Consultant on Data Integration Project

Result of Service Objectives

This pilot project in Nepal aims to strengthen the capacity to implement data integration approaches for producing and improving data for the SDG indicators, whether by increasing data availability, quality, frequency or timeliness. The outcomes of the project will be assessed and shared regionally to determine whether the pilot was successful and how it might be implemented in other countries.

This project will contribute to advancing the Collective Vision 2¿regarding the Action area C: Integrated statistics for integrated analysis.

Work Location home base

Expected duration 1 July - 31 December 2022

Duties and Responsibilities National statistical systems are exploring new approaches to strengthen the production of official statistics in order to keep up with urgent and evolving statistical demands to measure the progress of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and, more recently, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Data integration approaches stand out as having the potential to bridge data gaps by pulling together data from diverse sources. However, challenges need to be overcome to realise their potential.¿

Data integration approaches require a range of technical and institutional capacities, ranging from appropriate coordination and collaboration mechanisms among stakeholders to the core technical skills needed to address data issues and record linkage. A regional Data Integration Capacity Assessment Survey conducted in 2020 revealed the need for capacity building across multiple aspects of data integration. To foster learning from each other and sharing knowledge and experience, the ESCAP secretariat established the Data Integration Community of Practice (DI-CoP). Additionally, in 2021, ESCAP published¿Asia-Pacific Guidelines to Data Integration for Official Statistics,1 which provides practical advice to advance data integration activities.

In implementing data integration approaches, each country faces context-specific challenges which require tailored solutions. To support country efforts in this area, Nepal was selected as a pilot country based on the results of the Data Integration Capacity Assessment Survey, the availability of relevant data sources, and the country's willingness to participate in this pilot project. The ESCAP secretariat is currently seeking a national consultant to assist with the pilot project in Nepal. The national consultant will work with an international advisor who will be overseeing the project and an international IT consultant who will be developing the IT tools. The pilot project aims to strengthen the capacity to implement data integration approaches for producing and improving data for measuring Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) indicators, whether to increase data availability, quality, frequency or timeliness. Activities will include a) conducting a mapping exercise of data needs and stakeholders and coordinating the team of stakeholders to identify data gaps that can be closed through the integration of different data sources and to define a data integration project based on country priorities, limitations, and available and accessible data sources; b) organising inception and concluding workshops, c) supporting the development of a customised data integration toolbox, d) organising a hands-on training to facilitate implementation of the toolbox, e) developing the pilot report, and f) sharing findings from the pilot at the regional level.¿

Qualifications/special skills Competency: The national consultant should hold a network spanning Nepal's national statistical system and extending into central/line Ministries, development partners community, private sector and CSOs.

Skills:

- Excellent coordination, communication, planning, and organisational skills

- In-depth knowledge of Nepal's national statistical system, its capacities and limitations, and opportunities for official statistics production

- Strong research, analysis, writing skills.

- Strong IT skills including STATA, R, and GIS software

Academic Qualifications: Master’s degree in statistics or related fields

Experience:

- A minimum of 10 years of work experience in the areas of production and analysis of official statistics,

- Experience in coordination and collaboration across the national statistical; working and engaging with key stakeholders in country, including Central Bureau of Statistics, central/line Ministries, development partners community, private sector and CSOs in the areas of production and analysis of official statistics

- Experience in organising workshops and training courses

- Experience with international statistical development projects is an advantage.

Language:

- Fluency in English, including written

- Nepali

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.