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REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

RFP-USA-2007-500290 18 June 2007

UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND (UNICEF)wishes to invite you to submit a proposal for

Consultancy services for an evaluation of the management and technical qualityof round 3 of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey

SEALED offers should be sent to: UNICEFAttention: BID SECTION RFP-USA-2007-500290UNICEF House3 United Nations PlazaNew York,New York 10017USA

IMPORTANT – ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

This reference RFP-USA-2007-500290 must be shown on the envelope containing the offer.

BID FORM AND SCHEDULES(S) MUST BE USED WHEN REPLYING TO THIS INVITATION. You are welcome to enclose your own description of services, if required.

Important Note: This Request for Proposal describes two clusters of work. Offers may be submitted for one or both clusters, as described within. Please pay attention to the differences in areas like scope of work and team composition if the offer is for one of the clusters only.

Offers must be received at the above address by latest 16:00 hours (New York time) on 9 July 2007 and will be publicly opened at 10:30 (New York time) on 10 July 2007. Offers received after the stipulated date and time will be INVALIDATED.

OFFERS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED IN THE CURRENCY STATED IN THE ENCLOSURES TO THE INVITATION. BIDS RECEIVED IN ANY OTHER CURRENCY WILL BE INVALIDATED._____________________________________________________________________________

THIS REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL HAS BEEN:

Prepared by: _____________________________________________Samuel BickelSr. Adviser, Evaluation and Research

Date: _____________________________________________

Verified by: ______________________________________________Jean QuesnelDirector, Evaluation Office

Date: ______________________________________________

To be contacted for additional information, but NOT FOR SENDING OFFERS

Contact both: Samuel BickelSenior Advisor, Evaluation and ResearchEvaluation OfficeTelephone: (+1) 212 326 7504Telefax: (+1) 212 824-6492Email: [email protected]

AND

Attila HanciogluMICS 3 Global CoordinatorStrategic Information SectionTelephone: (+1) 212-303-7982Telefax: (+1) 212 735-4411Email: [email protected]

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL PAGE 2 OF 39 RFP-USA-2007-500290

____________________________________________________________________________

PROPOSAL FORM

THIS PROPOSAL FORM must be completed, signed and returned to UNICEF.Proposal must be made in accordance with the instructions contained in this INVITATION.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF CONTRACTAny contract resulting from this INVITATION shall contain UNICEF General Terms and Conditions and any other specific Terms and Condition detailed in the INVITATION.

INFORMATIONAny request for information regarding this INVITATION must be forwarded by fax or e-mail to the attention of the person identified above, with specific reference to the Invitation number. See section 7, Changes and Alterations (p. 10) for full details on contact procedures.

The Undersigned, having read the Terms and Conditions of RFP-USA-2002- set out in the attached document, hereby offers to execute the services specified in the Terms and Conditions set out in the document.

Signature: ________________________________

Date: ________________________________

Name & Title: ________________________________

Company: ________________________________

Postal Address: ________________________________

Tel No: ________________________________

Fax No: ________________________________

Email: ________________________________

Validity of Offer1: ________________________________

Currency of Offer: ________________________________

Please indicate after having read UNICEF Terms of Payment stated in document, which of the following terms are offered by you

10 days 3.0%_____ 15 days 2.5%_____ 20 days 2.0%_____ 30 days net_____

Other___

1 The minimum period is 90 days from the date of opening.REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL PAGE 3 OF 39 RFP-USA-2007-500290

_______________

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PROPOSAL FORM...............................................................................................................3

FOREWORD.........................................................................................................................7

PROCEDURES

Information in the Proposal.............................................................................................8

Evaluation of the Proposal...............................................................................................9

Confidential information..................................................................................................9

Validity............................................................................................................................10

Format of the Proposal.....................................................................................................10

Forecasted Schedule.........................................................................................................10

Changes and/or alterations...............................................................................................10

References........................................................................................................................10

Contract and payment......................................................................................................10

Working arrangements.....................................................................................................10

Rights of UNICEF...........................................................................................................11

Proposer’s Representations..............................................................................................11

Full Right to Use and Sell................................................................................................11

Property of UNICEF........................................................................................................11

Post-Employment Restrictions………………………………………………………….11

TERMS OF REFERENCE

1.0 Background and information.....................................................................................13

2.0 Terms of Reference for the study

2.1 Purpose of the study.............................................................................................14

2.2 Scope and focus…………………………………………………………………15

2.3 Evaluation questions............................................................................................15


Cluster A

Management of the survey.......................................................................16

Capacity building.....................................................................................16

Technical issues: indicators, questionnaire design, etc............................17

Field work................................................................................................18

Data processing and dissemination..........................................................18

Cluster B

Governance..............................................................................................19

Use of MICS versus alternative measurements.......................................20

Cost analysis............................................................................................20

Impact of MICS.......................................................................................21

Clusters A and B – Recommendations

The future of MICS..................................................................................22

2.4 Study processes and methods

Use of existing information sources....................................................................23

Sampling frames / data collection instruments....................................................23

Transparent benchmarks and comparisons..........................................................25

2.5 Ethical issues........................................................................................................25

2.6 Stakeholders participation....................................................................................25

2.7 Accountabilities

Evaluation team leader & members.....................................................................26

Management Committee......................................................................................26

Steering Committee.............................................................................................27

Country Offices....................................................................................................27

2.8 Study team composition

Personnel..............................................................................................................27

Required competencies........................................................................................27

Advantageous competencies................................................................................28

Participation of present and former UNICEF staff and consultants....................28

2.9 Procedures and logistics.......................................................................................28

2.10 Products / deliverables.......................................................................................29REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL PAGE 5 OF 39 RFP-USA-2007-500290

3.0 Time table..................................................................................................................30

4.0 Proposer’s profile

4.1 Institution.............................................................................................................31

Institution profile.................................................................................................31

Institutional expertise and experience..................................................................31

4.2 Collaborative Group.............................................................................................31

Collaborative Group profile.................................................................................32

Collaborative Group Expertise and Experience...................................................32

4.3 Cost proposal.......................................................................................................32

ANNEX 1 - UNICEF’S GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS....................................34


FOREWORD

UNICEF is the agency of the United Nations mandated to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. Guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child UNICEF strives to establish children's rights as international standards of behavior towards children. UNICEF's role is to mobilize political will and material resources to help countries ensure a "first call for children". UNICEF is committed to ensuring special protection for the most disadvantaged children.

UNICEF carries out its work through its headquarters in New York, 8 regional offices and 125 country offices worldwide. UNICEF also has a research centre in Florence, a supply operation based in Copenhagen and offices in Tokyo and Brussels. Its 37 committees for UNICEF raise funds and spread awareness about the organization's mission and work.


PROCEDURESREQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

IF THIS REQUEST WAS DELIVERED TO THE WRONG ADDRESS, we request that it be promptly re-directed to the person responsible for this field of activity within your organization. We apologize for any inconvenience.

1. INFORMATION IN THE PROPOSALThe proposer must provide sufficient information in the proposal to demonstrate compliance with the requirements set out in each section of this Request for Proposal.

Two guidance points should be observed:

1. The proposal must be clear from the start whether it is directed at work cluster A, work cluster B, or both. The proposal contents as described below apply to all submissions; the choice of clusters does not alter the content requirements.

2. For budgeting purposes, assume that field visits will be required in four (4) exemplary countries: two (2) in Africa, one (1) in South or East Asia and one (1) in the remainder for the world;

The proposal shall include, as a minimum:

1. PROPOSAL FORM

2. TECHNICAL PROPOSAL :

2.1. Proposed methodology, expanding on the outline provided here, and including key assumptions, and proposals for document analysis, qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis, stakeholder participation, building consensus, feedback and reporting.

2.2. Composition of Evaluation Team, CV/Résumés of all evaluation team members, highlighting experience relevant to this evaluation. Individual CVs should not exceed 4 pages.

2.3. Types of countries and representative locations proposed for the study, including justification for the selection.

2.4. Managerial aspects at global and country level, including country-level organizations;

2.5. Evaluation work plan, showing tasks, timelines and allocation of work to team members.

2.6. A sample report from a prior consultancy assignment with content directly relevant to this evaluation and completed by one or more of the proposed team members.


2.7. Contact details of at least two references from among recent employers or clients for each team member.

3. PRICE PROPOSAL

3.1 The technical proposal and the price offer must be separate. The technical proposal shall not contain any price information.

