Statistical Analysis and Knowledge Product Development Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is a regional commission of the United Nations established to support economic and social development in its 21 Arab member States. ESCWA acts as a pioneer and multi-stakeholder regional platform for deliberation, consensus-building, peer learning, and policy solutions to strengthen the institutional framework for official statistics in the Arab region. The organization aims to enhance the production and use of harmonized, timely, and reliable statistics for evidence-based policymaking, enabling the measurement of national and regional progress towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, and promoting the integration of technology and innovation for inclusive and sustainable development. ESCWA operates in various domains, focusing on statistics, the information society, and technology, and is committed to advancing the information society in the Arab region.

Job Overview:
The Statistical Analysis and Knowledge Product Development Consultant will play a crucial role in strengthening regional statistical data management, monitoring, and reporting systems. The consultant's primary responsibilities will include improving the availability, quality, consistency, and interoperability of official statistics, as well as supporting evidence-based monitoring of progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Arab region. This position will contribute to the development and maintenance of regional statistical databases and monitoring tools, the production of analytical reports and statistical visualizations, and the provision of technical support to national statistical offices and relevant stakeholders. The consultant will also be involved in statistical coordination, methodological development, and the modernization of national statistical systems, ensuring alignment with international statistical standards, frameworks, and methodologies. The consultant will report directly to the Head of the Statistical Policies and Coordination Unit, and the expected duration of the assignment is four months.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for providing specialized technical expertise in statistical analysis, which includes collecting and validating data from countries in specific domains. The consultant will prepare country analyses, summarize obtained results, and create briefs and presentations for substantive reports related to countries' data availability and performance. Under the overall supervision of the Head of the Statistical Policies and Coordination Unit, the consultant will ensure the accuracy, consistency, and standardization of statistical data and metadata. This role will contribute to strengthening statistical data management processes, improving data accessibility and interoperability, and supporting the effective dissemination and use of official statistics for evidence-based policymaking and monitoring progress towards sustainable development goals.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree in economics, statistics, data science, mathematics, or a related field. All candidates are required to submit a copy of their educational degree, as incomplete applications will not be reviewed. A minimum of one year of professional work experience in Economics, Statistics, Data Science, SDGs, or a related field is desirable. Familiarity with data analysis, statistics, or governance-related research is also desirable. Candidates should demonstrate advanced proficiency in statistical software such as STATA, R, Python, or advanced SPSS/Excel, as well as data visualization tools like Power BI, Tableau, or similar.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as economics, statistics, data science, or mathematics. This foundational education is essential for understanding the complexities of statistical analysis and data management, which are critical components of the consultant's responsibilities.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of one year of professional work experience in relevant fields such as Economics, Statistics, Data Science, or related areas. This experience should ideally include familiarity with data analysis, statistics, or governance-related research, which will enable the consultant to effectively contribute to the objectives of the ESCWA.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Arabic is required for this position, as these are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat and ESCWA, respectively. Knowledge of French is considered desirable. Fluency is defined as a rating of 'fluent' in all four areas: speaking, reading, writing, and understanding, while knowledge of a language is defined as a rating of 'confident' in two of the four areas.

Additional Notes:
Recruitment for this position is on a local basis, meaning that the incumbent must have the legal right to live and work in Lebanon. The position is not associated with any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or training. The United Nations does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts, ensuring a transparent and fair recruitment process.