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Call for Applications: UNESCO Institute for Statistics Consultants Roster

OVERVIEW

Grade : Level 3

Parent Sector : UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)

Duty Station: Canada

Job Family: Education

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 7 to 11 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 30-JUN-22

 

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

 

BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION

The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) is the statistical office of UNESCO and is the UN depository for global statistics in the fields of education, science, technology and innovation, culture and communication.
The UIS is the official source of internationally comparable data used to monitor progress towards the Sustainable Development Goal on education. The UIS is the official source of SDG 4 Global and Thematic Frameworks, SDG target 9.5 and SDG 11.4.1. and hosts and co-chairs the Technical Cooperation Group on the indicators for SDG 4. 

The UIS was established to improve UNESCO's statistical programme and to develop and deliver timely, accurate and policy-relevant statistics needed in today’s increasingly complex and rapidly changing social, political and economic environments. The UIS collects, collates and curates education, science and culture data and provides free access to data for UNESCO countries and regional groupings from 1970 to the most recent year available. Within the mandate of strengthening SDG reporting, the UIS has supported regions and countries in developing benchmarks for selected SDG 4 indicators and region-specific education indicators; and, under the leadership of the African Union, is responsible for reporting against the CESA framework.  The UIS is developing a Global Education Observatory (GEO), with the vision of providing Member States and the international community with a gateway to education-related data that fulfils the need of national, regional and global stakeholders for easy access to information for decision making, which responds flexibly to short, medium and long-term priorities. 

As part of its strategy for collaboration, brokerage and the generation of public goods the UIS has worked with UNICEF, World Bank, OECD and the GEMR on the Joint Survey of national education responses to COVID 19 and is developing resources to support the monitoring of commitments for Mission: Recovering Education 2021.

The UIS is seeking to build a roster of consultants with significant experience in statistics, data management, data cleaning, data analysis, data reporting and visualization, from which to draw candidates for work planned by the UIS. Consultancy arrangements may be up to 11 months, depending on demand, project specifications and funding availability. Consultants who are selected from the roster will work under the supervision of the Programme Specialists at the UIS. Consultants may be requested to work onsite in Montreal, or remotely as determined by the specification of the project. The work may include incidental travel to participate in field work, workshops, or conferences; such travel will be governed by UNESCO’s travel policies for consultants.  

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

Selected candidates may be recruited as consultants to support research and statistics-related activities by the UIS across a range of areas, including: 

  • Education: Sustainable Development Goal 4, Learning Outcomes, Literacy, Gender Equality in Education, Equity in Education, Teachers, Education in Emergencies (EiE), Education in Africa, Education Finance, Higher Education, Educational Attainment, International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED), Capacity Development.
  • Science, Technology, and Innovation: Sustainable Development Goals Target 9.5, Research and Development Statistics, and Women in Science.
  • Culture: Sustainable Development Goals Target 11.4, Heritage Statistics; Cultural Employment, Cinema Statistics, International Trade of Cultural Goods and Services and Cultural Industries and Economy.

Long Description

Consultants will work under the technical guidance and supervision of UIS Montreal and field staff and sometimes in collaboration with other UNESCO Sectors, Regional and Field Offices. 

Examples of assignments and tasks can include one or more of the following:

  • Develop new and improved methods for obtaining, analyzing, and evaluating numerical data and for the purpose of projections. 
  • Develop standards on concepts, definitions, and classifications. 
  • Conduct research and writing methodological reports and technical manuals with a view to enhancing the use of appropriate methods and standardizing and harmonizing statistical concepts, definitions, and classifications. 
  • Plan and conduct surveys and other statistical inquiries, including the determinations of concepts, methods, and classifications to be used, sample design and the development of data gathering instruments, such as questionnaires. 
  • Organize the collection, storage, and processing of data, evaluating completeness, reliability and relevance of raw data and adjusting and weight figures accordingly. 
  • Direct the computation of averages, ratios, distributions and the application of other statistical methods and techniques and organize the presentations of data into tables or graphs amenable to analysis and interpretation.
  • Write reports on the design, execution, and results of inquiries, including the interpretation and evaluation of data and related matters. 
  • Technical co-ordination on the harmonization of EiE data and it’s integration into EMIS.
  • Technical design, development and roll-out of data portals.
  • Develop new and innovative methodologies for the collection and validation of data (example: mobile data platforms, machine learning, artificial intelligence)
  • Develop and maintain data for storage retrieval and dissemination. 
  • Advise on methodological questions and the practical applications of statistical methods. 
  • Advise governments and national statistical offices on improving statistics, statistical capabilities, and the organization of statistical services. 
     