4. TERMS AND CONDITIONS

4.1. Compliance with UNICEF General Terms and Conditions.

5. CORPORATE PROFILE

5.1. Information as requested under “Terms of Reference”, Section 4.0

5.2. Certificate of incorporation.

5.3. Copy of the latest audited financial statements.

6. COST AND FINANCIAL PROPOSAL (to be submitted under separate cover)

6.1. classification and rates for team members;

6.2. duration of work for each team members;

6.3. cost of travel, including subsistence allowances, travel by air, train, road, etc..

6.4. overhead, general and administrative expenses

6.5. miscellaneous expenses

2. EVALUATION OF THE PROPOSALUNICEF invites Proposals from suitably qualified companies with substantial consultancy experience in all aspects of the Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey (MICS). Individual consultants may not apply unless joined together as a collaborative group. Please see section 4 of the Terms of Reference for details on who may bid and how a collaborative group must present itself.

The selection of successful proposal will be based on the quality of the proposal, the profile of the proposed team, and on cost. Technical proposals will be rated before financial offers are assessed.The technical assessment of the proposals will use the following criteria and weighting:

Criteria Weighting %Proposed methodology (relevance, logic, rigor, practicality, creativity)

40

Team profile (as per evaluation profile) 35Evaluation work plan (clarity, fit with timetable, resource allocation)

15

Sample report (clarity, relevance) 10


UNICEF may request additional information from the proposer and/or arrange interviews with the proposer.

3. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATIONInformation which the proposer considers proprietary must be marked clearly "proprietary" next to the relevant part of the text, and UNICEF will then treat such information accordingly.

4. VALIDITYProposals shall remain valid for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of closing for the Proposals.

5. FORMAT OF THE PROPOSALThe proposal should be submitted in the English language, one (1) original and five (5) copies for the hard copy version and an electronic pdf version on CD.

6. FORECASTED SCHEDULEInvitees to confirm their intent to submit a proposal: 2 July 2007Closing date and time: 9 July 2007, 4 PMPublic Opening: 10 July 2007, 10:30 AMSignature of contract: 24 July 2007 [estimated]Completion of work in all countries chosen for the study: 30 November 2007Submission of all deliverables: 28 February 2008

7. CHANGES AND/OR ALTERATIONSAll requests for changes or alterations to the Request for Proposal or requests for clarifications must be submitted in writing by fax or e-mail to Samuel Bickel, Senior Advisor, Evaluation and Research, Evaluation Office at [email protected] [Fax 212-824-6492], with a copy to Attila Hancioglu at [email protected] [Fax 212-735-4411]. Information provided verbally will not be considered a fundamental change and will not alter this Request for Proposal.

Inquiries received less than five (5) working days prior to the Proposal closing date cannot be guaranteed any response. Only written inquiries will receive an answer. All inquiries and answers will be provided to all invitees in writing, regardless of the source of the inquiry. For ease of access, all inquiries and answers will be posted on the website www.childinfo.org.

8. REFERENCESUNICEF reserves the right to contact the references, without notifying the Proposer.

9. CONTRACT AND PAYMENTA lump sum contract will be agreed with the successful consultant. The contract will be issued to an institution, consultancy company or other corporate entity, which will take full responsibility for the conduct of the evaluation and the production of evaluation products. (Teams of independent consultants may only apply where they apply under a corporate identity). The evaluation team will manage its own travel arrangements in close coordination with UNICEF.


http://www.childinfo.org/

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Payment will be by results. Payment will be made in stages with allotments corresponding to the completion of key intermediate phases and products. Dates and sums will be negotiated with the consultant. Financial proposals should include proposed stage payments.

10. WORKING ARRANGEMENTSThe Evaluation Team will be expected to provide its own office space and equipment. When the Evaluation Team is required to work in UNICEF offices, space will be provided.

11. RIGHTS OF UNICEFUNICEF reserves to right to accept any proposal, in whole or in part; or, to reject any or all proposals. UNICEF also reserves the right to negotiate with the Proposer who has submitted the best proposal. UNICEF shall not be held responsible for any cost incurred by the Proposer in preparing the response to this Request for Proposal. The Proposer agrees to be bound by the decision of UNICEF as to whether her/his proposal meets the requirements stated in this Request for Proposal.

12. PROPOSER’S REPRESENTATIONS The proposer represents and warrants that it has the personnel, experience, qualifications, facilities, financial resources and all other skills and resources to perform his or her obligations under any resulting Contract.

13. FULL RIGHT TO USE AND SELLThe proposer warrants that it has not and shall not enter into any agreement or arrangement that restrains or restricts UNICEF or the recipient Governments rights to use, sell dispose of or otherwise deal with any item that may be acquired under any resulting Contract.

14. PROPERTY OF UNICEFThis Request for Proposal, inquiries and answers and the Proposals are considered the property of UNICEF. All materials submitted in response to this Request shall remain with UNICEF.

15. POST-EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS

The United Nations (UN) has established restrictions on employment of (former) UN staff who have been involved in the procurement process as per bulletin ST/SGB/2006/15.

For a period of one year following separation from service, former staff members who have participated in the procurement process for the UN before separation of the service are prohibited from seeking or accepting employment with, or otherwise accepting any form of compensation or financial benefit from, any UN contractor or vendor of goods and services, regardless of location, which conducts business with the UN or seeks to do so and with whom such staff members have been personally involved in the procurement process during the last three years of service with the UN.

For a period of two years following separation from service, former staff members who have participated in the procurement process for the UN before separation of the service are prohibited from knowingly communicating with, or appearing before, any staff member or unit of the UN on behalf of


any third party on any particular matters that were under their official responsibility relating to the procurement process during the last three years of their service with the UN.

The United Nations respectfully requests all contractors and vendors to adhere to these regulations. Any UN contractor or vendor who offers employment, hires or otherwise compensates staff members in violation of the provisions of the bulletin may be subject to having its registration as a qualified vendor with the UN barred, suspended or terminated, in accordance with UN procurement policies and procedures.


TERMS OF REFERENCE

FOR

CONSULTANCY SERVICES

1.0 BACKGROUND INFORMATION

UNICEF’s Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) arose in the mid nineties to fill data gaps for monitoring progress towards the achievement of the goals of the World Summit for Children in 1990. It has grown through three five-yearly rounds into one of the world’s largest household surveys of social indicators for women and children.

The surveys are coordinated by UNICEF NY HQ together with UNICEF Regional Offices (ROs) and operationally decentralised to country level, where they are implemented by national statistical bodies2, with varied levels of consultant support. The overall expenditure is significant – although final figures on the contribution of country offices (CO) to the surveys is not known at this point, the overall figure is probably in the region of 20 million USD per round, when funds provided by NY HQ and CO, as well as government and other international agencies are combined. The surveys have been held at five yearly intervals as follows; mid-1990s (MICS1), end of decade, 2000 (MICS 2) and 2005/2006 (MICS 3). In addition there also have been “MICS like” surveys conducted at national level by some countries in intervening years3. Other national surveys including the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS)4 have incorporated MICS questions. Over time harmonisation and standardisation of both methodology and indicators have increased.

The timing of MICS surveys coincides with major UN reporting schedules and each round of surveys is completed within 18 months to 2 years, with activities relating to further data analysis and use occurring in-between the peak survey years. Training for MICS implementing agencies and UNICEF country staff is provided on a regional basis. Support is given with standardised manuals, survey questionnaires, software for data entry & analysis, report templates and data quality and report review. The reports and data tables are made available for most of the participating countries for MICS 1 and MICS 2; those for MICS 3 are partially completed and will be completed in late 2006/early 2007. All materials are posted on the UNICEF-hosted ChildInfo Website5 (www.childinfo.org)

MICS surveys provide essential baseline and trend data on the status of women and children for countries where there are data gaps and constitute a key source of information for the main UNICEF and UN global reports, for country reporting to the UN and for national systems. MICS 3 can provide data on 22 of the 48 Millennium Development Goal (MDG) indicators. MICS has grown with each of the three rounds of surveys, becoming longer, more complex, and covering more subject areas. The management and coordination of MICS has also expanded with regional coordinators appointed in 4 UNICEF ROs for the first time in MICS 3.

