Head of Education (Statistician)

OVERVIEW

Post Number : 1CAUIS0071PA

Grade : P-5

Parent Sector : UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)

Duty Station: Montreal

Job Family: Education

Type of contract : Project Appointment

Duration of contract : 2 years

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 24-MAR-2022

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

Duration of contract: initially 2 years, with possibility of extension subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

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 promotes the alignment of education monitoring frameworks through its technical input to the strategies of global and regional mechanism, such as the Global Education Cooperation Mechanism (GCM), G7, G20 and significant partners and donors to education work. 

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. 

Within the mandate of strengthening SDG reporting, the UIS is supporting 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.  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 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.

The UIS Education Section is responsible for working with member states to strengthen the coverage of the  UIS Core System of Education Indicators; in particular the UIS Education Surveys and, delivering a strategy that supports countries in reporting and accessing recent and relevant data for policy needs. 
 

PURPOSE

Under the overall authority and supervision of the Director of UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the incumbent, as Head of Education Section, is responsible for delivering a strategy to increase the reporting by Member States against the UIS Core System of Education Indicators, with a focus on Africa. The post holder will be responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with countries to strengthen the reporting of education indicators and their use in national and regional policy development. S/he will develop analytical methods to strengthen and complement traditional data collection and develop guidance, tools and materials that support countries in reporting and accessing recent and relevant data for policy needs. S/he plays a significant role in maintaining and pursuing strategic partnerships and resource mobilisation, building strong relationships with technical partners, regional organisations, National Commissions and Member State line ministries, and advocating for adoption of the Education 2030 agenda within the global context.    

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

1. Education Standards & Methodologies

• Provide leadership and guidance to the development of ISCED and other educational standards and indicators, arising from the analysis of data reporting challenges, in order to develop a programme of methodological work aligned to the Institute’s strategy and responsive to policy makers needs with a focus on LDCs and Africa;
• Develop and maintain the ISCED governance mechanisms, strengthen implementation and coherence of the classification system;
• Facilitate dialogue across expertise and throughout networks, discussing emerging trends, application of best practices and exchanging ideas; 
• Develop and contribute to methodological documents that support the work of governance mechanisms including the Technical Cooperation Group on the Indicators for SDG 4-Education 2030 (TCG) and the Inter-agency and Expert Group on SDG Indicators (IAEG-SDGs). 

2. Regional and Country Engagement
Developing and maintaining a Country Engagement Strategy that supports countries in reporting against the UIS Core System of Education Indicators; and accessing recent and relevant data for policy needs including:

• Develop and implement a programme of work for a capacity building with a focus on LDCs and Priority Africa; coordinating with internal and external partners in order to align to criteria for prioritisation and reduce fragmentation and inefficiencies;
• Ensure effective consultation and collaboration with member states in the development of the UIS programme of work and alignment of work with national, regional and UN development frameworks;
• Build strong relationships with technical partners, regional organisations, National Commissions and Member State line ministries in order to develop and further the Institutes strategy for education data and accountability;
• Provide guidance, tools, frameworks and materials, to increase the capacity of countries to collect, report and use education indicators for monitoring and policy development.

3. UIS Education Surveys and Data Releases
Contribute to the UIS Data Release, Dissemination and Outreach:

• Plan and manage the Education Surveys activities including data and indicator validation and integration of education statistics in UIS database;
• Implement innovation in data collection and processing tools and in order to improve response rates and reduce the burden of reporting for countries;
• Monitor Key Performance Indicators for the section’s work on Surveys and Data Releases;
• Maintain and make accessible the methodological information for the UIS Core System of Indicators and ISCED classifications;
• Implement the Statistical Quality Assurance Framework and contribute to its development.
   

Long Description

4. Representation, Policy Advice, Knowledge and Expertise Exchange

• Develop and contribute to technical partnerships and capacity development, particularly at the regional level, actively networking and providing advice to create synergies, strengthen and identify key partnerships and to obtain funding and increased visibility for the programme. 
• Establish, facilitate and provide authoritative substantial input to senior level development partner education statistics working groups. Influence and guide the development of policy positions, formulation and implementation in order to meet the Institute’s priorities and strategy;
• Represent at the Senior level the Education statistics programmes to internal and external networks, such as the UN management systems, agencies, development partners and funders, organizations, National Commissions, and ministries;

5. Resource Mobilization

• Lead resource mobilization and develop funding mechanisms for the section in accordance with the Institute’s strategy and work programme. Establish collaborative and influential partnerships enhancing UIS’ standing and influence in the Field;
• Lead and supervise the entire funding process, including developing and writing proposals, agreements, validating progress reports and ensuring the timely implementation and completion of project/programme activities;

6. Innovation
Contribute to the work of the Foresight and Innovation Team in:

• Explore innovative methods to increase the robustness of education indicators derived from traditional data collection methods and contribute to the design and development of experimental indicators; assess benefits of digitalisation and emerging technologies on data collection and on the broader education concepts;
• Develop and implement a programme of work on research and case studies;

7. Management

• Direct the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the section’s initiatives and activities, identifying and operationalizing partnerships including cooperation with other UNESCO sectors/field offices/regional bureaux;
• Organize working methods and teams around the efficient and sustainable implementation of core work priorities;
• Contribute to the UIS reporting, including the preparation of documents for UIS and UNESCO governing bodies; and for other internal and external stakeholder including donors and development partners.
   

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education 

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in statistics, economics, demography, mathematics, education or social sciences with a substantial applied statistics / data sciences component or equivalent experience gained on-the-job.  

Work experience

• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible relevant professional experience as a statistician working with administrative, finance, survey, and/or assessment data relating to education, especially with developing countries, of which at least five years is at international level either within a UN or similar agency or in a Government Ministry or agency. 
• Experience of working as a statistician, researcher or analyst on programmes or activities relating to methodological development in the field of education statistics, particularly with SDG 4 global, regional and national education monitoring frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver support to LDCs in strengthening education data capacity.
• Experience of working in developing countries with National Statistical Offices or Planning Units.
• Experience in designing, managing and implementing project and programme activities pertaining developing innovative and effective data collection, analysis and dissemination systems; and of working with data from multiple sources.
• Experience in partnership development and resource mobilization.

Skills/competencies

• Demonstrated ability to explore innovative options to deliver education data methodology and analytical products, including understanding how to leverage on emerging methodological and technology opportunities. 
• Demonstrated capability to prepare analytical and dissemination products on complex technical issues suitable for a general policy audience.
• Demonstrated capability to plan and manage projects.
• Ability to manage and establish an effective and collaborative team in a multicultural environment.
• Excellent IT knowledge and skills with statistical programmes.

Language

• Excellent knowledge of English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Education 

• Advanced university degree (PhD degree or equivalent) in statistics, economics, demography, mathematics, education, social sciences or related areas.
• An advanced degree in applied statistics / data science is highly desirable.

Work experience

• Experience working on/in countries in Africa.
• Record of publications based on quantitative education data analysis and / or statistical modelling.
• Experience in the UN system or a similar agency.

Languages

• Good knowledge of French.

BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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