Consultant - USI Data Analysis. Req# 573021

Consultant

• USI data analysis. Req# 573021

Apply now Job no: 573021

Contract type: Consultant

Duty Station: New York

Level: Consultancy

Location: United States

Categories: Nutrition

UNICEF works in some of the world's toughest places, to reach the world's most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, HOPE

Vacancy Announcement: Consultant

Consultancy Title: Consultant

• USI data analysis

Section/Division/Duty Station: Nutrition Section

• PG - NYHQ

Duration: 15 August 2024 - 15 December 2024

Home/ office Based: REMOTE

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 for developing 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.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

Monitoring the content of iodine in salt available and used at the community level provides critical information about the performance of the salt iodization programme and helps to make adjustment to the program per priority areas. This monitoring should be done periodically, systematically, and in a reliable, simple and low-cost manner.

Most countries assess household use of iodized salt through school or household surveys and traditionally analysed small quantities of single salt samples. However, this methodology has not taken in consideration that the variation of the iodine content in single samples and collected in small amounts can be very large because intrinsic heterogeneity associated to the addition of small quantities of the fortificant (source of the micronutrient) in large volumes of produced salt. Therefore, the main parameter to estimate the iodine supply to the population is the mean/median content of iodine in salt, and not the proportion of samples below or above a specific threshold as it is commonly done. Therefore, attention must be given to the sampling methodology to determine well the iodine content in the salt that is being consumed. The imprecision of single results of the salt iodine content can lead to incorrect/ misleading results when the interpretation is based on a specific threshold ("minimum") value. Moreover, as the main parameter for interpretation of the results is the mean/median content, it can be estimated using composite samples per enumeration area (cluster). Although this methodology has been validated in a few countries, replicating it under different context will provide additional evidence and identify variables that could improve its significance and application.

This consultancy proposes to test the composite sampling methodology per cluster to determine the iodine content in salt at different population strata in comparison with the traditional methodology (i.e., single samples).

Scope of Work:

The project would be a secondary analysis of the data of the most recent iodine survey from Madagascar to compare the results and deductions of composite samples per cluster against those of single samples per households. Main aim is to determine if the composite sampling methodology produce similar mean/median iodine contents per strata level as those obtained using single samples and determine the proportion of samples below the threshold of 15 mg I/kg from the two methodologies.

Important: As in Madagascar results of composite salt samples per cluster are not available, mathematical average of the single salt samples per cluster (i.e., enumeration area) will be used as a proxy for the iodine content of a "theoretical" composite sample of each cluster.

Methodological suggestions:

A. Population strata:

• National,

• Geographic,

• Residence (*urban/rural),

• Wealth quintiles*, and

• Educational levels*:

• This requires the estimation of the corresponding indexes of each cluster, based on the categorization of each studied household in the cluster.

B. Statistical parameters:

Average, SD, SE

95% Limits of Agreement (LOE) with the available results, and 95% CI, Proportion of samples above 15 ppm iodine

Preparation of frequency distribution and cumulative frequency distributions of the salt iodine content at the national level, as well as per geographic (region and district) and residence strata, using the values of single household sample

Same as above but using the average values per cluster.

C. Special analysis: For each strata, prepare correlations (and estimate linear regression equations) between the averages calculated with single samples and the averages calculated with cluster averages.

For the wealth quintiles and educational level strata, it is necessary to estimate the corresponding indexes per cluster following this procedure: estimate the wealth index of each cluster by averaging the wealth quintile value of each household (1 to 5). Estimate the educational level index of each cluster using the same procedure (household educational level may be from 0 to 4 or from 1 to 5).

Estimate the average (SD, SE, and 95%CI, and proportion of samples above 15 ppm iodine) for each level of the wealth-quintile and educational-level based on results of single households.

Prepare linear correlations between the wealth quintiles (or educational levels) in the x-axis vs the average iodine content in salt per cluster in the y-axis. Using the linear equations of these correlations, estimate the y-values (i.e., iodine content in salt) for each level of the two stratum types (wealth quintiles or educational levels). Compare the results with those estimated in the prior step using single samples.

D. Iodine content in the salt samples of different quality:

Similar to the preparation of indexes per cluster, the proportion of fine salt might be estimated per cluster. If there are more than two (coarse or fine) types of salt, the approach might be estimating salt type indexes, giving a number of each type of salt.

Estimate average (SD, SE, and 95% LOE, and 95%CI, and proportion of samples above 15 ppm iodine) for each type of salt using single values.

Prepare linear correlations between the proportion of fine salt per cluster (or quality of salt index) in the x-axis vs the average iodine content in salt per cluster in the y-axis. Using the linear equations of these correlations, estimate the y-values (i.e., iodine content in salt) for each level of type of salt (for example, if only two types of salt, intercept in x-0 is going to be the approximated value for coarse salt, and intercept in x-1 is going to be the approximated value for fine salt). Compare the results with those estimated in step (2) with single samples.

E. Comparison of single results vs duplicate results

As the data set of Madagascar has values per duplicate of each salt sample, estimate average (SD, SE, 95% LOA, and 95%CI, and proportion of samples above 15 ppm iodine) for each one of the two duplicates (A and B), and for the average of the duplicates. Prepare frequency distribution and cumulative frequency distribution for each replicate (A and B), and for the average of the two replicates, using the data of the whole country.

F. Any other calculation:

The consultant is asked to suggest any other alternate calculations require to complete the proposed scope of work.

Travel, if applicable: (include estimated duration and potential locations).

The consultant is not expected to make any travel under this project.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

• Detailed workplan: By 20 Aug 2024
• Draft protocol for data analysis: By 25 Aug 2024
• Final protocol: By 05 Sep 2024
• Document with key findings: By 30 Sep 2024
• Draft report: By 20 Oct 2024
• Final report: By 15 Nov 2024
• Draft peer-reviewed paper: By 20 Nov 2024
• Final paper: By 15 Dec 2024

Qualifications

Education:

At least a master's degree.

Disciplines: Statistics, Data Science, Mathematics, Economics, Public Health, Quantitative Social Sciences, Information Technology, Operations Research, or any other relevant discipline.

Experience:

• Expertise in applying mathematical principles to nutrition, health and/or food security issues, with a focus on data analysis and modeling.

• Previous experience of atleast 3 years of working as an international consultant in food fortification/ salt iodization/other public health nutrition initiatives.

• Experience in designing and monitoring and evaluating nutrition/food fortification/ food security programmes is an asset.

• Previous record of development and publication of peer-reviewed papers/ articles is preferred.

Competencies/Knowledge:

• Demonstration of a strong academic foundation and research capabilities will be an advantage.

• Demonstrated ability to analyze large datasets and identify areas for improvement.

• Strong skills in documenting data findings and in communicating complex data and findings to diverse stakeholders.

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.

Advertised: 19 Jun 2024 Eastern Daylight Time

Deadline: 02 Jul 2024 Eastern Daylight Time