2 A minority are implemented by consulting companies, this is decreasing over time.3 For example Bangladesh in 2002/34 Demographic and Health Surveys, funded by USAID.5 www.childinfo.orgREQUEST FOR PROPOSAL PAGE 13 OF 39 RFP-USA-2007-500290

The global environment in which data is gathered on children and women is changing rapidly. There are important new partnerships with sister UN agencies and other development partners, electronic data access has increased, and there is increased standardisation of indicators between different survey tools and agencies. It is increasingly possible to have timeline series of data, as this history of household surveys get longer. Expectations of MICS and demands on it are increasing. The needs for data and information are increasing and include monitoring of MDGs, MTSPs, programme results, UN reporting. Data is an essential basic component of UNICEF’s global and national advocacy and as the organisations moves more “upstream” such data will be in increasing demand. UNICEF is also expected to present high quality reliable data. Discussions are underway on increasing the periodicity of MICS surveys to three years, for more frequent monitoring of progress towards MDGs and other international goals, and to assist countries to collect more timely data with programmatic value to influence policies.

This is the second evaluation of MICS.6 A formal evaluation of MICS 1 was managed and led by UNICEF’s evaluation section in NYHQ, and was started and completed after all survey activities had ended. Some work has been undertaken in preparation for the MICS 3 evaluation in Fall 2005 – this includes collation of key documents, semi-structured interviews with key internal and external informants, a summary of the key steps in the evolution of MICS and drafting of a provisional evaluation plan.

The stakeholders for the evaluation of MICS 3 include national governments; national statistical offices, UNICEF Country offices, Headquarters & Regional Offices, UN and Bretton Woods sister agencies, bi-laterals and other development partners and academic bodies. All play differing roles in the development, implementation and use of MICS data.

2.0 TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE STUDY

2.1 PURPOSE OF THE STUDYThis is an external evaluation of the 2005-2006 (3rd) round of UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS). It includes an overview from their inception in the mid-nineties through three global rounds of surveys until the conclusion of the MICS 3 survey in 2006, but is based firmly on the 2006 third round of evaluation.

This Terms of Reference (TOR) actually covers two discrete bundles of work, which are specified in the section Scope and Focus. These are called Cluster A and Cluster B. Unless otherwise indicated, information presented in this Terms of Reference Section applies to both. The two purposes of the evaluation are:

A. Accountability: to judge if the results being obtained justify the expenditures and commitments made, and to pinpoint causes for the strengths and weaknesses seen; and

B. Learning: to determine how best to utilize MICS and companion social data collection methodologies in support of Millennium Development Goal objectives and related targets.

The evaluation will address both technical issues and governance issues, to enable senior management to position the next and future rounds of MICS for maximum impact and efficiency. It should also lead to

6 Evaluation of Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys. Division of Evaluation, Policy and Planning. UNICEF January 1999. REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL PAGE 14 OF 39 RFP-USA-2007-500290

informed decision making within UNICEF about what MICS is, what are its technical and organisational limits and what will be its future strategic directions. Completing the evaluation in 2007 will allow timely planning for MICS 4 and better use of the data from MICS 3.

By name, the key users of this evaluation will be:

--Within UNICEF: the Strategic Information Section, the Division of Policy and Programs (DPP), Program Division (PD), regional and country offices.

--Among partners: the UN and Bretton Woods agencies, especially UN statistical offices, inter-agency indicator and data coordinating groups, and MDG monitoring groups.

--Among national counterparts: national statistical bureaux and other national technical and governance stakeholders including the UN Country Teams.

The target audience of the evaluation is both technical users engaged in survey design and implementation, and managerial cadres engaged in the interpretation of social data and the consequential adjustments of development strategies.

In order to achieve the purposes, the evaluation must commence and end in 2007. This will allow proper planning of the next round of MICS.

2.2 SCOPE AND FOCUS

The overall aim of the evaluation is to assess the quality and the impact of MICS and to help UNICEF make decisions about the future of MICS in the light of changing information needs and partnerships. The scope will include assessment at country, regional and global level and include UNICEF staff, national counterparts and other partners. It will mainly focus on MICS3 but will also look back over the development of the MICS surveys. 2.3 EVALUATION QUESTIONS

As noted, this TOR covers two bundles of work. They are inter-related but can be managed separately. Consequently, they are described separately within this section in particular. If it is ultimately determined that the work should be divided between two separate organizations, individual TORs will be finalized for each.

The questions are grouped under two headings:

1. Descriptive Questions/Issues: These require well organized narratives about the visible and less visible facts of MICS (systems, processes, routines, decisions).The compilation of this information is inherently valuable by capturing for organizational memory what have been diffuse and mutable processes. This institutional history is also the fundamental data base required for the second part.

2. Normative Questions: These require the evaluators to make explicit the criteria for deciding whether the evidence shows strengths or weaknesses, and then to apply these norms to generate persuasive conclusions about how to proceed. The evaluators are required to weigh the evidence to help identify what has worked or not, and why.


♫ Important note: the following question sets present the 5 most important descriptive and 5 most important normative questions for each theme. Answering these will be the basis for determining if the work has been satisfactorily completed. However, it is expected that additional information will need to be collected and presented to provide the comprehensive answers sought. Detailing this implied information base will be an important element of the inception phase.

Cluster A: Technical Issues (Any bidder addressing cluster A must show the ability to answer the questions in question sets 1-5, and the relevant parts of set 10).

Cluster A has an earlier deliverable deadline than Cluster B, as explained in TOR part 3.0, Timetable

1. Management of the survey:

Descriptive Questions/Issues- Describe the manner in which core staff, consultants (firms and individuals, and partner

agencies) have been identified and linked to create a management network. - Describe the administrative machinery, rules and regulations that have developed, together with

the key cast of characters, roles and accountabilities. - How has the management of the survey evolved over time, and what was the logic that drove

these evolutions? - What were the main difficulties encountered and how have they been addressed?- What are the UNICEF human resources involved and how are they equipped and supported for

their tasks?

Normative Questions Were the changes made between MICS rounds (especially 2 to 3) rational responses to the

changing MICS mission? Has MICS been well managed technically at a global, regional and national level? Is the balance

among staff, partners, and consultants effective and efficient? Was their adequate participation of key stakeholders in the development and management of the

MICS effort? Is UNICEF set up to manage on a sustainable basis a series of MICS rounds every 3 years equal

to round 3? Are there stresses that are showing or might develop that would affect the technical competence, size, or morale of the key cadre managing MICS?

Are UNICEF’s business practices (e.g. transfer of funds) optimally suited to execute /coordinate an international household survey series within the three-level structure of the organization?

2. Capacity building.

♫ The development of skills among partners and internally has been an important secondary objective of all MICS rounds.

Descriptive Questions/Issues- What was the contribution of MICS to national capacity development, to include specific mention of:


National statistical offices Policy makers (ministerial level, parliamentary etc) Civil society or private sector parties

- What was the contribution of MICS to UNICEF and other UN/development partner capacity development, to include specific mention of

Monitoring and evaluation staff Program or project officers Overall management capacity for social data issues

- What was the contribution toward or the utilization of technical capacity within the framework of South-South cooperation (e.g. from other program countries as opposed to from

donor nations or donor organizations)?

- Normative Questions Has the MICS management process adequately and accurately located and assessed

national technical partners in order to create the greatest chance for efficiency, accuracy, and sustainability?

Have the capacity strengthening methods and intentions been appropriate to needs to date, for both internal and external actors?

Have the capacity strengthening efforts been translated into sustainable increases in capacity, for both internal and external actors?

What training and support will be required in future under different MICS scenarios that might be selected?

To what degree can MICS efforts depend on South-South cooperation in the future?

3. Technical Issues: Indicators, Questionnaire Design, Manual, Sampling Strategies

Descriptive Issues/Questions - How did MICS (via demand, technical team composition etc) affect the development of

relevant indicators for children and women?- Describe the technical strengths and weaknesses of the sampling strategies, including the

following: ● Use of national versus external technical support ● Choice of sampling frames; thoroughness and datedness of the frames● Estimation of sampling errors● Relationship between information needs, sampling design, sampling sizes, and costs● Validation of sampling methods

- How well did countries follow the design in the manual and the training provided during and after the MICS workshops?

- How were survey instruments (e.g. questionnaires) translated into existing languages (including all verification tests) and field tested at the country level?

- What were the quality control procedures used by countries to address technical issues related to adapting the indicator set, questionnaires, sampling strategies, and use of the MICS manual?

Normative Questions- Were the needs for technical adjustments for regional and national contexts accurately foreseen

and planned for concerning the indicators, questionnaires, survey methods, sampling, and manual design?


- Were the indicators (individually and as a whole) equally relevant to the realities of different regions and different countries within regions?

