Consultant for Qualitative Citizen Data Guidelines

Job Posting Organization:
The job posting organization is part of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) and the Data For Now initiative, which is co-led by several prominent organizations including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank, the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (GPSDD), and the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). The initiative aims to enhance countries' capacities to provide timely and disaggregated data necessary for local and national policy-making to achieve the 2030 Agenda. The Collaborative on Citizen Data was established in 2023 to leverage citizen data for effective reporting and policy development, bringing together various stakeholders from civil society, government, and academia. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) has been a pioneer in championing citizen data since 2019, contributing to the development of guidelines and validation criteria for quantitative citizen data, and has established a Technical Working Committee for Citizen Data (TWC) to coordinate these efforts in Kenya.

Job Overview:
The consultant will work closely with the UNSD and the Technical Working Committee (TWC) to conduct research and stakeholder engagement aimed at developing guidelines and validation criteria for qualitative citizen data that the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) can utilize for official reporting. This role involves ensuring that the guidelines align with both global best practices and local contexts, particularly focusing on gender and governance indicators. The consultant will also be responsible for applying the validation criteria to at least one indicator and presenting the findings to both national and international audiences. The overall goal is to strengthen KNBS's internal capacity for producing and utilizing qualitative data, which is essential for informed decision-making and policy development in Kenya.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant's duties will include conducting a comprehensive desk review of existing standards and principles relevant to qualitative citizen data, considering Kenya's legal and policy frameworks. They will co-create guidelines for the production and use of qualitative citizen data through consultations with various stakeholders, including civil society organizations and government agencies. The consultant will draft practical guidelines and validation criteria, facilitate workshops for stakeholder approval, and ensure that the guidelines include local case studies and references to global best practices. Additionally, the consultant will be responsible for delivering a detailed work plan, literature review, draft guidelines, validation workshop, and final reports summarizing key findings and recommendations.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in economics, statistics, mathematics, social sciences, international development, public policy, or a related field. A bachelor's degree combined with additional relevant experience may be accepted. The position requires at least five years of experience in data analysis and/or data management, with a solid understanding of Kenya's data ecosystem and experience in stakeholder engagement. Desirable qualifications include experience working with national statistical offices, knowledge of citizen-generated data, and familiarity with issues related to gender and governance.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree in a relevant field such as economics, statistics, mathematics, social sciences, international development, or public policy is required. A bachelor's degree may be accepted if accompanied by additional relevant experience, demonstrating the candidate's capability in the field.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of relevant experience in data analysis and/or data management. Candidates should have a solid understanding of the data ecosystem in Kenya and experience in engaging with various stakeholders. Experience with national statistical offices and citizen-generated data, particularly in relation to gender and governance, is highly desirable. Additionally, experience in international development organizations and developing practical data guidance documents is preferred.

Languages:
Fluency in oral and written English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of another official UN language is considered an advantage, enhancing the candidate's ability to communicate in diverse settings and with various stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is home-based, with the consultant expected to engage in regular phone and web conference meetings with TWC, KNBS, UNSD, and other partners. The expected duration of the consultancy is from December 1, 2025, to March 31, 202

• The consultant must be available for regular technical meetings to monitor progress and will not be compensated for travel or related expenses to KNBS or other institutions. The United Nations does not charge any fees during the recruitment process.