Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)A (least hardship)
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Family
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeCONS International
Target Start Date2023-08-16
Job Posting End DateAugust 18, 2023
Terms of ReferenceGeneral Background of Project or Assignment:
High-quality data is central to the success of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)โs efforts to safeguard the rights and well-being of persons of concern, and to achieving the vision of becoming, by 2025, a trusted leader on data and information related to refugees and other affected populations. The two main data sources for UNHCR are registration systems and household surveys. In 2020, UNHCR initiated a process to integrate and standardize UNHCRโs survey landscape, while at the same time expanding it to accommodate the survey-based indicators of the new corporate Results Based Management (RBM) framework.
A key overarching aim is to move towards an integrated survey series that delivers most of the organizationโs survey data needs. It is envisaged that this survey series will be able to deliver the required data for the following purposes: inform, design and prioritize programming; construct targeting models; advocacy; advance partnerships (including with development actors); enhance external reporting; strengthen fundraising; provide indicators for results frameworks (in particular the new RBM) and global commitments (e.g. Global Compact on Refugees, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Grand Bargain). The survey series should also be able to provide the required data for select programme monitoring.
The Results Monitoring Survey (RMS) focuses on living conditions and welfare of populations with and for whom UNHCR works (forcibly displaced, stateless people, returnees, and others of concern). This work will feed into UNHCRโs Results-Based Management system, led by the Division of Strategic Planning and Results. In the Americas, the RMS was conducted in 2022 in 5 countries, and will be conducted in at least 5 countries in 2023. Lessons learned from these RMS should inform the regional approach towards survey design and implementation moving forward, including required tools and technical support from the Regional Bureau to country operations.
Overall Purpose and Scope of Assignment:
The Survey Specialist will contribute to the development and implementation of Results Monitoring Surveys in the Americas. After pilot phases in 2022 and early 2023, the RMSโ second round of data collection will start in the second half of 2023. The Survey Specialist will support the projects within selected country operations in the Americas region, including through mission travel where required and requested by operations.
The Survey Specialist will be expected to support and provide technical inputs during the methodological development and lessons learned documentation of Results Monitoring Surveys across the region. The Survey Specialist will play a key role together with Statistics, Data Analysis, Economist, and Programme Monitoring teams in the Regional Bureau in compiling appropriate survey designs for each implementing country. Tailored designs are based on the standardized/harmonized instruments and methods developed for the RMS. The Survey Specialist will subsequently contribute to ensuring that data collection entities (private survey firms or other contractors, partners or UNHCR directly) implements the data collection in accordance with this survey design. This will involve close technical support to multi-functional teams in UNHCR operations. Depending on capacities and needs of UNHCR teams in country operations, the work may involve close follow-up with the contractor in-country, particularly during interviewer training and an initial phase of fieldwork. The Survey Specialist will also contribute to the data driven quality assurance of the collected data during and after the collection, including the preparation of analysis and reporting from survey microdata.
Duties and responsibilities:
โข Contribute to design, contextualization, and testing of standardized/harmonized survey instruments and methods.
โข Advise on sampling and data collection methodology depending on the specificities of the context.
โข Contribute to the field training and piloting activities under supervision of the designated Survey Coordinator in the respective UNHCR operations.
โข Contribute to the development and review of guidance and standardized tools (including questionnaires, training material, field manuals, quality control mechanisms, etc.) for RMS surveys with a view towards adapting global guidance to the specifics of the Americas region.
โข Contribute to the adjustments of the survey form in the Kobo Toolbox software and to the testing of the form before fieldwork.
โข Support operations with data analysis and adaptation of standardized analysis scripts to calculate standardized survey indicators building on the generic report template and analysis scripts.
โข In collaboration with local counterparts, oversee the training of enumerators.
โข Assist in oversight and quality assurance of the data collection process. Ensure these are done in accordance with technical/design requirements and quality control specifications.
โข Advise on data editing and imputation, the derivation of new variables, and survey weighting and estimation processes.
โข Accompany survey missions as technical resource and prepare relevant documents pre- or post-mission (e.g., survey design background notes, note verbale etc.)
โข Ensure that lessons learned are documented for future technical support.
Required level, qualifications, and work experience:
โข University Degree (Bachelorโs, Masterโs or PhD equivalent) in Statistics, Economics, Demography, Quantitative Social Sciences, or related field.
โข Minimum of 3 years of experience with Bachelorโs degree (or 2 years with Masterโs and 1 year with PhD) in support to designing and implementing household surveys, preferably at a national scale, out of which at least 2 years are in face-to-face surveys, preferably in low- and middle- income countries.
โข Advanced skills in statistical analysis using statistical software. Knowledge of R is a distinct advantage. Knowledge of other statistical software an asset.
โข Experience with face-to-face interviewing required. Familiarity and experience in Computer Assisted Personal and/or Telephone Interviewing (CAPI/CATI) and particular experience with Kobo Toolbox software an asset.
โข Proven ability to contribute to the development and validation of survey instruments.
โข Understanding of basics of survey data quality principles and some experience in using data quality assurance measures in practice.
โข Proven ability to perform data transformation and analysis tasks on survey-based data using R.
โข Experience in supervising large-scale data collection and training enumerators an asset.
โข Experience working in low- and lower-middle-income countries an asset. Experience with data collection in forced displacement, conflict, or similar contexts is highly desirable. Strong organizational skills, including the ability to balance multiple tasks simultaneously and set strategic priorities.
โข Ability to work both independently and in teams.
โข Excellent drafting and presentation skills in English and Spanish.
โข Ability to work well in a demanding, dynamic environment and meet overall objectives.
Standard Job Description
Required Languages English
,Spanish
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Desired Languages
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Additional Qualifications
Skills
Education
Certifications
Work Experience
Other informationThis position doesn't require a functional clearance