Senior Technical Consultant for Quality Assurance and Oversight of the 2026 Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey
- Career Category: Advisor / Individual Consultant, Health/Medical
- Schedule:Short-term
- Salary: N/A
Consultancy period: June to December 2026 (Phase II).
Work schedule and arrangements: The consultant will work remotely and shall supervise other subject matter experts (i.e. Data Processing) to ensure quality standards and coherence. Remote work will be coordinated with UNFPA, UNICEF and NIS teams through regular virtual meetings and progress reports. Reporting templates having the minimum features are suggested for the consultant to work on and report to UNFPA and NIS.
Duration and working schedule
Total Level of Effort (Phase II): ~ estimated 80 working days.
Contract period: June to December 2026 (Phase II).
Payment will be made in installments upon satisfactory completion of agreed deliverables. UNFPA does not pay a daily rate – estimated days are provided to guide applicants only. This is a results-based contract with payments tied to successful delivery of outputs in a quality manner.
Place where services are to be delivered:
The consultant can work remotely. The consultant should be available during reasonable working hours that overlap with the Phnom Penh time zone (UTC+7) to facilitate communication with the UNFPA team and NIS counterparts.
Once additional funding is available, the consultant will be required to travel to Cambodia to work with NIS and partners on a joint data analysis (see above) tentatively between September to October 2026. UNFPA will cover travel costs and DSA in the country.
- The Senior Technical Consultant will perform the following tasks in close consultation with NIS and UNFPA, with all work conducted remotely unless otherwise specified:
- Supervision and Data Quality Oversight
- Provide continuous, high-level remote supervision and technical guidance to the Data Processing Expert to ensure the relevance, quality, accuracy, completeness, and coherence of all data processing and recode file preparations, strictly adhering to international DHS standards.
- Review and formally certify the data quality and structural integrity of all recode files prepared by the Data Processing Expert, ensuring the data is ready for analysis.
- Field Monitoring Analysis and Quality Reporting (June–July 2026)
- Analyze the real-time field check tables and dashboards provided by the Data Processing Expert to identify data quality issues, monitor item non-response (specifically for the DV/TFGBV module), and check for inconsistencies throughout the remaining fieldwork (until July 2026).
- Provide technical recommendations and quality alerts immediately to UNFPA and NIS based on monitoring data to facilitate timely course correction by field supervisors.
- Assess the fidelity of the ongoing data collection process to established ethical and safety standards and ensure protocols are being consistently followed.
- Joint Data Analysis and Final Report Writing (August–December 2026)
- Lead the planning and remote execution of the joint data analysis phase, ensuring strict adherence to the DHS Tabulation Plan and statistical methodologies.
- Conduct all report drafting and final writing remotely in close consultation with the NIS and partner ministries (MOH, MOWA).
- Serve as the primary technical editor and quality assurance lead for all chapters of the Preliminary and Final Reports, ensuring factual accuracy and adherence to international DHS report writing standards.
- Data Protection and Archiving Finalization
- Guide NIS on final data anonymization, documentation, and metadata protocols to ensure the final dataset is properly prepared for national and international archiving (e.g., DHS Program/National Archives).
- Ensure NIS is clear about the process and requirements for final dataset archives to maximize data usability and compliance post-CDHS.
- Conditional In-Person Support (Contingent on Funding)
- Should additional funding become available, the Senior Technical Consultant will travel to Cambodia to conduct a two-week in-country workshop with NIS, MOH, and MOWA staff focused on intensive joint data analysis and final report production.
- A two-week data analysis plan will be developed and shared with NIS and UNFPA for feedback
- English - Fluent
- Khmer is preferred
- Postgraduate Degree in demography, statistics, public health, or related field
- Leadership in managing and providing technical support for large-scale household surveys, with a specialized focus on DHS protocols for over 10 years
- Comprehensive technical expertise in DHS methodology and international survey standards, ensuring rigorous data integrity.
- Demonstrated mastery of the survey lifecycle, including innovative survey design, field implementation, complex data analysis, and technical report writing.
- Advanced proficiency in CAPI (Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing) and specialized survey data processing and statistical analysis software.
- Expertise in quality assurance, with a proven track record in field monitoring and the validation of complex datasets.
- Familiarity with Cambodia’s specific DHS context and operational landscape is an asset
- Strong analytical capabilities, blending high-level statistical analysis with the ability to translate data into comprehensive, actionable reports.
- Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills
- Fluency in English (required)
- Khmer language skills are an asset
- Ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders
- Experience working with UN agencies or international organizations is preferred
- Strong project management and coordination skills
- Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
- Cultural sensitivity and adaptability to local contexts
