy-relevant information on children on the move;

Training and workshop reports

• Provide regular technical support to DoS and the technical working group to implement the action plan

Monthly reports showcasing specific deliverables for the month based on the action plan

Monthly action plan should be developed in consultation with UNICEF and DoS for the priorities of the month as per the Protocol signed between UNICEF and DoS. At the end of each month, progress report and recommendations for the coming month must be submitted in an unprotected soft copy in English and Arabic to both UNICEF and DoS.

UNICEF is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education: An Advanced university degree (Master’s) or higher level in social sciences, demography, statistics and or other relevant areas.

Work experience:

• Minimum six years’ experience in research and statistics on migration/forced displacement;
• Strong experience in working with international organizations and UN agencies as well as government agencies in Jordan

Technical knowledge:

• Proven experience with data system assessments strongly desired and proven experience in developing analytical works in the field of migration or related domains;
• Proven experience on migration data capacity-building in low- and middle-income countries, including field experience.
• Excellent knowledge of migration data sources at the national level in Jordan required;
• Strong analytical, writing and communication skills; ability to draft text clearly and concisely;
• Experience in project management and implementation;
• Good interpersonal and communication skills;
• Personal commitment, efficiency and drive for results;
• Ability to effectively handle multiple tasks under time constraint;
• Proven track record of delivering on time and within the budget;

Language:Superior verbal and writing skills in English and Arabic.

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

• Cover letter/application.
• Financial quote as lump sum for professional fees, and lump sum for travel/administrative/subsistence, if applicable.
• CV.
• Examples of previous, relevant work as applicable
• Proposed methodology/approach to managing the project.
• At least 2 Referees
• P 11 form (which can be downloaded from our website at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_53129.html ).

Late submissions, incomplete packets, or submissions with an incorrect email subject heading will not be considered.

Successful applicants may be invited for further technical assessment and offers will be evaluated by the following criteria:

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.