UNDP Jobs - 72972- Re-advertisement - Statistical Specialist Consulta

Re-advertisement - Statistical Specialist Consultant

Location :

Windhoek, NAMIBIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

26-Jul-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

2 Months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

2 Months

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by world leaders in 2015 are accompanied by 169 targets and 244 global indicators to measure progress on transformation in member states. There has been a high recognition of the importance of measurement and the relevance of data in supporting progress towards the SDGs, and that is why preparation of national monitoring frameworks is a crucial milestone. To measure the SDGs, it is important for countries to domesticate the global indicators aligning them to national priorities and coming up with a nationally relevant indicator framework. This is the first critical step on which Namibia is working. With the development of the indicator framework a SDG baseline report is imperative to then develop annual targets for attaining the SDGs by 2030. The Namibian Statistics Agency (NSA) is the lead agency in developing the national indicator framework and accompanying SDG baseline report. In particular, the NSA is spearheading the development of the SDG and national indicator frameworks to identify data availability and sources that will influence the country reporting obligations including the upcoming baseline SDG reporting. That will include undertaking comprehensive evaluation of the status of data necessary for reporting on the progress of the SDGs and national programs.

The report on Indicators and a Monitoring Framework for the Sustainable Development Goals recalled the mostly national nature of SDG monitoring. National monitoring is the most important level of monitoring and will rely on nationally defined sets of indicators, and it should be based and respond to national priorities and needs. To be able to deliver, this will require the mobilization of national technical expertise around all key thematic issues. Further, the national indicator framework will also inform the global and regional level monitoring exercise; this therefore requires that Namibia has an appropriate system in place to track the full range of SDGs and targets in an integrated, clear, and effective manner.

UN Namibia is thus supporting the NSA to achieve efficient and effective statistical system to effectively respond to increasing demand for quality data and statistics at national and international levels.

Duties and Responsibilities

The purpose of this consultancy will be to design develop and maintain a data base.

The concrete deliverables are the following:

An indicator framework (spanning SDGs, AU 2063 and NDP5) developed for national results reporting: the national indicator framework will also have sufficient information at all levels of tier indicators and possible recommendations for tier 2 and 3 level indicators in terms of data availability and acquisition. Special attention will be given to appropriate disaggregation of data sets.
An SDG Baseline report as input to the annual SDG report
Capacity of NSA strengthened to coordinate the NSS, by providing a mapping of the national data ecosystem
Recommendations on new partnerships developed to start the process for further modernization in collection and analysis including through big data and data visualization

Under the overall guidance of the Economics Advisor and of the Economic Specialist and in direct supervision of the NSA, the Statistical Analyst will undertake the following assignments:

Complete the ongoing mapping exercise, identify areas where national data already exists; areas where national data might be collected and data that have been collected but not widely analyzed or disseminated; areas where no data is available, or where the collection will not be possible in time, analyze the gaps, especially in some thematic or new areas, especially those pertaining to SDG 16. In this endeavor the existing data will be reviewed for its quality and recommendations put together, in consultation with stakeholders on reinforcing the NSS to respond to issues of data quality, frequency and relevance. Further partnerships will be explored to assist in data collection, analysis and dissemination to increase frequency and availability of relevant data.

Development of the SDG Indicator Framework. It is an indicator framework that considers the SDG indicators aligning them to the Africa Agenda 2063 and NDP5. This will inform the development of a national indicator Framework.

Assessment of the status of data. This activity will involve the comprehensive scanning of the available data from the NSS to respond to the indicators in the SDG and national indicator framework, who or where they are produced, how often they are produced and what is the latest edition. This activity once done will be consolidated with the two indicator frameworks to form a comprehensive SDG and national indicator framework.

Reinforce the multi-stakeholder process to identify global indicators and baselines; institutionalize a system of regular consultations with stakeholders to review and constantly update and upgrade data production systems.

Deliverables Description Due Date:

An indicator framework (spanning SDGs, AU 2063 and NDP5): End July 2017;
Final SDG report as input to the annual SDG report: End July 2017;
Final description report of the non NSA stakeholder involvement: End August 2017.

Competencies

Ability to engage with high ranking UN Managers, Government Officials and International Donor Community
Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based reporting; full project cycle mastery, excellent work/project planning skills
Ability to implement new systems
Proactive, problem solving and result-oriented attitude
Ability to handle a large volume of work in an effective and timely manner
Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals
Punctuality, intellectual curiosity, willingness to take initiative and work under pressure to meet deadlines.
Generates innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations
Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the UN

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Must hold a BSc Degree in Statistics and Mathematics.

Experience:

Must have 2 -3 years previous experience in data analysis;

In addition to the above, the following are added advantage:

Proficiency in computer programs, including Microsoft Office, Stata and SPSS.
Knowledge about the technical aspects of data management and utilization.
Knowledge about data processing and evaluation, management and in organizing the collection, storage and usage of geographic data.
Understanding of the social, economic, institutional, and political environment in Namibia including an understanding of local power structures.

Communication/Language

Fluency in written and spoken English.