- Did the model of core-additional-optional modules create any gaps in the desired scope of information MICS3 should have collected? What were the benefits of allowing this level of flexibility?

- Was the sampling appropriate for the multiple objectives or portions of the MICS, including in particular the different intended uses by cooperating stakeholders?

- Have the requirements for translation led to any problems, including in the domains covered in the next two questions sets of field work and data management?

4. Field WorkDescriptive Issues/Questions

- Describe the modalities of field work strategies used by countries implementing MICS3, including: ● training of interviewers and supervisors● team structure/number and composition of teams, including gender and language● field work duration and staff support (rest breaks, medical attention etc)● field work supervision, including especially data quality and sampling management● communications with the central office for logistic and data processing

- Compare the actual implementation in the field in comparison to recommended field work guidelines as presented in the MICS3 Manual and the training workshops?

- Describe how any equipment (e.g. anthropometric and salt kits) were obtained and used during the field work. In particular, detail the training and field supervision quality control?

- What methods did countries use to estimate field work costs?

Normative Questions- Were there adequate and clear guidelines and procedures to adapt standard instruments from the

MICS3 methodology for field work at the country level?- Were field work technical issues properly addressed by the MICS3 manual and the training

provided during the first round of workshops for survey methodology and sampling? In particular, consider issues of data quality control.

- Are the budgeting procedures for field work appropriate and properly described in the MCS3 manual, especially in contrast to the on-the-ground reality ?

- How can and how should quality control strategies optimally be divided between national level and regional level actors?

- Did countries have adequate supervision during the fieldwork period to guarantee adequate data quality?

5. Data processing/DisseminationDescriptive Issues/Questions- Describe the protocols used for data processing, dissemination, and further analysis. - Describe the data entry and processing schedule, in particular in relation to the data collection

calendar - How were MICS3 data processing programs adapted and used at the country level? How quickly

were they able to generate results?- Describe the intended and actual dissemination patterns, including:

● software packages (e.g. SPSS)


● degree of public access, including active and passive archiving and publicity strategies● conversion into Dev Info and similar national social data bases (especially those that are relied upon by governments and development partners)● training of interviewers and supervisors

- Are there identifiable strategies across countries for MICS3 data dissemination and further analysis?

Normative Questions- Was the MICS3 strategy for data processing, dissemination, and further analysis appropriate for

intended uses and users? In particular, is the data technically acceptable to all partners?- Were there adequate and clear guidelines and procedures to adapt standard methodology from

the MICS3 manual for data processing, dissemination, and further analysis at the region and country level? Were they covered in detail enough during the training that participants would be skilled enough o execute them?

- Were the software provided adequate and effective? Were there any problems in utilization that should have been anticipated and fixed ahead of time?

- Does MICS3 meet international standards and need on data processing/dissemination and further analysis? For any problems, analyze the likely causes.

- Should the MICS3 Manual be expanded to included a more detailed approach for data dissemination and further analysis in the context and structure of UNICEF at the regional and country level?

Cluster B: The Role of MICS Within Development Programming (Any bidder addressing cluster B must show an ability to answer the questions in question sets 6-9, and the relevant parts of set 10)

6. Governance

Descriptive Questions/Issues- How were key decisions made and by who? How transparent is the mechanism?- What are the strategic alliances for MICS and how are they maintained? To include specific

mention of WHO, UNAIDS, DHS, UNFPA, UNESCO and the UN Statistical Office- What have been the guiding principles determining the size, periodicity, and content of MICS

rounds? - How many of the countries in humanitarian crisis that had demonstrable data needs that could

have benefited from MICS completed a MICS survey, and what were the reasons for those who did not?

- How have politically sensitive issues been identified and managed?

Normative Questions- Who ‘owns’ MICS—i.e. who drives both the implementation and use? Are all proper

stakeholders present? How well has the governance structure balanced competing pressures to manage MICS in an efficient and timely manner? To include considerations of:● Utilization within country programs● Utilization within global advocacy and reporting needs/opportunities● Humanitarian crisis situations


- Does the commitment that UNICEF has made to MICS make sense in relation to UNICEF’s core mandate and approach to programming and advocacy? Is that commitment accurately perceived and valued as intended by stakeholders?

- Has the governance structure ensured that MICS develops data in support of gender and other human rights based issues, including addressing issues of bias and exclusion?

- How well has UNICEF managed to anticipate and react to political issues surrounding social data? Have there been ill-advised compromises made in response to such pressure?

- Is the present governance structure adapted to the likely changes inherent in acceleration to a 3 year cycle?

7. Use of MICS versus Alternative InstrumentsMICS is often compared to DHS, and it is important to look at the differences between the two survey programs in particular. There are other surveys also with which comparisons can be made including the World health Survey (WHS).

Descriptive Issues/Questions- Describe the ‘peer group’ of tools/approaches that are available to generate data equivalent or

nearly equivalent to what MICS produces. Include a comparison of scope of work (number of surveys) resources used (human and financial), structures of work (e.g. team composition) and products (reports, data sets etc)

- What role does MICS play within this range of instruments in terms of answering the needs for globally comparable data? For data used in national and sub-national development planning and M&E?

- Analyze whether the degree to which MICS duplicates data that can be obtained in other ways? To be considered within the context of improved national reporting of vital statistics and the growth of other household surveys.

- What has been the impact of MICS—over time and within Round 3 in particular--on other major data collection systems such as DHS surveys? To include consideration of: ● Development of globally standardized or non-harmonized indicators● Division of labor (geographic, technical)● Cross-fertilization of modules/themes

Normative Questions- Is the model of a standardised core questionnaire and additional/optional modules the best choice

for the range of functions MICS data is supposed to serve in UNICEF? In particular, is a survey tool the best choice to answer newer and more sensitive areas such as child protection, in contrast to other options?

- Has the growth in complexity and coverage of the survey affected quality? - Is MICS seen as an effective and high quality tool by partners? Do they have an adequate

understanding of the technical issues to properly value MICS in contrast to other data instruments?

- When looking at the tools under development to supply the data that MICS presently covers, are there likely to be technically better or more cost effective tools during the next 6 years (e.g. the next two scheduled MICS rounds)

- Will the acceleration to a 3 year schedule present dangers and opportunities in terms of quality, coverage, and linkage with other tools like DHS?


8. Cost AnalysisDescriptive Questions/Issues

- Performa a cost analysis of the programme focussing on MICS3 only. This will be an overall assessment of the total costs incurred at country, regional and headquarters levels. To include direct costs, resources in-kind and un-costed time of UNICEF staff.

- Make a comparison of MICS costs with similar surveys (such as DHS), yielding comparative standardised costs per household and (if applicable) per module.

- Describe the financing arrangements that are found for MICS surveys, especially the relative contributions of governments and other donor stakeholders.

- Break down costs where possible into stages of a MICS round, including the design and organization phase, training, and the different portions of country level efforts (e.g. field work, data processing etc).

- Identify the opportunity costs(what does not get done if MICS is done), at all levels.

Normative Questions- How realistic are the budgeting protocols in the aggregate and for each part of the MICS effort

(e.g. data processing, dissemination, and further analysis)? Are they accurately described in the MCS3 manual and in training?

- Against relevant comparators, how efficiently have MICS been implemented?- Have the costs of MICS been apportioned in manners related to value, resources, or willingness

to pay? Have certain stakeholders or users paid more or less than the value they have received? - Has MICS generated products with a commercial value? How could such value be calculated?- How are the opportunity costs likely to evolve with a 3 year MICS? What can be done to

mitigate them?

9. Impact of MICS

Descriptive Questions/Issues- Who is using MICS data, and how are they using it? To include descriptions of use in respect to:

● Advocacy ● Reporting● Program development● Program monitoring and evaluation● Research on issues like exclusion

- Describe the guidelines, if any, and the actual behavior that connects data results, dissemination, and policy and program actions at the regional and country level?

- Map out the manner is which use has evolved over time, paying particular attention to changes from MICS 2 and MICS 3, and to they rhythm of usage in the years following the conclusion of a MICS round.

- Describe the utilization and impacts, if any, in countries in humanitarian crisis?- What is the UNICEF-partner communication strategy in place for MICS, at all levels?

