Consultancy –Technical experts on demographic change and development, Population and Development Branch (PDB), Programme Division, UNFPA

Consultant

Overview

Support UNFPA’s preparations for global platforms, advance demographic change, and inform policy discussions.

You have:

• Advanced university degree or equivalent in the quantitative social sciences, such as economics, demography, sociology, statistics, or related discipline.
• At least 5 years of experience working on demographics-development linkages, undertaking data analysis, and writing reports.
• Knowledge of National Transfer Accounts, demographic dividend and resilience frameworks is an advantage.
• Excellent communication skills in spoken and written English.
• Strong skills in report writing, communications and presentation to diverse, technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience with policy dialogues and similar events across sectors, including with UN agencies, academics and/or with local or national governments.
• Experience in managing projects from conception to implementation.
• Strong interest in development work, especially the mission of the UNFPA and dedication to the principles of the UN.
• Familiarity with the UN system is desirable.

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Duration: 206 work days between 15 th June 2025 and 31 st March 2026

Context: Demographic change is a critical factor influencing the social, economic, and political fabric of nations. Shifts in population dynamics—such as aging populations, declining birth rates, increased migration, and urbanization—have profound implications for public policy, economic development, and societal well-being. While some countries continue to be concerned about population growth, a growing number of countries express major concerns as regards to low fertility and population ageing. Of particular concern to UNFPA are the gender and SRHR implications of a perceived “population crisis”, which has led to a new generation of pronatalist population policies to stop fertility decline across the globe. Moreover, a notable gap remains between the realization that demography matters for the financing of pensions and healthcare, labour markets, and broader social policies, and the systematic adaptation of critical societal systems to meet the basic needs of an ever-changing population. This is often compounded by the lack of a coordinated and cross-sectoral approach at the national and international levels.

The recently adopted Pact of the Future, with its pledge to strengthen cooperation among States in their response to demographic trends and realities, and the 2024 Quadrennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development of the United Nations System (QCPR), with its request to the United Nations development system to support Member States in addressing the interlinkages between population issues and development across all regions, provide key entry points to strategically position UNFPA’s population and development mandate enshrined in the ICPD-PoA in the global development agenda, and promote UN system-wide coordination across related policy areas.

In 2025, high-level platforms and key moments for the demographic and international development communities include the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4), the 30th International Population Conference, the 2nd World Summit on Social Development, the 7th International Conference on Family Planning, and the 9th UNFPA-KOSTAT Global Symposium on Ageing and Low Fertility - in addition to the relevant annual UN Commissions and intergovernmental fora.

2025 is also a critical year for UNFPA which will finalize its next Strategic Plan (2026-2029) with an additional outcome focusing on population and development. The implementation of the next SP will require a bold population and development strategy framed around the data, analysis, and policy continuum, and including demographic dividends and resilience.

Purpose of consultancy: The purpose of this consultancy is to support UNFPA’s preparations for and engagements in global platforms and international fora, advancing the integration of demographic change and rights-based policy responses, informing the discussions and deliberations, and strengthening international collaboration on population and development issues. The consultant will also provide technical and programmatic support to a range of analytical and programmatic activities in the annual work plan of UNFPA’s Population and Development Branch, enhancing its capacity to deliver on its commitments and support corporate priorities while the business unit is in the process of relocating from New York to Nairobi.

Technical work: ● Undertake analyses examining how demographic changes (e.g., population growth, population ageing, population decline, urbanization, migration, and low fertility) affect national, regional, and global concerns (e.g., poverty, inequality, labor markets, social protection, economics, environment, climate change ● Analyze trends in development assistance, including ODA and private aid flows, for the further implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action, and support the writing of the annual report of the UN Secretary-General to the Commission on Population and Development. ● Review and support the further development of UNFPA’s work on demographic resilience and the demographic dividend. To this end, support Demographic Resilience Reviews, Demographic Dividend Roadmaps, the strategic use of National Transfer Accounts, and related work on developing coherent sets of indicators. ● Contribute to drafting technical papers, policy briefs, and reports, as required.

