Background Early childhood, which spans the period up to 8 years of age, is critical for cognitive, social, emotional and physical development. During these years, a child’s newly developing brain is highly plastic and responsive to change evidenced by the billions of integrated neural circuits that are established through the interaction of genetics, environment and experience. Early childhood development (ECD) encompasses many dimensions of a child’s well-being, which can potentially make measuring it an imprecise science. UNICEF has been working with countries to close this knowledge gap and to develop specific indicators in three vital areas of measurement: the quality of care within a child’s home environment; access to early childhood care and education; the overall developmental status of children. Data in all three of these areas are being collected through the UNICEF-supported Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS).[1]MICS is a cost-effective household sample survey that produces statistically sound, internationally comparable estimates of socioeconomic and health indicators. Since the initiation of the MICS programme in 1995, more than 200 surveys have been implemented in more than 130 low- and middle-income countries through four rounds of surveys (1995, 2000-01, 2005-06 and 2010-2012). UNICEF is now in the process of conducting the fifth round of surveys (MICS5) that will be completed in 2015.
Beginning with the fourth round of MICS (MICS4), the early childhood development measures were consolidated into a single ECD module included in the questionnaire for children under 5 years of age. Along with questions on quality of care and attendance to ECE, the module also includes a 10-item Early Childhood Development Index (ECDI) that was developed by UNICEF in collaboration with key partners in 2007 for inclusion in MICS surveys. The ECDI measures the developmental status of children aged 3 to 4 years in the following four domains: literacy-numeracy, social-emotional, physical and learning. The ECDI score is calculated as the percentage of children aged 3 to 4 years who are developmentally on track in at least three of these four domains. The ECDI was collected for the first time during MICS4.
When UNICEF started the process of measuring ECD, there were only a handful of population based ECD measures that could be used as reference. However, since the inception of the MICS ECD module, there have been a series of developments within the broader field of ECD research, including the work of a number of interagency groups, academics and others to develop new sets of indicators and related items to measure ECD. In light of this, UNICEF hosted a technical consultation with key partners in January 2015 to, among other things, reflect on the results obtained thus far from countries that have collected the ECDI and to discuss how recent developments in the field of ECD measurement can inform the ongoing improvement of the ECDI. One result of the meeting was an acknowledgment that there needed to be a careful review of the domains of early childhood development both in terms of existing research literature as well as alternative items or tools that have been developed for the measurement of the various domains.
Purpose of Assignment
The Data and Analytics Section requires support through the services of an external consultant to complete the tasks described in the TOR. These include:
1) Preparation of a methodological paper to summarize the process that was undertaken to develop and validate the Early Childhood Development Index (ECDI) since 2007 including a summary of relevant data analyses of data conducted to determining sensitivity of questions (expected length, at least 25 pages not including annexes/tables, Times New Roman 12, single-spaced). Background material will be provide to the consultant to undertake this task. However, the consultant will also have to engage with the experts remotely who undertook the work to document the process and results that have not been captured in written documentation.
2) Preparation of a review paper on the domains of ECD (expected length, at least 40 pages not including annexes/tables, Times New Roman 12, single-spaced). The paper will need to include: a comprehensive description of each domain and extensive review of relevant literature; a review of existing and previously validated tools or items for measuring the domain; and propose a recommended set of items (or single item) for measuring the domain that includes a detailed rationale for the selection. The paper will need to review the following domains: physical development (including mobility and motor functions), learning abilities, communication, cognitive development and social-emotional development (i.e., behaviour). The consultant will be expected to identify relevant domain experts and liaise and consult with them to secure any necessary inputs or documentation in order to develop the paper. This work will feed into the possible revision of the ECDI with the idea of later field testing the proposed items. The consultant will have to suggest ways to pilot the new set of times including validation work, statistical tests from a field test, suggested associations to look for etc.
[1] Some Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and other national household surveys have also collected information on early childhood development typically with the standard, or modified, versions of the MICS questions.
Duty Station
Home-based; Remote.
DurationThis will be a part-time contract (up to 45 days, i.e. approximately 15 days for deliverable n. 1 and 30 days for deliverable n.2) over a period of 8 months. The expected start date is May 1 2015.This consultancy is output-based and final payments will be made on the basis of the quality of the final products regardless of the actual number of days used by the consultant to complete the tasks.
Supervision
The consultant will be co-supervised by the Statistics Specialist, ECD and Statistics Specialist, Data Collection), with inputs from Senior Advisor for ECD and UNICEF’s Global MICS Coordinator.
Copyright
Both papers produced under these Terms of Reference is the sole property of UNICEF and UNICEF maintains the right to make the final decisions with regards to the use, modification/editing, and publication of all or any part of the material produced under this assignment.
Key competences, technical background, and experience required:
1) Education: University Master’s Degree or higher in demography, social sciences or statistics
2) Minimum of (8) Eight years of progressively responsible professional work experience in the area of ECD research and measurement
3) Excellent Knowledge of the literature pertaining to ECD and its measurement. Good know of household surveys methodology
4) Proven track record of drafting methodological papers and/or contributing to report writing or peer-reviewed publications
5) Previous experience with project coordination
6) Excellent command of English required
7) Analytical, methodical and precise style of writing required
8) Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing
9) Ability to work in an international environment and under tight deadlines
10) Knowledge of computer management and applications
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