Normative Questions- Are UNICEF and other partners gaining all the value they can from the MICS data? What would

be the most cost-effective means of increasing the value received?- Is there persuasive evidence that data of the type that MICS delivers actually influences donor

policies and strategies?REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL PAGE 21 OF 39 RFP-USA-2007-500290

- Is MICS suited for application in humanitarian crisis situations? - What are the strengths and weaknesses of the communication strategy for the MICS? Where

must improvements in the communication strategy be targeted?- How well have UNICEF country offices used the MICS3 results to develop and monitor their

own Country Programming and corporate wide Medium Terms Strategic Plan goals? Have disparity (gender, ethnic) analyses been conducted and been used with skill?

Cluster A and B: Recommendations

10. The Future of MICS

Both clusters will yield important insights for consideration in guiding MICS' future. It is important that all the information be taken into account when formulating recommendations. Thus, if there are separate teams working on Parts A and B, they will need to work together to make recommendations.

The key recommendations sought are noted below. In addition, the teams responsible for each part may offer more specific recommendations on issues particular to their cluster--for example, on data processing quality control issues--that are more specific than the following questions.

a. What is the optimal time frequency of MICS (or optimal frequencies for different objectives)?

b. When and under what circumstances should MICS modules be rotated, i.e. should all topics be included in every round of MICS?

c. What are the recommended roles that MICS should fulfill? E.g. ● What should be the role of MICS in post conflict and transition countries?● What should be the role of MICS in inter-UN goals, including supporting MDG fulfillment?● What should be the role of MICS in middle income countries?

d. Should MICS continue to be a household survey or evolve into a more mixed method collection of data collection?

e. In what ways, if any, should the roles that MICS is playing be adjusted vis-à-vis other tools? In particular, to consider the different modules contained in MICS 3 or under development for MICS 4.

f. What funding models could support future MICS iterations, and what would be the pros and cons of these models? Assess this against the resource base of key stakeholders and against their declared and implied commitment to MICS.

g. What are realistic sustainability goals and what are the recommended steps to achieve them? NB: Sustainability should be considered both narrowly in terms of UNICEF resources, and broadly as a multi-partner commitment. For example, should UNICEF accept that it will remain a survey funder for many of the program countries, or should it become a standard governmental expense similar to vaccines?

h. Looking ahead 5-10 years from now, should UNICEF/partners plan that MICS will remain a relevant tool for the collection of key data about children and women, or should strategic thinking start toward a significantly different social data information strategy?


i. What is the required structure for MICS within UNICEF to respond to the needs for data collection, dissemination, and analysis in the future? Should MICS be professionalized as DHS for example?

2.4 STUDY PROCESSES AND METHODS

2.4.1 Use of Existing Information Sources

Institutional memory is lodged with a few key players at HQ, RO and CO level; however there is rapid turnover, especially at RO and CO level and amongst national counterparts. There has also been both migration and graduation of those involved with MICS – between the relatively few organizations involved, between countries and regions and to more senior positions. This has constituted a lot of the learning in MICS but is not documented. Forward thinking on how MICS should develop is occurring but not yet institutionalized.

A history of MICS and a timeline of key dates has been prepared as part of the planning for this evaluation. Key documents have been archived and some of the information gaps identified, but there are still important gaps in documentation; this is especially true for MICS 2. The evaluation of MICS 1 has left a reasonably complete set of documents and the report annexes are particularly useful

Interviews were held with over fifty stakeholders covering the history and development of MICS and their views of key questions the evaluation could answer; these are documented and can provide a useful source of material for the evaluation. They can also provide information on key informants for interviews.

The MICS website is hosted under www.childinfo.org, and can also be accessed from the UNICEF site. The web site contains all documentation related to MICS 1, MICS 2 and MICS 3, including MICS 2 and MICS 3 manuals, sampling strategies, data processing programs, survey reports for MICS 1-MICS3, and data sets for MICS 2 and MICS 3.

2.4.2 Sampling Frames/Data Collection Instruments

Both clusters will likely depend on questionnaires, field visits and interviews. The actual scale of effort and methodological specifics are implied elsewhere in this RFP, and should be addressed in the submissions. Final agreement will be reached during the inception phase when the evaluation team consults with the management committee.

Cluster A will also be expected to perform extensive quality checks and exemplary re-analysis of MICS data sets. These breadth and exact outputs expected are not yet known and likewise will be discussed in the inception period. Additional details may be provided during the bidding period at the www.childinfo.org site.

The questionnaires etc will be applied using a purposive sampling strategy. What follows is a brief description of the sampling frames, with occasional indications of desired comparisons or coverage. NB: These frames are not the same as the sample size, which is to be developed in discussions with the steering committee as the methodologies are finalized.

Documentation




All MICS related documentation that is available may be accessed. UNICEF will assist in locating any items the evaluation team believes will be of value.

Sampling Frames: Questionnaires

All UNICEF country offices that have completed MICS 3. The respondents may vary, but should be the best informed in the issues, and normally include M&E officers/MICS coordinators/Representatives and programme coordinators.

All UNICEF regional offices. Again, the respondents may vary. All National Statistical offices that have participated in a MICS

Sampling Frames: Field visits All country offices doing MICS 3, including selected countries that also did a MICS 2 or MICS 1

and

A maximum of 4 country offices should be selected for estimated 5-8 day visits. The 4 visits should be geographically distributed as follows: two (2) in Africa, one (1) in South or East Asia and one (1) in the remainder for the world as noted in . The combination of visits should allow insights into a wide range of MICS contexts (post-conflict/transition/ stable, successful MICS/weaker).

Sampling Frames: Semi-structured Interviews of Key Stakeholders UNICEF COs—especially those selected for field visits MICS implementing partners Users of data UN sister agencies, especially key partners All UNICEF staff engaged in MICS, either directly or indirectly. To include former staff if

requested, to the extent they can be located.

Sampling Frames: Data sets: a review of selected data sets is expected to assess among other issues completeness, data quality, and adherence to standards.

a. All country and sub-national specific data sets, for the following four units of analysis: Household data files Household members data files Eligible women 15-49 years of age data files Eligible children 0-4 years of age data files

b. Documentation at the country level including questionnaires, sampling strategy, sampling errors, dictionaries, data processing programs and standard tabulation plans.

The data sets referred to include the raw data sets, and the interim and final sets as a result of various levels of cleansing and processing.

2.4.3 Transparent Benchmarks and Comparisons

As this is a retrospective evaluation, it is not possible to implement a rigorous evaluation design on comparative experiences. Nonetheless, the evaluation is asked to draw out relevant comparisons where


possible. As noted in the scope and focus, comparing MICS to other household survey instruments is requested. Likewise, UNICEF is very interested in metrics that contrast how MICS is managed and used within the development setting versus private sector experiences in areas like cost, quality, and utilization.

For all comparisons, and in all discussions of the normative questions, including all of question set 10, the evaluators must be clear what is to be considered as a “good” standard and what is to be considered as a “poor” or “not met” standard. Where possible, UNICEF is looking for good practice benchmarking that will form the basis of quality assessment efforts in the next MICS rounds. The benchmarks must be clearly described and convincing that they are both valid and reliable.

2.5. ETHICAL ISSUES

The evaluation is not expected to include discussions with children or beneficiaries, thus the ethical issues related to these groups are not expected to be present. Within the data sets and other material to be reviewed, individuals cannot be identified.

Care should be taken when reporting statements or interviews. When in doubt, it is recommended to feedback to the informant and ask them to confirm their statements.

All informants will be offered the option of confidentiality, for all methods used.

No participant other than UNICEF staff may be compelled to cooperate with the evaluation.

Dissemination or exposure of results and of any interim products must follow the rules agreed upon in the contract. In general, unauthorized disclosure is prohibited.

Any sensitive issues or concerns should be raised with the evaluation management team as soon as they are identified.

2.6. STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPATION

Stakeholder Groups Participants (others to be added as identified)

Role

UNICEF staff HQ, Regional, CO InformantsProvide background data and documentsComplete questionnairesInformant interviewsSuggest national counterpart contacts

UN sister agencies UN Statistical office, WHO, UNESCO (UIS), UNFPA, UNAIDS, MDG monitoring group, WB

Informant interviews

National Statistical Countries that have completed Informant interviews and country


offices and national counterparts

MICS (and those who have not) reportsSelected field visits

Donor representatives USAID, others tbd Informant interviewsParticipation in steering group

Key international statistical bodies and agencies

DHS/Macro, PAPCHILD Informant interviewsParticipation in steering group

As part of the initial work, the evaluation team and the steering committee will specify when and in what way the stakeholders will be engaged in items such as the evaluation planning and design, data collection and analysis, reporting and dissemination, and/or follow-up.

