Research Assistant

Result of Service The incumbent will be assisting in the project to strengthen national statistical systems in the region to produce and disseminate high quality demographic and social statistics to support and drive evidence-based policy making in the region.

Work Location UN-House

Expected duration 3 Months w/ ex.

Duties and Responsibilities 1. Background In the Arab region, there remain large gaps in demographic and social trend data that are essential for monitoring and evaluation of policies development planning. In addition, the existing data gaps raise questions about the need for improved national data collection procedures, enhanced data processing, analysis and estimation capacity, and better statistical dissemination systems. These needs have been identified by SD through questionnaires and numerous EGMs with representatives of NSOs who have outlined the problems they are facing in producing reliable, and timely social and demographic data over time.

In this vein, this project seeks to monitor data availability by reporting trends in a set of essential demographic and social indicators, which not only highlights the demographic and social reality of the region but also reveals the availability of data and how it has increased or deteriorated over time. In conjunction with reporting these trends, our Technical Advisory Groups (TAG) meetings seek to establish a regional strategy to improve data availability through coordination with NSOs of the region and providing the necessary statistical support.

As planned in the project, the section will organize a series of regional workshops on midpoint review of the strategic framework on civil registration and vital statistics late November 2023 and in early 2024. In addition the project needs assistance in updating online platforms in CRVS and census.

2. Objective and methodology The incumbent shall provide research substantive and administrative assistance in the implementation of the project in the ESCWA region.

3. Tasks - duties and responsibilities - Drafting a questionnaire, distribute to member states, collect, analyze results and help in drafting a brief analysis of the outputs. - Preparing in the Technical Advisory group meeting in early 2024; - Assist in preparation of regional Arab forum in 2024. - Update the project’s webpage and timetable - Drafting substantive reports and presentations - Following up and reviewing issues related to finalizing the project’s activities - Following up with experts, consultants, partners on the different activities of the project - Implementation of the meetings in the project - Take notes during the meetings and prepare the related meeting reports - Develop, review, prepare and translate materials and reports related to the project - Compiling, processing and manipulating data sets derived from a variety of sources - Respond to queries/requests - Other related tasks as needed.

Qualifications/special skills A Bachelor's degree in statistics, population, demography, economics, social sciences or related area is required.

All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. A minimum of 12 years of professional work experience working with demographic and social data/statistics is required. Previous expert experience in statistics, project/office administration, and analytical reporting is required.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA.

For this position, fluency in Arabic and English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.

Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas.

Additional Information Recruitment for this position is on a local basis. The incumbent is required to have the legal right to live and work in the specified working location.

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.