Data and Foresight Analyst

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the lead United Nations agency focused on delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. Established in 1969, UNFPA operates in over 150 countries and has a mission to promote the right of every woman, man, and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. The organization is dedicated to addressing the complex global environment through its Strategic Plan for 2026-2029, which aims to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action from the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 203

• UNFPA emphasizes the importance of principled and ethical staff who embody international norms and standards, ensuring effective external relations, communications, and partnership-building in a rapidly changing development landscape.

Job Overview:
The Data and Foresight Analyst plays a crucial role in supporting UNFPA's mission by generating real-time insights, conducting trend analysis, and providing strategic foresight that informs humanitarian preparedness, peacebuilding strategies, and development programming. This position is integral to guiding and facilitating the delivery of UNFPA’s programs. The analyst will report directly to the Deputy Representative and will be responsible for monitoring results achieved during implementation, ensuring the appropriate application of systems and procedures, and developing enhancements as necessary. The role requires a proactive approach to data analytics and foresight, enabling the organization to adapt to emerging trends and challenges in population and development, reproductive health, and gender programming.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Data and Foresight Analyst will undertake a variety of responsibilities, including:

• Data Analytics and Insights Generation: - Compile and analyze information for country program formulation, drafting project documents, work plans, and statistical data. - Design and manage data collection, cleaning, integration, and analysis pipelines. - Conduct advanced statistical analysis, predictive modeling, and scenario simulations to derive actionable insights. - Visualize data through dashboards, reports, and interactive tools for evidence-based planning and reporting. - Ensure data quality, integrity, and alignment with organizational standards. - Identify, collect, clean, and analyze diverse primary and secondary data sources, including big data and real-time sources. - Lead the design and execution of analytics processes, detecting signals and trends through data science techniques. - Explore opportunities for applied statistical and operations research and analysis to assess validity and impact, linking quantitative forecasting and qualitative foresight data with strategic objectives. - Elaborate requirements, test analytical tools and platforms, and contribute to developing an analytical and backend environment for foresight needs.
• Strategic Foresight and Trend Analysis: - Scan global, regional, and local environments for emerging trends, weak signals, disruptions, and game-changing developments. - Facilitate the development of plausible future scenarios, horizon scanning, and systems mapping. - Support anticipatory action and long-term planning by synthesizing foresight outputs into strategic recommendations. - Provide technical advice and lead experimentation in planning and coordinating foresight experiments with data and analytics, including defining research, elaborating business needs, identifying data feasibility requirements, and developing concepts and proposals.
• Knowledge Translation and Capacity Building: - Translate complex data and foresight outputs into accessible insights for internal stakeholders, partners, and donors. - Build the foresight literacy and data capability of staff through training, tools, and participatory exercises. - Document best practices, case studies, and foresight methodologies for knowledge sharing. - Support and guide the development of skills, technological capacities, and services for using data analytics and strategic foresight in planning and strategy. - Advise on developing accessible data interfaces and processes, and guide data visualization, communication design, and data use through charts, graphs, infographics, and dashboards. - Write and revise technical documentation, proactively record and share lessons learned, and contribute to a culture of learning and innovation.
• Collaboration and Technical Support: - Work closely with program, policy, and innovation teams to embed foresight and analytics in project design, implementation, and evaluation. - Liaise with external partners, UN agencies, think tanks, academia, and innovation labs to co-create knowledge and exchange intelligence. - Provide technical inputs to strategy development processes, evaluations, and research initiatives. - Coordinate and guide work with thematic specialists, consultants, and partners, building connections with the broader innovation ecosystem for interdisciplinary partnerships, and liaise with colleagues to ensure safe, ethical, and inclusive practices.

Required Qualifications:
The ideal candidate for the Data and Foresight Analyst position should possess the following qualifications: - Advanced degree in public health, population, demography, gender studies, development studies, or other related social science fields; and ICT/Computing/applied sciences studies. - A minimum of 2 years of progressively responsible experience in the field of development and population activities, preferably in program/project management. - Experience should include the development of policies, negotiation, and coordination with relevant sectors of government, the private sector, international agencies, and civil society groups. - Experience in conflict sensitivity approach and programming is considered an asset. - Proficiency in tools such as Power BI, Tableau, ArcGIS, Excel, Python/R, KoboToolbox, or similar. - Familiarity with scenario planning, horizon scanning, Delphi methods, futures wheels, and systems mapping. - Ability to work with spatial data, AI, and conduct geospatial intelligence using tools like QGIS, Google Earth Engine, etc.

Educational Background:
Candidates must have an advanced degree in relevant fields such as public health, population, demography, gender studies, development studies, or other related social science disciplines. Additionally, studies in ICT, computing, or applied sciences are also required to ensure a comprehensive understanding of data analytics and foresight methodologies.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 2 years of progressively responsible experience in development and population activities, with a strong preference for candidates who have experience in program/project management. This experience should encompass the development of policies and the ability to negotiate and coordinate with various sectors, including government, private sector, international agencies, and civil society groups. Familiarity with conflict sensitivity approaches and programming is an added advantage.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position, as it is essential for effective communication and collaboration within the organization and with external partners. Additional language skills may be beneficial but are not specified as mandatory.

Additional Notes:
This position offers an attractive remuneration package that includes a competitive net salary, health insurance, and other applicable benefits. UNFPA is committed to providing a work environment that reflects values of gender equality, diversity, integrity, and a healthy work-life balance. The organization encourages women and individuals from underrepresented groups, including the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, and persons with disabilities, to apply. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation, and selection for all, regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity.