An international consultant for the project on strengthening civil registration and vital statistics systems in Asia and the Pacific

Result of Service To organize the first Asia-Pacific CRVS Research Forum with an aim to expand its scope to a wider range of topics with the hope of attracting more diverse group of statisticians, registration professionals, think-tanks, data producers, users, academe, development partners and private institutions to share their experiences and contribute to the realization of the collective vision and further accelerate the achievement of commitments under the Asia Pacific CRVS Decade and the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.

Work Location Home base

Expected duration 1 Nov 22-1 Jul 23

Duties and Responsibilities The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development emphasizes the inclusive and sustainable future for all with a focus on leaving no one behind. With a well-functioning civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) system, it helps ensure that every person has a legal identity, facilitating access to the benefits and protections of the State. Moreover, registering, documenting and recording life events enhances good government and sustainable development. Knowing the population of a country and its subdivisions, leading causes of death, fertility rates and life expectancy enhances public administration by informing effective, efficient and directed policies at the national and local levels. However, more than 100 low and middle-income countries lack functional CRVS systems, and, as a result, the registration rate of births and deaths is incomplete, which results in uncertainties of who is being left behind as the relevant disaggregated population data are not available.

CRVS data is also critical for monitoring development indicators, including SDG indicators, and 67 of the 231 SDG indicators rely on effective CRVS data, including those aimed at reducing maternal and infant mortality, eliminating poverty, building resilience to climate-related disasters and guaranteeing legal identity for all.

Despite continuous efforts, an estimated 64 million children, under the age of five, within Asia and the Pacific have not had their birth registered, and millions of other vital events, including deaths, are not registered. The midterm reports submitted by countries at the midpoint of the CRVS Decade demonstrated the need for greater efforts to accomplish the vision of universal and responsive CRVS systems. Reaffirmed commitment to improved CRVS systems has also been made at the Second Ministerial Conference on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics, which was organised in November 2021.

Against this backdrop, ESCAP and Bloomberg Philanthropies have collaborated and implemented the project entitled Getting everyone in the picture: strengthening civil registration and vital statistics systems in Asia and the Pacific (Data 4 Health Initiative). The project builds on lessons learned through three phases of projects with the Data 4 Health initiative as well as multiple projects on CRVS implemented by the Statistics Division since the inception of the Asia and the Pacific CRVS Decade (2015-2024). The work supports implementation of the Regional Action Framework on CRVS in Asia and the Pacific and the further commitments made in the Ministerial Declaration on Building a More Resilient Future with Inclusive Civil Registration and Vital Statistic.

More specifically, the project aims to develop statistical capacity and demographic skills within national statistics offices (NSOs) and other line ministries/organizations responsible for the production of statistics. This includes various activities at national, subregional and regional levels such as capacity building workshops, technical advisory services, knowledge sharing activities as well as development of knowledge products.

The project will help selected countries to improve CRVS systems to be well-functioning and universal through three project outcomes.

- Selected countries produce vital statistics from civil registration records and identify inequalities related to civil registration. - Selected countries improve their CRVS systems through the review and analysis of their civil registration processes and implement a holistic approach to civil registration, vital statistics, and identity management. - Selected countries use CRVS-related evidence to improve policies and programmes.

If policymakers are going to make decisions to strengthen their CRVS systems, they need to know whether they are investing resources wisely and optimally. Research can help them take effective actions at each stage of the policy cycle. Research can also help identify topics requiring the attention of decision-makers and partners¿and is critical for exploring options or alternative courses of action for addressing priority problems. Research can inform alternative courses of action by offering evidence of lessons learnt from the past or other settings. Once decisions are taken and put into practice, research is conducted to assess effectiveness in terms of intentions and results by examining impact and outcomes. Therefore, one of the activities under the project is to organize the first Asia-Pacific CRVS Research Forum. The event aims to expand its scope to a wider range of topics with the hope of attracting more diverse group of statisticians, registration professionals, think-tanks, data producers, users, academe, development partners and private institutions to share their experiences and contribute to the realization of the collective vision and further accelerate the achievement of commitments under the Asia Pacific CRVS Decade and the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.

The activities will also support peer-to-peer learning and south-south cooperation in cooperation with the civil registrars’ networks in the region and through building skills amongst officials by supporting other countries in their endeavors. Additional support to existing network(s) of professionals working on CRVS issues in countries to further develop their professional skills and facilitate country exchange of expertise, with a focus on advocating for CRVS improvements and data use to inform policies and programmes will also be part of this outcome.

In this connection, ESCAP is seeking a consultant to implement elements of the project as advised and supervised by the project manager. These activities fall within outcome 3 above and will focus on delivering the following assignments.

Qualifications/special skills Advanced degree in statistics, demography, public health or related fields

Skills

- Strong understanding of civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems and other data sources for estimating vital statistics

- Strong drafting skills, including the ability to summarise technical material.

- Excellent coordination, planning, communication and organizsational skills

- Ability to collate a vast array of information and ideas, use critical thinking, conceptualize ideas, and articulate relevant subject matter in a clear and concise way

- Ability to support electronic-only forums and organize virtual and face-to-face workshops. - At least 10 years of experience in providing technical assistance to strengthen national CRVS Systems - Experience with publication of articles in peer-reviewed journals on topics related to CRVS - At least 5 years in the area of official statistics - Understanding of official statistics in the Asia-Pacific region - Working experience with academic institutions, national statistical office and CRVS practitioners in the Asia-Pacific region is desirable

Languages Fluency in English, including written and oral is required.

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.