UNDP Jobs - 73120- Household Income and Expenditure Survey Specialist

Household Income and Expenditure Survey Specialist (Priority for Kuwaiti Nationals)

Location :

Kuwait, KUWAIT

Type of Contract :

Other

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

Other

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

Arabic English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

12 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

UNDP and the State of Kuwait, represented by the General Secretariat of the Supreme Council of Planning and Development (GSSCPD), strive to enhance institutional capacities at various government agencies by providing them with necessary technical support to strengthen their capacities and skills to perform their expected duties.

Under the framework of the Institutional Capacity Development for Implementation of the Kuwait National Development Plan (ICDI/KNDP) project, UNDP and GSSCPD attempt to support the Central Statistics Bureau (CSB) to create an enabling environment for Kuwait National Development Plan (KNDP) results. The aim is to enhance institutional and human capacities of the CSB for evidence-based plans and policies on sustainable development.

Within this context, CSB is seeking to recruit a Specialist in Household Income and Expenditure Surveys to support the Census Department, in reviewing and developing household income and expenditure surveys, The Specialist will also focus on capacity building and transfer of knowledge to Census Department at CSB.

The consultancy will also contribute to the following:

Continue with the development of tools, methodologies, and resources of statistical work on the national level for the following KNDP objectives:

Complete modernization programs at the Central Statistics Bureau, including the development of institutional and ICT infrastructure, develop information systems, indicators and database, models, and statistical surveys., and transform into registered census, and develop economic research.
Training and Development of national human resources in statistics, allowing to fulfill qualitative and quantitative needs from specialized national cadres in statistics and census.

The assignment will also contribute to the following ICDI/KNDP project outputs:

Output: Enhanced institutional and human capacities of the CSB for evidence-based plans and policies on sustainable development;
Improve statistical collection and data base in sectoral areas to include Household Income and Expenditure Survey.

Purpose:

The main purpose of the assignment is to support, evaluate and develop a household income and expenditure surveys, review existing methodology, and improve the quality of the survey in addition to support the capacity building efforts in this area, in order to improve the quality of data necessary for national accounts, and monitoring and evaluation of national economic and social programs, the work of the consultant will also contribute to capturing consumption and expenditure trends and their demographics, social, and economic impacts changes on these trends.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of Assistant Undersecretary for Statistical Affairs Sector and in close coordination with the Project Manager, the House Income and Expenditure Survey Specialist will assume the following tasks:

Develop the capacities of the Census Department in conducting household income and expenditure surveys:

Evaluate the survey conducted by the census department;
Review the methodology of sampling for more consistency and better representation of the sample to select smaller samples without compromising representation and quality;
Detailed review of the questionnaire and efficiently connect it to the needs of users from National Accounts, and social and economic planning;
Reformulate the questions of the research to match the requirements for measuring indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
Study the questions from the previous survey that were proven inadequate throughout the previous surveys in consultation with data users;
Design new questions to further measure multidimensional indicators in Kuwait.

Capacity building, training and ongoing support for the Census Department:

Based on thorough assessment, identify the coaching and training needs related to Census Department and develop a training plan to address them; including but not limited to developed methodology of sampling, and developed methods of research in household income and expenditure surveys;
Provide coaching and on-the-job-training for staff and supervisors at the Census Department to enable them to implement their role in relation to household income and expenditure surveys, in areas including but not limited to sampling, preparing questionnaires, and field work;
Present monthly and quarterly reports to the GSSCPD, UNDP and the Project Manager highlighting key deliverables and achievements.

Outputs and Deliverables:

A Work Plan at the outset of the assignment within - (2 weeks);
A capacity/training needs assessment and training plan for the Census Department - (End of Month 3);
Report on assessment and evaluation of the results of the training workshops conducted – (Ongoing)
Modified questionnaire based on the conducted review – (Timeline to be agreed with department in the AWP).
Modified sampling methodology – (Timeline to be agreed with department in the AWP).
A proposal for work plan related to conducting the survey - (Timeline to be agreed with department in the AWP)
A comprehensive Manuel with required training on conducting the survey - (Timeline to be agreed with department in the AWP)
A Final report on the entire work undertaken, including revisions and provided recommendations – (End of Assignments)
Conduct at least one training workshop every month, in addition to on the job training, and discussion sessions with CSB staff on areas of conducting surveys including household income and expenditure - (Ongoing).
Monthly and quarterly progress reports as per standard templates - (Ongoing).

Roles and Coordination Requirements

The Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the Head of Census Department at CSB. The Specialist will also indirectly report to the ICDI/KNDP project management based with the International Cooperation Department at the GSSCPD by submitting regular reports on progress and impact of the assignment.

Competencies

The Household Income and Expenditure Survey Specialist should be able to demonstrate the following competencies:

Functional competencies:

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches;
Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms;
Develops and/or participates in the development of tools and mechanisms, including identifying new approaches to promote individual and organizational learning and knowledge sharing using formal and informal methodologies.
Promotes knowledge sharing

Promoting organizational change and development

Performs appropriate work analysis and assists in redesign to establish clear standards for implementation;
Develops communications and programmes to assist business units in their adaptation to changing environment.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines;
Continues to seeks new and improved methods and systems for accomplishing the work of the unit;
Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally;
Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments.

Core Competencies:

Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents;
Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation;
Building and promoting effective teams;
Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Minimum Master Degree in Statistics, Economics, Accounting or any other related fields of study.

Experience

Minimum of 15 years of proven experience in statistical work including conducting, reviewing and designing surveys, particularly household income and expenditure surveys.
Knowledge and experience in demographic aspects, management of household survey data.
Experience in using SPSS, Stata, or other known relevant statistics programms.
Excellent computer skills, with MS. Office (Word, Excel, Power Point).

Language requirement

Fluency in oral and written English and Arabic is a must.

Type of Consultancy:

SSCPD Contract
Duty Station: GSSCPD in Kuwait

Note:

This position will be on governmental contract administered by the General Secretariat of the Supreme Council for Planning and Development;
Priority for Kuwaiti Nationals;
As part of the application, the applicant must attach a CV.