Statistics Advisor – Innovation and Statistical Development

Contract

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

Background

General background information relevant to the assignment:

Over the last four decades, Saudi Arabia has realised and sustained remarkable progress along the socio-economic development path with many sectors of the economy contributing and benefiting.

As a result, the Kingdom becomes a high-income country with all the means of a promising and sustainable future. The GDP, for instance, increased from SR156 billion in 1969 to SR 2,631 billion in 2018, putting the economy among the top 20 global economies in term of size.

Saudi Arabia developed the Saudi Vision 2030 as a strategic framework with long-term goals and expectations, founded on the strengths and capabilities of the Kingdom, to achieve long-term and sustainable economic success. The three themes of Saudi Vision 2030 (a vibrant society, a thriving economy and an ambitious nation represent a holistic approach to development that encompasses the three dimensions of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): the social, the economic and the environmental. Saudi Arabia recognises that achieving Saudi Vision 2030 and the SDGs requires rigorous, instant and continuous monitoring for which quality statistics is a must.

Under the framework of the Institutional Support to Statistics Project, UNDP provides technical support to the General Authority for Statistics (GaStat) to strengthen the institutional and human capacities of the national statistical system to support evidence-based development planning and policy-making. The project support is aligned to the five pillars of the corporate strategy of GaStat to enable the institution deliver its mandate and achieve its vision.

The project is looking for a dynamic and innovative statistician to support GaStat in advancing the national statistical strategy of Saudi Arabia and improve the standardisation statistical development and measurement to enhance integrated analysis.

Duties and Responsibilities

The objectives of the assignment:

Under the supervision of the General Manager for Innovation & Development Department, and in close coordination with Chief Technical Advisor of the project as a second supervisor; the Statistics Advisor will provide substantive technical advice to support the advancement of GaStat work in line with international measurement standards and statistical development.

Duties and responsibilities:

Specifically, the Statistics Advisor will deliver duties and responsibilities under the following areas:

• Provide expert advice to GaStat in developing a comprehensive national strategy for the development of statistics, which will set out the strategic vision and mission of official statistics producers in GaStat.
• Identify opportunities and challenges to enhance GaStat capacity in statistics on emerging trends to support the advancement of the GaStat’s work.
• Conduct assessment of statistical infrastructure including the quality and use of sampling frames and sample methodology, geographical information systems, utilisation of information and communication technology etc.
• Undertake an assessment of the availability and quality of key indicators in the main statistical domains.
• Support the strategic planning, orientation and standardization of GaStat’s products through providing advice on the development of statistics plan, surveys design, identification of the best sampling method and improve consistency of data collection data management through the development of data content requirements. Support the development of statistical standards, which provide detailed best practice guidance on the collection and management of a variety of official statistics.
• Provide technical assistance in editing surveys, developing statistical and economic reports, and questionnaires design and interviews.
• Conduct statistical and economic quantitative and qualitative analysis in relevance to required.
• Summarizing international economic and statistical reports and working papers as needed.
• Work in close collaboration with Innovation and Statistical Development team members, provide on-the-job-training and support the assessment of staffing and skills, development and of a training plan.

Competencies

Competencies:

Functional competencies:

• Results-oriented and ability to achieve project targets in the deadlines.
• Self-motivated, ability to work on own initiative as well as a member of a team and capability to work under pressure to manage and achieve project objectives.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to establish strong cooperative relationships with senior government officials and the ability to interact effectively with multiple high-level stakeholders to reach consensus and to influence policy decisions.
• Good understanding and practice of capacity development;
• Excellent communication, facilitation, presentation and reporting skills.

Corporate competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity and fairness by modelling UN values and ethical standards;
• Demonstrates professional competence and is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
• Display cultural, gender, religion and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

Required Skills and Experience:

Education:

An advanced university degree (PhD or Master’s) in statistics, econometrics, and economics is required.

Experience:

• At least 10 years of relevant experience gained while working in government or international organisations, and significant skills in strategy-level work. This includes experience in defining and development of statistics standards and classifications and a proven record in managing large and complex statistical projects.

• Knowledge of modern data aspects and new tools and techniques such as geospatial analysis and big data is highly desirable.

• Experience of working with constituents in the Arab States, particularly in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is an advantage.

Language:

Excellent command of English, working knowledge of Arabic would be considered an asset