Statistician

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UNV - United Nations Volunteers

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Application deadline 2 years ago: Friday 21 May 2021 at 23:59 UTC

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Contract

This is a International Consultant contract. More about International Consultant contracts.

Background

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Programme is the UN organization that contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide. Volunteerism is a powerful means of engaging people in tackling development challenges, and it can transform the pace and nature of development. Volunteerism benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer by strengthening trust, solidarity and reciprocity among citizens, and by purposefully creating opportunities for participation. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for recognition of volunteers, working with partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing an increasing number and diversity of volunteers, including experienced UNV volunteers, throughout the world. UNV embraces volunteerism as universal and inclusive, and recognizes volunteerism in its diversity as well as the values that sustain it: free will, commitment, engagement and solidarity.

Every 3 years UNV produces a global flagship publication on volunteerism, The State of the World’s Volunteerism Report (SWVR). The latest SWVR report was published in 2018 under the title “The Thread that Binds: Volunteerism and Community Resilience” and contained a chapter on global volunteerism estimates, which was based on the background paper “Current Estimates and Next Steps: The Scope and Scale of Global Volunteering”. For the 2021 publication of the SWVR, UNV is looking for a Consultant Statistician to update and provide global volunteerism estimates. The report production is managed in UNV’s Volunteer Advisory Services Section (VASS). This consultancy will be managed by the VASS Policy Specialist as part of the overall SWVR project.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance of the Statistics Specialist at the International Labour Organization (ILO), and working closely with ILO Statistics department, the consultant(s) will produce global estimates on volunteering as detailed below and produce a technical report of approximately 3,000 words (excluding references) plus infographics and annexes. The final product will inform the chapter on volunteer work estimates in the main 2021 SWVR report.

Focus of the research topic:

Measuring the scale and scope of volunteering worldwide through official statistical sources remains challenging. In terms of official statistics from national governments, only a limited number of countries have implemented the ILO recommendations on the measurement of volunteering which seeks to standardize volunteering measurement and which would most effectively facilitate aggregation and comparative analysis. Other government-led surveys focus on organizational volunteering, thereby missing the surely greater amount of volunteering activity worldwide which is carried out directly and informally between individuals and groups. And such surveys are far more easily found in the most developed economies and groups (such as OECD), leaving large gaps in terms of understanding volunteering behaviours across a range of contexts.

A number of other independent approaches and models have also been developed on the measurement of volunteering, including surveys such as the Gallup World Poll, regional barometers, Civicus Civil Society Index and models using aggregate methods (combination of national statistical data from omnibus surveys, and specially-commissioned surveys) to provide estimates in terms of global volunteering. For example, the Johns Hopkins Comparative Non-profit project produced data in 2011 and in 2016, the latter which additionally was able to provide estimates on the scope and proportion of informal volunteering worldwide, as well as to look in more detail at regional variations in volunteering activity.

For previous SWVRs, a number of background papers were commissioned to assess the magnitude of volunteering worldwide using existing data. This included comparative analysis of existing data sources’ strengths and weaknesses, and recommendations for future measurement statistics, including indices. Furthermore, approaches to estimating the economic value of volunteering were developed and evaluated in 2011.

UNV is now commissioning a refresh of global estimates to produce the latest data for the SWVR2021 report using the model applied in 2018 and described in the background paper “Current Estimates and Next Steps: The Scope and Scale of Global Volunteering”. The data should be accompanied by analysis of the strength of the model and process, and areas and opportunities to further develop and refine this work going forward.

The research and analysis should take into account new data from national official surveys (e.g. Labour Force Surveys, General Social Surveys and General Household Surveys) applying the modular approach recommended by the ILO. Such data, for approximately 60 countries, are available on the ILOSTAT website[1]. Data for some other countries is being processed and will become available later.

Responsibilities and tasks:

1. Review all available data from UNV and ILO and finalize the approach and methodology for the updating of the global estimates and their possible disaggregation by different characteristics based on quality and availability of data.

2. Update the SWVR2018 data set provided by UNV, ideally up to 2020 (or latest possible date), with new (mainly Labour Force Survey) data on volunteer work participation, and the SWVR2021 Gallup Survey data from 8 countries, based on the agreed selection and prioritisation criteria.

******3. Using the estimation model used by the UNV to produce the 2018 estimates, develop the 2021 estimates on volunteer work participation, including but not limited to the following:******

  • Estimated number of volunteers and volunteering rate (number of people volunteering as percentage of adult population) worldwide and disaggregated by sex.
  • Regional estimates of the absolute numbers of volunteers and volunteering rates disaggregated by sex (according to UNDP’s definition of regions).
  • Estimated number of formal vs informal volunteers worldwide (i.e. volunteering via organizations vs direct volunteering in communities) disaggregated by sex.
  • Regional estimates of formal vs informal volunteers disaggregated by sex.
  • In all cases, prepare comparisons with 2018 data on participation (unpublished.)