In the spirit of collective contributions toward the best product, the evaluation team may elect to or may be asked to establish informal mechanisms for dialogue with stakeholders before-during-after the evaluation; for example, to set up a feedback mechanism or blog that will allow constructive and open comment from a wider range of sources than identified key informants.

2.7. ACCOUNTABILITIES

Responsibilities related to this consultancy will be divided as follows:

EVALUATION TEAM LEADER 1. Oversight and manages team members.2. Orientation and training of team members, data collection assistants where applicable,

interpreters3. Responsible for meeting deadlines and quality of evaluation products4. Principal authorship of final report5. Design and facilitation of final workshop

EVALUATION TEAM MEMBERSComplete tasks as agreed

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (SIS AND EVALUATION SECTION NOMINEES AND OTHERS, WITH CHAIR TO BE AGREED)

1. Selection of evaluation team2. Technical guidance of evaluation team3. Orientation of evaluation team4. Liaison with the evaluation team5. Coordination of stakeholders6. Review of intermediate and final products7. Securing agreement country and regional offices for field visits8. Acceptance of products9. Authorizing payment

Important note: UNICEF may elect to designate a project manager for the evaluation. The project manager may share or have direct accountability for some or all of the management committee items.


STEERING COMMITTEE (WIDE MEMBERSHIP)1. Chaired by an external and credible expert.2. Approval of evaluation team 3. Review of intermediate and final products4. Participation in final workshop or review meeting.

STRATEGIC INFORMATION SECTION1. Locating resource materials2. Ensuring access to electronic data bases

EVALUATION OFFICEAdministration of funds

COUNTRY OFFICES (WHEN SELECTED FOR FIELD VISITS)1. Designation of a focal point for support.2. Liaison with and introduction of evaluators to national statistical offices and other partners3. Organization of administrative and logistical support to evaluation team4. Provision of documents for review5. Review of field visit report for factual errors and omissions

2.8 STUDY TEAM COMPOSITION

NB: The following description is appropriate for a submission that covers both parts A and B of the work. If a submission covers just one of the two parts, it must still meet the listed requirements unless otherwise noted.

Personnel

There must be a team leader who is a highly credible senior evaluator with technical competence adequate to lead the work. A team leader conversant with UNICEF’s structure and programmes is an asset but is not required.

The numbers of team members is for the bidding organization to decide, subject to the competencies listed below.

Portions of the work may be sub-contracted to consulting firms or academic bodies. If this is anticipated, the names and qualifications of the key persons to be involved, and confirmation of their availability must be provided.

Required Competencies

The teams must show the mix of skills adequate to meet the following requirements. Individual members of the team may possess several of the required competencies; the team must possess all.

● Expertise in household survey methodology, designs and data analysis, including hands-on experience in settings where MICS have been implemented. (Required for bids covering Part A)


● Expertise in sampling, including hands-on experience in settings where MICS have been implemented. (Required for bids covering Part A)● Expertise in social data information requirements for international development programming Evaluation methods and data-collection and analysis skills Skills in developing analytical frameworks including gender analysis Process management skills, including interviewing, facilitation and presentation skills Extremely high proficiency in English-language writing and presentation

Advantageous Competencies

● A mix of both genders● A mix of geographical origins and experience.● Proficiency in French is highly desired, including both high level conversational/written French, and in the technical vocabulary related to household surveys and to the thematic areas included in MICS3 (the latter portion especially important for bids covering part A)● Proficiency in Spanish/Portuguese/Arabic/or Russian is an advantage, but is not as important as French. ● A mix of persons with experience in the public/academic and the private sector is strongly preferred (Recommended for bids covering Part B in particular). ● Experience with organizations of comparable size to UNICEF is preferred.

Special Note: Participation of present and former UNICEF staff and consultants

All current UNICEF staff may be involved only as informants or in other specific roles (e.g. member of the steering committee). They may not be evaluation team members.

Former UNICEF staff may be members of the evaluation team if they meet the following criteria:- They have not been involved with MICS 3- They otherwise meet technical qualifications for skills, independence etc.

Consultants to UNICEF or to counterparts during MICS 2 and MICS 3 may be members of the evaluation team, but must identify that connection in order to recuse themselves from evaluating their own work.

♫ Important Note: The United Nations has specific rules about how UN-system retirees and ex-staff members may be contracted following retirement or separation. Any organization considering including either type of person is asked to confidentially convey the name and the potential role—including the expected weeks/months of work—to the contact points for additional information as identified in page 2 of the document. UNICEF will return a confidential response indicating any limits that may apply to the employment of that person. Proposers can then be certain that the person may be included.

2.9 PROCEDURES AND LOGISTICS

The consultants will provide their own computers. On an as-needed basis, consultants will be granted access to MICS data bases and necessary software to utilize them.

For field visits and visits to UNICEF HQ consultants will be supported by UNICEF country and regional offices to the extent possible. However, UNICEF will not absorb costs fir this support.


Costs may include, but not be limited to, the following: compensation, accommodation, food, travel and appropriate insurance of the Contractor’s

workers, both international and local. This includes life and health insurance, incentives, hazard pay.

transport for Contractor’s workers. transport and accommodation of government and/or NGO staff who are/were involved in

MICS work and who will be resource persons to the study. copying of information in hard copy or electronic form. hiring and travel of local translators, interviewers, drivers, watchmen, etc. renting of office space, computers, tape recorders, information technology, requirements for

debriefings. special procedures, such as those related to security, evacuations in emergencies, etc.

Bidders may elect at their discretion to sub-contract portions of the work subject to the approval of the UNICEF steering committee. If this is foreseen it should be noted in the proposal.

Work schedule is flexible and will be determined by the timelines of the evaluation.

The evaluation team is not authorised to hold interviews with the press at any point in this work unless expressly approved by UNICEF. The Contractor shall not initiate engagement with the media. Where the media seek to interact with the Contractor, the Contractor shall contact UNICEF. Approved interactions, with the media, if any, will take place in the presence of the country or headquarters UNICEF focal point for the study.

Consultants will be covered by the usual terms and conditions for consultant with regards to security and evacuation in emergencies. Benefits and arrangements such as insurance should be clarified for participants in the team (particularly in emergencies, consider hazard pay, war risk insurance). Field work should not be scheduled during poor weather conditions that might affect completeness of reporting.

Consultants will travel under a consultant Travel Authorization, per UN regulations. Travel will be booked by the UNICEF Travel Unit and costs reimbursed under standards DSA and expenses conditions. Any additional costs incurred or changes from normal travel procedures shall be approved in advance by the management team.

2.10 PRODUCTS/DELIVERABLES

NB: The following description is appropriate for a submission that covers both cluster A and cluster B. If a submission covers just one of the two parts, it must still meet the listed requirements unless otherwise noted.

The formats for the deliverables will be determined later, but in general all written items should be in Microsoft Word and all presentations in Powerpoint.

Interim Work Products: To Be Archived and Submitted in hard copy and on DVD.

1. Detailed work plan and timelines


2. Questionnaires for different levels (Group B will have a higher reliance on questionnaires for their work)

3. Semi-structured interview formats for different informants (Group B will have a higher reliance on questionnaires for their work)

4. Sampling lists for questionnaires and interviews 5. Presentation materials for steering committee meetings6. Filled out questionnaires and records of interviews and focus groups7. Records of quality assurance routines devised and executed on sampling strategies and on data

processing, with results (Specific requirement for Group A)8. Interim report

Final Products: Written Materials, to be Submitted in hard copy and on DVD9. Final report (Outline and details to be developed with the steering committee)10. Update to the UNICEF Evaluation Database in the required format 7

11. Assessment of the evaluation methodology, including a discussion of the limitations.12. Self-contained Powerpoint presentation that summarizes the final report

Final Products: Workshops13. 1 unified feedback workshop covering parts A and B14. 1 workshop report covering the workshop results.

3.0 TIME TABLE

The following is an indicative time table for the study. The proposer is free to propose a different time table, as long as the proposal clearly explains the sequence of activities, the resources deployed at each stage and the feasibility of the duration of each stage. Earlier delivery while maintaining quality standards will be favorably considered in the technical assessment.

UNICEF has a greater urgency for the information within Cluster A of the Terms of Reference. Proposals that can deliver Cluster A results by 5 December 2007 will have a major advantage when the proposals are compared.

