Organization: UNDP Saudi Arabia, through Stars Orbit Consultants and Management Development (SOC).

VA No. VA24-94

Position Title: Demographic Statistics Expert
Consultancy Type: International Expert

Duty Station: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Duration: 25 working days

Vacancy Date of Issue: 6 June 2024

Vacancy Closure Date: 12 June 2024

Expected Starting Date: As soon as possible

This vacancy is announced by UNDP Saudi Arabia through Stars Orbit Consultants and Management Development (SOC). SOC is a sub-contractor for UNDP Saudi Arabia, assisting the programme in implementing their activities through HR and contract management of consultants working in their support.

Office/Unit/Project Description

Saudi Arabia has realized and sustained, for the last four decades, remarkable progress along the socio- economic development path. As a result of this, the Kingdom has been able to move to a high-income country. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP), for instance, increased from SAR 156 billion in 1969 to SAR 4,160 billion (approximately 1,110 billion U.S. dollars) in 2022, putting the economy among the top 20 global economies in terms of size. Based on the annual ranking of the Human Development Index (HDI) of the Human Development Report, Saudi Arabia has steadily moved from the medium human development category in the 1990s to the very high human development category in 2021 at 0.875 value of HDI. The Saudi Vision 2030 represents an ambitious resolve with long-term goals and expectations founded on the strengths and capabilities of the Kingdom. It covers the three themes of a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and an ambitious nation. A thorough review of the three themes and their underlying issues of national concern would reveal a holistic approach to development that encompasses the three dimensions of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): the social, the economic and the environmental. Saudi Arabia recognizes that achieving the SDGs requires rigorous, real-time and continuous monitoring for which quality statistics is a must. The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) has gone through a major revision of its corporate strategy and vision in alignment with the Saudi Vision 2030 and the SDGs. The revised strategy revolves around five pillars:

• Usage of statistics and information
• Production of statistics and information
• Application of advanced technologies in collecting and analyzing datasets
• Communications and awareness towards statistical knowledge
• Governance of statistical sector

In the context of the five pillars of revised strategy and under the framework of the “Institutional Support to Statistics” project, UNDP continues to provide technical support to the GASTAT in monitoring and reporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), social statistics, Census and population statistics, Demographic indicators ,Gender Statistics, and Labor force Participation, Unlock the ability of GASTAT to support the national evidence-based development planning and policymaking, way forward to modernize the National Statistical System, and to implement successfully the National Strategy for Statistical Development (NSS).

Scope of Work

Population, gender and diversity statistics are an important starting point for measuring countries’ progress in raising the quality of life for individuals and families at the regional and international levels, as gender and diversity statistics provide data and analysis at the national level on a wide range of population topics. The Department of Population, Gender and Diversity Statistics monitors and reports on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Providing demographic and diversity statistics that meet the needs of national and international stakeholders, sharing similar demographic statistics that can be easily accessed and used by multiple stakeholders at national and international levels to support policy/decision-making and public-private partnerships, and enhancing collaboration with partners potential strategists.

In order to support the General Authority of Statistics (GASTAT) in reporting of Demographic Indicators, and in the context of the technical cooperation framework with the general authority for statistics (GASTAT) -Institutional Support to Statistics Project – UNDP is seeking to recruit a Demographic Statistics Expert to provide technical support to and on job capacity building for the Population, Gender and Diversity Statistics department. The Population, Gender and Diversity Statistics Department producing ten products to provide essential statistics to support related policies and decision-making. two of them are related to Demographic Sector: (1) Demography Survey, (2) Demographic indicators report. It is a precondition for realizing all goals in the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, the department proposes a plan to calculate the indicators from available sources and needs a support to establish a robust methodology to achieve this target. Also, the expert assumed to provide the team with comprehensive information related to indexes which includes methodology, data analysis and results assessment. The Demography Statistics Expert will also implement capacity-strengthening activities, including training and mentoring for the department staff. The responsibilities under this assignment include the following:

Technical support:

• Review/Develop/Update methodologies for Demographic indicators report in line with international standards
• Review /develop/ Update Demographic survey questionnaire.
• Conduct pilot testing for Demographic survey questionnaire.
• Review/ validate/ tabulate collected data.
• Review/ develop/ update measured indicators in terms of values and methodologies.
• Review/ develop/ update monitoring and reporting template as per best practice
• Perform any other relevant tasks requested by the supervisor.
• Any other relevant tasks assigned by Department Director

Capacity Development

• In addition to delivering the above-mentioned technical support, the Demographic Statistics Expert will advise staff of The Population, Gender and Diversity Statistics Department on principles and best practice in relation to Demographic Statistics methodologies and frameworks.
• Providing coaching and on-the-job-training for the Population, Gender and Diversity Statistics Department staff in calculating Demographic indicators, Data processing, validation and analysis , and recommended statistical software (R, STATA, …)
• Providing coaching and on-the-job-training for staff of Population, Gender and Diversity Statistics Department as needed.

Institutional Arrangement

The duty station of the Agriculture Statistics Expert is GASTAT at Riyadh – Saudi Arabia & Remotely

The Agriculture Statistics Expert will work in close collaboration with the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA), other consultants and the relevant GASTAT technical staff.

Duration of the Work

• The duty station for the Demographic Statistics Expert is 15 WDs Remotely(Homebased) and 10WDs at the Population, Gender and Diversity Statistics Department-( GASTAT at Riyadh – Saudi Arabia)

Duty Station

• The assignment will be remotely and in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He/ She will be embedded within the within the Survey Unit at GASTAT.
• If unforeseen travel outside the consultant’s home-based city is requested by UNDP and not required by the Terms of References (ToR), such travel shall be covered by UNDP in line with applicable rules and regulations and upon prior written agreement. In such cases, the consultant shall receive living allowances not exceeding the United Nations (UN) Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) rate for such other location(s).
• Note: A written approval from UNDP and relevant authorities will be required to facilitate the consultant’s travel to any locations than stated on this TOR on official missions where necessary.

Working Arrangements:

• The duty station of the Demographic Statistics Expert is GASTAT at Riyadh – Saudi Arabia
• The Demographic Statistics expert will work in close collaboration with the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA), other consultants and the relevant GASTAT technical staff.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Advanced university degree (Preferred PhD) in Demographic or population.

Min. years of relevant Work experience

• At least 10 years of experience in providing consultancy services on official statistics for National Statistical Office (NSO), UN agencies, and international organisations in applying Demographic or population theories and techniques
• Previous experience in providing advisory support for government agencies in KSA/GCC
• Demonstrates professional competence and is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results.
• Demonstrates integrity and fairness by modelling UN values and ethical standards.
• Display cultural, gender, religion and age sensitivity and adaptability.
• Professional experience in providing technical advice to NSO, and good understanding of NSO mandate.
• Ability to provide statistical technical advice on population/ Demographic.
• Ability to work on own initiative as well as a member of a team and to work under pressure.
• The ability to establish strong cooperative relationships with GASTAT senior staff, and Senior government officials.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work on R/STATA/SPSS/SAS to analyse data.
• Good understanding and practice of capacity development.

Competencies

• Knowledge & experience of working with constituents inUN, UNFPA and UNDP in the scope of Population Practises
• 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:

Excellent command of English and working knowledge of Arabic