This position is based in Nairobi with travel to the field. The candidate will work under the overall guidance of the UNFPA Representative and direct supervision of the Population and Development Program Manager. The consultant will contribute to the co-ordination and management of quality, timely and integrated programme and technical support to national statistical, population and related institutions. The Specialist will support national mechanisms for a multi-sectoral approach to capacity development of population and socio-economic statistics in Somalia, ensure that that UNFPA’s programs on population and development are implemented in the context of the ICPD Programme of Action and UNFPA Strategic Plan; and ensure that Population and Development issues are firmly placed within national development processes and national strategic frameworks.

Purpose of Assignment

Building on the experience of the 2014 Population Estimation Survey (PESS), Ministries of Planning and Health requested the support of UNFPA, development partners and donors to conduct a Somali Health and Demographic Survey (SHDS) as a next step in filling the most important health and demographic data gaps, further strengthening the capacities of Planning and Health Ministries and fostering the use of objective indicators for policy formulation, planning and measuring progress.

The Somali Health and Demographic Survey (SHDS) will collect vast amount of data broadly covering demographic characteristics, fertility, health issues (including maternal and child health; sexual and reproductive health and rights including family planning; and gender issues including GBV), and relevant socio-economic variables.

The data collected in this survey will assist the authority to monitor indicators in the National Development Plan (2017-2019) especially quality basic education, health, water and sanitation services; improved health outcomes, reduced maternal and child mortality, reduction in malnutrition rates as well as prevention and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases.

The survey will also build the capacity of new staff at planning and health institutions in Somali authorities and intends to fully utilize the personnel involved in PESS and further build their capacities in generating reliable statistics for Somalia.

The collection of high quality SHDS data will largely depend on the establishment of robust quality control frameworks. 

Why mobile data collection?

Speed: Mobile phone can greatly speed up the data collection process. Near-instantaneous transmission of data to a central coordinating group reduces the amount of time between local data collection and delivery saving weeks or even months of time in the overall data collection process. In addition, an early warning system can be established, allowing survey coordinators to quickly identify potential problems with data collection efforts and (potentially) correct them in almost real time. Where mobile connectivity is not available, data can be stored on the phone and transmitted later once a phone is within sufficient range of a cell tower.

Accuracy: Digital data capture at the source can greatly reduce transcription errors, and data transmission over mobile networks may ensure that no data are lost ‘in transit’. Capture and transmission of data digitally may also ensure that it is easier to store and access them at later dates, should this be required.  Skip logic, filters, controls, prompts etc can be created to minimize data collection errors.

Training: Because people may already know how to use the devices, less technical training may be necessary in some circumstances. In addition, help files and on-screen prompts may provide useful relevant supporting documentation and guidance that may reinforce messages from training.

Can combine with other data: Textual data captured via mobile phone can be combined with photographic images, audio, and video. In addition, GPS data can be captured to help map the location of individuals, facilities or services as well as offer ‘proof’ that an enumerator visited a place.
Low cost: All of these characteristics and affordances may mean that data collection enabled through the use of mobile phones can be done at substantially lower costs than is possible via traditional means.

The timelines for conducting SHDS fieldwork require a careful choice of a data collection platform that will fast track the process, minimize errors and enhance efficiency. If pilot tested and proven practical in the Somali context, mobile data collection will be the preferred option.

The complexity of SHDS tools requires advanced programming skills and extensive experience in programming mobile data collection application. At the moment the P&D unit is lacking these skills.

Purpose of the consultancy

The consultant will develop a data collection/entry system using Census and Survey Processing System (CSPro) for both Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing System (CAPI) and paper-based health and demographic household data collection. The final deliverable is a ready-to-use, fully documented Data Collection/Entry and Management System in CSPro that will minimize data error, ensure data integrity, and protect respondent privacy with practical methods.

