Background

Government of Nepal (GoN) has decided through its official strategic plan to formulate “National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS)”. The main objective in preparing the NSDS is to develop a unified and comprehensive National Statistical System (NSS) for the collection, management, dissemination and utilization of official statistics in the country. An NSDS is a national policy document to be formulated with wider participation of all stakeholders and expected to provide the framework for strengthening statistical capacity across the NSS as well as set the vision and milestones for where it would be in medium to long terms. Upon implementation of proposed NSDS, Nepal’s NSS will be considered as world’s standard and be able to ensure the data requirement for poverty assessment and MDG progress, and other critical data needs for developing indicators necessary for policy formulation, planning and monitoring of development targets including the country’s Least Developed Country (LDC) graduation goal and post-MDGs agendas. Further, the NSDS would provide a framework for mobilizing, harnessing and leveraging resources and a basis for effective and result-oriented strategic management of NSS for next ten years. The proposed strategy should incorporate a comprehensive and unified framework for continual assessment of evolving user needs and priorities for statistics and for building the capacity needed to meet these needs in a more coordinated, synergetic and efficient way.
 
The CBS being a nodal statistical agency of the GoN, is leading in the NSDS process. To take the process ahead, government has formed various committees and working groups such as NSDS Steering Committee chaired by the Member of the National Planning Commission, NSDS Taskforce headed by a Deputy Director General of the CBS and nine thematic working groups led by respective ministries and CBS. To prepare the NSDS with the consultation of Taskforce, Thematic Working Groups and stakeholders in NSS, CBS is seeking an international advisor to work in conjunction with a team of National Consultants to shape and direct the work as it progresses, utilizing their experience of NSDS development in other countries to deliver a high quality strategy.  This NSDS work stream is one of the major components of the Strengthening National Planning and Monitoring Capacity (SNPMC) project, a project funded jointly by UNDP/DFID. The SNPMC aims at promoting effective, responsive and coordinated approach to inclusive development through evidence based planning and policy formulation.
 
The CBS has requested the SNPMC to: 1) provide an internationally recognized expert in the field of strategic planning and management of national statistical systems to advise senior management throughout the NSDS design, advocacy and fund-raising processes; and 2) to fund a series of workshops and consultations with stakeholders. These Terms of Reference (ToR) set out the objective of the consultant’s assignment, scope of work, schedule of deliveries and institutional and organizational arrangements. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) with the support from UNDP and DFID plans to formulate "National Strategy for the Development Statistics (NSDS)". CBS is seeking an experienced international consultant to guide the NSDS process and provide technical inputs in the preparation of NSDS. The main function of the consultant is to provide expert advice to the statistical authorities of Nepal in developing a comprehensive National Strategy for the Development Statistics, which eventually will set out the strategic vision and mission of official statistics producers in Nepal and serve as a basis for ten years funding decisions by internal and external financiers.

Interested candidates can download the Procurement Notice, detailed Terms of Reference (Annex I), General Condition of Contract for the services of Individual Contractors (Annex II) and P11 Form (Annex III) from the UNDP website; http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=14781.

Please submit your application at the following email address if you face problem applying online: procurement.np@undp.org.

Competencies

Functional Competencies
  • Self-development, initiative-taking;
  • Acting as a team lead and facilitating team work;
  • Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
  • Creating synergies through self-control;
  • Managing conflict;
  • Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
  • Informed and transparent decision making.
  • Demonstrate professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work.

Corporate competences

  • Commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
  • Sensitivity to cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age differences;
  • Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment;
  • Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications
  •  Advanced university degree in statistics or social sciences or related fields.
 Experience
  • A minimum fifteen years’ working experience in the field of official statistics including five years’ progressive experience in senior management level position in National Statistical System;
  • He/she must have a good understanding of overall national statistical system, report writing skills and experienced in evidence-based planning and policy process;
  • Experience of NSDS development in other countries, particularly LDC countries, is essential.
Languages
  • He/she must be fluent in English and have good working knowledge of English;
  • He/she must possess excellent written and oral communication skills.