Consultant - Capacity Development, Data For Now initiative

UN Secretariat; New York (NY); On-site; USD 74,000 - 166,000; Full time

Job summary

UN Secretariat in New York seeks a seasoned consultant to support the Data for Now initiative across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. You will engage with national statistical offices, deliver trainings, and help develop tools and guidance for improved data timeliness and quality.

The role emphasizes collaboration with UNSD, donors, and international partners, including producing data stories and coordinating with regional teams on capacity development and reporting.

Qualifications

• Advanced university degree in statistics, economics or related field.
• Ten years of progressive experience in social sciences relevant to data and statistics.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute detailed work plans with outputs and timelines.
• Engage with national offices and stakeholders to implement activities.
• Deliver workshops and trainings, in-country and online.
• Support reporting, communications, and donor reporting as assigned.
• Collaborate with partners to advance the Data for Now initiative.

Skills

Communication

Diplomatic engagement

Workshop delivery

Assessment reporting

Guidance material development

Project coordination

Stakeholder engagement

Training delivery

Data analysis

SDG indicators knowledge

Non-traditional data sources

Metadata development

Quality management

Project management

Education

Master's degree

Bachelor's degree with twelve years of qualifying experience

Job description

Organizational context: The United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) co-leads the Data for Now initiative, aiming to enhance countries' capacity to produce and disseminate timely, disaggregated data for the 2030 Agenda. This role supports the initiative's implementation in selected countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, fostering collaboration among national statistical systems and diverse partners.

Job purpose: This consultancy supports the overall implementation of the Data for Now initiative, focusing on selected countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The role involves regular engagement with national statistical offices and stakeholders to implement agreed activities, provide technical support, and facilitate the use of innovative data sources and methods. Key contributions include enhancing data availability, quality, and timeliness for policy-making, developing reporting and communication materials, supporting training programs, and collaborating with a broad network of international partners to advance the initiative's goals and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Responsibilities: Develop and execute detailed work plans with key outputs and timelines in consultation with the UNSD team. Engage with at least two project countries to support progress on prioritized activities, aiming to increase the availability, quality, and timeliness of disaggregated data. Collaborate with the UNSD project team and stakeholders to deliver workshops and trainings, both in-country and online. Contribute to project coordination, including reporting and follow-up with countries and other key stakeholders. Engage with regional and global partners, including the Data for Now core team, UN agencies, donors, and other organizations. Support methodological work for thematic areas and key processes, developing new tools and guidance materials. Contribute to communications and outreach efforts, including data stories and updating initiative webpages. Assist with donor reporting and administrative tasks as assigned.

Education: An advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in statistics, economics, development studies, international relations, public administration, or a related field is required. A Bachelor's degree with twelve years of qualifying experience may substitute. A minimum of ten years of progressive experience in social sciences, including statistics or economics, is necessary.

Work experience: A minimum of five years of experience working with national statistical offices, providing capacity development, guidance, and training is required. Solid knowledge of statistical production, particularly non-traditional data sources, metadata development, and quality management, is essential. Experience in project/programme management and stakeholder engagement in data and statistics is also required. Familiarity with the Sustainable Development Goals is desirable.

Skills: Communication, diplomatic engagement, workshop delivery, assessment reporting, guidance material development, collaboration, project coordination, reporting, stakeholder engagement, technical support, training delivery, data analysis, knowledge of SDG indicators, knowledge of non-traditional data sources, metadata development, quality management, project management.