International Consultant: Senior Technical Consultant for Quality Assurance and Oversight of the 2026 Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey (CDHS)

The Royal Government of Cambodia, through the National Institute of Statistics (NIS), is implementing the 2026 Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey (CDHS) as a nationally representative household survey using CAPI. CDHS serves as the country's primary source of data on population health, reproductive health, family planning, maternal and child health, gender-based violence, and related indicators. UNFPA, along with UNICEF and other development partners, are providing technical support towards the implementation of the survey. 

The process started from September 2025 with a questionnaire developed and consulted with national stakeholders. A one-month training was provided to enumerators and supervisors covering the understanding of the questionnaire, the skills needed to conduct interviews and the use of CAPI tablets. The Khmer questionnaire version was integrated into the tablet data entry system (QSF files), which were used to program the CAPI system. The CSWeb system was set up for data transfer. 

There were country specific questions and new modules/sections added to the CDHS questionnaire namely: Social Protection, Drowning, Mental Health, Child Functioning, Technology-Facilitated Gender Based Violence. 

See report of Phase I for details as in annex. 

Currently, the CDHS is progressing with data collection underway until July, toward data finalization and report production (August–December 2026). Following the completion of the initial technical assistance phase from October 2025 until March 2026 provided by UNFPA and partners, this second phase of technical assistance is required to ensure the final CDHS report meets the highest international DHS standards for coherence, quality, and accuracy.  

The consultant will provide senior-level remote oversight, specifically supervising the Data Processing Expert and potentially a couple of others (AI based reporting expert, etc.), leading joint data analysis and report writing remotely, and ensuring the technical quality of all final outputs.

UNFPA, along with UNICEF and other development partners, are providing technical support towards the implementation of the survey. 

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2026-2029), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Specific Tasks and Activities (Phase II):

The Senior Technical Consultant will perform the following tasks in close consultation with NIS and UNFPA, with all work conducted remotely unless otherwise specified:

A. 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.

B. 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.

C. 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.

D. 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.

E. 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

Expected Outputs:

Report samples: 

• Key Indicator Report (see an example: https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/SR281/SR281.pdf)
• Final report: see the 2021-2022 CDHS report, noting that the 2025-2026 report should have additional chapters and sub-chapters due to additional questions added to the questionnaire. https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR377/FR377.pdf

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.

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. 

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.

Estimated Travel Requirements:

• For this Phase II – the work will be conducted remotely mostly, except below. 

One travel to Cambodia is required:

• 1 round trip in Phase II between consultant's base location and Phnom Penh, Cambodia to work on joint data analysis with NIS and partners.
• Economy class airfare as per UN travel regulations
• Approximately 25 days total in Cambodia for on-site work (to work on join data analysis)
• Per diem allowances as per UN DSA rates for Cambodia

All travel arrangements will be coordinated with the UNFPA Cambodia Country Office and must be approved in advance. Travel costs and per diem will be covered according to UN regulations and UNFPA policies. 

All  interested candidates is required to submit: two samples of technical writing from previous DHS or similar survey reports written by the applicant, along with other documents, including cover letter, CV/P-11

Please refer to the ToR for details.

• Advanced degree (Masters or higher) in demography, statistics, public health, or related field

Experience:

• Over 10 years of leadership in managing and providing technical support for large-scale household surveys, with a specialized focus on DHS protocols.
• 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.

Communication Skills:

• Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills
• Ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders

Additional Requirements:

• 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

• Fluency in English (required)
• Khmer language skills are an asset

• Exemplifying integrity, 
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, 
• Embracing cultural diversity, 
• Embracing change

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen, 
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
• Communicating for impact

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.