Innovation and Data Specialist on Population and Development

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Guinea Bissau country office intends to host a French International United Nations Volunteer to support effective management of UNFPA activities in the areas of innovation and data management. Through substantive analysis data and assessment of political, social and economic trends, s/he will contribute to project formulation, monitoring and evaluation, joint programming initiatives and national development frameworks. The primary role of the innovation and data specialist is to provide technical support to meet the data needs of UNFPA in the areas of population dynamics and projections, population estimates for humanitarian preparedness and response, and population estimates relevant to UNFPA programming. S/he will support the production of data on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), the development and maintenance of innovative data display and dissemination tools, and will measure the impact of interventions. The candidate should be familiar with a variety of common health and population data sources, including household surveys such as the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) and Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), registry data and population censuses, and be capable of producing up-to-date estimates of demographic trends and projections, incidence and prevalence values for SRHR outcomes in both humanitarian and development settings, and provide expertise in demographic and statistical approaches such as regression analysis, hierarchical linear modelling, survival analysis, Bayesian (probabilistic) estimations, and small area estimation. The assignment entails quarterly or semi-annual field mission travels to all regions, except Cacheu’s, to consult with stakeholders and monitor the implementation of the projects’ activities, whenever deemed necessary.

Under the overall responsibility of the UNFPA Resident Representative, the direct supervision of the Assistant Representative, and working in close collaboration with the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officer, the International UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Contribute to the design and implementation of projects related to population and development and data, aligning with Government priorities and UNFPA strategic priorities and country programme. • Conduct analysis of the political, social and economic environment relevant to population and development and identifying opportunities for UNFPA assistance and intervention. • Analyse policy papers, strategy documents and national development plans related to population and development; preparing briefs and inputs for policy dialogue, technical assistance coordination, and development frameworks. • Ensure appropriate monitoring and customized tools and systems are established and implemented to effectively monitor work plans under the UNFPA country programme. • Maintain collaborative relationships with implementing partners, experts, government counterparts and other UN agencies to facilitate timely and efficient monitoring and evaluations of projects, joint programming and joint programme. • Conduct quality assurance of quarterly and annual results-based reports and ensure their timely submission. • Provide day-to-day technical and administrative support to the staff of the office, in the planning, monitoring and reporting processes and particularly on the population and development related work plans. • Facilitate the preparation of quarterly monitoring of programme milestones and reporting in the SIS and GPD II / Quantum. • Prepare briefs and inputs for the working group on Statistics and population and development partner group. • Assist in strengthening data collection and analysis and in designing innovative tools for the mapping of programmatic data and the dissemination of data and information on outcomes of the national census and housing and demographic health surveys (DHS). • Support the advocacy and resource mobilisation strategy of the CO by proactively developing concept notes and project documents on population and development and data, and participating in related meetings with donors, other UN agencies and public events. • Assist in implementing knowledge management tools to capture lessons learned and best practices, sharing these with programme officers, communication officers and management for future planning supporting training needs of project personnel; • Carry out any other duties that may be assigned by the UNFPA Management from time to time, as needed.

Accountability, Adaptability and Flexibility, Building Trust, Client Orientation, Commitment and Motivation, Commitment to Continuous Learning, Communication, Creativity, Empowering Others, Ethics and Values, Integrity, Judgement and Decision-making, Knowledge Sharing, Planning and Organizing, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity, Self-Management, Technological Awareness, Working in Teams

• At least 3 years of professional experience in the field of development and population, with experience in programme/project management, data analysis and management, statistics and administration/finance is desirable. • Experience in the use of computers and office software (MS Word, Excel, power-point etc.) and knowledge of spreadsheet, data analysis, geographic information systems, database management software, experience in the management of web-based information and information management systems. • Knowledge of SPSS desirable or other statistical software. • Experience in the management and monitoring of the EU funded projects will be an advantage. • Familiarity and knowledge of the functioning of the UN and its policies will be an added advantage; • Experience working with government, other UN Agencies, NGOs and donor institutions is an asset

Guinea Bissau remains a safe country to work and UNFPA provides a multidisciplinary and multicultural team of professional staff, offering an environment for the UNV professional growth. The country office will assign a mentor to the UNV and provide induction, training and coaching sessions to help strengthen her/his capacities and ensure a smooth transition and effective integration to the country office’s team. The organizational leadership role on PSEA is a further assurance of working in a context that provides also a fully compliant and safe working environment for both women and men.