Activity DurationCompletion by (weeks from the date the contract is signed)

INCEPTION PHASE

- Detailed literature review study (broad-based) Three weeks Week 3

- Finalise study plans, protocols, analytical framework, and indicators; selection of countries

Three weeks

Week 6

7 See “UNICEF Evaluation Report Standards” http://www.unicef.org/evaldatabase/index.html and UNICEF Evaluation Technical Notes Series no. 3 “Writing a good Executive summary” http://www.unicef.org/evaluation/TechNote3_Exec_Sum.pdf


http://www.unicef.org/evaluation/TechNote3_Exec_Sum.pdf

http://www.unicef.org/evaldatabase/index.html

Activity DurationCompletion by (weeks from the date the contract is signed)

and geo-areas for the study in each country; selection of in-country (or regional) partners for the study.

- Review of the study plan, protocol, analytical framework and indicators by steering committee One week Week 7

- Meeting with consultants to agree on all details of the study design (e.g. field visits, analytic protocols)

One week Week 8

EXECUTION PHASE

- Field work for the study Two months Week 16

- Preparation and submission of draft report One month Week 20

- UNICEF feedback on draft report Three weeks Week 23

- Preparation and submission of final report Three weeks Week 26

- Presentation workshop (preparation and 2 day delivery) 2 weeks Week 28

4.0 PROPOSER'S PROFILE

This RFP is open to both incorporated institutions (companies, universities etc) and to groups of individuals who have joined together specifically for this evaluation. Depending on which profile is appropriate, proposers should submit what is called for under either 4.1 or 4.2 below.

4.1 INSTITUTION

4.1a Institution Profile

The proposer must provide the following background information about the company:

Date and country of incorporation Summary of corporate structure and business areas Corporate directions and experience Location of offices or agents relevant to this proposal Number and type of employees Financial statements of the three most recent financial years


4.1b Institutional Expertise and Experience

The proposer shall provide a minimum of three (3) references to clients for whom the proposer has carried out similar scope of project. UNICEF may contact references for feedback on consultants / services provided by your firm to support similar projects.

Name and description of client company/organisation Names of senior individuals in the client companies who were involved in the Project

(referred to) who are knowledgeable Scope and scale of Projects Services provided to client

4.1c Proposed Team Members: Availability and Expertise

The composition of the Evaluation Team must be described . A CV/Résumé of all evaluation team members highlighting experience relevant to this evaluation must be provided. Individual CVs should not exceed 4 pages.

The team leader must be clearly indicated. Leaders may differ for Clusters A and B.

4.2 COLLABORATIVE GROUP

4.2a Collaborative Group Profile

The group must provide the following background information about itself:

Location and institutional affiliation, if any, of each member Summary of group structure (e.g. who is the lead person on the proposal) Summary of any prior collaborative experience two or more group members (e.g. worked in

same unit in an institution; have bid on and executed contracts as collaborative groups in the past)

Cumulative and individual relevant experience Number and type of employees, if any, or other supporting elements to be relied upon for services such as travel, document preparation, and data analysis.

4.2b Collaborative Group Expertise and Experience

The group shall provide a minimum of two (2) references for each person in the group of clients for whom that person has carried out relevant work. Work similar in nature and scope is preferred. UNICEF may contact references for feedback on consultants / services provided by your firm to support similar projects.

Name and description of client company/organisation Names of senior individuals in the client companies who were involved in the Project

(referred to) who are knowledgeable of the group member’s work. Scope and scale of Projects


Services provided to client

4.3 COST PROPOSAL

The cost proposal will be divided into two parts: (1) fixed costs-central management, coordination costs, overhead costs; (2) reimbursable costs-fees for study team experts, travel and miscellaneous costs for countries.

The currency of the proposal shall be in US Dollars. The proposer will suggest a payment schedule for the Contract, linked to unambiguous Contract milestones. Invoicing will be in US Dollars. Payment will be effected by bank transfer in US Dollars.

UNICEF reserves itself the right to award/split the Contract to one or more companies.

Please be reminded that UNICEF has limited funds for this study, as UNICEF is a non-profit making organisation, raising all its funds through voluntary contributions. UNICEF is looking for a cost-effective proposal.

The Cost Proposal must include detailed item-wise quotations, based on the terms of reference and other relevant documents. Please note that subsistence rates (lodging, food, local transport, incidentals) will be based on official and prevailing United Nations rates. The rates prevailing as of 18 June 2007 should be used for purposes of costing the contract. These rates are contained in a PDF file available at the Request For Proposal link at www.childinfo.org.

Your quotation will be considered a firm high ceiling limit for the project and not subject to revision.

All prices/rates quoted must be exclusive of all taxes as UNICEF is a tax-exempt organisation.

Payment will be made only upon UNICEF's acceptance of the work performed in accordance with the Contract milestones. The terms of payment are Net 30 days, after receipt of invoice and acceptance of work. Earlier payment may be considered if discount for early payment is offered.



ANNEX 1

UNICEF GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT COPYSigning and returning the acknowledgement copy of a Contract issued by UNICEF or beginning work under that Contract shall constitute acceptance of a binding agreement between UNICEF and the Contractor.

2. DELIVERY DATEDelivery Date to be understood as the time the Contract work is completed at the location indicated under Delivery Terms.

3. PAYMENT TERMS(a) UNICEF shall, unless otherwise specified in the Contract, make payment within 30 days of

receipt of the Contractor's invoice, which is issued only upon UNICEF's acceptance of the work specified in the Contract.

(b) Payment against the invoice referred to above will reflect any discount shown under the payment terms provided payment is made within the period shown in the payment terms of the Contract.

(c) The prices shown in the Contract cannot be increased except by express written agreement by UNICEF.

4. LIMITATION OF EXPENDITURENo increase in the total liability to UNICEF or in the price of the work resulting from design changes, modifications, or interpretations of the statement of work will be authorised or paid to the Contractor unless such changes have been approved by the Contracting authority through an amendment to this Contract prior to incorporation in the work.

5. TAX EXEMPTIONSection 7 of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations provides, inter alia, that the UN, including its subsidiary organs, is exempt from all direct taxes and is exempt from customs duties in respect of articles imported or exported for its official use. Accordingly, the Vendor authorises UNICEF to deduct from the Vendor's invoice any amount representing such taxes or duties charged by the Vendor to UNICEF. Payment of such corrected invoice amount shall constitute full payment by UNICEF. In the event any taxing authority refuses to recognise the UN exemption from such taxes, the Vendor shall immediately consult with UNICEF to determine a mutually acceptable procedure.

Accordingly, the Contractor authorises UNICEF to deduct from the Contractor’s invoice any amount representing such taxes, duties, or charges, unless the Contractor has consulted with UNICEF before the payment thereof and UNICEF has, in each instance, specifically authorised the Contractor to pay such taxes, duties or charges under protest. In that event, the Contractor shall provide UNICEF with written evidence that payment of such taxes, duties or charges has been made and appropriately authorised.


6. LEGAL STATUS

The Contractor shall be considered as having the legal status of an independent Contractor vis-à-vis UNICEF. The Contractor’s personnel and sub-Contractors shall not be considered in any respect as being the employees or agents of UNICEF.

7. CONTRACTOR'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR EMPLOYEES

The Contractor shall be responsible for the professional and technical competence of its employees and will select, for work under this Contract, reliable individuals who will perform effectively in the implementation of the Contract, respect the local customs and conform to a high standard of moral and ethical conduct.

8. INDEMNIFICATION

The Contractor shall indemnify, hold and save harmless and defend, at its own expense, UNICEF, its officials, agents, servants and employees, from and against all suits, claims, demands and liability of any nature or kind, including their costs and expenses, arising out of the acts or omissions of the Contractor or its employees or sub-Contractors in the performance of this Contract. This provision shall extend, inter alia, to claims and liability in the nature of workmen compensation, product liability and liability arising out of the use of patented inventions or devices, copyrighted material or other intellectual property by the Contractor, its employees, officers, agents, servants or sub-Contractors. The obligations under this Article do not lapse upon termination of this Contract.

9. INSURANCE AND LIABILITIES TO THIRD PARTIES

(a) The Contractor shall provide and thereafter maintain insurance against all risks in respect of its property and any equipment used for the execution of this Contract.

(b) The Contractor shall provide and thereafter maintain all appropriate workmen’s compensation and liability insurance, or its equivalent, with respect to its employees to cover claims for death, bodily injury or damage to property arising from the execution of this Contract. The Contractor represents that the liability insurance includes sub-Contractors.

