Financing Data Systems Consultant: Strategic Approaches for Country Action, DAPM, Data & Analytics Section, NYHQ, remote. Req#585593

This consultancy will produce an evidence-based analytical report and operational toolkit enabling governments and UNICEF to plan, cost, and finance regular MICS and child-centred household surveys through domestic PFM systems (budget lines, MTEF, program budgeting)—including tested guidance and country-ready templates.

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 fordeveloping 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.

Consultancy: Financing Data Systems Consultant: Strategic Approaches for Country Action

Duty Station: DAPM, Data & Analytics Section – Data Collection Unit    

Duration: 24 November 2025 – 15 December 2026

Home/ Office Based: Remote

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

The Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) enable countries to produce statistically sound and internationally comparable data on the situation of children, women, and families — covering key areas such as health, education, early childhood development, nutrition, child protection, water, sanitation, and hygiene. In many contexts, MICS represents one of the most critical and trusted sources of data used for situation analyses, policy formulation, programme design, and public accountability.

Over the past decade, MICS has evolved from a donor-driven initiative to a nationally led programme. While many governments continue to rely on external financial and technical support, an increasing number of countries now fully or largely finance MICS and similar national household surveys through domestic budgets. These cases provide valuable lessons on how governments can institutionalize and sustainably finance high-quality data systems that inform national priorities and strengthen accountability.

However, this shift requires a new paradigm in the way national statistical systems operate. The focus must move from mobilizing external aid to negotiating and securing domestic resources through established public finance management (PFM) processes. National statistical offices (NSOs), with UNICEF’s support, need practical tools and capacity to engage effectively with Ministries of Finance, Planning, and sectoral ministries—including participation in budget formulation, medium-term expenditure frameworks (MTEFs), and national development planning cycles—to position survey implementation as a core public investment rather than an ad-hoc, donor-funded activity.

Strengthening the link between data production and public finance decisions is therefore essential. Integrating national survey plans into multi-year budget frameworks and PFM systems will ensure predictable and sustainable domestic financing for regular, high-quality data collection.

This consultancy will produce an evidence-based analytical report and operational toolkit enabling governments and UNICEF to plan, cost, and finance regular MICS and child-centred household surveys through domestic PFM systems (budget lines, MTEF, program budgeting)—including tested guidance and country-ready templates

Scope of Work: 

The purpose of this consultancy is to document and analyze how MICS and other major national surveys have been financed over the past decade, highlighting successful national financing models and developing actionable recommendations for UNICEF and governments to mobilize domestic resources and create sustainable data collection national plan.

Specific objectives:

The consultancy will pursue the following objectives:

• Analyze MICS financing patterns over the past decade, identifying trends, cost structures, and evolving funding models across regions and income groups.
• Document countries that now fully or predominantly fund MICS or similar national household surveys, examining the institutional, policy, and fiscal mechanisms that have enabled the transition toward domestic financing.
• Compare MICS financing experiences with those of other major survey programmes — particularly the now-closed Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) (donor-funded) and Labour Force/Household Budget Surveys (LFS/HBS)  — to draw lessons on sustainability and integration into public finance frameworks.
• Assess and synthesize existing global and regional initiatives promoting data and statistics financing, including the outcomes of the recent Financing for Development Conference, and other initiatives  Sustainable Development Data.
• Engage key stakeholders (NSOs, Ministries of Finance and Planning, UNICEF Country Offices, and development partners) to identify opportunities, barriers, and strategic entry points for strengthening domestic financing of child-centred data systems.
•  
• Develop practical guidance and advocacy tools — including templates for budget analysis and data-related Budget Briefs — to enhance UNICEF’s and NSOs’ capacity to influence public finance decisions, promote multi-year survey planning, and integrate data collection into national budget and planning cycles.
• Foster dialogue and knowledge sharing through an inception virtual workshop and a final high-level dissemination event with Ministries of Finance, NSOs, and partners.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Work Assignment Overview/Deliverables and Outputs/Delivery deadline

1. Analysis of MICS Financing and Country Case Studies. Assess MICS financing over the past decade and document successful national models.

- Analyze MICS financing data (sources, costs, donor vs. national contributions).

- Interview NSOs, Ministries of Finance/Planning, UNICEF COs, and donors.

- Develop 5–6 country case studies (incl. ≥3 fully or largely domestically funded).

- Identify fiscal and institutional factors enabling national financing.

• Case study briefs (5–6, 3 pp each).
• Comparative analysis note on financing models.
• Inception virtual workshop (UNICEF HQ, ROs, COs).

31 March 2026

2. Global Review of Survey Data Financing Trends and Initiatives: Analyze global and regional efforts to finance data and statistics, positioning MICS within current policy debates

- Review international initiatives such as Financing for Development Conference, Paris21 and other regional initiatives  and identify opportunities for UNICEF in advocating for sustainable survey and data for children plans

- Map trends in domestic and external financing for national survey and data systems.

- Brief analytical paper on global data-financing trends (≈10 pp)

30 June 2026

3. National Public Financing for Surveys and Data: Guidance and Tools to Integrate MICS and Other Child- and Family-Focused Surveys into National Budget and Planning Cycles

- Review existing PFM frameworks and identify entry points for including survey and data activities within national budget lines, Medium-Term Expenditure Frameworks (MTEFs), and sectoral plans.

- Develop practical guidance on how NSOs and UNICEF can engage Ministries of Finance and Planning to position surveys as national investment priorities.

- Create tools for survey budget analysis and advocacy, including budget-brief templates and sample costing frameworks.

- Pilot-test the guidance in two to three MICS countries and refine based on feedback.

- Guidance Note: Integrating Survey and Data Financing into National Budget and Planning Cycles (≈20 pages) with step-by-step process, roles, and examples

15 Dec 2026

Travel: Validation workshop Global MICS Consultation Meetings (Location and dates TBC) - up to 6 days

Qualifications

Education:

Advanced University degree inSocial Sciences, Demography, Statistics, Epidemiology, or other related technical field with significant measurement or analysis component

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

• Advanced university degree in economics, public finance, statistics, public policy, or a related social science discipline.
• Work experience:
• Minimum 5 years on Public finance management, budget analysis, or domestic resource mobilization for social sectors or data systems;
• Specific experience in anaysing financing of national data systems or household surveys  is an asset
• Proven record in producing analytical reports, guidance notes, or toolkits for policy and technical audiences.
• Familiarity with global initiatives on data financing (is an asset
• Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills in English; other UN languages an asset
• Ability to work independently and coordinate effectively with multi-country teams.
• Strong writing and interpersonal communication skills.

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and

- Upload copy of academic credentials

- Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :

• • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum 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, and living costs 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.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

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:  

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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.