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

Accountability (C)
Communication (C)
Innovation (C)
Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)
Planning and organizing (C)
Results focus (C)
Teamwork (C)
Professionalism (C)
Building partnerships (M)
Driving and managing change (M)
Leading and empowering others (M)
Making quality decisions (M)
Managing performance (M)
Strategic thinking (M)

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For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education 

  • An advanced university degree in the field of statistics or mathematics; or in economics, education or other related disciplines with training in basic and applied statistics or similar quantitative studies. 

Work experience 

  • A minimum of five to eight years' national experience or two to five years of international experience in the collection, compilation, analysis, and dissemination of statistical data. 
  • Experience in developing statistical methodologies and managing computer databases to store statistical information. 
  • Excellent quantitative/statistical and analytical skills, including ability to carry out statistical analyses autonomously, or qualitative data analytical skills. Applicants must clearly specify in the application if they have quantitative or qualitative skills (or both when applicable). 
  • Demonstrated experience at analysing household and/or other survey data or qualitative data, preferably with a focus on education. 

Skills/competencies 

  • Excellent knowledge of Stata, SPSS or statistical packages and/or qualitative software. Applicants must clearly specify in the application which software or package they excel at. 
  • Solid software and IT skills particularly in the use of software for general and specialized applications for data processing and analysis (in particular: MS Excel).
  • Proven ability to develop statistical norms and standards and to provide complex technical advice and guidance on their use.
  • Knowledge of statistical and international policy issues related to education and educational planning.
  • Ability to communicate effectively with political, technical and other partners, including the ability to prepare, present, and discuss findings and recommendations on issues clearly and concisely.

Languages

  • Proficiency in English and in another Official UN working language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) is required.
  • Knowledge of the local language of the country where the position is located in is an asset. 

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Work experience

  • Experience in theories and concepts of teacher education (pre- and in-service) and professional development. 
  • Experience in social and economic classifications, preferably in the field of education.
  • Knowledge of the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) and its application to the classification of education programmes.
  • Experience at the national level in a government ministry or at the international level (UN or international organization).
  • Experience in education finance data collection and analysis.
  • Experience in technical capacity building and delivery of training in areas of education statistics (example: education expenditure, education in emergencies etc), for Ministry of Education officials and education stakeholders, at national/international levels.
  • Experience in data and metadata production, data analysis, dissemination.
  • Familiarity with the statistical tools and questionnaires used by the UIS to collect education finance data and metadata.
  • Experience working on EiE data and statistics at national, regional, international levels.
  • Experience in the development of data portals.
  • Experience in education or science statistics/policy or economic/social science research.
  • Experience working with large-scale household survey data and education indicators.
  • Experience in learning outcomes related to assessment of learning skills.
  • Experience with field work and data collection, including with vulnerable groups.  

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

The purpose of this vacancy is to develop a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in this advertised roster. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables. Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection to a consultant contract. There is no commitment on either side. 


Consultants who are selected from the roster will work on specific deliverables and with timeframes as determined by the office based on project needs. The consultant will be issued a contract which is subject to UNESCO’s General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants. The length of the contract will depend on project needs and funding availability. The Roster will remain valid for 24 months.

For any clarifications, please write to uis.recruitment@unesco.org  
 

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.

The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview. 

UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.

Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.

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UNESCO is committed to achieve and sustain gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities, as well as nationals from non-and under-represented Member States (last update here) are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. Worldwide mobility is required for staff members appointed to international posts.

UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.