(c) The Contractor shall also provide and thereafter maintain liability insurance in an adequate amount to cover third party claims for death or bodily injury, or loss of or damage to property, arising from or in connection with the provision of work under this Contract or the operation of any vehicles, boats, airplays or other equipment owned or leased by the Contractor or its agents, servants, employees or sub-Contractors performing work or services in connection with this Contract.

(d) Except for the workmen’s compensation insurance, the insurance policies under this Article shall:

(i) Include a waiver of subrogation of the Contractor’s rights to the insurance carrier against UNICEF;(ii) Provide that UNICEF shall receive thirty (30) days written notice from the insurers prior to any cancellation or change of coverage.


(e) The Contractor shall, upon request, provide UNICEF with satisfactory evidence of the insurance required under this Article.

10. SOURCE OF INSTRUCTIONS

The Contractor shall neither seek nor accept instructions from any authority external to UNICEF in connection with the performance of its services under this Contract. The Contractor shall refrain from any action, which may adversely affect UNICEF or the United Nations and shall fulfil its commitments with the fullest regard to the interests of UNICEF.

11. Encumbrances/Liens

The Contractor shall not cause or permit any lien, attachment or other encumbrance by any person to be placed on file or to remain on file in any public office or on file with UNICEF against any monies due or to become due for any work done or materials furnished under this Contract, or by reason of any other claim or demand against the Contractor.

12. COPYRIGHT, PATENTS AND OTHER PROPRIETARY RIGHTS

UNICEF shall be entitled to all intellectual property and other proprietary rights including but not limited to patents, copyrights and trademarks, with regard to documents and other materials which bear a direct relation to or are prepared or collected in consequence or in the course of the execution of this Contract. At UNICEF's request, the Contractor shall take all necessary steps, execute all necessary documents and generally assist in securing such proprietary rights and transferring them to the UNICEF in compliance with the requirements of the applicable law.

13. FORCE MAJEURE; OTHER CHANGES IN CONDITIONS

(a) In the event of and as soon as possible after the occurrence of any cause constituting force majeure, the Contractor shall give notice and full particulars in writing to UNICEF of such occurrence or change if the Contractor is thereby rendered unable, wholly or in part, to perform its obligations and meet its responsibilities under this Contract. The Contractor shall also notify UNICEF of any other changes in conditions or the occurrence of any event, which interferes or threatens to interfere with its performance of the Contract. On receipt of the notice required under this Article, UNICEF shall take such action as, in its sole discretion, it considers to be appropriate or necessary in the circumstances, including the granting to the Contractor of a reasonable extension of time in which to perform its obligations under the Contract.

(c) Force majeure as used in this Article means acts of God, war (whether declared or not), invasion, revolution, insurrection or other acts of a similar nature or force.

14. TERMINATION

If the Contractor fails to deliver any or all of the deliverables within the time period(s) specified in the Contract, or fails to perform any of the terms, conditions, or obligations of the Contract, or should the Contractor be adjudged bankrupt, or be liquidated or become insolvent, or should the Contractor make an assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or should a Receiver be appointed on account of the insolvency of the Contractor, UNICEF may, without prejudice to any other


right or remedy it may have under the terms of these conditions, terminate the Contract, forthwith, in whole or in part, upon thirty (30) days notice to the Contractor.

UNICEF reserves the right to terminate without cause this Contract at any time upon thirty (30) days prior written notice to the Contractor, in which case UNICEF shall reimburse the Contractor for all reasonable costs incurred by the Contractor prior to receipt of the notice of termination.

In the event of any termination no payment shall be due from UNICEF to the Contractor except for work and services satisfactorily performed in conformity with the express terms of this Contract.

Upon the giving of such notice, the Contractor shall have no claim for any further payment, but shall remain liable to UNICEF for reasonable loss or damage, which may be suffered by UNICEF for reason of the default. The Contractor shall not be liable for any loss or damage if the failure to perform the Contract arises out of force majeure.

Upon termination of the Contract, UNICEF may require the Contractor to deliver any finished work which has not been delivered and accepted, prior to such termination and any materials or work-in-process related specifically to this Contract. Subject to the deduction of any claim UNICEF may have arising out of this Contract or termination, UNICEF will pay the value of all such finished work delivered and accepted by UNICEF.

The initiation of arbitral proceedings in accordance with Article 22 "Settlement of Disputes" below shall not be deemed a termination of this Contract.

15. ASSIGNMENT AND INSOLVENCY

1. The Contractor shall not, except after obtaining the written consent of UNICEF, assign, transfer, pledge or make other dispositions of the Contract, or any part thereof, of the Contractor's rights or obligations under the Contract.

2. Should the Contractor become insolvent or should control of the Contractor change by virtue of insolvency, UNICEF may, without prejudice to any other rights or remedies, terminate the Contract by giving the Contractor written notice of termination.

16. USE OF UNITED NATIONS AND UNICEF NAME AND EMBLEM

The Contractor shall not use the name, emblem or official seal of the United Nations or UNICEF or any abbreviation of these names for any purpose.

17. OFFICIALS NOT TO BENEFIT

The Contractor warrants that no official of UNICEF or the United Nations has received or will be offered by the Contractor any direct or indirect benefit arising from this Contract or the award thereof. The Contractor agrees that breach of this provision is a breach of an essential term of the Contract.


18. PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES

Nothing in or related to these General Conditions or this Purchase Order shall be deemed a waiver, express or implied, of any of the privileges and immunities of the United Nations, including its subsidiary organs.

19. CHILD LABOUR

UNICEF fully subscribes to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and draws the attention of potential suppliers to Article 32 of the Convention which inter alia requires that a child shall be protected from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child's education, or to be harmful to the child's health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development.

20. UNETHICAL BEHAVIOUR

UNICEF strictly enforces a policy of zero tolerance concerning unethical, unprofessional or fraudulent acts of UNICEF suppliers / contractors. Accordingly, any registered company that is found to have undertaken unethical, unprofessional or fraudulent activities will be suspended or forbidden from continuing business relations with UNICEF.

21. CORRUPT AND FRAUDULENT PRACTICES

UNICEF requires that all suppliers / contractors associated with this purchase order / contract observe the highest standard of ethics during procurement and execution of the work. In pursuance of this policy UNICEF

(a) Defines for the purpose of this provision the terms set forth as follows:

(i) ‘corrupt practice’ means the offering, giving, receiving or soliciting of any thing of value to influence the action of a public official in the procurement process or in the execution of a contract, and

(ii) ‘fraudulent practice’ means a misrepresentation of facts in order to influence a procurement process or the execution of a contract to the detriment of the client, and includes collusive practice among bidders (prior to or after bid submission) designed to establish bid prices at artificial non-competitive levels and to deprive the client of the benefits of free and open competition;

(b) Will reject a proposal for award if it determines that the selected supplier / contractor has engaged in any corrupt or fraudulent practices in competing for the contract in question;

(c) Will declare a supplier / contractor ineligible, either indefinitely or for a stated period of time, to be awarded a UNICEF-financed contract if at any time it determines that it has engaged in any corrupt or fraudulent practices in competing for, or in executing a UNICEF-financed contract.


22. GUIDELINES ON GIFTS AND HOSPITALITY

Suppliers / contractors shall not offer gifts or hospitality to UNICEF staff members. Recreational trips to sporting or cultural events, theme parks or offers of holidays, transportation, or invitations to extravagant lunches or dinners are also prohibited.

23. SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES

Amicable Settlement

The Parties shall use their best efforts to settle amicably any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of, or relating to this Contract or the breach, termination or invalidity thereof. Where the parties wish to seek such an amicable settlement through conciliation, the conciliation shall take place in accordance with the UNCITRAL Conciliation Rules then obtaining, or according to such other procedure as may be agreed between the parties.

Arbitration

Any dispute, controversy or claim between the Parties arising out of this Contract or the breach, termination or invalidity thereof, unless settled amicably under the preceding paragraph of this Article within sixty (60) days after receipt by one Party or the other Party's request for such amicable settlement, shall be referred by either Party to arbitration in accordance with the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules then obtaining. The arbitral tribunal shall have no authority to award punitive damages. In addition, the arbitral tribunal shall have no authority to award interest in excess of six percent (6%) and any such interest shall be simple interest only. The Parties shall be bound by any arbitration award rendered as a result of such arbitration as the final adjudication of any such controversy, claim or dispute.

24. AUTHORITY TO MODIFY

No modification or change in this Contract, no waiver of any of its provisions or any additional Contractual relationship of any kind with the Contractor shall be valid and enforceable against UNICEF unless provided by an amendment to this Contract signed by the authorised official of UNICEF.


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