UNDP Jobs - 82920- Environment Statistics Specialist

Environment Statistics Specialist

Location :

Maseru, LESOTHO

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

18-Feb-2019

Application Deadline :

28-Jan-19 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

4 Months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

4 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 is the UN global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. It works with individual countries on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. UNDP Lesotho supports Lesotho’s development priorities laid out in the National Strategic Development Plan. The focus areas include: democratic Governance; Environment and Energy; Poverty Reduction and economic Growth, with Gender Mainstreaming and HIV/AIDS as cross cutting areas.

The Government of Lesotho launched a Lesotho Data for Sustainable Development with support from EU and UNDP. This project is aimed at assisting the Government in the collection, analysis and dissemination of development data and building institutional and technical capacities for monitoring and evaluation of development programs and effective public management systems. The data project is being implemented by the Ministry of Development Planning, through the Department of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and Bureau of Statistics (BOS). The project has three inter-linked components, namely, i) definition of systematic tools for measuring development programs; ii) promotion of literacy and innovation for data collection, dissemination and use; and iii) strengthening national leadership, institutional and technical capacities for effective coordination and sectoral engagement.

The project is currently implementing a capacity building response following a preliminary phase where necessary evidence was gathered through a rigorous stakeholders-engagement. The consultative process involved a National Level Diagnosis Workshop, Cluster Level Data Gap Analysis, User Assessment and interviews at institutional level. Importantly, this exercise was pivotal in establishing some data gaps and institutional challenges related to performing statistical and M&E functions across the entire National Statistical System (NSS) and National Monitoring and Evaluation System (NMES). Major gaps were identified in the Environmental Statistics. The last report published on environmental statistics was published in March 2018, and the available data is considered inadequate to report on related SDGs indicators as well as national frameworks. Environmental statistics is a relatively new area for the Bureau of Statistics; as such the Bureau has been unable to adequately produce timely, robust, credible and relevant statistics that are compliant with fundamental principles of official statistics in this area. There is also limited expertise in environment statistics as the team does not possess any technical expertise to competently lead and support production of this type of statistics. The focus areas that need urgent attention are data collection and analysis for Biodiversity, Air and climate change and Solid Waste statistics.

It is against this background that on behalf of the Ministry of Development Planning, UNDP is seeking a reputable environment statistics specialist to provide technical support to the Environment and Energy Statistics (EES) Division of the BOS in producing Environment Statistics and to enhance the knowledge of the personnel undertaking collection of this statistics in Lesotho. The expert will be expected to design the Lesotho Strategy for Production of Environment Statistics, review survey instruments and data collection mechanisms, and review data processing and analysis as well as advice on the required staff complement and competencies.

Duties and Responsibilities

Based on the above objectives, the Specialist is expected to deliver the following:

An inception report.
A comprehensive recommended organizational structure relative to the production of environmental statistics, clearly reflecting linkages with various players in the ecosystem and capacity building plan.
Environment Statistics Production Methodology and Design for Lesotho aligned to best international practices and Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics (FDES).
Data collection Instruments; analysis plan and tabulation plan
Recommended Environment Statistics report outline
Value chain statistical framework especially focused on Biodiversity, Air and Climate Change and Solid Waste statistics
A document that will be used as Strategy for the Development of Environment Statistics in Lesotho for the years 2019-2024.
Provide technical assistance on data processing, data analysis and report writing

The assignment should be informed by and be aligned to the National Vision 2020, Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics (FDES), National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP) and National Monitoring and Evaluation Framework; inclusive of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2063.

Competencies

Strong organizational and detail-oriented skills;
Ability to deliver under tight deadlines;
Ability to work as part of a team;
Excellent communication skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

The Specialist must possess at least a recognized Masters Degree in the fields of Environmental Statistics/Statistics/Engineering or related fields.

Experience:

In addition, the Specialist must have:

A minimum of 10 years professional experience preferably practical experience with Environmental Data analysis or related services
Prior experience in Environment data management, Survey Design and implementation preferably for National Statistics Offices
Proficiency in statistical packages
Understanding of the link between development frameworks and the indicators provided by environmental data
Prior experience in environmental assessments, state of environment reports (regionally or globally) and environmental compendia
Appreciation of SADC development context will be an advantage
Knowledge and understanding of the Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics;the System of Environment Economic Accounting (SEEA) indicators; Sustainable Development Agenda; Agenda 2063, and National Strategic Development Plan preferred.

Language:

Fluent in English.

Application Procedures:

submit P11 (Template in the below link);
submit Confirmation o Interest and Availability ( Template in the below link);
submit Methodology - Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable candidate for the assigment and detailed methodology on how they will approach and complete the assignment;
TORs with more details of the assignment can be viewed in the below link.

http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=52641

Submission E-mail : ls.procurement@undp.org