Objective

The post holder will work together with the unit demographer and statistician to develop mobile data collection applications (CAPI) for the SHDS tools under the leadership of the P&D unit head.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop inception report detailing, objective, methodology and timelines for the key activities;
• Develop data dictionaries that can support both computer based data entry and mobile data collection activities for the SHDS;
• Incorporate appropriate skip logic, consistency checks, filters, controls, prompts and other appropriate validation commands into the databases to enhance efficiency and minimize data collection/entry errors. These will include range-checking of numerical and alpha-based questions, consistency checks among questions during data collection/entry, in-depth consistency checks of the data files made post-entry, running in batch mode, skip pattern checks to ensure consistency with the data entered at the point of the skip request to the skip location requested;
• Develop user visual friendly forms mirroring the questionnaire layout to ensure that the data collection/entry applications do not differ from the questionnaires;
• Develop mobile data collection applications (CAPI) and data entry screens for the SHDS household, MMR, ever married woman and never married woman questionnaires;
• Develop a data transfer and synchronization platform, with the web server, peer to peer with supervisor checks and controls;
• Establish a back-up system and automate creation of an integrated dataset;
• Conduct appropriate tests and verification of the developed applications to ensure that they are free of bugs and will collect data in the required format;
• Create a platform to generate summary reports (executed in the office on data collected/keyed to that point) which flag quality control issues encountered during field collection;
• Ensure compliance with data handling and security requirements;
• Ensure existence of formats and procedures for field data reporting requirements, data transmission schedules, and recommended data backups;
• Provide system user manuals and training support as needed;
• Provide back end support to the application throughout data collection period; 
• Support any other activities as required by section head in relation to SHDS.

Deliverables

• A ready-to-use, fully documented mobile/tablet and laptop based computer-aided interviewing system (CAPI) in CSPro with inbuilt skip logic, consistency checks, filters, controls, prompts and other appropriate validation commands;
• A supervisor control interface;
• CSPro data archiving system;
• Documentation and test results exhibiting the system's compliance with the ToR;
• Full source code, user training manuals and any documentation;
• Technical support and guidance provided to the in-country survey teams as needed, to ensure sufficient training and high-quality implementation of the data collection/entry system.

Work Relations

The consultant will work under the overall guidance of the UNFPA Representative and direct supervision of the Population and Development Program Manager. S/he will work closely, with the Population and Development team in the UNFPA Country office and in the field offices. In addition, the Specialist will also work closely with the Ministry of Planning and other line ministries and other all organizations supporting capacity building in statistics in Somalia including I/LNGOs, UN agencies and donors. The consultant will support national mechanisms for a multi-sectoral approach to capacity development of statistics in Somalia, ensure that that UNFPA’s programs on population and development are implemented in the context of the ICPD Programme of Action and UNFPA Strategic Plan; and ensure that Population and Development issues are firmly placed within national development processes and national strategic frameworks.

Payment terms:

• The consultant will be paid upon satisfactory completion of the work.
• Payment to be based on deliverables.

Core Competencies

• Achieving results
• Being accountable
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen
• Ability analytically and strategically
• Ability to work in teams/self-management
• Communicating for impact

Functional Competencies

• Providing conceptual innovation to support programme effectiveness
• Generating, managing and promoting the use of knowledge and information
• Providing a technical support system
• Communication and advocacy for results mobilization

Values

• Integrity
• Commitment to UNFPA and the UN system
• Embracing diversity
• Embracing change

Academic

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in computer science, computer engineering, IT, mathematics, and population studies (demography) or related discipline.
• Knowledge of CSPro and statistical packages, such as Stata, SPSS, R, SAS.
• Knowledge of programming languages such as C#, Perl, Python, Java, PHP.
• Knowledge of Database/Server Systems including SQL Server 2008/12/14, Postgress, MySQL.
• Proficiency in MS Office software applications (Particularly Excel and Word).
• Skills in data management and data analysis.
• Advanced Knowledge in mobile applications Design, Integration, Testing and Deployment.

Experience

• Advanced experience in server installation, administration, configuration and maintenance.
• Extensive experience working with CSPro.
• At least five years’ experience in development of data collection/entry platforms in CSpro/ODK/survey solutions/EpiData.
• Experience in technical capacity building in data collection using mobile phones.
• Experience in field data collection activities using mobiles phones or tablets a plus.
• Experience working in fragile security contexts is a plus.

Languages

• Fluency in oral and written English.
• Strong communication and writing skills in English.