Statistics Advisor – Natural Resources Statistics

Contract

This is a IPSA-9 contract. This kind of contract is known as International Personnel Services Agreement. It is normally internationally recruited only. It usually requires 2 years of experience, depending on education. More about IPSA-9 contracts.

Background

Instructions to Applicants: Click on the "Apply now" button. Input your information in the appropriate Sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation. Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. Please ensure that CV or P11 and the Cover letter are combined in one file.

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.

A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

Travel:

a) UNDP will cover the cost of travel of the individual to the duty station, as well as their return to their home upon completion of their services. Travel costs are covered only in the event that the function will be undertaken physically in the duty station and excludes working from home arrangements.

b) Any official travel expected to be associated with performing the functions will be paied by UNDP subject to prior authorization by the supervisor. The airfairs and Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) will be determined by the UNDP’s travel policies and guidelines

Office/Unit/Project Description

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 terms 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 to recruit a Statistics Advisor to support GaStat develop natural resources statistics and to facilitate the presentation of the state of natural resources in the Kingdom to policy decision-makers. It is worth nothing that Saudi Arabia houses a wealth of natural resources that are of national significance to the Saudi economy.

Institutional Arrangement

The duty station for the Statistics Advisor is Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. S/He will be embedded within the National Accounts Department at the General Authority for Statistics. She/he will be supervised by the General Manager of the Natural Resources Statistics Department and work in close collaboration with the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA), other consultants and the relevant GaStat technical staff.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

Under the supervision of the General Manager of the Natural Resources Statistics 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 GaStat develop natural resources statistics data collection and accounting management system in line with international standards. The Advisor will simultaneously work with other departments and units within GaStat as relevant and will also focus on capacity development and transfer of knowledge to the GaStat staff.

The Statistics Advisor – Natural Resources Statistics will be responsible for providing technical leadership covering institutional, information technology and human resource capacity building to support the development of Natural Resources Statistics (such as energy, water, minerals, and environmental statistics etc.). Specifically, the Statistics Advisor- Natural Resources Statistics duties and responsibilities include the following:

• Recommend best approaches and provide expert advice and technical inputs in the implementation/adoption of natural resources statistics.

• Develop methodology and survey questionnaires of natural resources statistical products and ensure proper implementation in line with international standards, and best practices.

• Set quality standards measures, milestone and targets for all of natural resources statistics surveys and products.

• Recommend key indicators that are useful for comparative analysis of natural resources statistics issues as the basis for data cross-validation from different administrative sources.

• Promote harmonisation, ensure standardisation of methods and mechanism for natural resources statistics dissemination. Identify issues concerning the production and dissemination of natural resources statistics and recommend possible solutions.

• Implement a regular and comprehensive review of data and metadata in line with the agreed specification methodology, quality, and timelines in the supply of natural resources statistics following the international recommendation to address statistical gaps and deficiencies.

• Facilitate the adoption of new/updated frameworks, concepts, guidelines and standards; Provide guidance and support in the implementation of the United Nations Statistical Commission's Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics (FDES).

• Coordinate with disaster entities and authorities to identify significant environmental related to identifying indicators for groundwater pollution, disaster waste management, use of natural resources and environmental aspects of shelter, as well as over-exploitation of scarce water resources...etc.

• Recommend to undertake and review the results of regional surveys on natural resources statistics issues relevant to G20 and GCC.

• Work in close collaboration with the GaStat relevant team, provide on-the-job-training and support the skills development of staff.

• Perform any other relevant tasks requested by the supervisor.

Competencies

UN CORE VALUES AND COMPETENCIES

Professionalism: Shows pride in work and achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Communication:Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients " and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Academic Education

Masters degree, (preferably PhD) in Statistics, Environment, Natural Resources Statistics or other related fields is required. Bachelor’s degree with 2 additional years of relevant working experience may be accepted in lieu of Master’s Degree.

Min. years of relevant Work experience

At least 2 years of relevant experience in the collection, compilation, analysis and dissemination of statistical data gained while working in government or international organisations. This includes experience in the area of natural resources/ environmental statistics and related economic matrices. Familiarity with statistics/indicators relating to sustainable development is highly desirable.

Required skills and competencies

• Knowledge of Natural Resources concepts, principles and policies and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations. • Knowledge of database management and geographic information systems is desirable. • Knowledge of various programme information for research to provide recommendation and guidance to management. • Results-oriented and ability to achieve project targets in the deadlines. • Knowledge of various programme information for research to provide recommendation and guidance to management. • Experience of working with constituents in the Arab States, particularly in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is an advantage. • 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. • Good understanding and practice of capacity development. • 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. • Excellent communication, facilitation, presentation and reporting skills.

Desired additional skills and competencies

• Applies knowledge to support the Project´s objectives further the • 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 Language(s) (at working level)Excellent command of English, working knowledge of Arabic would be considered an asset