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

VA No. VA24-90

Position Title: Digital Economy Statistics Expert (Position #1)
Consultancy Type: International Expert

Duty Station: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Duration: 10 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 GDP, for instance, increased from SAR 156 billion in 1969 to SAR 4,160 billion 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 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

To enhance using data to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals—improving lives, fighting inequality, promoting environmental sustainability, and under the framework of the Institutional Support to Statistics project, UNDP provides technical support to the GASTAT to strengthen the institutional and human capacities of the national statistical system (NSS) to support evidence-based development planning and policy-making , and to implement the National Strategy for Statistical Development (NSSD) successfully, and modernize the national statistical system in order to support the GASTAT and NSS in monitoring and reporting the sustainable development goals (SDGs), producing official statistics and data with quality.

Scope of Work

The increased use of technology over the past decades has driven new means of transformation in many economical products and services to be influenced, partially or fully, by digital inputs and outputs. This has created a digital economy that is interconnected to many sectors and activities within the Saudi economy. To fully understand the extent of this economy and measure its contribution to the Kingdom’s GDP, GASTAT has established a digital economy department that is leading this measurement along with other surveys that focus on the access and usage of Information and Communications Technology (ICT).The main focus of this project is providing GASTAT with the required expertise in ICT statistics, with a special focus on the measurement of the Kingdom’s digital economy. In the context of the technical cooperation framework with the GASTAT -Institutional Support to Statistics Project – the UNDP is seeking a Digital Economy Statistics Expert to provide technical support to the Digital Economy Statistics Department. The Expert will provide technical assistance related to Data processing, weight calculation, measurement of targeted indicators, with the most important being the share of the digital economy in the gross domestic product (GDP), and formulation of recommendations.

The responsibilities under this assignment include the following:

Technical support

• To review digital economy survey questionnaire, indicators , and report
• To design and develop digital economy survey questionnaire that meets the requirements and complies with international standards and best practices.
• To review/develop targeted indicators and to link them with the survey questionnaire.
• To develop a guidelines for survey coverage and data quality settings.
• Undertake other relevant duties required to achieve the overall assignment’s objectives.

Capacity Development

• In addition to delivering the above-mentioned technical support, the Digital Economy Statistics Expert will advise the GASTAT employees and related stakeholders on principles and best practice in design and develop digital economy survey, methodologies and frameworks.
• Providing coaching and on-the-job-training for the GASTAT team

Institutional Arrangement

• The duty station of the Digital Economy Statistics Expert is GASTAT at Riyadh – Saudi Arabia, S/he will be embedded within the Digital Economy Dept.
• The Digital Economy 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 expected duration of the assignment is expected to be 10 working days with the possibility of extension.

Duty Station

The duty station for the Digital economy expert is GASTAT offices in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

• This assignment will be based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• UNDP will cover the around ticket to/from the duty station.
• If unforeseen travel outside the consultant’s duty station 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:

• All mission travels must be approved in advance and in writing by the Supervisor.
• United Nations Development of Safe and Security – BSAFE course must be successfully completed prior to the commencement of travel.
• The Consultant is responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director.
• The consultant is also required to comply with the UN security directives.
• The consultant is responsible for obtaining any visas needed in connection with travel with the necessary support from UNDP.
• The consultant will be responsible for submitting his/her own mission travel arrangements in line with UNDP travel policies.
• The consultant is responsible for required health and life insurance related to work or travel.
• The consultant is expected to have his/her own Laptop/Computer.