4.Using the model provided by UNV, redevelop the 2021 estimates on full-time equivalent volunteers

  • Estimates of time volunteered worldwide and by region, using the 2018 time estimates and FTE calculations provided by UNV or other available data.
  • Develop comparison charts with 2018 data (published in the 2018 SWVR)

5. Using a sub-set of data with a focus on the global South, provide additional analysis of volunteering patterns in relation to age group, urban/rural, and any other possible for example in the form of tables and graphs.

6. Write a technical report on data, rationales, estimates and suggestions, including the following:

  • Description of the newly available data and how it was used to update global estimates using the provided model.
  • Rationale behind the decision to focus on estimates of people volunteering and volunteer rates rather than full-time equivalents.
  • Produced estimates and analysis from tasks 2 and 3, including comparison with 2018 estimates.
  • Explanation that differences in 2018 and 2021 estimates are explained mainly by use of new data rather than evolution over time.
  • Description of possible scenarios to produce estimates in 2024.

The technical report will provide the best working summary of the foregoing that is feasible at this point, while fully recognising that the data found may be spotty and incomplete. Estimation and extrapolation methods should be used to provide data on magnitudes nationally and globally.

Deliverables Schedule

Deliverable

Duration in days

Deadline

1.

Proposed workplan is submitted.

1

1 June 2021

2.

Proposed workplan is finalized based on feedback by the ILO Statistics Specialist and UNV Policy Specialist.

1

3 June 2021

3.

The 2018 data set is updated and complemented with new data under the guidance of the ILO Statistics Specialist.

5

11 June 2021

4.

Using the provided model, the final figures for the SWVR2021 as detailed above are developed under the guidance of the ILO Statistics Specialist.

15

2 July 2021

5.

The analysis of volunteering patterns in comparison to 2018 figures is provided.

16

28 July 2021

6.

The technical report including the information specified above is submitted to the ILO Statistics Specialist and UNV Policy Specialist.

7

6 August 2021

Total days

45

  • The consultant is obligated to work within the required deadlines and be available to UNV for comments and corrections.

[1] https://ilostat.ilo.org/topics/volunteer-work/#elementor-toc__heading-anchor-1

Competencies

  • Established expertise and experience in data pre-processing and data management, data analytics, statistical analysis and measurement.
  • Access to relevant data sources as required to fulfil the deliverables.
  • Ability to work independently.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Advanced university degree in actuarial, computational or economic sciences including quantitative research elements.

Experience:

  • At least 7 years relevant work experience.
  • Experience in supporting the development of estimates using statistical models.
  • Previous published materials/research on (volunteerism) measurement and statistics.
  • Experience in accessing large databanks and working with large quantitative datasets.
  • Knowledge of volunteerism for peace and development is an asset.

Language requirement:

Fluency in written and spoken English is a requirement (additional UN languages an advantage).

Criteria for Selection of the Best offer

The selection of the best offer will be based on the combined scoring method – where the qualifications and methodology will be weighted – 70% and combined with the price offer which will be weighted 30%. UNV may conduct interviews with the shortlisted candidates prior to final evaluation.

Key selection criteria are:

Criteria

Weight

Techmical

70%

  • Strength of the methodology and approach outlined to fulfil the deliverables

35%

  • Track record of published research on global (volunteerism) statistics and measurement

25%

  • Proven understanding of volunteering considerations globally, including in conflict contexts and the global South

10%

Financial

30%

Total

100%

Application procedure:

Applicants have to provide a technical and financial proposal.

Qualified candidates must apply online via the UNDP Jobshop. Interested candidates are advised to carefully review these terms of reference and ensure that they meet the requirements and qualifications described above.

The technical proposal shall consist of:

  • Motivation Letter describing their interest in the assignment and why they are the most suitable for the work;
  • Technical proposal, describing the methodology and the approach how to fulfill the required deliverables as well as outline the major components of its implementation
  • A short summary of relevant qualifications
  • Latest personal CV , including experience in similar projects and at least three references

Financial Proposal

If an Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNV under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNV

How to Submit the Application:

To submit your application online, please follow the steps below:

  • Merge your Motivation Letter, Technical proposal, Summary of qualifications, CV and Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability (including the financial proposal) into a single file. The system does not allow for more than one attachment to be uploaded;
  • Click on the Job Title (job vacancy announcement);
  • Click “Apply Now” button, fill in the necessary information on the first page, and then click “Submit Application;”
  • Upload your application/single file as indicated above with the merged documents (underlined above);
  • You will receive an automatic response to your email confirming receipt of your application by the system.

Queries should be sent to procurement@unv.org, clearly marking: 00044412 - IC Statistician in the subject.

Terms and conditions, as well as contract samples, can be found at this link.

Due to the large number of applications we receive, we are only able to inform the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.

Please make sure you provide all the requested materials:

  • Incomplete applications will not be considered****.
  • Applications sent by email will not be considered.
  • Applications without the fully completed Confirmation of Interest Form, including financial costs will not be considered.
Added 2 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: jobs.undp.org