International Consultant: Senior Technical Consultant for Quality Assurance and Oversight of the 2026 Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey (CDHS)
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Consultant Consultancy Internationallly Recruited The Position:
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.
How you can make a difference:
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.
You would be responsible for:
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
B. Field Monitoring Analysis and Quality Reporting (June–July 2026)
C. Joint Data Analysis and Final Report Writing (August–December 2026)
D. Data Protection and Archiving Finalization
E. Conditional In-Person Support (Contingent on Funding)
Expected Outputs:
| Output | Criteria for Satisfactory Completion | Due Date (Tentative) |
| Field Monitoring Report | Comprehensive report analyzing data quality issues, response rates, and adherence to ethical protocols during the May–July fieldwork phase, with specific technical and remedial recommendations submitted to NIS. The report should cover at the minimum actions and tasks completed by the consultant, any issues identified and remedial actions by the consultant, and recommendations. | July 31, 2026 15 working days (15% of total payment) |
| Data tabulation plan | Develop data tabulation plan for national consultation and adjust them based on stakeholder feedback. See standard plan: https://dhsprogram.com/publications/publication-dhsm6-dhs-questionnaires-and-manuals.cfm | September 30, 2026 3 working days (5% of total payment) |
| In-Country Joint Analysis Plan | Completed two-week in-country workshop together with NIS, MOH and MOWA and other key partners to produce a fully drafted CDHS report (Key Indicators and Final Report) ready for finalization. Put in place a clear joint data analysis plan that include the reporting structure, process, timelines, partner engagement, roles and responsibilities, methodology and output of the analysis. Data analysis validation is required by NIS, MOH, MOWA. | September - October 2026 |
| Key Indicator Report | Draft KIR report submitted to UNFPA and NIS, demonstrating coherence, technical accuracy, and adherence to international DHS report writing standards in line with links below (completed remotely). | October 31, 2026 20 working days (30% of total payment) |
| Final CDHS Report | Final Report draft submitted to UNFPA and NIS, demonstrating coherence, technical accuracy, and adherence to international DHS report writing standards (completed remotely). Note: there is a potential to use Artificial Intelligent to support the CDHS reporting and the senior consultant is tasked to work with the AI reporting expert to ensure reliability and coherence | December 15, 2026 40 working days (40% of total payment) |
| Final Contract Report | A structured report summarizing the assignment with: (1) Executive Summary; (2) Activities and Methodologies (remote and conditional in-person work); (3) Key Findings/Results Achieved; (4) Challenges and Lessons Learned; (5) Recommendations for data archiving and future surveys. The report should cover at the minimum actions and tasks completed by the consultant, any issues identified and remedial actions by the consultant, and recommendations and links to all final materials and products (editable and PDF). | December 31, 2026 2 working days (10% of total payment) |
Report samples:
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:
One travel to Cambodia is required:
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.
Qualifications and Experience:
Education:
Knowledge and Experience:
Experience:
Communication Skills:
Additional Requirements:
Languages:
Required Competencies:
Values:
Core Competencies:
UNFPA Work Environment:
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.
Disclaimer:
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.