Programmatic work: ● Support the organization of the annual Global Symposium on Ageing and Low Fertility to be held in Seoul. ● Support system-wide collaboration between UN agencies on demographic change and sustainable development. ● Support UNFPA’s engagement in the 30th International Population Conference, the 2nd World Summit on Social Development, and other global platforms and international fora. ● Support the creation of an external advisory body to UNFPA on demographic futures, as well as a UNFPA collaborative on demographic futures ● Prepare speeches, briefing notes, meeting agendas, and support other meeting preparations as required. ● Perform other duties, as required to support UNFPA corporate demands. Supervisory arrangements:

The consultant will work under the direct guidance of the Senior Adviser on Economics and Demography.

Delivery dates and how the work will be delivered: Main deliverables and payment schedule - June to December 2025 deliverables: June ● Support UNFPA’s engagement in the International Population Conference 2025. ● Support the organization of UNFPA’s external advisory panel on demographic futures. ● Develop and implement the work plan for system-wide collaboration between UN agencies on demographic change and sustainable development. July ● Implement the work plan for the system-wide collaboration between UN agencies on demographic change and sustainable development. ● Support Demographic Resilience Review of Maldives. ● Develop UNFPA matrix for Demographic Dividend. August ● Implement the work plan for the system-wide collaboration between UN agencies on demographic change and sustainable development. ● Support Demographic Resilience Review of Maldives ● Develop UNFPA matrix for Demographic Dividend, informed by National Transfer Accounts analysis, September ● Implement the workplan for the system-wide collaboration between UN agencies on demographic change and sustainable development. ● Support the organization of the annual Global Symposium on Ageing and Low Fertility to be held in Seoul. ● Support UNFPA’s engagement in the 2nd World Summit on Social Development, and other global platforms and international fora; ● Analyze trends in development assistance, including ODA and private aid flows, for the further implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action, October ● Implement the work plan for the system-wide collaboration between UN agencies on demographic change and sustainable development; ● Support the organization of the annual Global Symposium on Ageing and Low Fertility to be held in Seoul. ● Support UNFPA’s engagement in the 2nd World Summit on Social Development, and other global platforms and international fora; ● Analyze trends in development assistance, including ODA and private aid flows, for the further implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action. November ● Implement the work plan for the system-wide collaboration between UN agencies on demographic change and sustainable development; ● Support UNFPA’s engagement in the 2nd World Summit on Social Development, and other global platforms and international fora; ● Support the organization of the annual Global Symposium on Ageing and Low Fertility to be held in Seoul; lead the report writing team at the global Symposium ● Support UNFPA’s engagement in the 2nd World Summit on Social Development, and other global platforms and international fora; ● Lead report writing team at Global Symposium, December ● Prepare final rapport of Global Symposium, and based on the discussions prepare a technical paper on dependency ratios January to March 2026 deliverables to be assigned based on Q1 PDB workplan.

Submissions to be made electronically Expected Travel: Travel may be required in the second half of the year to Brisbane, Doha, Seoul and/or Nairobi.

Qualifications and experience:

• Advanced university degree or equivalent in the quantitative social sciences, such as economics, demography, sociology, statistics, or related discipline. Work undertaken in the graduate or post-graduate degree should be directly related to the substantive areas required for this post. • At least 5 years of experience working on demographics-development linkages, undertaking data analysis, and writing reports; • A record of quality research and publications in peer-reviewed journals, and demonstrated expertise in corresponding analytic methods, is desirable; • Knowledge of National Transfer Accounts, demographic dividend and resilience frameworks is an advantage; • Strong competency in data analysis and data visualization using statistical software packages, and a wide range of national and international databases; • Excellent communication skills in spoken and written English; strong skills in report writing, communications and presentation to diverse, technical and non-technical audiences; • Background in the translation of evidence and analysis into policy recommendations, policy briefs, key messages, and talking points; • Experience with policy dialogues and similar events across sectors, including with UN agencies, academics and/or with local or national governments. • Experience in managing projects from conception to implementation; • Initiative, good conceptual abilities, and sound judgment;

• Strong interest in development work, especially the mission of the UNFPA and dedication to the principles of the UN; • Familiarity with the UN system is desirable.

Languages: English and knowledge of another UN language is an asset (preferably French or Spanish)

How to Apply: Please send your application, CV and a short letter of motivation with “Consultant Technical experts on demographic change and development” on the subject line and email the documents to herrmann@unfpa.org, by 23rd May 2025.

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Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unfpa.org